Barnsley - Nottingham Forest

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

I think it's worth pointing out that the team and formation that played at Barnsley yesterday will be nothing like the team and formation that will line up in the play offs next week if we should get there.

[Paplane]

Let's not kid ourselves. We have a good enough squad to compete with Barnsley but we just didn't yesterday. I believe the reason was formation and mentality. Without any wide players it became very easy to stop any attacking attempt from Forest but the main reason was that we just did't compete and were more than happy to loft the ball aimlessly long with the result that Barnsley picked the ball up and started their attacks again. Forest had 36,7% possession and 57% pass success rate. Embarrassing.

On that showing Forest have nothing to contribute with in the play offs. It will however be a good learning experience for next season (for the players that stay).

Ive not  given up on the manager or winning the play offs. With our full first 11 we can beat anyone, or avoid getting beaten on any given day.

Sabri got it wrong yesterday imo and so I criticised him accordingly. With Lolley, Ameobi, Cash, Samba back and Silva back in the side we're a completely different proposition.

[GaribaldiRED]

The biggest problem yesterday wasn't Sabri it was the lack of urgency and commitment from the players. Sure the formation didn't work as expected but any formation and tactic will fail without the players committing to implementing it.

[the jock]

We are 9th in the form guide over the last 30 games. Had a decent chance in January and blew it with poor recruitment. Currently have 7 more points than this stage last season so we have improved...pissed away so many points too. Hopefully this will improve next year but have a feeling will be a much changed side again.

We will more than likely sneak the playoffs but we have been the worst side in the top 6 since the restart.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

We are 9th in the form guide over the last 30 games. Had a decent chance in January and blew it with poor recruitment. Currently have 7 more points than this stage last season so we have improved...pissed away so many points too. Hopefully this will improve next year but have a feeling will be a much changed side again.

We will more than likely sneak the playoffs but we have been the worst side in the top 6 since the restart.

That is true Jock but over the 45 games played so far we deserve to be where we are.

[wassy04]

The biggest problem yesterday wasn't Sabri it was the lack of urgency and commitment from the players. Sure the formation didn't work as expected but any formation and tactic will fail without the players committing to implementing it.

True, but you're asking a lot of a team to change formation in the biggest game of the season to a formation that didn't look remotely balanced and had failed on two previous occasions. Why overcomplicate it? Our normal tactics are defensive enough, even if he felt we had no wingers just play walker or mighten.

Also, worse still everyone watching could see it wasnt working so change it and acknowledge the mistake. He did not and doubled down with the 4th centre back. No wonder the players had no idea.

Not normally one for having a go at managers but this was about as stupid as I can remember.

[GaribaldiRED]

See your point but if your players aren't up for it it doesn't really matter what formation you play. The players didn't turn up and that is my biggest concern going into play offs.

[Username]

The biggest problem yesterday wasn't Sabri it was the lack of urgency and commitment from the players. Sure the formation didn't work as expected but any formation and tactic will fail without the players committing to implementing it.

At one point we had four centre halves and three defensive midfielders on the pitch. 

He took off Jenkinson and put Figgy at right back rather than giving Tendayi a run out in his natural position. 

The manager was a big contributory factor to yesterday’s result.

[Paplane]

See your point but if your players aren't up for it it doesn't really matter what formation you play. The players didn't turn up and that is my biggest concern going into play offs.

I don't think its a case of being up for it or not turning up. I couldn't and still cannot understand the manager's reasoning. They were clearly not properly prepared for the formation change. You could see that the way the ball was being punted up top without any plan to support Grabban and Da Costa in doing so. The performance started badly and got worse as the players lost confidence and ceded control of the game. With only 3 days to train a formation that hasn't been played all season, along with a few stand ins in the team, it was always destined to fail against an underestimated opponent. 

And that's the other thing thats a real frustration for me. This is not the first time this season (WiganA, Charlton H), that Sabri has underestimated an opponent.

[zicorice]

See your point but if your players aren't up for it it doesn't really matter what formation you play. The players didn't turn up and that is my biggest concern going into play offs.

I don't think its a case of being up for it or not turning up. I couldn't and still cannot understand the manager's reasoning. They were clearly not properly prepared for the formation change. You could see that the way the ball was being punted up top without any plan to support Grabban and Da Costa in doing so. The performance started badly and got worse as the players lost confidence and ceded control of the game. With only 3 days to train a formation that hasn't been played all season, along with a few stand ins in the team, it was always destined to fail against an underestimated opponent. 

And that's the other thing thats a real frustration for me. This is not the first time this season (WiganA, Charlton H), that Sabri has underestimated an opponent.

Or that the squad isn't good enough to rest/rotate players. Jenkinson has been OK, a big downgrade on Cash (who wouldn't be-Alexander-Arnold not ready to play for us yet despite first name) but only OK, against Barnsley awful, looked knackered and Sabri took him off. Plugging that gap with a lad who has been injured for a year, at 0-0 would have increased the risk further.

Just a very bad day at the office for everyone.

[the jock]

To be fair to lamouchi..its not his fault worrall was an idiot against derby. Or times like when samba messed up in games like millwall. If we had those additional points we would have been very comfortable

[Paplane]

To be fair to lamouchi..its not his fault worrall was an idiot against derby.  Or times like when samba messed up in games like millwall. If we had those additional points we would have been very comfortable

Yep, fair points. I suspect Cloughy would've dropped Worrall after that single error (or may be punched him lol) but Sabri doesn't have the players at his disposal this point in time to do that (and I believe punching your players is frowned upon these days).