| Orient 0- 2 U's Noah's View 10:16 - Sep 14 with 743 views | noah4x4 |
At last, something interesting to report after the monotony of 'near misses' and strikers that seem to want to walk the ball into the net. The question most U’sual ‘Exiles’ will be asking after four points in two games is “what is Tony Humes doing differently?”.
At half time, I guess most among the faithful would have said “nothing”. On offer was the same personnel (but no Jabo); the same ponderous build up style; merely 38% possession (source BBC); a couple of glorious missed chances and a defence under the cosh; with only MOM Sam Walker keeping us interested at 0-0. When Magnus was rightfully dismissed for a potentially leg breaking tackle (albeit that Mooney should get an Oscar for his writhing about) few would have predicted the U’s getting anything out of this game.
But Magnus’s departure signalled a completely different U’s in the second half. Instead of Orient facing a U’s formation with its usual width and depth to accommodate our favoured passing style we shifted into two distinct banks of defensive four retaining width, but now far closer together in depth; to produce solidity inside our half. Orient were now facing two rows of Spartan like defenders; indeed had we been the side playing in ‘red’, Rorkes Drift might have sprung to mind. We looked so much better organised defensively than we had been in any of the last twelve months and it prevented Orient from dancing round us like tailor’s dummies despite their man advantage.
This enforced change; essential to shore up the ten man ship; meant we did allow Orient to play in front of us. That offered no danger if we kept out the their crosses, and Frankie Kent that replaced Magnus did his job well; as did Eastman and Walker; with solid defensive performances by Gordon and Clohessy; who for once didn't over stretch themselves by waltzing too far up the wings. How often do we concede by losing the ball when in attack and find ourselve defensively out of position?
We obviously in this formation had become dependent on two of (any) three forwards sprinting after through balls played from inside our own half on the counter and Sanchez Watt and Freddie Sears had the pace to twice deliver goals. Indeed, Sears should have had a hat-trick having twice been 1:1 with the keeper; each time missing when it looked easier to score. Freddie can’t head a ball, so why do we EVER lump the ball skyward to him (e.g. when we have no Jabo). Why do we also always drag the ball out wide; hold it up, stop and cross it for a defender to easily clear? It was through balls on the deck from inside our own half that destroyed Orient. We still retained our slick passing and control to the extent that limited 38% possession at half time became 49% overall by 95 minutes (such was our dominance with ten men) but the usual ponderous attacking build up of the previous era had gone, proving that we don’t need to play ‘hoof-ball’ to become more DIRECT. Nor do we need to be negative. Instead we better use the skills of the forward personnel that we have.
This second half performance reminded me of how successful Division One sides like Peterborough, Bristol City, Swindon, or MK Dons play. They allow the opposition to expend energy in front of them whilst retaining a tight defensive structure; then have the pace and cut and thrust to counter attack; frequently from the half way line and win. Our more normal ponderously taking the ball out wide does allow defenders to get back and regroup; hence is too easy to defend.
Frankly, I reckon Magnus has done Tony Humes a favour by forcing this tactical change and it doesn’t trouble me that both Magnus and Jabo might not be available on Tuesday. Young Frankie Kent looks composed in the back four, and Massey, Watt and Sears look far more dangerous when the ball gets to them FASTER and to FEET. Orient fans on the tube were positively glowing with praise for how we played, and rightfully so.
[Post edited 14 Sep 2014 10:23]
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| Orient 0- 2 U's Noah's View on 13:11 - Sep 14 with 704 views | BluenWightExile |
Noah 4x4 - a great help once again to an exile. Thank you very much.
From the demeanour of your report - not to mention the overall silence on this board these past 2 weeks respect for JD remains. I for one am extremely disappointed as well as surprised. I believe the new regime has received a predictable caution from the non knee-jerk support. As in life time will tell. But Joe has been harshly handled.
"Magnus has done TH a favour" you say. I will be outspoken then. From my own [far fewer than yours] observations over 3 years MO is an 'accident in waiting'. Not good enough at this level, too ponderous in decisions, slow to read the game, late in the tackle and at least 3 - is it 4 or 5? - red cards which cause managerial problems. Maybe not this time from what you report about young Kent. Magnus has survived because Thompson still hasn't materialized and Eastman is a confidence player. Maybe with a youngster alongside him it will 'grow' Tom, who is a better player than MO by all accounts.
You still don't say with specificity in what way TH differs from JD - too early or still respectful of JD's intentions I am guessing; but I do note we've had 2 clean sheets. A U's rarity for 4 seasons.
Clearly Sears remains an issue. We need a 9 who can head. Like many I am a fan of Jabo but he's no CF either - hope he plays this week as fast and fleet though Watt & Sears are they'll not dance in goals against oppositions every week, least of all when the mud comes.
Again Noah4x4, thank you. 3 points from the next three games and I will begin to hope we can get out of this mess. Not confident at all but positive.
Up the U's. |  |
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| Orient 0- 2 U's Noah's View on 14:01 - Sep 14 with 697 views | wessex_exile |
On the Joe front, like you I was very disappointed to see him leave, but I'm not wholly convinced he was necessarily 'harshly treated'. From what I've read, it seems this really was as much Joe telling Robbie he was stepping down - just maybe this time, given our results so far this season, Robbie didn't work as hard to persuade him otherwise? I think Noah has it spot on - for most of the first half we really weren't doing much at all (though nor were Orient either), it was Magnus's red card that changed things. Tony shuffled the pack, changed the tactics and second half was a completely different story. Would that have happened under Joe? Who knows - maybe. We could have won 4-0 easily, but Walker also prevented it from being 2-2, but we won't play too many sides as poor as Orient this season, so I'm just delighted we could capitalise on the opportunity. Tuesday night against Sheffield United will probably give us the real measure of Tony Humes, but he hasn't done too much wrong so far.
As for the red card incident, my 'real-time' view was that it was a 50 50 ball, and Mooney made far more of it than he should have done. If the ref had paused for a moment to assess the complete absence of real injury to Mooney, I think a yellow would have been the right decision. However, would we have gone on to win the game as a result? |  |
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| Orient 0- 2 U's Noah's View on 14:57 - Sep 14 with 685 views | BFG |
I am informed by OhOriOri that Slade is coming under pressure and their Tuesday nt match is becoming a must win. How quickly things change. |  | | |
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