Raposa You cheeky monkey.
We've done well so far this season all things considered (Wilder has worked water into wine with what he had to deal with), and have managed to snatch points from games through being tight and managing to nick something. Usually, through a little bit of individual guile. Also the general quality of the league this season isn't high.
As I mentioned in a previous thread, the 4 game batch that we're currently 3/4's through would be tough and show where we sit quality wise. I also said that i'd take a 4 point haul, and maintain a 2 points per game average which is a promotion target, which if we beat Watford we'll be on.
It's interesting to note that we currently sit in 3rd place, having lost 4 games this season so far; Leeds (1st), Burnley (2nd), Sunderland (4th) and Boro (5th).
Generally, despite our league position, we're not a balanced team at the moment. I don't think that the midfield 3 works, and i'm not a big fan of Moore. He's immobile and like a fish out of water unless you're playing balls in front of him in the box, which we don't do.
We're also encountering a growing injury list of key personnel, with Arblaster and Souttar picking up season ending injuries and Campbell and Rak-Sayi missing games. We've not got the squad depth to cope with that.
Last night? Sunderland were the more effective team, compounded by a couple of defensive mistakes. For the first goal, it's as per my comments about Leeds yesterday, it's amazing what you can get from making CB's uncomfortable and being dragged out into the deep water. For the second, Anel is at his best as a RCB in a 3, and not a CB in a 2, their lad has done well, but he's turned Anel inside out, when he shouldn't have.
We have a similar problem to Leeds, whereby we default into gratuitous possession, with little attacking outcome. As per Leeds, it's as if we go through a process of football by numbers. We were over 70% possession in the 2nd half, 1 touch in their box and 1 shot on goal. Modern football, eh?
As I mentioned above, unless/until you get beyond the full backs and deliver crosses, Moore is a passenger. He was a passenger last night. The two lads upfront for Sunderland showed the benefit of mobility & pace from your forwards, and the a willingness to chase lost causes or run the channels.
Hamer is a great little player, probably our best, but reportedly has refueling problems and isn't fit enough to drive us on for 90 mins & carries 1/2 stone of extra puppy fat. We also can't seem to put him & O'Hare in an effective midfield.
If you play 4-2-3-1 properly, the 3 are either compact little technicians that open locks in dangerous areas like what Man City have, with pace & cross from the full backs, or basically the wide 2 of the three are deeper sitting wingers/outside forwards with pace and attacking intent like what Liverpool do. We play 4-2-3-1 but don't really do either.