“We’re playing Middlesbrough next week just stay with the defender and wait for the ball/error to come “

[Nobby_Barnes]

There is absolutely no rhythm or set pattern to our team at the moment. This is due to the constant chopping and changing to cover for the ridiculous number of injuries. Players have no real understanding with the player playing next to them. They haven’t been able to build these relationships on the field. It’s in complete contrast to almost all of last season under Carrick.

To those saying Carrick isn’t changing approach, I disagree. Our goalkeepers have gone longer much more frequently since Bristol City and we do clear our lines with a longer ball more often.

The big issue being overlooked imo, in amongst stuff about the chairman needing to sell and Carrick being on the brink; Fry, Smith, Lenihan, Howson, Hackney and Jones would all be starting if fit. That’s 6 first-choice players. Take 6 first-choice players out of any Championship team and it would be markedly different. As much as there are more general issues around recruitment, overall strategy, etc, you can’t just ignore that we have so many senior players unavailable.

There is a complete dearth of confidence in the team. This will change with a win. Our record this season suggests we’ll probably win on Wednesday night.

We know there's injuries
We are almost playing a reserve side
Why do we persist with playing out from the back like Man City when we don't have the players to do it?
Opposing teams have worked this out and we are getting beat every week...
Time to shore things up against Norwich or we will be in a relegation battle...
Wake up !!!

 

[MidlandsBoroFan]

The problem (and Carrick has to take some responsibility) is trying to play the same way when players simply aren’t up to it. That way of playing out is what I want us to do - long term - when the players capable of doing it are fit and playing.

In that video above, Barlaser is under a bit of pressure when he receives the ball. It’s a simple pass though to an unmarked player who is in his eyeline (I think it’s probably Ayling - my eyesight isn’t great). He would then have an easy pass into midfield (roughly to where the ref is standing) where O’Brien is in 30 yards of space. We’re then on the attack. Simple.

All 3 players I’ve named above though are only playing because of injuries. Change those names to Hackney, Smith and Howson and I’ve got no doubt that we wouldn’t have lost that ball and everyone on here would be saying that’s exactly how we should be playing.

While we have to play people like Barlaser, we have to accept we can’t play the same way.

 

[Jonathan]

I don't see how that clip from yesterday is anything other than Barlaser's fault tbh. He's come deep to make himself available wanting that exact pass while having absolutely no awareness of what's around him and tries to just turn with it blindly instead of just playing the first time pass to van den Berg. It's not like he was caught off guard by Dieng's pass and didn't want it, he's specifically come looking to receive it.

 

[MidlandsBoroFan]

I don't see how that clip from yesterday is anything other than Barlaser's fault tbh. He's come deep to make himself available wanting that exact pass while having absolutely no awareness of what's around him and tries to just turn with it blindly instead of just playing the first time pass to van den Berg. It's not like he was caught off guard by Dieng's pass and didn't want it, he's specifically come looking to receive it.

Agreed. But my point is, if he keeps making mistakes like that, we need to stop passing to him in those positions. That shouldn’t be the case, but sadly it is.

 

[Jonathan]

Yeah, I didn't mean it specifically as a reply to you, just generally a comment on the person quote tweeting it with the "that's on Dieng, what's Barlaser meant to do" stuff.

I had more sympathy for him for the one at Stamford Bridge when he did the same thing and then got wrong footed by the pass back from Hackney than that yesterday, there's about four different things he could have done instead of what he did.

 

[asredastheycome]

I was reading somewhere Barlaser was dispossessed 16 times against stoke

I read 15 so he is not as bad as some are making out Should be nowhere near our first team(or club even). He as made so many mistakes this season. Not the only one but one of the worst offenders.