Wilkins and tactics

[Kinky Gerbil]

Doug............ that arguement would stand up against the likes of Leeds, Forest or half of the div 1 teams but it was Mansfield for Christs sake.

and in that first 15 minutes we were complacent and thought we would just have to turn up.

Do you not need players to beat Mansfield?

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

As I've posted elsewhere, McGhee was castigated by some fans for playing people out of position, and for making strange selections/substitutions - Wilkins is just as bad.

Lynch was either unfit, not concentrating or not interested yesterday. If Butts was injured after 20 minutes and with Lynch lost at left back, why not bring on Rents early. Of course we all know the answer to that question - Wilkins has no faith in Rents so only played him when he had to and then went an killed any shred of confidence the lad had by putting him on the right wing for.

Fraser and Reid did not work - I'm not convinced either were fit - and yet we go to all the trouble of getting clearance for Martot and don't even get him off the bench. We even put Loft in midfield ahead of him - a man who would struggle to get into many Sunday football teams.

When Mansfield (quite rightly) pulled people back to defend their lead we made it very easy by humping balls down the middle. If we had Cox and Rents playing on their natural sides we could have got the ball wide and put in some decent balls for the forwards to attack. If your wide men always have to stop and go back onto their natural side it makes it a lot easier to defend as you have a bit more time to get back into position.

 

[Questions]

Do you not need players to beat Mansfield?

only ordinary ones...... to beat Mansfield backed up with a certain amount of tactical knowledge.

 

[Questions]

As I've posted elsewhere, McGhee was castigated by some fans for playing people out of position, and for making strange selections/substitutions - Wilkins is just as bad.

Lynch was either unfit, not concentrating or not interested yesterday. If Butts was injured after 20 minutes and with Lynch lost at left back, why not bring on Rents early. Of course we all know the answer to that question - Wilkins has no faith in Rents so only played him when he had to and then went an killed any shred of confidence the lad had by putting him on the right wing for.

Fraser and Reid did not work - I'm not convinced either were fit - and yet we go to all the trouble of getting clearance for Martot and don't even get him off the bench. We even put Loft in midfield ahead of him - a man who would struggle to get into many Sunday football teams.

When Mansfield (quite rightly) pulled people back to defend their lead we made it very easy by humping balls down the middle. If we had Cox and Rents playing on their natural sides we could have got the ball wide and put in some decent balls for the forwards to attack. If your wide men always have to stop and go back onto their natural side it makes it a lot easier to defend as you have a bit more time to get back into position.

Thats just about the size of it. I`ve given Wilkins credit where credits due but yesterday he was very very poor.

 

[The Large One]

Towards the end of the game - the last 20 minutes or so - we played a 3-3-4 line-up.

It counted for nothing as we kept hoofing it into their penalty area, for their guys to mp up far too easily. One of the reasons for hoofing it was that all three central midfielders (Fraser, Reid and Loft) were hopeless. Fraser and Loft I can't castigate too much because (even though they were shite) we know they're not the finished article.

I was particularly disappointed with Paul Reid, someone who we know can play much better, and who is staking a claim for a regular first-team berth, but whose touch, control, positional sense and vision were - and it pains me to say this - utterly inept. Without any kind of work or control from the central midfield, we were always pushing piss uphill.

You can't necessarily account, as a manager, for players not doing as they are told. You tell them, and they don't do it. No wonder Wilkins is nearly bald. However, my one main criticism of Wilkins was playing Lynch at left-back. It's wasy to be wise after the event, but I'd rather have Revell or Robinson at left-back than him. I'm exaggerating, of course, but, knowing his vast shortcomings at that position, and knowing Cox's reluctance to get back, I felt that a decent right-winger would have a good afternoon. And so it proved in the first half. When Lynch moved to centre in th second half, I thought he was fine - really.

For me, the best outfield player (or rather, the least worst) was Adam El-Abd. I thought he hardly put a foot wrong.

But, please Dean - if you have no faith in Sam Rents (and after yesterday, I;m not surprised) get Matt Richards back sharpish.

 

[Questions]

Towards the end of the game - the last 20 minutes or so - we played a 3-3-4 line-up.

It counted for nothing as we kept hoofing it into their penalty area, for their guys to mp up far too easily. One of the reasons for hoofing it was that all three central midfielders (Fraser, Reid and Loft) were hopeless. Fraser and Loft I can't castigate too much because (even though they were shite) we know they're not the finished article.

I was particularly disappointed with Paul Reid, someone who we know can play much better, and who is staking a claim for a regular first-team berth, but whose touch, control, positional sense and vision were - and it pains me to say this - utterly inept. Without any kind of work or control from the central midfield, we were always pushing piss uphill.

You can't necessarily account, as a manager, for players not doing as they are told. You tell them, and they don't do it. No wonder Wilkins is nearly bald. However, my one main criticism of Wilkins was playing Lynch at left-back. It's wasy to be wise after the event, but I'd rather have Revell or Robinson at left-back than him. I'm exaggerating, of course, but, knowing his vast shortcomings at that position, and knowing Cox's reluctance to get back, I felt that a decent right-winger would have a good afternoon. And so it proved in the first half. When Lynch moved to centre in th second half, I thought he was fine - really.

For me, the best outfield player (or rather, the least worst) was Adam El-Abd. I thought he hardly put a foot wrong.

