A way forward?

I've been mulling over this since Friday and the negativity that the performance has brought online.

I think the first half performance was indicative that Jardim picked the wrong starting line-up. I think there is a general consensus that Townsend was possibly jet-lagged and Carney, despite his mistake v Harrogate, may have been a wiser choice. The defence was just wrong (perhaps Cam Evans at RB instead of Brennan and Brennan deployed elsewhere) and CBR for Hudlin was bizarre. The midfield is a minefield at the moment, players putting in decent performances one game followed by sloppiness the next. Sometimes the decent/sloppiness axis is demonstrated from one half to the other.

So what to do?

Defensively we seem to have the wrong players to play how Jardim seems to want to play. Jardim has stated that he prefers to play a four at the back, which requires full-backs, which County don't have. So is the answer to return to five at the back? I don't think so, because no-one in the defence is either tasked with organising the defence, or has taken it upon themselves to organise the defence, and so the more cluttered the defence is, the more confused the CB's seem to become. So County can't seem play either 4 or 3/5 at the moment. The answer is probably to continue with the 4 but to nominate someone to take charge of the defensive effort and responsibility when the video analysis is carried out post match. I've seen Jameson looking like he's taken control in some games, but not in others. I wonder whether this wasn't something given to him, but something he assumed, and with Clarke back he doesn't feel comfortable doing. The major problem atm defensively is the left hand side, where most goals are coming from. I noticed on Friday that Glennon and Brennan (both playing FB) were slightly advanced of the two CB's defensively. It should be easy to solve if you have someone shouting at them to get back a bit, or an understanding that should one FB go forward then someone drops back to cover them.

Midfield seems to be generally better this season to last, or at least seems to be easier on the eye, with much flexibility between positions. Jardim seems to have not found the right balance yet, perhaps because of injuries, but also because (similar to the defence recently) he's trying to fit square pegs into round holes. Kamwa is an out and out winger and won't come back too often to defend, Keiron Evans isn't really a right winger but isn't doing too bad an impression of one. Both Wildig and Morris can play DM but both like to play further up the pitch, so are possibly CM. Likewise Antwi. Miley who looked like a DM when not injured is injured. Mawene looks better going forward than stuck deep. Again it's all indcative of an owner using a scatter-gun approach to recruitment without having 1) sacked the previous Manager or 2) appointing a new Manager before making these signings. Jardim may have some 'wiggle room' in January if some of the loans are cancelled or players signed in the summer are sent out on loan themselves.

The attack is basically Hudlin. He's the only fit player who is capable of winning headers and/or holding up play. CBR can do it to some extent (mainly holding off players, but not winning headers) but Jephcott and Kiban Rai are not that sort of player. The problem is that Hudlin rarely has anybody close enough to him to take advantage of the second balls. He needs a second striker. I'm not convinced that CBR is the answer to that. Jephcott or Rai could be, but both weren't playing with great confidence earlier in the season and unless they start being involved from the bench are not going to gain any confidence. Personally I think Rai would have benefitted from going out on loan, but with Kargbo getting injured I guess that was taken off the table. Jephcott just needs to be somewhere in the opposition box where the ball hits him and goes in. I think then he could become the player we hoped he'd be. Other options could be Spellman or Whitmore playing in a more advanced position as second striker.

So what to do? If I was Jardim I would look at the next two games together and choose a side that, barring injuries, would play both games. The natural instinct is to go for the 'tried and trusted' approach - fill the team full of experience and perhaps get something v Gillingham and hopefully the positives from that carry through to Fleetwod on Saturday. I'd go the other way and give some of the youth their head, partly because County looked much better in the second half on Friday night when some of the kids came on.

So... 4-4-2
GK - Carney - should have played Friday, and IMHO Townsend was possibly at fault in all three goals v Chesterfield

RB - Cam Evans - Brennan is no FB, Evans is best option there atm
CB - Baker - responsibility for organising defence
CB - Sanca - time to forgive him for Port Vale
LB - Glennon - not a fan of his defending, but a decent crosser

DM - Brennan - time to have a look at him in what I think is his best position
RM - K Evans - doing okay atm
LM - Spellman - need to look at alternative to Kamwa
AM - Whitmore - possibly where he needs to be played

ST - Hudlin - no-brainer
ST - Jephcott - a two game opportunity in a position where he could thrive

I have nothing against any of the players not included. I think Townsend and Jameson should jointly be accountable for the first goal on Friday and the sanction should be to lose your place in the side. Morris is left out to look at Brennan as a defensive midfielder and Wildig to give Whitmore a start. Both have played well but it's an experiment with youngsters to see if the new formation works. Kamwa is an out and out winger and may not suit this formation because it requires the midfielders out wide to come back and defend (which he appears not to do so often). I assume Mawene may have a niggle and not be fit for selection. Jephcott possibly more mobile than CBR to play second striker alongside Hudlin.

Thoughts on anything above...

Agree with most of your post particularly about the side picked against Chesterfield. Yet, the exact opposite happened against Gillingham when second half changes were made. We don’t create enough scoring chances and must experiment.
I would play both Spellman and Kamwa on the wings with Hudlin and CBR/Jephcot as 2 Strikers. Hudlin has been a revelation in attack and especially in defence.
Midfield Wildig and Morris/ Whitmore must start. Clarke, Baker, Brennon and loughlan (when fit) in defence.
Jameson doesn’t work hard enough and is at risk of being sent off. Antwi doesn’t contribute enough.
The Evans boys and Glennon etc would make a decent bench. Rai has potential but needs to go out on loan to develop.
Still not sure what’s happening with Seberry?
We urgently need to get a settled side ready for the FA cup game in a few weeks.

Thanks for the observations. My post was a way of getting rid of the frustration from Friday's performance. This season seems to be all about evolution - introducing the kids to the first team and seeing how they do. Hopefully Tuesday's back to the walls second half performance may have given some confidence to the defence. The further into the season we go there seems to be an element of flexibility in positions many of the players can play, which is very hopeful. My hope is that Jardim keeps the opposition guessing regarding formations and personnel deployed in games. The only real concern is that when Glennon is used as a left full back the defence is easy to spring, and that the attack only seems to work if Hudlin is on the pitch. But Jardim surely knows both these things and should be working on cancel these out or finding alternatives to both...

lowandhard wrote:

wattsville_boy wrote:Thanks for the observations.  My post was a way of getting rid of the frustration from Friday's performance.  This season seems to be all about evolution - introducing the kids to the first team and seeing how they do.  Hopefully Tuesday's back to the walls second half performance may have given some confidence to the defence.  The further into the season we go there seems to be an element of flexibility in positions many of the players can play, which is very hopeful.  My hope is that Jardim keeps the opposition guessing regarding formations and personnel deployed in games.  The only real concern is that when Glennon is used as a left full back the defence is easy to spring, and that the attack only seems to work if Hudlin is on the pitch.  But Jardim surely knows both these things and should be working on cancel these out or finding alternatives to both...

Yes, the situation at lb is a problem. I’m not against Glennon further up the pitch but his defensive and positional discipline is at best dubious and I certainly wouldn’t play him and Kamwa ( who seems not temperamentally inclined to defend or tackle ) on the same side!
When McLoughlin’s back perhaps we could try Cameron Evans there if we’re playing a four?

Didn't Cam Evans play LB v Harrogate (when Glennon was suspended) and again v Gillingham (when Glennon was pushed further forward)? I know I've said many times on here about trying Sanca at LB and until it's tried and seen to fail, it's a hill I'm willing to die on...