2nd Half Performances

[FloridaTerrier]

I'm worried about our 2nd half performances.

Excluding P'boro game where I thought we were excellent in the 2nd half apart from being clinical. (We were fortunate to go in at half time 2-0 though, because they missed a few solid chances).

We were flat in the 2nd half Vs. Morecombe. - Maybe we had killed the game off in the 1st half with 3-0. But, once again not particularly clinical in the 2nd half, a bit flat.

Stevenage - got bullied, out harried, become 1 dimensional and resorted to long ball, which did not suit us whatsoever. By passing the midfield, invited needless pressure and played to Stevenages' physical strengths.

Shrewsbury - I felt we were lackluster in the 2nd half, and didn't really pose much of a threat. More of the same, panicking on the ball, went more direct, and couldn't get a control of the game.

Walsall (Cup) - We capitulated midway through the 2nd half, and truth be told, we were lucky to only lose 3-2 against a League Two side, it could easily have been more. We were all over the place. Which really highlighted our flaws at the back. Hoof Ball, exposed, schoolboy errors in tackles and passing.

Rotherham - Extremely poor, and got bossed around, sending off didnt help, bad calls from referees changed momentum of the game, but once again very poor performance in the second half.

Now, Duffs 3 expectations were Fit, Strong & Organized.

With such weaker performances in the second halves. I am not sure whether we are that fit or particular strong (physicality wise), and/or whether our team has any true heart, passion and desire to be physical (they all seem very nice nice, and dare I say it we need more tenacious b*stards in there, when we get over run on the odd occasion), our midfield often fade away and get over run, our defenders send the ball more direct, we're not clinical enough, and/or teams have found numerous ways to exploit us in our system.

I don't know whether the urgent high press, and intensity that our players (usually) bring in the 1st half is sustainable for us in the 2nd halves, if it's a fitness thing, a mentality or a personnel thing.

I'm not exactly sure what the answer is. But, if we're to truly challenge for promotion this year, we're going to have to figure out 2nd half performances, and improving our game management ability to either close games out or truly be clinical and kill teams off.

There's ALOT for our coaching team to assess, identify and fix early on so far. I believe we've got good people running the team, it'll be a time now where they earn their salt so to speak.

[detox]

All the optimism after the opening game seems to have dwindled a bit, and I agree 2nd halfs we seem to get totally outmanoeuvred now.

The 'press' has been abandoned and the midfield dominance and fluidity gone without trace. The inter passing and movement against Peterborough was a joy to watch, and in the first half of the following game, but what's happened?

Duff seems to have changed tactics for some reason and we're by passing midfield with long diagonal passes of just using the wings to attack. Midfield now seems in chaos, confused and totally absent.

Why?

Whatever it is nobody in midfield seems to know what to do, the slick passing just a memory and now our back line is under constant pressure..and buckling under it.

One thing I noticed from the Rotherham fiasco was how far apart midfielders are from each other. We had several line outs where we didn't seem to have a plan, just chuck it down the line or back to defence..I could see on TV our midfield miles away,far side of the centre circle, and opposite wing back on the far touchline... watching... what's that all about?

We seemed so spread out across the pitch, leaving wide open spaces everywhere. Rotherham just bombed the ball into the spaces and said thank you very much.

At Peterborough we hunted in packs, condensed play far more and it worked a treat, now we're scattered all over the pitch and chasing shadows in a series of one on one. We're too wide open.

Nobody in midfield looks comfortable with this as they're being individually picked off time after time. The tight knit passing game where everyone had several options when they had the ball has gone.

Now confidence has gone, they're under pressure without anyone supporting them. No wonder the passing and ball control has gone, no wonder they're running around like headless chickens.

Duff needs to take us back to the formation and plan that worked so well earlier on .

Midfield is where we've lost games, lost our control and confidence and that's exposed our back line and lead to 2 bad defeats.

[duncfost01]

Interesting thoughts.

Why have we stopped the press that worked so well against Peterborough?

Why do our midfield players look spread out ?

Why is the team so spread out ?

In the second half on Saturday Rotherham were literally all over us. We couldn’t get out.

The side lacks pace.

Let’s see where we are after 10 games.

[dugnet]

The interesting question that MD needs to address (internally and not necessarily publicly) is why did the team set such a high bar against Peterborough and have steadily fallen below that standard. Pace at the back might be an issue ie the wing backs having to sit a bit more but the issue, for me, is a lack of control/composure in midfield.