But, please Dean - if you have no faith in Sam Rents (and after yesterday, I;m not surprised) get Matt Richards back sharpish.

f*** me thats twice in a day I`ve agreed with TLO. I`m off.

 

[Easy 10]

When Mansfield (quite rightly) pulled people back to defend their lead we made it very easy by humping balls down the middle. If we had Cox and Rents playing on their natural sides we could have got the ball wide and put in some decent balls for the forwards to attack. If your wide men always have to stop and go back onto their natural side it makes it a lot easier to defend as you have a bit more time to get back into position.

You sir, are so spot on there that I have a jabbing pain behind my left eye after reading that post. Quite HOW Wilkins can justify shoving HEAVILY left-footed Rents to the right of midfield, whilst leaving Cox on the left (which has LONG been a bugbear of mine, as even when he's beyond the fullback, he still seemingly HAS to cut back to cross on his right), just defies all logic. Its a f***ing NO BRAINER to switch them.

On the whole, Wilkins has done a good job. But sometimes................

 

[mona]

It's difficult to win home games when you're not prepared to push players forward. So often it was a slow, predictable build-up that ended with a long ball forward in the direction of our two strikers.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

It's difficult to win home games when you're not prepared to push players forward. So often it was a slow, predictable build-up that ended with a long ball forward in the direction of our two strikers.

Why though?

Because without Hammond or O'Callaghan showing for the ball our back four and nobody to pass to.

 

[Yorkie]

I hate to use the example of Palace but it goes to show that a different manager can turn a set of players around without bringing new ones in. Relegation zone to play off places with an experienced manager like Warnock.

Motivation must start and begin with the manager whoever it is. I do have to agree with Bens Grandad about there being 3 on the bench. Why do we need three coaches there all shouting out something to the team? No wonder the players look confused at times. Which one do they listen to?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I hate to use the example of Palace but it goes to show that a different manager can turn a set of players around without bringing new ones in. Relegation zone to play off places with an experienced manager like Warnock.

Motivation must start and begin with the manager whoever it is. I do have to agree with Bens Grandad about there being 3 on the bench. Why do we need three coaches there all shouting out something to the team? No wonder the players look confused at times. Which one do they listen to?

Are you suggesting that we would be able to get a manager of Warnocks calibre? Plus, he has been using some of the youngsters that are rated at £4m+ and playing MOrrison regularly. Would you care to point out where our multi-million pound youngsters are going to come from?

Your dislike for Wilkins bores me and you have never given him a chance from day one, whether you agreed with his appointment or not.

We are still rebuilding and have lost a key few players over the last two weeks, through no fault of Wilkins. Of course, OGH will save us...

 

[Yorkie]

Do you really think I care whether I bore you or not BOF?
Is Nsc so peer pressured that someone cannot have a different point of view? I'm not going to lie and say I like something when I don't just to please you or any others.

 

[Trigger]

Do you really think I care whether I bore you or not BOF?
Is Nsc so peer pressured that someone cannot have a different point of view? I'm not going to lie and say I like something when I don't just to please you or any others.

Yet you like to have sly little digs at people that don't have the same opinion as you normally?... No offence, just an observation.

Edit: Sorry, forgot the customary jester.

 

[Yorkie]

Yet you like to have sly little digs at people that don't have the same opinion as you normally?... No offence, just an observation.

That's common usage by most Nsc contributors isn't it? Sarcasm, irony and digs? Or do I have be exempt?

 

[Uncle Buck]

Are you suggesting that we would be able to get a manager of Warnocks calibre? Plus, he has been using some of the youngsters that are rated at £4m+ and playing MOrrison regularly. Would you care to point out where our multi-million pound youngsters are going to come from?

Your dislike for Wilkins bores me and you have never given him a chance from day one, whether you agreed with his appointment or not.

We are still rebuilding and have lost a key few players over the last two weeks, through no fault of Wilkins. Of course, OGH will save us...

I tend to agree with you sir.

Although Wilkins got things very wrong yesterday, generally he has us going in the right direction. What he needs this month is backing to get the players he feels we need.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Do you really think I care whether I bore you or not BOF?
Is Nsc so peer pressured that someone cannot have a different point of view? I'm not going to lie and say I like something when I don't just to please you or any others.

I am not expecting you to lie, but would hope there was a bit of rhyme, reason and reality as opposed to disliking someone from day one.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I tend to agree with you sir.

Although Wilkins got things very wrong yesterday, generally he has us going in the right direction. What he needs this month is backing to get the players he feels we need.

Agreed. Essential that the board back him and do not risk forcing their own hand, if results take a downturn.

Race said that quite a few players were ill/jaded, so you have to wonder why he didn't throw in some 100% players. Perhaps there was some ill-judged faith in various players and their likely contributions.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I am not expecting you to lie, but would hope there was a bit of rhyme, reason and reality as opposed to disliking someone from day one.

Blackburn away in the youth cup?

 

[Yorkie]

I am not expecting you to lie, but would hope there was a bit of rhyme, reason and reality as opposed to disliking someone from day one.

I disliked the way he was put in place by DK knowing he was there to get rid of MM and Bob Booker.
I'm also a woman so not expected to be logical

 

[Yorkie]

What he needs this month is backing to get the players he feels we need.

Even though the previous manager didn't?