THE CONCRETE ROUNDABOUT (TCR)

Putting aside how bad were Morecambe, which we all recognise, I thought there were some clear advances yesterday.

First, Crowley coming into deep positions to collect the ball enabled us to beat their high press more effectively. Morecambe didn’t press too hard, but they still had at least four players around our box - something that has stifled us completely since January. I had thought we had self destructed by exiting Harrison, but I was wrong. This simple change helped us play most the match in the opposition half.

Next, leadership. Last week I argued for stronger leadership throughout the club, but especially in the coaching and team (and fanbase as it happens). Yesterday, I saw leadership from Gladwin in the team selection (dropping Kelly) and tactics (the Crowley tactic). Also in Gilbey, Offord, Crowley (though he has always shown it to be fair), Maguire (good to have him back), Evans and White. White and Crowley are showing what they can do as a partnership. That leadership critical mass even inspired Namane to do a bit more.

We were more fluid yesterday with more movement, with less predictability and greater penetration in their half.

In not sure about Orsi over Hogan, but time will tell.

We became more static when White and Evans came off and Kelly and Williams came on. So there’s a lesson.

Finally, we fans got more behind the team when we saw the potential sparks of revival. A long way to go and Port Vale will be a bigger test. However, we can be happy that at least we are beginning to take the corner if we have not yet turned it.

I didn't see the game, so that's good, positive thoughts - especially about leadership on the pitch.

We had a mixture of relief and hope

Some genuine attempts to get dangerous balls in the box and make some penetrating runs

There was a decent amount of positivity about the place

_________________
Warnes World, Warnes World. Party time. Excellent

One key was dropping Kelly and Crowley doing the job (a lot better) of navigating play out of defence. White did it earlier in the season until Kelly took the role. With Crowley willing to collect and White and Evans moving the ball through the thirds, we actually looked potent.

I'm no good at analysing all this stuff (never have been) but you lot are probably right.
All I can say is (to steal a quote from Robbo) "We had a right good go at them" from start to finish.
And that, kiddies, was most enjoyable to watch.

_________________
Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment

I thought that we looked a lot better yesterday, albeit against the second from bottom side and that illustrates how bad things have become.

All of the player selections and substitutions seemed to make sense.

Would quite like to see O'Reilly getting more game time. He always looks a threat when he comes on. He could possibly make a useful false 9, or just play as the forward.

White and Crowley ran the show and I’d like to see them start like that against port vale. Jury is still out for me on Nemane (how he got MotM is beyond me) he’s way too inconsistent and I’d far rather we pushed more down the left with Tomlinson. It was a good showing against a painfully shite Morecombe side.

He takes way too long to pass/shoot/cross then gets caught out

I'm not a fan full stop and have no ideas how he got mom

_________________
Warnes World, Warnes World. Party time. Excellent

Nemane looks like a completely different player than at the start of the season. It must be confidence because he was absolutely battering full backs

We aren't playing him in quite the same way. Nemane has one trick which is to isolate a full back and knock-and-run past him. This requires him to draw the full back and for there to be 10-15 yards of dead space in behind the full back, which he is simply not getting any more as we are not occupying the opposition centre halves as we used to. It's now easier for a centre half to become free and zonally cover the dead space behind the full back. This is very easy to defend against if you have no other duties; see Konate for Liverpool covering Trent AA's dead space when Haaland wasn't playing.