I won't critique each option in midfield but I do think we are suffering from 2 things overall:

1 - A, negative, mental hangover from the recent past

2 - A lack of genuine leaders in the squad

The two possibly go hand in hand. I know the debate has raged about the lack of a striker, which I understand, but perhaps the addition of characters who lead in the squad might have been as big an issue.

I have said before that MD is learning what he has in the dressing room. I also believe he will be active in managing upwards in what he still needs. The problem he immediately has to address is getting the right balance in team selection and getting more Peterborough 2nd half performances than Rotherham. The players showed they were capable so the base ability is there. What MD has to do is understand the individuals, which I think he will, and get the best out of them. That is about man management. I would note that injuries aren't helping right now too.

To that end the balance between stick and carrot needs to be found. Rightly or wrongly this group doesn't appear o respond well to the stick. The messages post match are realistic but also look to focus on the positives. There is no throwing anyone under a bus a la Brietenreiter. That doesn't mean that MD will be anyway accepting/soft behind the scenes.

Of course our problem is we all want to get back to the Championship this season. Peterborough showed that could be achieved but the last week has shown those standards cannot be guaranteed more often than not. That is the immediate challenge.

Start controlling games and dominating but not getting results because we don't take chances and then the striker issue is the elephant in the room. But the first priority is consistency of performance across the pitch. This period until January will be fascinating but it could also be very frustrating. The problem that the club has is that patience is in short supply across the fanbase. If frustration sets in the club need to be sensitive to the past and demonstrate empathy with the fans and not get into defensive rhetoric on social media.

I am still hopeful but this next few weeks could be significant in how our season pans out. The bigger picture, longer term, I think is going to be fine but immediate term things might be a bit more painful than ideal.

[Ross83]

I don't think it's only restricted to second half performances, I think we have looked terrible since coming out at HT against Stevenage. I don't think it's helped us tinkering with the team for the cup games either, not after such terrible form last season and so many new signings. The "first XI" haven't had chance to gel yet and we've been changing it up game after game.

He needs to get a grip and quick, I've seen nothing like fit, strong and organised players of late. The passing triangles have gone and nobody knows where anyone else is on the pitch! I honestly don't know how you go from P'boro and Morecambe to what we've witnessed over the last couple of games.

[FloridaTerrier]

Sept 2, 2024 6:49:50 GMT 1 duncfost01 said:

Interesting thoughts.

Why have we stopped the press that worked so well against Peterborough?

Why do our midfield players look spread out ?

Why is the team so spread out ?

In the second half on Saturday Rotherham were literally all over us. We couldn’t get out.

The side lacks pace.

Let’s see where we are after 10 games.

All fairly thought provoking questions in response to Detox to be fair Dunc, and I agree with all things Detox said, just as I do with what Detox said.

My viewpoint is, I feel because we were caught out a little against P'boro, and against stevenage I think we opted to not over commit to our press in numbers, to solidify ourselves. BUT, that results in not winning the ball higher up the pitch.

Our midfield spread apart without putting blame on anyone I think is pivotal to our #6 holding role/position. Which in our system has to be a ball playing midfield who can help transition passes and triangles from our defensive line into our midfield group. That's why I think Wiles and Evans have looked a little off it, then probably trying too much, and because the option of a good ball playing #6, means they go missing almost. When Kane came on in that role (I think against Morecambe) it was night and day different how easy he made it looked compared to Hogg. That's not a dig at Hogg. He's not comfortable on the ball, now is he technically sound, and his driven in over hit passes at players expecting players to do something with it, when it's coming at them at 70mph drives me insane.

The side lacks pace - Defensively. Yes absolutely. Running in quicksand. Spencer is pacey, but 2 alongside him slow. Balker being out, didnt help. Hopefully new lad adds pace.

[goodbet]

I think that we need to give Duff a little more time to knock them in to shape.

[royrace]

Sept 2, 2024 20:10:00 GMT 1 goodbet said:

I think that we need to give Duff a little more time to knock them in to shape.

Seems so doesn't it, tbh it's been very underwhelming so far bar Peterborough and from what I've seen so far we're probably no better than mid table, especially when you consider the striker situation.

Hoping for a big improvement, can't really judge anyone yet but some worrying signs imo particularly Evans and the injury situation. Sorenson looked a world beater but the last two he's been terrible, particularly in defence.

