Diary of a Fan

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Changes, and Statistics

Another game we should have won where we walk away with points undoubtedly dropped. Charlton are a poor side, and proved to be so far just about the entire match, consistently returning the ball without much fight and offering little threat. Against such poor opposition we actually looked quite good but still failed with a cutting edge. Whilst Duff was driven and creative he demonstrated again and again a desire to beat the every player in his way only to demonstrate his weakness in front of goal. As things dragged on the belief that the team would ever score seemed to drain from the crowd, and the players. It is at this point I have a problem. After a first half which should have seen us in front by 60 minutes warning signs were there and by 70 it was obvious that we'd run out of things to do, things to try. It's at that point that the changes must come. Valid as the "don't fix it if it isn't broken" argument is it fails to hold when things obviously need an injection just for something different. Yet the management team just sat there watching until far too late. It's not just this game either; the reluctance to change the personnel on the pitch has become a very worrying trend. The game often demands a fluidity of approach facilitated by the introduction of a different option. This seems to be getting ignored.

Admittedly Roeder and his team's options have been somewhat limited with injuries and a packed fixture schedule. Then again, it's arguable he saw himself as having only four substitutes with Luque on the bench but apparently destined never to be allowed to venture onto the pitch no matter what. Personally I would have thrown him on for the fading Rossi, or unable to finish Duff. Milner eventually did come on, but why not 10, 15 minutes earlier either for Solano or the increasingly quiet N'Zogbia? It is this lack of decisive action that may well have cost us points, and almost cost us the game as Charlton realised they'd weathered what we had to throw at them.

Talking of almost stealing the game, Bramble yet again demonstrated why he should only be allowed near the pitch in emergencies. I've defended Bramble in the past, and still believe he has good defensive qualities, but it has become increasingly, and increasingly, and increasingly, clear that he can't concentrate for an entire match. When you're a defender at this level one simple lapse in concentration is often very costly, as was almost the case yesterday. Perhaps he was played because Charlton were seen as the weaker side coming up. One can only hope Taylor or Ramage are restored for European action.

Talking of defence brings us to statistics. nufc.com have a small piece up entitled "Don't blame the defence". In it they quote the goals scored and goals against record for the opening ten games from the last 14 seasons, including this one. There can be no argument that we currently lack an edge at the front, with the long absence of Owen, Martins hardly setting the world afire, Ameobi hobbling around, Rossi looking OK but not actually ours and Luque not allowed to do anything. This does not excuse the defence however. What the statistics really show is that far too long our defence has been inadequate. They have consistently been conceding more than a goal a game and while this season is not the worst it is still showing a dismal lack of clean sheets. The difference this season is that the importance of that defensive failing has increased. When the front players aren't producing clean sheets are the difference between a point, or sneaking three, and none. Tellingly if one works out the goal difference the current season is the worst of those fourteen. No longer is the poor defence being rescued by those in front of them. So yes, the cutting edge is a problem but it's exacerbated by the troubles behind. The headline should be something more like "Don't blame just the defence".

(@15:10)

Comments (1):

>

I am getting somewhat nervous. We're just holding out above the relegation zone and there doesn't seem to be neither players nor management able to turn things around. Which means it'll be another disastrous season, in the middle of which, Roeder will probably get the sack and someone will hastily be appointed but in a short while to be just as inept! Sometimes I find myself wishing for that buyout so professional owners can come ín and start doing what is needed to get their money back; meaning getting the results.

Posted by Peter N

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