The midfield was pretty fluid. Gower held fairly deep and Stephens, Jackson and Pritchard took turns in supporting Yann. Harriott stayed fairly wide. What was interesting was that when Hamer had the ball, Morrison and Devite went to the corners of the 18 yd box and Solly and Wiggins pushed on. Hamer rarely kicked it long and used Morrison and Dervite all the time.
I think the formation came from lack of players to try something else. Have to hope for a bit of Smart dealing in the next week or two, or TJ will find himself trying to offload a broke league 1 club instead of a championship one,
Perhaps but it could well be that is what we have to work with next week. Bloody scary as we were god awful. If we don't get in anyone then I hope CP goes 442 and keeps it tighter than what we did today. Can't see any merit in tinkering with a weird formation one week before the kick off.
We've played that formation for at least 45mins of every preseason match this year. It isn't new to the players.
Simple fact of the matter is, we came up against a decent well-drilled side for probably the first time and they nullified any threat it has previously may have offered. I doubt their keeper has had many quieter days.
Don't be fooled by Butcher mentioning playing Celtic in the first half, that is cobblers. We created nothing.
We all know about the striking issues and for whatever reason (money) they haven't been addressed. Clearly we will get a couple in, but as I said earlier for at least 2-3 weeks we are stuck with Yann and a completely untried Pigott. No-one that comes in now is going to be up to speed fitness wise or tactically.
To be honest the greater concern today was that even with 5 in midfield we struggled to keep possession and again looked light-weight. We really miss someone playing the Hughes Anchor role - hopefully he'll be back next week. Jackson looked leggy as well. Was clearly blowing after about 30mins. Have to say, that I'd give up with Stephens. He has gone backwards and if there is any scope to use him as a make-weight in any deal I wouldn't hesitate.
I was also less than impressed with the central defenders. Morrison had a shocker and the passing out from the back was poor.
Overall we lacked any tenacity in midfield, looked worryingly one-paced and basically created nothing.
Hopefully it was down to players performing within themselves, but that still doesn't disguise the lack of options when plan a fails.
SHG I agree about looking a little one paced. In fact their goal came from Jackson losing it and their player running 50 yds with only Piggott trying to catch him. Both Gower and Jackson are out of the game once bypassed.
However, I thought we looked very tidy in possession. We were not dreadful at all and showed we have a side comfortable playing the ball on the floor.
What exactly was the formation? How were the midfield set up? I take it that it wasn't just a flat 5?
Seemed to me that Morro and Dervite played a flat back two with Wiggins and Solly pushed right up to the halfway line. Gower and Stephens and Jackson seemed to rotate around central midfield filling in defensively in the space in front of the two centre backs. Pritch wide right and Harriot left with Yann on his own. Not sure if that's what happened and I doubt many of the players are either.
SHG I agree about looking a little one paced. In fact their goal came from Jackson losing it and their player running 50 yds with only Piggott trying to catch him. Both Gower and Jackson are out of the game once bypassed.
However, I thought we looked very tidy in possession. We were not dreadful at all and showed we have a side comfortable playing the ball on the floor.
Jackson didn't lose it, Piggott did. That's why he chased the fella back.
However, I largely agree with your analysis sirjohn. Other then their goal I don't remember them having a shot second half and we had a lot of the ball but no cutting edge.
I thought while we played 4-5-1, we used harriot to try and link up with Yann, but did not really work. Our two better players were Yann and Jacko, who made a few good runs into the box. Agree with SJH that we lacked cutting edge and I can see if we don't add to the strike force, Yann being taken out every game.
No one has mentioned Piggots cameo, which in my opinion he looked quite good, confident, lively, had a good shot. He did make the mistake up field that gave them possession, but to give him credit he tried to chase back, unlike anyone else, but like everybody else did not manage to catch the player. I would to be unhappy to see him coming off the bench a few times.
Not really worried about the result, with a threadbare squad no one was going to "break a leg" with the season upon us next week.
If we have the same squad next Saturday then I would be happy with it. Away from home first day of the season is not the time to play Kermorgant and Piggott up front together.
If we have the same squad next Saturday then I would be happy with it. Away from home first day of the season is not the time to play Kermorgant and Piggott up front together.
