Mackday Meldrew - Crewe Alexandra

[AC Mack]

Who’s faults that? He is also a contributory factor in our attacking play - probably the most significant one as our only striker. Needs to work more to create and link play. Even a world class striker will only score ~20% of your teams goals, so you need more contributions from him than just that

It's the fault of a number of people. Wyke's not a deep lying forward or some kind of playmaker who will drop deep. It's up to the creators to give him opportunities.

 

[TravellingMackem]

It's the fault of a number of people. Wyke's not a deep lying forward or some kind of playmaker who will drop deep. It's up to the creators to give him opportunities.

Doesn’t matter what he is. Your only striker in a system has to link play and facilitate the other attackers as well. In a standard 433, the closest player to each winger and each CM is usually the striker, therefore he has to offer an out ball. Not asking for Messi, only needs to drop in and take a pass and lay it off to the other CM or winger or whatever it may be. Watch any other team and see what their striker does. A strikers role is much more than just getting on the end of a few crosses. Like I said, a good striker will score something like 20-25 goals a season. To get promoted you need to score something like 80 goals a season. So for 75% of them, Wyke won’t be scoring, so needs to contribute in other ways too.

 

[North of the Smoke]

At first I thought it was good to see some consistency with the formation and line up. I can't imagine Johnson wants to play a 3-4-3, but needs must. But then I looked at the trendy new graphics and they suggested a 4-3-3 would be more likely.

Turned out to be 4-2-3-1. To say it didn't work would be an understatement. We were absolutely all over the place. We couldn't keep the ball, we couldn't get the ball off them, we didn't press, there were gaps all over the pitch when they attacked, yet when we attacked we never had a yard. I'm not sure if it was the formation, the lack of Leadbitter in the middle with his composure and vision, players not comfortable in their positions (O'Nien the obvious stand-out candidate), them having two men up front that we just couldn't deal with, or what. At the very least we needed to push our line of engagement and defensive lines ten yards further up the pitch - we had the midfielders to press, and the pace in the back line to allow for a higher line, yet we just couldn't get any sort of grip on the game. McGeady spent most of the first half in a nowhere position out on the left by the halfway line. He's not going to do much there. Their goals were fully deserved and our makeshift defence was exposed. O'Nien nowhere near good enough as Mandron ghosted past him. Then for the second goal, O'Nien just left the man he was tracking and gave him five yards to pick his spot. And that's just one player. We've seen some bad team performances in the past few years, but make no mistake that first half was right up there.

At half time I'd have at the very least put McLaughlin centre back, moved Power to right back and brought Leadbitter on. I'd have also changed back to a 4-3-3. A 4-2-3-1 just doesn't give McGeady the space to be able to operate. We all want to see more of Jones too, and fortunately that came later.

Second half and a great ball from McGeady gave Wyke half a chance, but until the changes (and some time afterwards) there was little to shout about. I've rarely seen us give the ball away so cheaply so often. Mcfadzean, McLaughlin two of the worst culprits. Then a wonder goal and suddenly the urgency is there. Jones looks too good for this league and every time he gets the ball they were at panic stations. We all know about McGeady's quality but he doesn't have the pace to trouble defences so at least the opposition can plan against him to extent. They simply couldn't deal with Jones. He's quick, direct, his balance and touch are excellent, and as we now know he can strike the ball sweetly too. After that we had a small spell with our tails up, but it came to nothing and they gradually took a bit of control again. Our only threat seemed to be Maguire's set pieces, which were consistently excellent. Then right at the death, Wyke wins a header and my mind is taken back to Burnley all those years ago, and David Connolly. In fairness this was an even better strike. Maguire and Jones seem to have struck up an instant connection, as they were both absolutely buzzing.

Back to reality though and other than two moments of absolute class, we were pretty abject. However, credit where it's due for the fight back.

Next week I want to see us going back to a 4-3-3. Preferably Power, Scowen and O'Nien in the middle but there's always Winchester or Neil if needs be. It my have to be Sanderson and McLaughlin centre backs. Is Flanagan nearly back?

Burge

McLaughlin Sanderson Flanagan McFadzean

Power
O'Nien Scowen

McGeady Jones
Wyke
​

If needs be, Winchester can start and Power/O'Nien at full back with McLaughlin in the middle.

Burge - didn't seem to have much chance with the goals, and wasn't overly worked otherwise. He spilled one or two and was a bit fortunate to get away with them (although one ended up being offside).

McLaughlin - poor in possession and a bit all over the place at times. Even his 'assist' for Jones he let a simple pass get caught up in his feet. He's been much better recently, but wasn't at it today. Worse at left back.

Sanderson - generally fine but couldn't organise us as he has been doing. He put in some decent but desperate challenges.

O'Nien - experiment over! He was horribly exposed for both of their goals (he wasn't solely to blame for either mind, far from it). He just didn't know where to position himself at all. He was often ten yards deeper than he should have been at other times, though he's not a centre back, is he?

