Hope this saves you time
TWO games played, eight goals conceded, one scored and an embarrassing second half last Saturday. What do you plan to do?
Nick, Honley
Get back to the kind of form we showed in November.
Of course we are concerned about the goals against tally in the last two games, although I don’t think it would have been that figure had Matt Glennon not been harshly sent off at Southend.
We know we can keep clean sheets because we did it last month, and we have been working on getting back to that level of defending.
We might have lost 4-0 at Leeds, but I certainly wouldn’t consider it a drubbing.
We were on top for the first 45 minutes and started the second half reasonably well, but defended badly on three or four occasions and got punished.
In most other games, Leeds have been creating around 20 chances on goal. We managed to restrict them to eight.
At the other end of the pitch, we have to get back to getting the ball into the opposition box and getting on the end of those chances. We know we can do that as well.
I WAS very surprised that you moved Andy Holdsworth from central midfield given his form in that role. Did you consider playing Michael Collins at right-back (against Leeds) and keeping Holdsworth in midfield?
Chris, Huddersfield
I didn’t consider it because I don’t consider Michael a defender. He doesn’t have the necessary attributes to play in that role.
Aaron Hardy is the only other option really, but he is only just getting back from injury and wouldn’t have been ready.
Andy Holdsworth has a lot of experience at right-back and against Leeds, you know it’s highly likely that you will be coming under a lot of pressure.
You need full-backs who have experience in that role, not rookies.
I WAS very disappointed with Frank Sinclair’s sending off at Southend and his high number for the club (three). Do you share my concerns and has he been fined?
Johnny, Holmfirth
I’m not going to say whether he’s been fined because that’s an internal matter.
I will say that I was disappointed with the red card, and we’ve had a long talk about it.
He’s disappointed with himself, and he knows the four-match ban imposed has caused us quite a few problems. He’s very repentant.
In my experience, I think it’s out of character for Frank to react the way he did at Southend.
I wasn’t here when he received his first red card, but the one he got down at Walsall earlier this season, for a second bookable offence, was harsh.
DO you think Alex Smithies’ confidence will have been affected by his two first-team appearances?
Bill, Dalton
No. I think that in the long run, it will prove a very beneficial experience, and although we lost 2-1 to Birmingham, Alex produced a good performance in the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday.
He’s also been upbeat in training, and is naturally a confident lad.
He’s also self-critical, and I know he’s studied the film of the Southend and Leeds games to pick up pointers as to where he can improve.
Alex has a good temperament and he understands that as a keeper, you’re the last line of defence, so when you make a mistake, it’s more likely to cost a goal that when an outfield player makes one.
Keepers have to accept that and have a strong will, otherwise they won’t make it in that position.
I certainly wouldn’t attach any blame to Alex for the Leeds defeat, and playing in front of that size of crowd and living in a man’s world, if you like, will have been good for him.
Because of Simon Eastwood’s injury, Alex has been in and around the first-team squad for a while, and he’s very highly thought of, not just by us but by the England age-group coaching staff as well.
