Quote Originally Posted by BLUEAWAY View Post
Well done. A good summary.

As you wrote, it was obvious from the kick off that Coventry we’re going to be a difficult team to play against as they like to keep the ball . Yet, we kept giving it back to them via sloppy awful passing, poor control and hoofing it aimlessly in the air. Their goal from start to finish was a classic example of everything we do wrong and also the right way to play football.

I can forgive the players for the tactics, even their lack of pace but not their individual sloppiness when not under pressure.
The wrong tactics and poor technique.

What always annoys me is the lack of basic footballing skills from our players. Them making an effort is fine and I am not doubting that but when I see professional footballers paid several thousands of pounds a week having to stand still
to receive a pass and even then trapping it further than most people could kick it it is unacceptable in my view. What basic skill training do they do in the week because it is not evident in games?

There also appears to be little or no option in reserve to change it. A number of our promising young players seem to have far better basic skills than their more senior colleagues but should really only be playing a few games at a time until they build up to Championship level. MM talks about Joe Ralls being a great player at this level but , to my mind , he is so one footed he could probably have gone away to the Paralympics. Therefore when he receives the ball it usually takes him so long to control it and put it on to his left foot that the opposition just take the ball off him and launch an attack.