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I thought we played well today we just lacked that finishing touch.

4-5-1 worked well in the first half but i felt the 2nd half we needed two strikers up front.

Ifil had a better game and i'm very, very impressed with Tom Heaton.

Roberts looked dangerous when he came on Pooky was ever present again.

I'm sure the others who went will add to this (Whits, Sonic, DV85, Magic, Marie and Asher)

Too tired to write and my pizza's just arrived, no finishing product today - good to meet a few more of you

I feel the same ash, just cooking cheese on toast  8)

have to agree there.

thought first half we played very well.
Heaton was outstanding and for 19 looks very very good.

Second half we should have gone 4.4.2. from the off as Tranmere wern't that good.

when king did change it he fucked up roayaly. why bring on 2 strikers and still keep 4.5.1.??
he should have put heath on the right with roberts on the left and cureton up front.
why he didn't i don't know.
we had no width and even i was joining in the WIDE shout with sonic.

I'll write something really long-winded in a minute.

Bassoon?

Andy King? Why i ask myself? Why haven't you got a fucking clue how to change a formation for the better!?!   Need to get in someone natural on the left, and encourage Shakes to go past players on the right. He didn't fancy it today and just played everything back to Gurney(Shit)!

Heaton looks a very good keeper if we can look to keep him long term.

Cureton should be put down. Useless Cunt...!

And don't get me started on Patrick Collins!!

RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY!

TRANSIT/LDV BOYS ON TOUR....

Despite losing today I left the ground with my head held high and the journey home wasn't depressing at all, I think there are quite a few positives to take out of today's game and I can't understand why people who didn't go were texting in to Wiltshire Sound and calling for King's head and moaning, it really wasn't that bad.

The decision to play 4-5-1 was quite surprising as we don't really have the personnel to play the system properly and we're not the sort of team who can narrowly win games 1-0, so generally it'd be more sensible to play a formation where we are more attacking. However, it did work to an extent - for the first time in ages, we bossed the midfield, won the ball and used it well. We played some good football and created chances using slick passing, getting the wingers involved in the play and unfortunately we simply lacked that final killer pass/cross. Pook, Miglioranzi and Whalley were probably three of our best players today and whilst I'd personally choose a 4-4-2 lineup for Walsall, I'd find it difficult to drop one of those three.

Fallon put the effort in up front - as you'd expect - but despite winning his fair share of headers, there was nobody there to receive the ball when he won it. As a result, the ball often came back at us very quickly. Fallon has the quality to play as a targetman, his hold-up play is improving and his control is also looking much tidier, we simply need to get other players involved quicker - preferably the wingers.

Whilst our central midfielders looked excellent today, I wasn't terribly impressed with Shakes who didn't manage to get many crosses in and rarely took players on. To be fair, he wasn't supported too well by Gurney who was reluctant to get forward as much as you'd expect - I'd presume due to lack of fitness - whereas Heath and Smith got forward to good effect, combining well and other than his lack of crossing ability Heath was excellent today, much more impressive than he was against Yeovil. I'd like to see him up front, he's good with the ball at his feet, he creates space and has good vision.

Defensively we were fairly solid, Gurney was unspectularly solid, strong in the tackle and I'm glad he's back despite my previous concerns. Ifil and Collins looked useful and Ifil's pace was handy against Hume, Collins looks much more comfortable at centre-back.

Finally, Tom Heaton - what a player. Single-handedly kept us in the game early on making a string of vital saves and looks assured, confident, comes for crosses and quite frankly he's far better than Evans has been lately. I'd dearly love it if we could get him here permenantly but I can't see it happening.

Overall the game wasn't terrible, we played some good football and I'm confident we can build from here. The lack of any goals in three away matches  is concerning and we need to get an away goal soon, if only to stop the rot. We were unlucky not to score today and we didn't deserve to lose, nor did Tranmere deserve to win.

