Having stsrted to write 3 posts in the last 48 hours and scrapped them all in the hope that time would heal the wound, I can honestly say its not working...
I have no idea how a club can get into the position where over a third of the players are injured. A club that has gone from playing an identifiable system to nothing recognisable as a system.. players who look less like professional footballers than lads playing in the local pub leagues and much less interested in the outcome of games.
Its a complete shambles, I said Watson deserved at least 10 games when the early criticism started, and things did indeed improve, but as we move towards halfway, its hard to see where the, now urgently-needed, improvement is coming from, and worse, I dont really see a solution...Sack the manager, then what? What self- respecting manager would want anything to do with this squad?
Teams are built on spirit, enthusiasm, talent , experience and endeavour, all seemingly lacking, but who assembled this group? What were they thinking? The board said they wanted " technical" players, all well and good until you realise that this is Rochdale and you are going to play most of the season on pitches and in weather that do not lend themselves to " technical" intricate football. Sometimes you just have to dig in and plough on.
EFL2 is the land of giants , six foot, 13,14 stone players are the opposition, you either match them for size , physicallity and athleticism or they run over you, "technical" or not..
The initial poor start was monentarily stalled by the arrival of a 6 foot 6 inch centre half.. it was a clue to what was required....but he cant do anything alone, he needs a team around him and thats the crux of the problem.. we are defensively a wet paper bag.
This team has no spine objectively and metaphorically, EFL2 requires a big target man, a poacher playing off him and a winger providing crosses , ( not 5 wingers and no target). It needs a midfield General, someone who understands how to start attacks and how to stop them. And it needs defenders who know they have to stop crosses, put their head in where it hurts, and mark their man, if neccessary literally. It also needs a keeper who catches crosses, shouts at his defenders and doesn't play silly buggers..., as long as the ball is in the opponents half they won't be bothering him...
You can't just let your man run free and just stand still watching him score.. yes Mr Sherring I am looking at you, or stand 5 yards off him and then let him just run past you..football is a contact sport, make some contact! .
The only thing that has really become apparent is that if a decisionof some sort isnt made quickly, we will end up back in the National League next season. My plan would be a January clear out and rebuld the spine together with a new game plan based on nicking points wherever possible, we know what the target is ..50+ points .. lets set up to do that now with what we have , do some business in January and pray it's enough... Whatever the original plan was, it simply has not survived first contact with the enemy and has to change quickly... And if Watson can't change we will have to find someone who can...!! |  |
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