I'm pretty sure Orient would have set out to 'do a job' on MK yesterday and yet that game had a rather different outcome. We are a top 4 side and the vast majority of teams in the division are going to play that way when visiting any top 4 or top 6 side, it's a fact of life. Our inability to address this and find a way round it has been for me, by far the biggest disappointment in a generally excellent season. It's cost us a top two spot IMO.
Absolute spot on.
I know many quote Cooper has no plan B but as you said OST teams will come to the CG and park the bus particularly those at the bottom of the league. Identical approach from Yeovil yesterday to Crawley and both the same outcome.
I noticed so many times that Rodgers for example and don't just want to single him out got the ball and automatically looked behind him to find a backwards pass.
Yesterday was crying out for width, small triangles in the corners to allow crosses to the near post.
Instead we tried a few times to beat the defender and every time we came back inside when they banked up on Byrne and Gladwin.
Like Crawley they put two lines of 4 inside their own half and simply let as pass, pass and pass without concern until we got in the danger area. Infact we looked more dangerous when they had the ball as they were not comfortable passing it around.
For far too long yesterday the ball was not in the danger area and their keeper had little to do.
We need to shoot more, but hit the target. Bristol City a prime example.
Due to our fixed style we look better away from home when we are given space to attack in.
Hope Cooper learns from that yesterday and when we are face with a similar game plan, like we will we comfortably beat a real poor team.
As you said MKD v Orient that is how it is done.
