Did anyone else notice tonight that all through the first half and for about 25 minutes of the second the ball went nowhere near the left hand side of the pitch?
It was so noticeable it was weird , then we start playing it down the left and look so much better , this was also when Racon got into the game as well.
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I thought Llera was brilliant and Sam was poor last night, which totally contradicts views previously expressed, which just shows how we can see games differently,or maybe from different angles.
Agreed. I thought Llera was very dominant and agree Sam huffed and puffed but again delivered very little. Thought Richardson was not really getting forward last night either.
I said to my mate that it was a small pitch. Be interested to know now.
Playing the system with the players we currently have means that we have no width on the left (Bailey is not left footed and certainly not a winger) and so all our play is channelled down the right (notice how any diagional long balls Llera plays out to Sam). That may be ok if sam was Ronaldo or Beckham, or even Jonny Robinson.........but he isn't. He hardly ever takes on the defender and in most cases either cuts inside or passes back to Richarson / semedo etc. It was laughable last night hearing shouts of " go on sam, skin 'im" as he recieved the ball, only to find 20 seconds later the ball back with Elliott having down the rounds with the back 4.
Until we either get proper left midfielder/winger (Wade Small ?) or teach Sam to get down the line and cross a ball in from at least level with the box then we will continue to struggle to beat teams. Yes, this may seem pedantic seing as we have won all 3 games and sitting pretty in 2nd, but having seen all 3 I can say the only time we have actually looked any good was the first 30 mins against Wycombe - Hartlepool we sat back for the last 30ins and if they had scored aythig could have happened and last night could easily have been lost 2-0.
It works better when we have people running through the middle from midfield in my opinion. 7 goals in 3 games is a decent return.
It's a good point and makes even more sense when Sam's crossing is average at best, Shelvey isn't good in the air, leaving Burton and then Bailey getting into the box as the only targets.
I've seen a few comments from fans of the teams we've been playing, often see them saying Sam had a decent game or was dangerous, while we're a lot more harsh on him. If he doesn't come away with an assist and/or a goal, it's seen as him having no end product. He's offering us width, works well with Richardson and helps to defend (maybe not as much as Bailey, but then he hasn't got Youga behind him!). He can beat players, he can play at Championship level, and hopefully will get a bit more confidence if we keep playing well as a team.
He should be able to get the odd goal, set up a few and win penalties & free kicks. To me, it looks like a lack of confidence and belief more than lack of ability.
We rarely take into consideration that opponents want those 3 points just as badly, and not in the match just to make up the numbers.
Orient obviously had had us watched, did their homework - and knew if they were going to get a result they had to nullify our passing game. So they worked terrifically hard, closed us down quickly, denied us space and wouldn't let us settle on the ball.
Sure our passing game shone through in the end but we knew we'd been in a game.
The problem may that Bailey needs to feel he can get forward more, he certainly is a danger at present but perhaps if he was less concerned with defensive duties he and Sam could stretch the oppo even tho the former may not have the width/pace of a typical winger - a la Graham Stuart?
I think left back is a position we'll improve eventually, but maybe not until January or next summer.
or season after or after that ! Sorry Sco but thats an odd comment isn`t it ?
Wikipedia says its 110yds long (76 wide) whilst it says The Valley is 112yds long (by 73 wide)
I think Chunes made the best point earlier about Sam, he has no one to cross to. Burton will be marked, Bailey and Shelvey might get in the box, but neither are particularly good in the air.
If we had an Iwelumo (or Kandol...) we'd probably try and get more crosses in.
In fact it's benefiting Youga and Bailey as well, Youga's crossing makes Sam's look Beckham like, and Bailey is right footed so can't get many crosses in.
Better for us to work it into the box, and passing it to players, just like Bailey's goal against Wycombe, set up by Sam and Richardson.
If Sam could score goals he wouldn't be playing for us!
Sam hasn't actually scored in his last 50 appearances for the Club. Do think he should be able to chip in with half a dozen or so in a season at this level.