Mayenda and Isidor


Another very similar performance to the others that have gone before. Decent at times, but the match could have gone either way. A familiar pattern by now.

In keeping with being fair to the manager, that's two on the belt that the manager hasn't started our best player but we've won the match. Credit where it's due.

But, does anybody really fancy us in the play offs the way we're playing at the moment? I mean really? I can see what's coming a mile off.

I've been saying for months that we can't control matches and we need a different formation and slightly different personnel on the pitch. The assumption has been that we have the players but we just haven't found the right formula, don't know about anyone else but at this point I'm scratching me head wondering: do we actually have the players?

Ever the optimist, I'm gonna put my faith in Le Fee being back beginning of April, played in the middle of the pitch, we look and are a much better team.

Otherwise, can see what's coming a mile off.

As for the question: at this stage, I would much rather see Wilson and Mayenda play together than five in midfield. We know by now that it's not going to be enough, unless Le Fee comes back in the middle of the pitch and it all clicks.

3 of Rigg, Niel, jobe and brown are just getting in each others way..we don't need three of them in the middle all the time

Aye away at west Brom etc.. you want that congestion..but not at home in a game we want to be open with bodies in the box constantly, and instinctive finishers on the ball
 
I’d love to see it being given a go from the start but anyone else reconsidering if it’s really the way forward?

To be fair to Le Bris he has given it a go for about 50 minutes over the last 2 games and for me it hasn’t really worked.

It’s not just the link up but going 4-4-2 I don’t think helps us. We started losing the midfield battle against Wednesday and we’re hanging on at the end.

Today by far our best period was early in the first half which was partly down to how relentless we were at winning it back in midfield and being able to build an attack again.

They are our best attacking threats so would be great to find a way to get them on the pitch together but 4-4-2 I’m not sure works. If anything for me it has to be like earlier in the season where Mayenda takes Roberts place where we keep our 4-3-3 shape but he drifts somewhere between the wing and a second striker
We surrendered the midfield at Wednesday once Mayenda replaced Mundle on the wing - before that we were in control as a 442
 
Might be controversial amongst the fan base but I think Mayenda is better than Isidor. I think he offers much more throughout the game
 
Aye away at west Brom etc.. you want that congestion..but not at home in a game

There's an assumption that the manager is picking a team and a way of playing that prevents us from being at our best. I've assumed that at times.

I would question that assumption at this point.

Maybe, just maybe, he's getting the very best out of the players he has at his disposal.

I'm gonna go with those who say play them together as two centre forwards in any match because I'm not seeing a better option that he's tried, unless Le Fee gets fit in time and plays in the middle of the pitch.
 
There's an assumption that the manager is picking a team and a way of playing that prevents us from being at our best. I'm assumed that at times.

I would question that assumption at this point.

Maybe, just maybe, he's getting the very best out of the players he has at his disposal.

I'm gonna go with those who say play them together as two centre forwards in any match because I'm not seeing a better option that he's tried, unless Le Fee gets fit in time and plays in the middle of the pitch.

I'm just saying play them both in home games against poor opposition.

His record in tough away games is very good, I'll leave that to his better judgement
 
It was clear in the first 10 minutes that Cardiff where there for the taking, we then took foot off the pedal

It happens every match. What might not be being grasped is that they're not taking their foot off the pedal. The best they can do is look dominant for 15 minutes or so in a match. It's happened all season bar the odd game here and there.
 
There's an assumption that the manager is picking a team and a way of playing that prevents us from being at our best. I've assumed that at times.

I would question that assumption at this point.

Maybe, just maybe, he's getting the very best out of the players he has at his disposal.

I'm gonna go with those who say play them together as two centre forwards in any match because I'm not seeing a better option that he's tried, unless Le Fee gets fit in time and plays in the middle of the pitch.

You can’t watch the opening 20 minutes today, then the subsequent 50, and say he’s getting the best out of them.
 
Our most effective game this season, given the opposition and our injury ravished squad, was sheff utd at home..he was forced to play 4-4-2... We conceded a lot of possession but looked like scoring every time we got the ball, and quite rightfully beat them, with mayenda and Isidor causing them absolute hell

Maybe Sheffield Wednesday away wasn't the time and place, but hull / Cardiff / Portsmouth/ Luton certainly was.
You’re missing that Sheffield Utd could be relied on to have lots of the ball.

Hull, Cardiff, etc won’t keep it like that, so we’d have two strikers and miss a midfielder in the build up. We’d then cede control of the game

It might not be to your taste or always work, but it’s the principle behind why the midfielder is desired over the second striker
Our most effective game this season, given the opposition and our injury ravished squad, was sheff utd at home..he was forced to play 4-4-2... We conceded a lot of possession but looked like scoring every time we got the ball, and quite rightfully beat them, with mayenda and Isidor causing them absolute hell

Maybe Sheffield Wednesday away wasn't the time and place, but hull / Cardiff / Portsmouth/ Luton certainly was.
You’re missing that Sheffield Utd could be relied on to have lots of the ball.