McFadzean - he cannot keep the ball. Every time he gets it you worry, or if we're building momentum in an attack, once the ball finds his feet it's game over. And that's before we mention his defending. He was unlucky not to get an assist with an amazing throw in that fooled everyone.

Power - had no real control over the game without the assurance of Leadbitter. It was pinball wizard in the middle.

Scowen - as above really, but he was worse than Power. He runs around and then doesn't do anything with the ball.

Gooch - he looks a bit frustrated at the moment. The odd glimmer but then he's sloppy and sulky.

O'Brien - a couple of decent touches first half, a couple of efforts that missed the target. Not much to write home about.

Mcgeady - they nullified him with their marking and pressing, and we were so much deeper than we should have been he was never going to influence the game. It was also far too congested with the 4-2-3-1. Ineffectual.

Wyke - feeding off scraps. One half chance on his left and a header from a corner. An excellent header to set up the equaliser.

Subs

Jones - he's a class above, that was apparent before his wonder goal. I've mentioned everything about him above really so no point in repeating myself.

Diamond - didn't do much today but his pace is always going to be an asset late on.

Maguire - two superb free kicks, one to put it on a plate for O'Nien and another which nobody got on the end of. Then another decent free kick which Winchester got a head to. His goal was breath-taking, or squeal-inducing.

Winchester - it might have been coincidence but we were a bit calmer in the middle when he came on, and it could have been his presence being felt. It might have just been that time of the game, with them tiring.

Honourable mention to Leadbitter and his one minute cameo. I hope it's not too serious for all our sakes, if today is anything to go by. It'll be interesting to hear people's views on us without him today.

I'd be very surprised if anyone else in the league can be suffering from our injuries yet still have two players on the bench to be able to come on and do what Jones and Maguire did today.

Crewe - Crewe were terrific first half. They pressed, they had a quick tempo, their off the ball movement was excellent. They have some big lads but they played some football at times. Kirk is good on the ball, Lowery and another little one were decent and all over the pitch at times, and Mandron has good off the ball movement. It was like chalk and cheese compared to their performance at the SOL. Credit to their manager too who made a point of shaking every one of our players' hands at the end, didn't moan at the ref, and even gave Maguire a cheeky slap across the face. They're not exactly the archetypal pass and move Crewe that I always have in my head, but they were decent.

Ref - good. They resorted to a bit of timewasting towards the end as you'd expect, but we played nearly 100 minutes so no complaints.

#askdanny what's the thinking with changing formation and leaving our most composed player on the bench? Is it time to unleash Jordan Jones?
I forgot to mention - how good would it have been to be in the crowd at the end?

Very good summary, enjoy reading them.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

We should have scored from one of Maguires free kicks. LJs reluctance to play JJ is on a par with his reluctance to play Sanderson when Willis and Flanagan was clearly not fit. Strange selections for me. To go up automatically we have to be more consistent, simple.

He wasn't anywhere near match fit when he joined, because Gerrard had frozen him out at Rangers (I think he said as much himself in an after-match interview yesterday). It makes more sense until he's up to speed to bring him on with 30 to go against tiring defenders than playing him from the start against fresh ones.

 

[YorkMackem]

MacFazean is a league 2 player at best. Frankly he should be nowhere near a team going for promotion.
AOB has absolutely no end product.

Agree. LJ needs to get a grip because failure to be promoted due to awful team selection will be on his watch as manager .

That's harsh on AOB. What about his consistency? He never fails to lose possession. He is like one of those training nets on Soccer AM.

Then there's McFazean. No credit whatsoever for his ability to change pace. He goes from full sprint to stopping dead on the half way line better than anyone I know.

 

[horselover]

Agree with most but thought Sanderson had a shocker nearly cost us couple of goals and though o nein was caught I think it was wright beside him that would not have happened . Maybe maguire and Jones to start on Tuesday for O'BRIEN and gooch

Tidied

 

[Lord Nigle]

That's harsh on AOB. What about his consistency? He never fails to lose possession. He is like one of those training nets on Soccer AM.

Then there's McFazean. No credit whatsoever for his ability to change pace. He goes from full sprint to stopping dead on the half way line better than anyone I know.

Absolutely!

 

[AC Mack]

Doesn’t matter what he is. Your only striker in a system has to link play and facilitate the other attackers as well. In a standard 433, the closest player to each winger and each CM is usually the striker, therefore he has to offer an out ball. Not asking for Messi, only needs to drop in and take a pass and lay it off to the other CM or winger or whatever it may be. Watch any other team and see what their striker does. A strikers role is much more than just getting on the end of a few crosses. Like I said, a good striker will score something like 20-25 goals a season. To get promoted you need to score something like 80 goals a season. So for 75% of them, Wyke won’t be scoring, so needs to contribute in other ways too.

We didn't play 4-3-3, we played 4-2-3-1.

That's harsh on AOB. What about his consistency? He never fails to lose possession. He is like one of those training nets on Soccer AM.

Then there's McFazean. No credit whatsoever for his ability to change pace. He goes from full sprint to stopping dead on the half way line better than anyone I know.

