There is definitely emerged a pattern of our games that have become frustratingly familiar. On Saturday we weren't amazing, or terrible but whilst we had most of the play Swindon never actually ever look that dangerous. We never seem to continually create openings or pepper shots on goal in a 20/30 minute spell. We play some good football that eventually leads to a half chance that Josh Davison invariably doesn't take, but you wouldn't ever call us a dangerous side.
Again first half hour we were the better side, prompting and probing and actually forcing their keeper into a couple of good saves. Davison has to score his chance but give credit to the keeper for a smart save. As always, the opposition then gets a little foothold into the game and our lack of being able to do anything when we have dominated possession, whilst not coming back to haunt us, makes things harder. Second half was like a dull boxing match that probably would have been a draw on both judges scorecards. Neither team really looked like scoring, aside from the openings Davison had/didn't have.
Rochdale at home actually have a good record against the top sides and so I guess a draw isn't the worst result in the world but at this stage, where we really should be putting these sides to the sword. I dare say having McKirdy available might have made a difference, but Rochdale were organised at the back so maybe not. I think we miss Reed of course, without him we never seem to win (Not sure if that's a fact or not) and he really makes the side tick. If fit enough I'd be tempted to start Egbo on Saturday as he looks miles more of a threat than Hunt on the right, shame about his final delivery however.
The main thing I think that is missing from us is our intensity. The way we set out is to dictate play, pull the opposition out of position and punish them. But I don't think we play with enough intensity to actually do that. Let's not forget these are L2 players and so playing a possession game means not losing the ball and the more intense you play, the more likely you are to lose the ball. Newport is now massive on Saturday. Not quite a winner takes all, but as I mentioned in the MDT, the loser is really playing catchup as we move into Hot Cross Bun territory.
It’s feel at times like we’re a team of stat padders.
The more passes the better. The more possession the better.
We don’t have enough players who want to (maybe allowed to?) take a gamble.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the player that loses possession for us most often is McKirdy because again he’s the only player we have with any impetus to run forward with the ball & try to create something. Obviously that’s a gamble, it might work - he might lose possession but you have to take those gambles if you want to win games.
Passing back 5 yards to Reed is only going to get us so far.
I’m not in the ‘get forward’ all the time every time aimlessly but there is no harm in mixing it up. It’s how we got the win against Sutton.