My dissapointment from last night is all from the 1st half. We need to learn how to compete for 90 minutes plus. We either start well and fade or mainly start poor and improve, by which time we usually have a bit of a mountain to climb. From a coaching perspective, im not going to criticise Warbs or his staff but actually praise them. When losing at the interval, the halftime talk (from my personal experience) is about how we get back into the game and how we put that plan into action. This team certainly doesnt lack effort, spirit, character or ability to do just that, as has been proven recently and so nearly last night. If we could start matches like we finish them then we would be serious title contenders. Saying that, theres no shame in losing to a top team like Bournmouth especially considering where we have come from these last few seasons.
Clive made the point in his report that it's not so easy to start the way we finish games because the opposition aren't sitting back trying to defend a lead or tiring.
Having read my post again, im going to slightly contradict myself and Clive. It is possible to start as we finish, we actually proved that yesterday, up until Dickie got caught out we were the better team and quite on top. I understand clives thoughts and defending a lead is a very dangerous, nervous tactic, it invites attack. Suppose it can be easily broken down into individual mistakes over team performance.
Then we need to adapt our tactics/system in the first half of games as we need to impose ourselves more throughout entire games. We can't just keep performing for 50-55% of matches, predominantly in 2nd halves. Other teams play consistent football for the majority of matches, we need to match that. As I stated in my thread elsewhere, we shouldn't always be waking up and starting to play the football we are capable of playing when we're 1 or 2 down. It happens too often.
I honestly believe we are destined to be part of high scoring, close games this season. Our set up is very open through the midfield and teams get at us too easily. We also play great, attacking football and score lots of goals. It's almost the Kevin Keegan approach. I can't see how we can change it either, without sacrificing someone like Chair or Willock, unless we play 4-3-3 with those two either side of the forward. That would at least give us three midfielders. Staying with our 3-4-2-1 is best imo, especially when Wallace and Field are back.
Its the El Classico of 'a game of 2 halves'. The Championship is probably the leading league in the world of football for such a saying. Its a fantastic division to play in where results can absolutely bamboozle you sometimes. Consistency is often short lived, with midweek matches tending to be totally different affairs. What a cracking start we have had though to build a platform to go forwards. Despite the result last night, there are so many positives from this new season already.
Totally agree Col. Theres not too much wrong with it apart from changes through injury. I was only saying last night how i miss seeing Wallace so far up the pitch. He brings a much more natural balance to the field. Not that macallum has done much wrong like.