But how far does out club go in undertaking the necessary surgery that would hopefully see us for once not live with the threat of relegation darkening the cloud of misery that seems to be growing after a continuing run of negative results.
Is too easy to put all the blame on the shoulders of JB without questioning the players mental attitude to the current situation that they are just as responsible for, after all when they cross that white line their performances or lack of are their responsibility.
For me there are a number of things that need to change both on and off the field.
JB is responsible for team selection and tactics but his tactical prowess needs to be re-evaluated by himself and be prepared to change completely our current style, getting rid for once and for all the use of the long ball and in particular the use of the pass from one wing to another which is a 50 50 ball and that all too often is either over hit or goes straight to an opponent. We seem to have a reluctance to run at defenses in central positions with the ball preferring to always pass out to the wing in the hope that a cross will come in that we can get on the end of. Unfortunately our forward play is lacking in numbers that it's easy meat for the opposition defenders. The best goal seem at the Globe this season was when a through ball on the deck found Millar in space to calmly stroke the ball passed the keeper. There have been other examples of playing it on the deck involving a number of passes that have resulted in a goal. In particular a 25 consecutive passing movement some time back. We can do it, but why not on a regular basis...
Why is it that we don't put pressure on the oppositions back line like they do to us?
Why is it that we don't put any tackles in until they reach the 18 yard line?
Why is it we persist with high balls to our midfielder when we never appear to win the headed battles in midfield....due in part to any height in those crucial positions within the club?
Why is it that our forwards play some 5 metres off the opponents back line? Play on their shoulders and apply constant pressure... or is that too easy..?
If we played on the deck we could pass our way from defense through midfield to our striker (s). Doing away with the need for the long ball which is so often straight to an opponent.
For me we need to look at those around JB and ask are they too influential in determining tactical changes during a game?
From my position in C Premier I have noticed that when JB and John McMahon appear to discuss changes in tactics it's the intervention of Ken McK that seems to throw a spanner in the works and JB then ignores JMcM input relying solely on that of KMcK.
Maybe it's time to say farewell to Ken and put JMcM in the Assistant Managers seat? I've again noticed that KMcK always indicates that we use the long ball, a tactic that doesn't fit our players.
At this time I'm not one of those advocating that JB should go, BUT it's getting perilously close to my cut off of November when, like it or not, the Board need to put the question of JB's position under serious discussion and act before it's too late. I've long advocated a managerial combination of Drummy and Kevin if only until the end of the season. The football played on the deck by Drummy's teams is excellent to watch and with the undoubted enthusiasm of Kevin (albeit from the sidelines please) I don't see what we have to lose with everything to gain...possibly.
It's time for some off the field action before it's too late and the prospect of a return to non league becomes a reality.
), but I'm struggling to come up with an alternative scenario that would lead to this. The end result is the players either make the easiest pass available, i.e. sideways or backwards, sometimes loosely, which has cost us goals conceded this season, or else it's the big hoof forward to no one. Midfield definitely needs attention, as those in there at the moment are not doing the business, but it's not the only problem.
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