philthesaddler wrote:Poor performance.
Hereford played 5 across midfield at times, and as with other teams that have done the same to us this season, we struggled to play any decent football.
Ricketts didn't look interested, he could be 100 times better if only he tried that bit harder.
We failed to adapt our game all afternoon, Hereford were woefully slow at the back, and all we had to do was utilise the pace of Jabo and Ricketts to break them down, but we didnt do that once.
Jabo did get past his man at one point, and got through on goal, only to be brought down, but the ref bottled what was a red card by the letter of the law and ended up not even booking the player.
Ive read some of the comments on this thread, and people who are congratulating Nicholls and Taundry really need to open their eyes. Nicholls had a very poor game - our midfield wasn't seeing much of the ball, and that affected his game, and he just didnt have the fight in his belly to make a difference. Taundry is never a winger, I have my doubts as to whether he's a midfielder at all, but he struggled all match long on the right, didn't get forward enough, crossing was decent though.
My point about Taundry and Nicholls is that they were the weak link in the last game, Nicholls had a decent game against Carlisle, but can anyone honestly say that Taundry and Nicholls are better than playing Ish and Zaboob on the wings? Really? Really?
Taundry and Nicholls fluffed 5 good chances between them against Hereford. Taundry is technically a very good player, but lacks the mobility [pace + movement] of a good winger. Nicholls has the mobility but struggles to cross or shoot well.
I really think our team would be stronger with Ish and Zaboob in there, especially now Jimmy seems to have sorted out our defence. Both Ish and Zaboob have the mobility and the technical qualities to cross and shoot well, which in tight games like at Hereford mean the difference between winning and drawing.
Depends what you want really. JM has "sorted out our defence" largely because Mattis coming back gives more mobility (than Taundry) in midfield, giving Hughes the freedom to sit deeper, and allows Taundry to help out the defensively weak Palmer on the right. (Roberts getting fit and up to speed has also been a major contributory factor.)
I can't see how you could play Ishmel and Zaaboub (or one of them and Nicholls) on the wings (especially with Hughes - who isn't the most mobile, so can't get across to cover in front of the full backs - in the middle) as you'd be looking at virtually no shielding in front of the defence and we'd concede loads of goals. Indeed that's what happened at the start of the season when Nicholls and Zaaboub played wide. There's no point in sacrificing defensive solidity (and we've still not got that sorted) for a small improvement going forward - you only have to score one goal more than the opposition, not as many as possible. Sending two potentially creative, but lazy wingers out could make the difference between drawing and losing just as easily as between winning and drawing.
I don't think that Taundry's a midfielder either, but at least he gives it a bit of shape out on the right, always puts 100% in and is pretty good at keeping possession of the ball. For the moment I'd stick with him and Palmer down that right flank (although I'd like to see them the other way around). I'm with you on Nicholls, though, He had a good game against Carlisle, but it was the only one I've seen him have all season - and he was downright poor on Saturday (and has been more often than not). He does work hard, but he's simply not a winger - and since he's a striker rather than a full back (like Taundry) you don't even get the benefit of decent cover in front of Boertien from him. I'd play either Ishmel or Zaaboub ahead of him if they can be trusted to have a decent attitude.