I think we looked more solid defensively today, which at least gives me some hope. Ricardinho did well once he was moved back to LB (god know why he wasn’t started there). Mousinho and Dickie did a better job of getting rid when they were under pressure, and actually put a bit more distance on their clearances which was good to see. I agree that Dickie was motm.
If we’re going to be more of a threat going forward Robinson needs to find a formation and way of playing that suits the midfielders we have at our disposal. Ledson has too much of a free role at the moment, imo. He’s running around aimlessly at times and looks knackered when he gets the ball. I think he’d be better suited to a deeper role, breaking up play in front of the defenders and playing forward into Rothwell and Brannagan (the latter is playing too deep, to my mind).
To a great extent, though, we’re limited because of our lack of wide players and pace. We have no natural wingers (other than Napa who is still very weak and IBR who, I think, has played his last match for the club. I said when he signed it wasn’t the type of player we needed. Loan signings are generally not what’s needed when teams are struggling, especially ones as weak and inexperienced as him). The manager seemed to imply that he was pleased to have Mowatt back on Tuesday. Why, make I ask? He offers nothing different in terms of style of play to our other midfielders, and has been massively disappointing all season. Maybe he’s seen something in training we haven’t yet.
Another thing that continues to frustrate is our two strikers’ inability to play well when they start a game. Both of them seem to do everything right when they come on as a sub (shutting down, challenging for headers, even scoring occasionally!), but when they start all of that seems to go out of the window.
All in all, I really am yet to feel we are safe. Perhaps one win from our next two matches will change that, but based on our recent performances I’d say that is a big ‘perhaps’.
Hate to be negative, but I always do my best to remain positive when I’m at the match, but I need to vent on here.
I just really hope we can get this terrible, terrible season out of the way and stay up by the skin of our teeth. Maybe in the summer Tiger/ Robinson will deliver on their promise of a squad overhaul, and we’ll return to where we were 18 or so months ago.