Stone - 2 - We need a new keeper if Tiernan isn't up to it.

Brindley - 2 - Shambolic. Not up to the standard.

Baldwin -  4 - One of his more chaotic performances.

Cameron - 4 - Perhaps the better of the backline, but hardly a ringing endorsement. 

Nemane - 4.5- Good goal. Nothing offensively beyond that, crap at the back as per.

Jones - 6 - All the decent crosses came from his side.

Bostock - 4.5 - Wasn't at his unplayable best today.

Austin - 5.5 - Can't really fault him. 

Crowley - 6 - Well marshalled but toiled away. 

Langstaff - 7 - What a player.

McGoldrick - 5 - Off it today. 

 

O'Brien - 5

Sanderson - 5 

 

If anybody is under the illusion that we don't need at least one defender and a new keeper - show them that highlights reel. 
 

Our back 3 plus goalie today  had very low ratings from me. Nemane and Bostock not up to it today.

Our defense is simply not good enough at this level, so we need to have more bodies defending our last third of the field especially away.

We need to change our system playing away. Every team has found us out. They concede possession, and hit us on the break, and it is working for them.

I believe we should be more defensive minded away. Concede possession & defend our own third & hit them on the break.We cannot keep playing the same system when we have 65% or more of possession and still get hammered.

 

Edited January 1, 20241 yr by Robbie__64

Just back home, have to endorse both above

We had the 2nd worst defence in the NL based on possession % without the ball. This is now being translated into the worst defence in EFL2 as better players expose our defensive deficiencies

Dont get me started on Stone...

That's a worrying Stat @Piethagoram 

Everyone plus myself is waiting for new players to come in, but should we be looking to be a little bit more defensive, at least in away games by changing the way we play by defending our last third in numbers, then look to break when we can?

 

As I said a few games ago, we need a rethink if we want to continue to challenge. It's not working at the moment, some just aren't up to it. On the ther hand if you'd offered me this position at the start of the season I would have taken it, we are far better off than I thought we'd be. Getting greedy I suppose.

I agree @DonnyNotts . Our total football style of play worked well in the National League but this is a step up and at away matches we must be much more cautious and play more defensively. I know it's not Luke's way but it is a case sometimes of having to adapt to new realities.

 

i dont think i can rate the players any better than @Super_Danny_Allsopp, or differently i should write.

i think stone could be more capable with protection, but we will always invite chances whilst we defend as we did. those balls which we struggle to focus or defend, are just so inviting for teams to get hold off.

richard brindley seems to be a good option, but only when he's not always starting.

hes too inconstant as a cb.

Looking at our dismal away performances of late I think like you all we need to adopt an away strategy along with a plan 'b' which is something that is never implemented because there is no plan 'b'. Although we have stepped up to a league where some players are out of their comfort zone, realising and doing something about it is another matter. The January window now offers us a chance to rectify that and bulk up the squad. Again I agree that if we thought at this juncture of the season we'd be in a playoff position last year, no problem we would of jumped at it. COYP 

I maybe out on a limb here, but individually the defenders are not good enough per se. If we change our style, possession % may significantly drop. We need Macari and 2 other decent options

Agree @Michael D P if a team is leaking goals like no tomorrow one  has to have a plan B. Of course look for new players, but even new players will find it difficult by the way we keep exposing ourselves on away trips. Of course we would like to win every away game, but most clubs play not to lose away, & if they get a win, that's a bonus.