Forum Phoenix
Well-Known Member
Okon was fine. His response was to Leijer asking will he change the way he plays. Which was a stupid comment and clearly isn't the problem, and he said as much. It's also a very naive question and now has people conflating two different things. Possession based philosophy does not mean he can't change shape, structure or tactics. It's a philosophy/style that can function within any shape and does not mean you canno't counter or move the ball quickly or have two DM's or one striker etc etc.
The game...
All four goals should not have happened. We destroyed ourselves with four stupid and completely avoidable mistakes, coach killers, heart breaking for the fans and for the other players for that matter who did have their heads in the game and do care about their careers. Also sorry for JP.
Wombat: "Rosebud and Powell are the elephants in the room. Both are very poor in their current positions." This hugely.
The above combined with Neil's total ineptitude accounted for all of our conceded goals tonight and the lions share of our poor play. I agree with nearly everything BG said too. (great post).
Lose the midfield battle, you will struggle for service and place your defence under constant pressure. I think our defensive structure was largely well organised and mostly decently executed barring Rose and Neil. MV really did not trouble us too often from open play.
Rose is not ready and needs to significantly improve - Victory dominated him with ease.
Powell is not a central midfielder. Persisting with him and Neil are Okon's only two grave mistakes to date as far as I'm concerned.
Neil is probably a lovely guy and I don't wish him ill personally, but I'm a rusted on fan since inception, and I've never wanted to see anyone dropped from the squad like this. Week in week out he costs us goals, lets players get goal side, is continually being caught out of position, slow to recover and on it goes... it's driving me up the wall. This is not about youth. It's about talent. He is obviously not HAL standard. Posc at RB, Galloway LB, Ascroft for Rose and that's a very different game.
As it was. Galling. The only appeasing factor as a fan was the absolute fury in Okon's face and the fact they were surely going to cop it. But not all players should be held accountable. Largely just those above. Galloway was ok. McGing is not the fastest and he can't be blamed for the stupid turnovers that made him look so poor tonight. Faty did very well on Berisha multiple times, worked hard and played a very good game. Izzo was excellent. Felt sorry for him pulling off such a great save to keep things 0-0 only to have to cop bullshit after bullshit soft goal.
Monty was trying to pick up everyone else's slack again. But he needs more than a slow thinking (football wise) kid, an out of position striker and a pouty Portuguese around him. Pain was clearly unsettled by the experience. His worse game for us, disappointing timing. Muscat was wrong about him and he should have backed himself and stuck it to him. I hope he learns from it. But he's earned some tolerance for his failure and his second half was better. Roy fluffed his lines, but you get that and I would still not say he was poor - though he did look sick to death of losing like that and why shouldn't he. Appiah does not convince me that he will ever be starting 11 quality but at least he tried hard. I thought we improved when Berry came on. How can you not love Trent. Great finish. Didn't think Fab was as bad as everyone else seems to - had a few bright moments in attack and even one good defensive one. And I think everyones wrong saying he's passed his used by date. He needs to be facing goal and he rarely is because the engine room is not functioning. People are being far too judgemental imo. Would prefer to have him on the field than Powell.
I currently see no point playing three in the mid. Should put Trent up front with Roy and allow Roy who is good on the ball to drop back in for the link play - as he's good on the ball - and then get himself into the box after Trent, Pain or Fab breaks. Stupid having Rose or berry start and Trent on the bench.
MV were so arrogant in their victory - Muscat was the absolute personification of the ultimate smug wanker in his presser.
I really hope Galloway and Pain saw and felt MV's smugness, how unlikeable it is, and that in two years they're with us when we win the league with Okon.
We will be a different team with Roux and Tav back but the club needs to bring in reinforcements. Mob is getting angry again, Okon cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear as my dear dead granny used to say, and the other fans I speak too and also I suspect our experienced players are being pushed to the edge again now.
Morale will be low. NYE game is important, but a 3 day turn around after playing in that heat is obviously not good. You can't realistically expect Roy, Monty or Faty to be at their best if they back up, and the last thing we need is another injury to a senior player.
The game...
All four goals should not have happened. We destroyed ourselves with four stupid and completely avoidable mistakes, coach killers, heart breaking for the fans and for the other players for that matter who did have their heads in the game and do care about their careers. Also sorry for JP.
Wombat: "Rosebud and Powell are the elephants in the room. Both are very poor in their current positions." This hugely.
The above combined with Neil's total ineptitude accounted for all of our conceded goals tonight and the lions share of our poor play. I agree with nearly everything BG said too. (great post).
Lose the midfield battle, you will struggle for service and place your defence under constant pressure. I think our defensive structure was largely well organised and mostly decently executed barring Rose and Neil. MV really did not trouble us too often from open play.
Rose is not ready and needs to significantly improve - Victory dominated him with ease.
Powell is not a central midfielder. Persisting with him and Neil are Okon's only two grave mistakes to date as far as I'm concerned.
Neil is probably a lovely guy and I don't wish him ill personally, but I'm a rusted on fan since inception, and I've never wanted to see anyone dropped from the squad like this. Week in week out he costs us goals, lets players get goal side, is continually being caught out of position, slow to recover and on it goes... it's driving me up the wall. This is not about youth. It's about talent. He is obviously not HAL standard. Posc at RB, Galloway LB, Ascroft for Rose and that's a very different game.
As it was. Galling. The only appeasing factor as a fan was the absolute fury in Okon's face and the fact they were surely going to cop it. But not all players should be held accountable. Largely just those above. Galloway was ok. McGing is not the fastest and he can't be blamed for the stupid turnovers that made him look so poor tonight. Faty did very well on Berisha multiple times, worked hard and played a very good game. Izzo was excellent. Felt sorry for him pulling off such a great save to keep things 0-0 only to have to cop bullshit after bullshit soft goal.
Monty was trying to pick up everyone else's slack again. But he needs more than a slow thinking (football wise) kid, an out of position striker and a pouty Portuguese around him. Pain was clearly unsettled by the experience. His worse game for us, disappointing timing. Muscat was wrong about him and he should have backed himself and stuck it to him. I hope he learns from it. But he's earned some tolerance for his failure and his second half was better. Roy fluffed his lines, but you get that and I would still not say he was poor - though he did look sick to death of losing like that and why shouldn't he. Appiah does not convince me that he will ever be starting 11 quality but at least he tried hard. I thought we improved when Berry came on. How can you not love Trent. Great finish. Didn't think Fab was as bad as everyone else seems to - had a few bright moments in attack and even one good defensive one. And I think everyones wrong saying he's passed his used by date. He needs to be facing goal and he rarely is because the engine room is not functioning. People are being far too judgemental imo. Would prefer to have him on the field than Powell.
I currently see no point playing three in the mid. Should put Trent up front with Roy and allow Roy who is good on the ball to drop back in for the link play - as he's good on the ball - and then get himself into the box after Trent, Pain or Fab breaks. Stupid having Rose or berry start and Trent on the bench.
MV were so arrogant in their victory - Muscat was the absolute personification of the ultimate smug wanker in his presser.
I really hope Galloway and Pain saw and felt MV's smugness, how unlikeable it is, and that in two years they're with us when we win the league with Okon.We will be a different team with Roux and Tav back but the club needs to bring in reinforcements. Mob is getting angry again, Okon cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear as my dear dead granny used to say, and the other fans I speak too and also I suspect our experienced players are being pushed to the edge again now.
Morale will be low. NYE game is important, but a 3 day turn around after playing in that heat is obviously not good. You can't realistically expect Roy, Monty or Faty to be at their best if they back up, and the last thing we need is another injury to a senior player.
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