I did give Mcfadzean credit for the near assist from his throw-in in the first half. There can't have been another player on the pitch who could see that.

 

[TravellingMackem]

We didn't play 4-3-3, we played 4-2-3-1.


I did give Mcfadzean credit for the near assist from his throw-in in the first half. There can't have been another player on the pitch who could see that.

No we didn't. A 4-2-3-1 would have had power and scowen side by side and gooch almost up front. Gooch was left sided CM and scowen right sided CM, Power sitting deeper. We went 4-2-3-1 second half when obrien played off Wyke. I'm not going to argue semantics though. The points valid for either formation - Wyke cost us deerly yesterday and as I've pointed out many times before he'll cost us many points and we won't go up automatically with him in the side

 

[AC Mack]

No we didn't. A 4-2-3-1 would have had power and scowen side by side and gooch almost up front. Gooch was left sided CM and scowen right sided CM, Power sitting deeper. We went 4-2-3-1 second half when obrien played off Wyke. I'm not going to argue semantics though. The points valid for either formation - Wyke cost us deerly yesterday and as I've pointed out many times before he'll cost us many points and we won't go up automatically with him in the side

You could argue it's semantics but the shape changes between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1, as does the role of the striker.

Wyke cost us dearly? Okay mate.

Who do you want in that striker role, exactly?

 

[TravellingMackem]

You could argue it's semantics but the shape changes between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1, as does the role of the striker.

Wyke cost us dearly? Okay mate.

Who do you want in that striker role, exactly?

As I said, he offered no out at all. And we struggled for possession and as a consequence we were 2-0 down. Games lost at that point. This has happened many times with Wyke up front and will continue to happen. And every day we slip further from the front 2 just proves my point more.

 

[samaistonsrightfoot]

A minute into the game Wyke knocked a ball down to O'Brien who volleyed into the orbit of Saturn.

With a minute to go Wyke knocked a ball down to Maguire in almost the exact same postion who volleyed into the top corner.

I like little coincidences like that.

As an aside, we missed Leadbitter yesterday. We simply don't have another player who can receive the ball facing his own goal with a couple of opponents bearing down on him and pass his way out and retain possession. Defenders invariably resort to having to go long, we play a different way and the game turns to ping pong with no composure which will always play into their hands.

 

[Pudding]

Agree with all that, top quality report. Better than the media outlets. You should do this for a living

 

[AC Mack]

As I said, he offered no out at all. And we struggled for possession and as a consequence we were 2-0 down. Games lost at that point. This has happened many times with Wyke up front and will continue to happen. And every day we slip further from the front 2 just proves my point more.

Didn't we gain a point on 2nd yesterday?

 

[TravellingMackem]

Didn't we gain a point on 2nd yesterday?

And lost points on many others around there who are possibly more likely to finish second. Massive opportunity missed yesterday, simple as that.

 

[AC Mack]

A minute into the game Wyke knocked a ball down to O'Brien who volleyed into the orbit of Saturn.

With a minute to go Wyke knocked a ball down to Maguire in almost the exact same postion who volleyed into the top corner.

I like little coincidences like that.

As an aside, we missed Leadbitter yesterday. We simply don't have another player who can receive the ball facing his own goal with a couple of opponents bearing down on him and pass his way out and retain possession. Defenders invariably resort to having to go long, we play a different way and the game turns to ping pong with no composure which will always play into their hands.

We absolutely missed Leadbitter. I just hope in his absence we find a good three who can work together in there. Power with O'Nien and Scowen is an option that's been used before.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

And lost points on many others around there who are possibly more likely to finish second. Massive opportunity missed yesterday, simple as that.

We lost points on Peterborough and Hull. Everyone else dropped points. Two is not "many" in my book.

 

[YorkMackem]

As I said, he offered no out at all. And we struggled for possession and as a consequence we were 2-0 down. Games lost at that point. This has happened many times with Wyke up front and will continue to happen. And every day we slip further from the front 2 just proves my point more.

Can't really blame him for yesterday. We had nobody getting down the flanks all game. The service to him was the worst it has been. He has proved that if you put it on a plate, then he will do the business. When he did receive the ball he'd often had to drop deep and was back to goal and he laid it off well enough.

I've been a big critic of his when he appeared to be lazy, weak and uninterested, but lately but for him and McGeady we'd be where our general play deserves to be, mid table at best.

 

[rubberface]

Can't really blame him for yesterday. We had nobody getting down the flanks all game. The service to him was the worst it has been. He has proved that if you put it on a plate, then he will do the business. When he did receive the ball he'd often had to drop deep and was back to goal and he laid it off well enough.

I've been a big critic of his when he appeared to be lazy, weak and uninterested, but lately but for him and McGeady we'd be where our general play deserves to be, mid table at best.

Mandaron showed how to play number 9 role perfectly.

 

[AC Mack]

Mandaron showed how to play number 9 role perfectly.

Mandron played well yesterday, albeit in a 4-4-2.