Hull, Cardiff, etc won’t keep it like that, so we’d have two strikers and miss a midfielder in the build up. We’d then cede control of the game

It might not be to your taste or always work, but it’s the principle behind why the midfielder is desired over the second striker
 
I'm just saying play them both in home games against poor opposition.

His record in tough away games is very good, I'll leave that to his better judgement

On the whole, I reckon he's done well and has earned the right to have another crack at it next year. I don't have a problem with the manager.

At this point though, the manager needs to come up with a bit of magic because this team isn't going up. The good news is that he has a few matches to put it right.

He's not an idiot. He'll know this team has serious limitations when it comes to being good enough to go up. It'll be a test of his capabilities: can he come up with something better (he'll need to)?

We've tried a few different players in the middle of the pitch. I don't see a unit that other teams will be worried about in the play offs. If that can't work, put the two lads together upfront and give them free rein to cause havoc.
 
You’re missing that Sheffield Utd could be relied on to have lots of the ball.

Hull, Cardiff, etc won’t keep it like that, so we’d have two strikers and miss a midfielder in the build up. We’d then cede control of the game

It might not be to your taste or always work, but it’s the principle behind why the midfielder is desired over the second striker

Who gives a shit about ceding control to poor sides. Any two of our CMs are more than capable of keeping a tight ship against the bottom sides .

Our problem isn't controlling midfield, our problem is not putting chances away. Hence, put your best two finishers on on the field

You don't win points for possession
On the whole, I reckon he's done well and has earned the right to have another crack at it next year. I don't have a problem with the manager.

At this point though, the manager needs to come up with a bit of magic because this team isn't going up. The good news is that he has a few matches to put it right.

He's not an idiot. He'll know this team has serious limitations when it comes to being good enough to go up. It'll be a test of his capabilities: can he come up with something better (he'll need to)?

We've tried a few different players in the middle of the pitch. I don't see a unit that other teams will be worried about in the play offs. If that can't work, put the two lads together upfront and give them free rein to cause havoc.

RLB is universally very well liked at the club by 99.9% of supporters , and in the very real scenario where we don't go up, every single one of us will want him to stay on for at least one more season

That doesn't mean he isn't without fault though
 
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Who gives a shit about ceding control to poor sides. Any two of our CMs are more than capable of keeping a tight ship against the bottom sides .
You’re misunderstanding again. We often play 4-4-2 out of possession, so clearly have no issue with 2 CMs defensively against the opposition

The issue is in possession, one picks a midfielder over a striker to attempt to dominate the ball and game and to make more chances for the strikers/forwards

Again, you may not like it but that’s the point of it all
 
It happens every match. What might not be being grasped is that they're not taking their foot off the pedal. The best they can do is look dominant for 15 minutes or so in a match. It's happened all season bar the odd game here and there.
I honestly put a lot of it down to the manager. I think he’s negative and never changing things up at half time, subs wise, is why we have players floundering now.
 
You’re misunderstanding again. We often play 4-4-2 out of possession, so clearly have no issue with 2 CMs defensively against the opposition

The issue is in possession, one picks a midfielder over a striker to attempt to dominate the ball and game and to make more chances for the strikers/forwards

Again, you may not like it but that’s the point of it all

I get that..but how does having an extra midfielder when we are in the opposition final third equal us scoring more goals? Because it doesn't..

4-4-2 out of possession, great..press thier defensive players into loose balls.. but if your going to sacrifice a CM when out of possession why not just play a forward anyway, so when we gain possession we have two players who's natural instinct is to get in the box and get shots away..

Not to turn back and play sideways passes..

Again, I'm not saying this should be done every game, only in games at home against lesser opposite
 
That doesn't mean he isn't without fault though

Clearly, like everyone else on this planet.

The question at this stage is: does he have the players to do better?

I've watched very similar performances week after week, playing well in patches and then being pinned back, I'd always assumed we have the players but we just haven't found the right formula.

The penny has dropped. We probably don't have the players. That being the case, set the lads free upfront, let them cause havoc. That is going to be our best outlet to getting on top of teams, unless Le Fee comes up with the magic in the middle of the pitch.
I honestly put a lot of it down to the manager. I think he’s negative and never changing things up at half time, subs wise, is why we have players floundering now.

Don't understand this line of thinking. When was the last time we dominated a game of football? If the players were good enough to do that, they'd do it.
 
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