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Problem is someone thinks he is clever. They eventually catch themselves out – remember that season when we were cruising at the top of div 1 playing the football that suited us, that people enjoyed. Then the formation changes arrived 352, 2341,2332 and all the other delights that ‘cleverness’ delivered.
And we know what happened at the end, I fear those days are back. Hope I am wrong.
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Possibly due to a few things…
Ewings first real season at this level was always going to be hard for him to matain that excellent level he started at
Injuries to the back four and GK changes meaning that back 5 has never been settled and conceded to often and too easily
loss of TSF, Farrell and dare I say it Carlton who all often found the net, whilst i know the latter meant that P Jones could come in i do think had either of the other 2 still have been here we may be putting teams to bed a little easier.
Then as you mention this insistence on passing sideways and backwards which is fine IF there was at least an attempt to penetrate the opposition defence and get a shot away which for a fair while now there doesn’t seem to have been.
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The season started with loads of energy,Dec,Ewing and Alfie Beestin up top and that troubled defences.It was also notable that Roberts was making an effort to mix it up and use his right foot .Not sure why he altered things but that stopped and when all you have is lazy Whitehall the ball comes right back at you quickly as nothing sticks and that puts our NLN defence under pressure from better players than they had to deal with last season .
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…. and when all you have is lazy Whitehall the ball comes right back at you quickly as nothing sticks and that puts our NLN defence under pressure from better players than they had to deal with last season .
Have to disagree on Whitehall.
In the matches I’ve watched, (about 2/3 of home games), it seems that once Butler takes him off, that’s when the ball starts coming straight back at us and puts us under pressure.
And the timing of goals conceded would seem to bear this out.1 user thanked author for this post.
A valid conclusion but you only arrive at that if you don’t have a downer on Whitehall. I think your “underestimated” point is probably right also. As I’ve said elsewhere, Butler’s idea of system changes to counter the opposition just confuses the players. 4-3-3, round pegs in round holes and the players know their jobs and can play to their strengths. lancsiron’s point about GK and defence changes must also have contributed.
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We had grass on the pitch at the start of the season!
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We have as good a 10 outfield players as any of the top 7 provided we play to our strengths – 4-3-3 with a good tempo.
Problems start for one of 2 reasons:
Injuries, suspensions, daft team selection and/or daft substitutions leave us with less than our best 10 outfield players. Whitehall, Roberts and Rowleys impact is so great they are irreplaceable from within our squad without seriously reducing our quality. We have between 1 and 4 maximum capable deputies for our best 10 which is understandable given our budget. The advantage York, Rochdale and Carlisle have over us is not the quality of their first 11. It is the quality of the second 11. That is the benefit of spending the million or so extra on your playing budget.
The second cause of our problem is when Butler and team use formations and tactics the players don’t have the aptitude or capability to use properly. Things like 5 at the back, hoofball, turning the game into a scrap and the most damaging tactic of all – setting up to negate the perceived threats posed by mediocre and downright poor football teams.
If we go into the playoffs with our 3 irreplaceables fit and well and most of the other 7 are there too and we play our game then I think we would have a good chance of making Wembley. Once you’re there anything can happen.
Butler trying out 5 at the back “just in case we need it” worries me greatly. Him likening himself to the Tinkerman the other day suggests almost Trump levels of delusion. PSG and the like can switch formations and tactics at will. National League level players can not.3 users thanked author for this post.
Only spoke about outfield players as goalkeeper is one area where most if not all our playoff rivals have an edge.
We have dicked about all season with the position because we did not replace Fitzsimons in the summer.
Jones is gradually settling but still give me (and his back four) the heeby jeebies at times.
Hope this doesn’t bite us in the bum.2 users thanked author for this post.
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