Scoring V Not Conceding

I think Poya has done as much as he can when it comes to organisation and defensive shape. It’s all well and good having players stood in the right place, but it they’re not winning the ball, or marking an opponent then what are they doing? We lost at Preston because of a complete lack of urgency in defence, players too concerned with what their ‘zone’ was while the ball trickled across the box to a striker.

Need to go back to basics. Somebody running at you, tackle him, foul him if you need. Somebody running off the ball, mark him. 442, two defensive mids in the middle with wide players given license to get the ball in the box, or get into the box themselves. We won’t win any games by being technical in approach, we have to start looking like we’re fighting for our lives.

 

We're in the same boat as in 2019/20 but with more games left. In this situation you've got to ignore what has gone before and focus on the next games. Was it 8 points adrift with 6 to play in 2019/20 and only 6 points would do from the last two games?

With 22 games left there's plenty of time to eek out the results. I reckon we need twelve wins will do it. That said we don't look like winning 1 game at the minute let alone 12 .

I came to the figure of 12 wins because it's important to factor in why we're bottom and allow for 10 defeats. Nobody usually loses more than 25 games too unless they're extremely bad.

There will definitely be an upturn it's whether it will be good enough.

 

As a great manager once said 'Goals win games but defences win Titles'. You have to be strong defensively first and then focus on goals after.

 

Well as we're not going after a title I'll settle for winning games!

 

Its a very low bar for anything to be classed as an upturn!

If we have a dreadful return of 3 wins from 22, we'll have had an upturn.

 

Honestly, I'd put any thought of titles out of your head for a decade or two!

 

Normally, any team that keeps losing needs to shore up the defence as the first priority. However, we now need wins, draws are of limited value and only any good against teams near us in the table where a defeat would be catastrophic, so goals are badly needed as well. So in answer to your question; both.

 

Exactly, the goal (pardon the pun) is to win a sufficient amount to achieve divisional retention (couldn't resist ). 'Titles' isn't in our vocabulary right now.

 

I'd say our situation is so desperate right now I'd be tempted to send Collins up for every corner. I've no doubt the mad bstard would bag a few as well!

 

It's just about win one lose one. If you look at it matter-of-fact it's achievable.