Poster views: jruss
A major contrast in approach and style today. Us with our usual patient , total football side to side approach and Forest with their more up and at um bang it down the channels for the speed merchants to chase and set up attacking positions further down the field, and they caused us a lot of problems today doing that.
In terms of football, they were another side streets below us in terms of technique in quality but we are still lacking out wide. Gower for all his excellent approach work offers next to nothing in end product and Jordi is wasted on the wing. Another issue is (and I am not slating Scotland) is that his attributes do not include scoring from crosses. You know the old style down the wing cross banged/headed in by the centre forward near/far post. I dont think we offer this kind of threat. A. Because the wingers dont play in that style or are not good enough and B. Scotland is not that type of forward.
Call it "convential goals" but if we excelled at this like we did other areas we would be p*** the league. And you can add set peices to that as well. How many headers we scored this season? I cant remember many.
18 draws tells me we are so close but yet are missing something and I think the above is a big factor.
Defenivsly, Serran did well but is still "adjusting" There are mistakes in him but he's a very good player and with time I think he'll erase that. He's a very spanish style defender in that he technial more then the old British lump style player who smahes people. Serran is all about time and technique and not physique and he is trying to adapt that style in the british game. We do miss Monk's excellent communication and leadership skills though.
It was interesting set up as Forest played the same system with two huge lumps playing deep line midfield positions in Osbourne and Moussi while we had two little uns in Allen and Britton. When Roberto says he will put faith in ability he isn't fricking lying is he? Those two yet again had control of the midfield. They me remind of Xavi and Ineista. Bussy excelled in the hole, more promise from him. Bit surprised he was selected with Prats fit and Gomez being the best option there for me but a big vote of confidence for him and he was by far the best player on the pitch.
Shame Ando decided to go there really. He didn't impress me today. Still they didn't really give him a lot of the ball at his feet where he can run at people, most of the time he has to chase it. He's better suited to our style of working an opening and getting him in space and then him using his pace to skin people rather then Forest asking him to rely on it win a foot race down the line time and time again.
Another draw which is frustrating but we are not too far away from walking the league. We may sneak up this season yet, if we dont no worries its constant progress. RM will have us up in no time.
This article first appeared on JACKARMY.net.