On a related note, Tranmere's fans were all deaf and mute I think. There was probably only 250ish of us there but we made a fair bit of noise and it was a good day out, well up for Walsall now.

p.s. Scousers are dead friendly, I've never been to a ground where the stewards actually talk to you as if you're not filth.

totally agree with him!well said!! :nod:

Thanks for the report sonic, very informative. Good to hear Heath did ok, not a complete waste of money then and Heaton is ace.

I'd still rather have Summerbee but he's a quality footballer, just not very good at crossing the ball.

All I can say is...........

Merseyside is the only place in the world where people still think Lacoste tracksuits look good.

And most of them were fake.

Scousers.  :roll:

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Go easy on Curo KingCY.

Least he's got the right attitude (unlike some other ex Brizzolians, ahem).

Thanks for the constructive report sonic.
Having only Fallon up front is negative and wastes our best attacking options, when he is so good at laying off  and holding it, but needs support close to him.
Although they gave a good display, and I don't like commenting on games I don't see, in general I don't think we are a team who can set out to grind a goalless draw, we might as well go for the win which means 4-4-2  in my opinion.

I'd rather lose 3-0 by trying to win than lose 1-0 by trying to draw.

thanks you at last someone who sees what I see

Have to say, I've a certain sympathy with King and his formations.....he knows we're weak in midfield, and with the extra momentum provided by facing a home side likely to be overrun ....therefore the obvious solution is to stiffen the midfield......the Migz, Pook, Whalley axis looks OK and theoretically Heath and Shakes are capable of providing support.

 Theory is one thing practice another, we play 4-4-2 at home  and are conceding an average 2 goals a game....think you could add another on if we use it away.

I'd agree with that Reg, the only option available to King to strengthen the midfield was play 4-5-1 and it worked to an extent, but at the cost of Fallon having any support up front.

Sadly, King did himself no favours by leaving it so long to make the changes - it was blatantly obvious halfway through the first half that we'd never score and he left it so long after Tranmere scored that the substitutions were too late to make a real impact.

Agree with this, though I can sympathise with King and it's a hard call when playing away.

My reasoning is as follows;

For one up front :
Midfield strengthened ( because it's weak?)
Fear of getting hammered, AK afraid of being crucified.
A draw, one point, is better than nothing.
Premiership teams do it successfully.
Our midfield should be able to link up and help Fallon.



For two up front;

4-4-2 worked well at home (with Fallon), and in the past.
They are used to the system.
They have an ideal target man to go with the second striker.
One win equals three draws.
Defence/ midfield is not strong enough to hold opponents to draws.
Teams come to Swindon and do well with two upfield.
A negative message is sent out, we fear you, we're looking for a draw, bad psychology, only one lonely striker.

That's only my view, but I can imagine some of the King Outers being merciless if we came away losing say 4 -0, or 4-2, having attacked more and failed.

Fair analysis normy. I don't think we should use 4-5-1 much this year and I don't think we will.

Well put normy, I'd agree with most of that.

Premiership teams do the 451 well because their players know how to play it. Ours don't.

Exactly, why do people think that we can do it just cos Premiership sides use it?. We havent got the quality to play 4-5-1 its as simple as that.

We had lots of good possession but could not find that quality final ball to put us in with a scoring chance. Migz had chances but dallied and they were gone. Too often he hit the defender with an intended through pass.

Shakes has lost confidence. Always got the ball to his feet and got closed down. Couldn't beat the full back with skills and invariably gave the ball backwards.  Needed to run on to through balls to have an impact but got very few.

Indeed, playing for a draw is just dull, boring and generally the other team will nick one sooner or later.

Plus with us, I think our best form of defence is attack!

Honestly though, is it just me or does anyone else sense a repeat of last season?

I'd put Stef's poor passes down to a lack of match sharpness but you're entirely correct about lacking the quality in the final ball, this is why I still think Summerbee would have been a superb signing.

I agree with Sonic there, Summerbee (when fit) would have been class.

In what manner?

Close.. but no cigar.

ah right.

dunno, expectations were much higher last season...

No where near.. but relegated :|

I'm predicting mid table.. just  :soapy tit wank:

Im predicting we go a whole season without winning an away game maybe without even scoring