Post by jonkool on Jan 31, 2010 13:00:26 GMT
Well it wasn't a good week for appy addicks with the exception of the signing of a useful looking left sided midfielder with pace and enthusiasm.
Before xmas a majority of bloggers were impressed by Parky's comments at the open evening and in particular with his policy of picking players who were proud to wear the shirt and trying to stick with a relatively unchanged starting 11 with a view to achieving greater consistency. Many felt that this was a good strategy post Pardoo and given that the manager has had no money to bring in players.
Now as widely observed, none of us lot have any real knowledge of what happens away from prying eyes within the dressing room and the training ground.
However, many years of managing people in the work place has shown the importance of managers to take the temperature of the real feelings/morale of a group individually and as a team by observing body language.
From what we saw on Monday and yesterday (and the previous Tuesday) the low energy levels of the group is a worrying aspect given the fact that the squad had a mid season snow break and has not been burdened by cup action unlike Leeds and Saints.
Individually certain players look mentally shot! Look at the way Lloyd Sam finds a marker not space and during a break in play has shoulders slumped staring at the turf for the 50 pence he dropped during the warm up.
The Count is also under great mental pressure and is now always slow off the mark compared to his opponent which is a clear sign that he doesn't want the ball in fear of making the wrong decision.
Mooney highlighted his low morale by running not jogging off when the subs appeared only for him to backtrack when it was our energized new arrival who got the tug.
A final observation - and there are more individuals including poor Jose - is the lack of confidence is highlighted by the fact that the defense are dropping deeper and deeper, earlier and earlier resulting in Jose and the ginger one being more isolated and over run.
Parky needs to be much more aware and to take measures to energise the squad before its too late.
McKenzie and Waggy have continually shown high levels of desire and enthusiasm when they make their 70th minute appearance - Waggy wants to go outside and shows for our midfielders plus meaningfully providing a shield for Richardson - Sam doesn't tick either box. McKenzie has control , a trick and half a yard and is surprisingly good in the air. However, this has not been rewarded with a start which in itself is demotivational as the favoured ones are picked regardless.
So where do we go from here??
I know it will be controversial but a change back to 4-5-1would make the team more compact and encourage the back 4 to move up. we should go back to Samedo sitting behind Bailey and Racon flanked by energised wide players Waggy and Reid who look prepared to both help their fullbacks and get beyond the opponents back 4.
The loan striker?? A combination of McKenzie and Burton with Nicky Bailey encouraged to support the striker.
It strikes me that the team will feel more comfortable and more likely to try and improve the passing which has been sorely lacking. This will give some out of salts members of the squad a chance to emotionally heal and it only takes as couple of good performances to turn it around.
However, doing nothing and hoping for the best is a recipe for disaster and in 6 games we could be out of the play off games.
So Parky a little bit of savvy and concentration on management skills needed to re-organise a group in the middle of a long and challenging season
Before xmas a majority of bloggers were impressed by Parky's comments at the open evening and in particular with his policy of picking players who were proud to wear the shirt and trying to stick with a relatively unchanged starting 11 with a view to achieving greater consistency. Many felt that this was a good strategy post Pardoo and given that the manager has had no money to bring in players.
Now as widely observed, none of us lot have any real knowledge of what happens away from prying eyes within the dressing room and the training ground.
However, many years of managing people in the work place has shown the importance of managers to take the temperature of the real feelings/morale of a group individually and as a team by observing body language.
From what we saw on Monday and yesterday (and the previous Tuesday) the low energy levels of the group is a worrying aspect given the fact that the squad had a mid season snow break and has not been burdened by cup action unlike Leeds and Saints.
Individually certain players look mentally shot! Look at the way Lloyd Sam finds a marker not space and during a break in play has shoulders slumped staring at the turf for the 50 pence he dropped during the warm up.
The Count is also under great mental pressure and is now always slow off the mark compared to his opponent which is a clear sign that he doesn't want the ball in fear of making the wrong decision.
Mooney highlighted his low morale by running not jogging off when the subs appeared only for him to backtrack when it was our energized new arrival who got the tug.
A final observation - and there are more individuals including poor Jose - is the lack of confidence is highlighted by the fact that the defense are dropping deeper and deeper, earlier and earlier resulting in Jose and the ginger one being more isolated and over run.
Parky needs to be much more aware and to take measures to energise the squad before its too late.
McKenzie and Waggy have continually shown high levels of desire and enthusiasm when they make their 70th minute appearance - Waggy wants to go outside and shows for our midfielders plus meaningfully providing a shield for Richardson - Sam doesn't tick either box. McKenzie has control , a trick and half a yard and is surprisingly good in the air. However, this has not been rewarded with a start which in itself is demotivational as the favoured ones are picked regardless.
So where do we go from here??
I know it will be controversial but a change back to 4-5-1would make the team more compact and encourage the back 4 to move up. we should go back to Samedo sitting behind Bailey and Racon flanked by energised wide players Waggy and Reid who look prepared to both help their fullbacks and get beyond the opponents back 4.
The loan striker?? A combination of McKenzie and Burton with Nicky Bailey encouraged to support the striker.
It strikes me that the team will feel more comfortable and more likely to try and improve the passing which has been sorely lacking. This will give some out of salts members of the squad a chance to emotionally heal and it only takes as couple of good performances to turn it around.
However, doing nothing and hoping for the best is a recipe for disaster and in 6 games we could be out of the play off games.
So Parky a little bit of savvy and concentration on management skills needed to re-organise a group in the middle of a long and challenging season
