07 Dec 2024 22:18:17
If you can't defend a corner then you're going to lose. It's that simple. It doesn't matter if you tackle, are in the right place, or even of you play well overall. Giving away bad goals is a recipe for disaster. On the second Onana was completely at fault, but it was Bruno giving the ball away that created the chance. On the third Martinez, who is a shadow of the player he was before his injuries, should have been able to clear at the far post. Dalot was pretty much shocking all afternoon. He makes the wrong choice more often than not.
Still we played some nice football at times, scored two good goals, could and maybe should have had a few more, and you can start to see a style evolving. Those are the positives, but they will never be enough if we continue to shoot ourselves in the feet by failing to do the basics well.
By the way I missed the first 90 seconds. Does anyone recall what happened to give Forest the corner from which they scored. Was anyone at fault?
08 Dec 2024 06:13:44
Martinez ended up being on the guy who scored. he had a free header and about a foot taller it was a no contest. We lead the league in conceding from set pieces. Whatever we are doing is really poor and needs changing.
One thing I noticed and maybe an age or strength thing yoro is not great defending them either and when you have Martinez in there 2/ 3 back 3 are an issue.
I usually don't get too animated when I watch us but yesterday was really frustrating. I don't understand why none of our mids when receiving the ball facing the wrong way don't even try to take it on half turn as there is space there and opens up the pitch, they dink it back to CB's. So goddamn slow and devoid of ideas.
Zirksee looks like a Sunday league player when he tries some of his one touch stuff which 90 percent of the time is useless and so stupid. How can a professional footballer do some the stuff he does. Some other weird stuff that I can't get my head around, Why even bring rash on if you are going to play him on the right. Leave Garna on if that's the case.
08 Dec 2024 07:28:48
Me too Ahmad, me too. Its a new system and some will simply not fit. Yesterdaycm so many were poor. The back 3 seemed to not have a clue what to do with ball, part of the issue is the lack of movement in front of them.
Right now, the one player who has impressed is Amad.
08 Dec 2024 08:37:49
Tony
Spot on. They are not standing on the ball because they are lazy or can't pass, nothing in front of them as a good option.
The front 3 can't move the ball on without taking upteen touches. Garna and Rasmus are the worst culprits and by the time they pass it its generally to the opposition player. Amad takes a lot of touches too but he actually does something good with it sometimes.
Very frustrating to watch. Brain dead low IQ footballers. our crosses, there is a not single united player within 4/ 5 yards of the ball on most crosses. How is that possible.
I know they are young but they are not clever footballers. The really good players all have that at whatever age and see the pitch better than others if that makes sense.
Not looking forward to city, pool, spurs away at all.
08 Dec 2024 11:01:39
It should be mentioned that Arsenal and Forest lead the league in shots/ goals from set pieces.
We've literally played the two best teams in the league in terms of set plays.
We are also in the process of implementing a new system and structure in the team. Players roles have changed, when and where they need to be and how they defend in that situation has changed.
They are all capable of playing this new way, but it will not be instinctive yet. They will have to be thinking about every little detail. That extra time taken to think along with occasional confusion or miscommunication will lead to mistakes and giving the opposition the time a d space they need to get on the end of crosses, cut backs, through balls etc.
Yesterday we conceded three goals due to player error. Onana made what must be his first mistake this season, certainly the first one that has lead to a goal. He shifted his weight expecting the shot to go to his right, when it came fairly central and slightly to his left he wasn't able to react. It happens.
While Martinez had a bad game defensively. He wasn't strong enough in blocking Milenkovic (maybe this was a mismatch, although it makes more sense for Martinez to be a blocker at corners rather than someone trying to win the high ball) . While for the first goal both Dalot and Onana were not entirely without blame. If Dalot is going to come off the post he has to win the ball and not get caught under it. While Onana should be coming for balls played that close to the goal. His extra reach and that keepers get additional protection in terms of being challenged for the ball means he should either clear it or win a foul. We need to be smarter there.
The third goal was Martinez just not knowing where he and the goal was. That isn't an issue of player position that was him just getting lost for a second and not going for a ball thinking it was going wide. Maybe he was overthinking his previous mistake, or maybe its mental overload from having to think much more about where he is and what he's doing as he settles into the new system.
Overall the team shape has improved and we look more capable of controlling the game (even if there are periods of the opposition being on top) . We look better on the ball and playing out, and less susceptible to counter attacks a d quick transitions.
We also look better at pressing (although not consistently enough yet), and there are levels we can still go up in that regard. We also have created more chances, especially ones of higher quality. Although we are still clearly learning these new patterns of play and they aren't yet instinctive. Which means we are often a little too slow with them which allows the opposition to get back in shape or to make a block/ tackle.
We are improving, but it's baby steps. Something that we have to accept given the number of games and limited time the manager actually has to properly train the players right now. While he is also having to try the players out and see what they can and cannot do to understand his squad.
This was never a quick fix, and it'll take years to get to where we want/ need to be. It will be frustrating and there will be as many downs as there are ups for the rest of this season and possibly even next season.