Not a Golfie comment I promise but I think we would get stuffed.
Would any of you be happy with that formation next Saturday . Honest question.
not at home ever and not next week. I think we at our worse when this was played last season. Starvation of YK sounds very familiar. However different formations work against different teams. If we can get another striker we need to set up 4-4-2 and have some balls against bournemouth but somewhere like leicester then i wouldn't be against.
For example last season we were 4-5-1 against cardiff
Crowd was diabolical for Paddy but actually we probably wouldn't have got many more pre-season in some previous years if the community scheme etc hadn't given thousands away. Can't really do that for a testimonial. A signing may have helped attract more. The same will be true of season tickets, of course.
Don't take much from a game like that except what we knew already. Chris Powell's quote is the story and he knows exactly what he is saying and to whom. No directors present, I was told, but maybe others know better?
All fizz and no bang today. Poor old Yann very isolated. Thistle had better of chances including nice effort that hit the post in the first half. Great bunch of fans. Really enjoying themselves and very sociable too. P1ss poor turnout for Paddy. The man has been associated to our club all these years and after match day costs will probably go away with 0% of feck all today.
Just got back from the match, for those of you who like a flutter and are of a fairly optimistic nature , then lump on us now to get promoted, because after that performance our odds are going to be good!
The positive performances for me were Dervite, Solly and Kermorgant, everyone else......
Lets hope that was our low base of the season and things get much better.
To be fair to ICT , I thought they were as good as us , if not better,thought their number 10 was pretty useful, and wouldn't have minded seeking him in a Charlton shirt.
Very disappointed with Dales performance, he really didn't shine in a 5 man midfield.
Felt for Colin Powell that there wasn't a few more people there, would they have showed up if the opposition was more glamourous?
I know a few people were away on holiday, but it had the feel of a reserve game,with no one wanting to get stuck in a week before the season starts, we need to get 2 half decent strikers in pretty quick or we are stuffed.
I was glad to hear that today was the beginning of his testimonial season and other events will be happening, if true that would be great, as he deserves more than the paltry turnout that he got. Maybe the Trust could get involved and help activate the supporter base to become more involved in honouring him
we don't have the players to play a 'sophisticated' 4-5-1 .. stick to 4-4-2 Powell and have the courage to start with Pigott up front alongside Kermorgant
Very disappointing crowd, embarrassing really. Could have been the threat of rain, the opposition (no offence), lack of signings to inspire curiosity, short notice of the testimonial? Could the trust have done something to help, maybe not sure what though. We did publicise the match and wrote a preview and published a piece on paddy. Directors box was very empty too from what I could see in the lower west
Met and chatted to some Inverness fans who were all great. Their team was pretty decent too, the No 10 for them was good. An even match, but a classic smash and grab job...and they hit the post in the first half too, we didn't really threaten much at all. I thought Inverness were no mugs and impressed me. They have St Mirren in their first match, and ought to win using schoolboy logic. I didn't think much of our midfield of Dale and Gower really. Dale collects the ball in interesting areas but nothing seems to come of it, and Gower wasn't very combative for the area of the pitch he was playing. For a frustrated and frustrating Kermo I think he lost focus as the game wore on, not having a partner may not have helped him, and yes we needed a bit more up top. The extra bit provided by Piggotts cameo was encouraging. We kept the ball for long periods, and resisted the temptation to play it long which was good. if we have to continue with this present squad, then I would say clean sheets have to be our priority, and hope to snatch something. We are not going to overwhelm many sides it seems. I am encouraged by the draws at Brighton and Cardiff towards the end of last season, and the approach we had in those matches may be what we need home and away next season. No need to despair, after all a signing like Church or Adamo could easily get injured. We probably do need about three attacking players in to really make an impression, but looking at the Chris quote above I reckon it simply won't happen.
Very disappointing crowd, embarrassing really. Could have been the threat of rain, the opposition (no offence), lack of signings to inspire curiosity, short notice of the testimonial? Could the trust have done something to help, maybe not sure what though. We did publicise the match and wrote a preview and published a piece on paddy. Directors box was very empty too from what I could see in the lower west
All of the above.But for me, mainly because this has been the most uninspiring,wet blanket of a pre season that I can ever remember. Things are not good.
