We’re at the top of the league and in good shape, but what areas of possible vulnerability might Régis Le Bris and his players fix before the season resumes? Malc Dugdale claims… Working on improving our passing accuracy. Despite our league position, we’ve been a little wasteful with the ball at times, and I’d like Régis Le Bris to spend some time focusing on passing accuracy and holding control without giving it up cheaply to the opposition.
If teams win the ball back, that’s fine, but sometimes they don’t have to work too hard to get it because of our unforced passing blunders. It is not the fault of a single man; others are to blame. It’s evident that we’re content to stand off teams at times, and our tactics include giving opponents more possession before pressing and countering, but when we do receive the ball, we need to waste it a little less. If we can accomplish it, we’ll advance 10 or twenty yards up the pitch.
We’ll give away even fewer goals, and those clean sheets will be critical going ahead. The top two may be determined by goal differential, so focusing on it now is a sensible decision. Selecting our first-choice central defensive midfielder. We really need to figure out who plays this part, and if we can make some movement on that during the break, that will be a huge step forward. Dan Neil isn’t that person for me. He’s a fantastic player, but we’re holding him back right now by wanting him to do the same job as we have and preventing him from being dropped due to his status as captain.
We have choices emerging from the treatment room, and we may already have the answer within the squad, but we must find a method to integrate newer defensive midfield players into the team without losing momentum. Salis Abdul Samed is one guy who could come up soon, but we need to figure out when, who gives way, and how we’ll look when that happens. The middle of the park is a place where we can go from brilliant to iffy at times, and if our wide men are being marked out of the game, it’s critical to take the middle path to create opportunities.
With these adjustments, we might significantly enhance our performance and maintain our position in the top two as we approach the Christmas fixtures. Mark Roberts explains… Working with the press During our first few games, the press presented a continual threat to our opponents. Harassing quickly and with coordination, we gave no quarter and generated opportunities.
However, during recent games against Leeds, Derby, and Watford, the press was less efficient. It could be an indication of exhaustion or having Wilson Isidor in the starting lineup, but it’s not a knock on him because he’ll need some time to get totally match fit. With Romaine Mundle, Jobe, and Patrick Roberts joining Isidor, our four-man press can be effective. It still needs some fine-tuning in terms of when to go, who takes the lead, and when to hold. It’s not Roberts’ natural game, but he’s shown that he can be more aggressive and still succeed. It will be critical in maintaining this desire for promotion.
Dan Neil’s form Neil is a high-quality footballer who, for whatever reason, is not performing to his projected level this season, let alone his potential. Last season, he was my first name on the team roster, and his drive, tackling, and passing helped us get through games as the season wound down. He was excellent at times, but this season, he’d be lucky to crack the top ten. Harsh? Probably because I have higher expectations. He simply isn’t performing as well as the bulk of his teammates.
Although I thought he played better against Leeds and Derby, he was still not one of the top players on the pitch, and I believe three reasons influenced his performance. The captaincy may not be ideal for him because of the added pressure that comes with being a hometown player. Fortunately, we are at the top of the league thanks to outstanding performances by several of the team’s players. Next, we’re playing well; is this the most Neil can do? Is this his level? I don’t think so, but maybe he doesn’t need to be one of the’star players’, so he relies more on teammates to make it happen, or does he need a kick in the backside?
Finally, Wasserman. This is one of the world’s largest agencies, and they were ranked second in Forbes’ most recent rankings, with 2,000 client contracts worth US$9.5 billion. No new contract was signed, and the more I read about Wasserman, the less likely it appears to suit our sustainable management style. The head that wears the crown rests heavily. Hopefully, I’m mistaken, and Dan gets a new contract and dominates the promotion-winning season.
Leave a Reply