Holmes_and_Watson

There are a number of ways of interpreting that result. In the end though, it’s that it’s a single point at home for a team that should be looking for promotion against a team who are towards the foot of the table. We had over 80% possession in the first half. Possession alone, isn’t going to win any games. So what did we do with it? In an earlier game Martin pointed to a single chance for Adams as justification for his approach. So, he’s going to have no problems at all pointing to the 12 efforts on goal, with 5 on target in the first half. And he would have a point. We were completely dominant, got an early lead and created a number of opportunities. When out of possession, we looked a lot more solid. When in possession, we worked the ball patiently towards creating an opportunity. We were on top at the break. Rotherham changed formation with a sub. That stopped us having quite so much space for several minutes. But we’d started creating again before half time. There’s always going to be a bit of me wondering if that 12 efforts could actually have been more, had we been more determined. Or if fewer, could they have offered even better chances, as we drive at them, taking us clear before half time. The second half should have been more of the same. We didn’t seem to have the same level of dominance, although we ended up with just as many efforts and chances as we had in the first half. We had plenty of nearly moments too, in both halves. A couple of deliveries across the box, that no one got on the end of. The idea of multiple subs is to presumably to bring energy into the side. Quite often it just means that the teams gets a bit disjointed and loses momentum as the new arrivals settle in. That’s what happened today. Sulemana was the one causing the most problems, but off he went. I like Edozie’s development. But rather than have him keep up his minutes, he’s been missing for a few games due to our form. That really showed today. Some good things combined with lots that took us back to his most raw days. Adam Armstrong going off lost us that high work rate, meaning that when the ball was given away (which is was more often) it was tougher for us to get it back. The switches lost us that dominance, and we have no alternative plan of action to compensate. Rotherham were like us under Selles. Sit and sit and sit, and hope for a breakaway or a mistake. In the end, it was a punt up from their goalkeeper. Our clearance dropped kindly for them, and Bazunu was chipped from distance. A criticism of the patient, build up approach is that it seems beyond a lot of teams to up the tempo or change approach if a goal is needed rather than be carefully being built towards. We created a lot today. But not anywhere near as much, when we actually needed to. Martin will no doubt put this down to “scar tissue” the players all apparently have, preventing them from making the right choices at key moments. In the end, it’s the job of the coaching team to give the team tactical options to work towards when that sort of decision making is going on. If the patient, multi pass model falls apart every time they need a goal, then have them well trained enough to do something else. Even if just to get back control and drive. When Rotherham went more direct and pushed, we looked at our most fragile. That’s something we’ve seen a lot of. If we’re allowed to play to Martin’s tactic, then it can work well. If we’re put under pressure we don’t come away with the three points. Today, it didn’t; even take pressure to give the goal away. It came from only 1 of their two efforts on target. We wobbled after it went in, unable to move away form the pace and style that gave us so much control of the first half, but simply wasn’t quick or dangerous enough when we needed a winner. Martin will point to the control, the efforts on goal and the ones on target. He will rue an unlikely outcome from one of their very few efforts on target. Behind that, there’s an awful lot to be done to provide a much faster, more dangerous edge to his tactics. We’re a team that continues to be easily undone. From the glaring tactical gaps in earlier defeats through self-made errors to things like today, where it was just a soft goal that we didn’t have enough to bounce back from.

Off the line!

Goals incoming ... Adams off... 🙂

A tackle from behind on Edozie, that Bednarek gets booked for. Thanks ref.

That looked like a bad one on Edozie.

It would have had to have been a special shot from Alcaraz to score form there. Their keeper will be happy with that. There is a reason why Fraser, Edozie and Alcaraz weren;t starting. We're relying on them having to be part of a team that now needs to break Rotherham down, rather than wait for opportunities that might arise with a lead. Meanwhile, ROtherham keen to be direct and make that difficult, sensing at least a point.

All that time spent learnign complicated positioning, possession and passing. Undone in secods by a direct, straight down the park attack. >sigh<

That was an oscar winning dive from one of theirs.

How's his passing? 🙂

Edozie did so well, but didn;t get it across the box in the end. Well, we made our triple subs so let's see if that offers anything.

Oh Noes!!!!!!! Baz chipped!

Adams making sure to block their 'keeper from our corner. Smart considering our record there. 🙂

Fraser looking for those cutbacks. Let's hope Adams will get on the end of one of them.

Crumbs! I had that one going in from Smallbone! Cracking move, and effort.

The changes, not unexpectedly, open us up to make a couple of errors. Which is what Rotherham have been waiting on all game. So, we'll have to stay focused and structured to deal with that; sharper to not give away errors and be ready ourselves to take advantage. Edozie a little rusty after a few games out. Again, to be expected.

Subs.... Arma, Stu and Sulemana off Alcaraz, Fraser and Edozie on More direct with Alcaraz and extra dribbling with Fraser and Edozie to hopefully open up a defence happy enough to sit back, hoping for a break.

Stu...Blazes it Over!

Booking surely! Sulemana did really well there.

That's the second Rotherham ball that could have caused problems had it had the quality to be a complete pass. Not enough to be worrying, but it's just that one goal margin.

Smallbone getting some crossing practice in today. Since he takes up so many poisitons in any game, he's being asked to have a lot of different skills.

Suleman gets it across, beating his man. No real chance of a tap in from anyone, but getting there.

We did a long hoof there, which is a least a little different. It'll be interesting to see how much Martin has instructed the team to break them down, even when we have a lead, and how he's getting them to do that.

Rotherham happy to sit deep. So we've had 100% possession. We've not done anything with it. And we give it away fro a throw in. Now we're one up, so this isn;t something that's as important as it stands. But just a reminder that it would good so see us make the most of such attacks by being a bit more incisive, when possession alone isn;t enough.

12 efforts on goal, 5 on target, 1.5 million passes... A number of nearly efforts too. 80.2% posesson Lovely early goal, and excellent work from Stu. We were patient, we kept good structure across the pitch in and out of possessioon. Lots of work from Smallbone, The Armstrongs and others. Sulemana offers a good outlet. There were a few occassions when a better, attracking pass was available. But 1) there's always going to be that and 2) there were a lot fewer of them than before, indicating a team confident in Martin's instructions faced with a side happy to let them grow into that confidence. They changed their shape, which gave them several minutes of being able to close down the gaps. But we were creating chances again before the break. On the occassions when we gave it away, or when Rotherham got forward, we had plenty back and there was cover. Another plus after some previous shambles. I'm not sure I'm ever going to fully like the pace of MartinBall. It's never comfortable on a single goal lead, but we're as in comand as we can be without a second.

Needed a tap in from Manning's ball. Anyone in the middle. Perhaps we're just not used to having a finisher up front, so we don;t have anyone in there.