[FloridaTerrier]

Sept 2, 2024 20:15:55 GMT 1 royrace said:

Sept 2, 2024 20:10:00 GMT 1 goodbet said:

I think that we need to give Duff a little more time to knock them in to shape.

Seems so doesn't it, tbh it's been very underwhelming so far bar Peterborough and from what I've seen so far we're probably no better than mid table, especially when you consider the striker situation.

Hoping for a big improvement, can't really judge anyone yet but some worrying signs imo particularly Evans and the injury situation. Sorenson looked a world beater but the last two he's been terrible, particularly in defence.

The 2nd half performances aren't a slight on MD. I've liked what I've seen of Duff and backroom staff so far for the most part.


More so, a big worry for me, if we don't address the issue, with whatever the potential magnitude of actions that create the poor 2nd half performances we will throw away leads, and lose games where it's even. Ultimately costing us any chance of promo.

[goodbet]

Sept 2, 2024 20:15:55 GMT 1 royrace said:

Sept 2, 2024 20:10:00 GMT 1 goodbet said:

I think that we need to give Duff a little more time to knock them in to shape.

Seems so doesn't it, tbh it's been very underwhelming so far bar Peterborough and from what I've seen so far we're probably no better than mid table, especially when you consider the striker situation.

Hoping for a big improvement, can't really judge anyone yet but some worrying signs imo particularly Evans and the injury situation. Sorenson looked a world beater but the last two he's been terrible, particularly in defence.

I agree we have who we have until January and there is no knowing where we will be then and what steps will be taken.

I am assuming we will not be signing anyone out of contract.

[digs]

Sept 2, 2024 20:27:48 GMT 1 goodbet said:

Sept 2, 2024 20:15:55 GMT 1 royrace said:

Seems so doesn't it, tbh it's been very underwhelming so far bar Peterborough and from what I've seen so far we're probably no better than mid table, especially when you consider the striker situation.

Hoping for a big improvement, can't really judge anyone yet but some worrying signs imo particularly Evans and the injury situation. Sorenson looked a world beater but the last two he's been terrible, particularly in defence.

I agree we have who we have until January and there is no knowing where we will be then and what steps will be taken.

I am assuming we will not be signing anyone out of contract.

The "It's hard to find quality players in the January window" excuse will be wheeled out as per usual,probably followed by the signing of a player that has no intention of kicking a ball,or one that can't kick a ball

[richhtfc]

I saw a comment from a Barnsley fan that suggested that hanging on to leads was what we can expect with “Duffball”. Seems he likes to go at teams hard in the first half, get a couple of goals and then shut up shop in the second half. Not sure if that’s what he wants them to do, but this Barnsley fan was suggesting that’s what they watched under him.

[FloridaTerrier]

Sept 3, 2024 8:52:31 GMT 1 richhtfc said:

I saw a comment from a Barnsley fan that suggested that hanging on to leads was what we can expect with “Duffball”. Seems he likes to go at teams hard in the first half, get a couple of goals and then shut up shop in the second half. Not sure if that’s what he wants them to do, but this Barnsley fan was suggesting that’s what they watched under him.

Interesting. 

I don't think it's been a case of trying to hang on to leads, more so that we stop doing the principles we do in the 1st halves. High press and in numbers, playing the ball on the deck, getting our wing backs high and wide so we have outlets often. Instead in the 2nd half we resort to more longer and direct balls, and ball bypasses our midfield, which then invites pressure, changing the momentum of games.

[richhtfc]

Sept 3, 2024 14:16:37 GMT 1 FloridaTerrier said:

Sept 3, 2024 8:52:31 GMT 1 richhtfc said:

I saw a comment from a Barnsley fan that suggested that hanging on to leads was what we can expect with “Duffball”. Seems he likes to go at teams hard in the first half, get a couple of goals and then shut up shop in the second half. Not sure if that’s what he wants them to do, but this Barnsley fan was suggesting that’s what they watched under him.

Interesting. 

I don't think it's been a case of trying to hang on to leads, more so that we stop doing the principles we do in the 1st halves. High press and in numbers, playing the ball on the deck, getting our wing backs high and wide so we have outlets often. Instead in the 2nd half we resort to more longer and direct balls, and ball bypasses our midfield, which then invites pressure, changing the momentum of games.

I wonder why we stop doing those things though? Have they been told to press less and keep their shape with a view to being more containing? Or are they tired? Or have the opposition worked a way to counter it and force us on the defensive?