Gozza

15 minutes ago, AlanGrovesFanClub said:

That would be why Harry Vaughan got binned then. Ironic, given how Mr Rhino was brought in to build up a system / platform for the club to grow, yet we ended up with (a) crap football and (b) no chance for our own youth product in the team. The dream (nightmare) combo. 

If I knew I wasn't a very good coach, I'd probably want to rely on experienced players!

1 hour ago, Flemboy said:

You are right.Meant tongue  in cheek.I went last year and we got battered  .We only had one header all the game.Having said that we are a far better team than last year so may get a win.Worth a bet.

I agree that we have better players but it's possibly a stretch to call them a team!

I live in the South & don't get to see the team in the flesh often apart from TV games. So, what I say is only based on snapshots & can be taken with a pinch of salt.

I saw our last League win at Stevenage, some 15 months ago. In that game, we scored a good goal against the run of play, then sat back as they controlled the game, passed through our midfield for fun &, but for poor finishing, could have scored 4. What I have witnessed in the Borehamwood & Gateshead games is exactly the same (though with some improved pressing in the latter).

In general, I cannot see any improvement over those 15 months. There is no clear structure to the way we play, no control in midfield & no plan B if things go badly. We appear incapable of holding the ball for any length of time as the opposition pass us off the park. We then sit increasingly deep, rely on long balls that rarely find our players & rapidly come back & put us under pressure.

Consequently, while I was content to see how the team performed at the start of this season following the upturn in results after Christmas, I am struggling to see that Unsworth has had any beneficial impact on the way we play. I still see no clear system apart from playing poor football & hoping to sneak a goal. This is no way to take a club forward.

Some illustrious rugby union coaches talk about having leaders on the pitch who can adapt to circumstances as they arise. It's probably essential in a 15 man game & of value with 11 but it will only work when such players have confidence to take such a role. Maybe we are beginning to see that.