Comments
Simple fact of the matter is, we came up against a decent well-drilled side for probably the first time and they nullified any threat it has previously may have offered. I doubt their keeper has had many quieter days.
Don't be fooled by Butcher mentioning playing Celtic in the first half, that is cobblers. We created nothing.
We all know about the striking issues and for whatever reason (money) they haven't been addressed. Clearly we will get a couple in, but as I said earlier for at least 2-3 weeks we are stuck with Yann and a completely untried Pigott. No-one that comes in now is going to be up to speed fitness wise or tactically.
To be honest the greater concern today was that even with 5 in midfield we struggled to keep possession and again looked light-weight. We really miss someone playing the Hughes Anchor role - hopefully he'll be back next week. Jackson looked leggy as well. Was clearly blowing after about 30mins. Have to say, that I'd give up with Stephens. He has gone backwards and if there is any scope to use him as a make-weight in any deal I wouldn't hesitate.
I was also less than impressed with the central defenders. Morrison had a shocker and the passing out from the back was poor.
Overall we lacked any tenacity in midfield, looked worryingly one-paced and basically created nothing.
Hopefully it was down to players performing within themselves, but that still doesn't disguise the lack of options when plan a fails.
Not panicking yet, but am mildly concerned.
However, I thought we looked very tidy in possession. We were not dreadful at all and showed we have a side comfortable playing the ball on the floor.
However, I largely agree with your analysis sirjohn. Other then their goal I don't remember them having a shot second half and we had a lot of the ball but no cutting edge.
No one has mentioned Piggots cameo, which in my opinion he looked quite good, confident, lively, had a good shot. He did make the mistake up field that gave them possession, but to give him credit he tried to chase back, unlike anyone else, but like everybody else did not manage to catch the player. I would to be unhappy to see him coming off the bench a few times.
Not really worried about the result, with a threadbare squad no one was going to "break a leg" with the season upon us next week.
Thanks to your wonderful club for the hospitality, made some good friends down here. Off to the Antigallican now.
For example last season we were 4-5-1 against cardiff
4-4-2 against Barnsley
Don't take much from a game like that except what we knew already. Chris Powell's quote is the story and he knows exactly what he is saying and to whom. No directors present, I was told, but maybe others know better?
The positive performances for me were Dervite, Solly and Kermorgant, everyone else......
Lets hope that was our low base of the season and things get much better.
To be fair to ICT , I thought they were as good as us , if not better,thought their number 10 was pretty useful, and wouldn't have minded seeking him in a Charlton shirt.
Very disappointed with Dales performance, he really didn't shine in a 5 man midfield.
Felt for Colin Powell that there wasn't a few more people there, would they have showed up if the opposition was more glamourous?
I know a few people were away on holiday, but it had the feel of a reserve game,with no one wanting to get stuck in a week before the season starts, we need to get 2 half decent strikers in pretty quick or we are stuffed.
match and wrote a preview and published a piece on paddy. Directors box was very empty too from what I could see in the lower west
An even match, but a classic smash and grab job...and they hit the post in the first half too, we didn't really threaten much at all. I thought Inverness were no mugs and impressed me. They have St Mirren in their first match, and ought to win using schoolboy logic.
I didn't think much of our midfield of Dale and Gower really. Dale collects the ball in interesting areas but nothing seems to come of it, and Gower wasn't very combative for the area of the pitch he was playing. For a frustrated and frustrating Kermo I think he lost focus as the game wore on, not having a partner may not have helped him, and yes we needed a bit more up top. The extra bit provided by Piggotts cameo was encouraging.
We kept the ball for long periods, and resisted the temptation to play it long which was good. if we have to continue with this present squad, then I would say clean sheets have to be our priority, and hope to snatch something. We are not going to overwhelm many sides it seems.
I am encouraged by the draws at Brighton and Cardiff towards the end of last season, and the approach we had in those matches may be what we need home and away next season.
No need to despair, after all a signing like Church or Adamo could easily get injured. We probably do need about three attacking players in to really make an impression, but looking at the Chris quote above I reckon it simply won't happen.