It's not just Fielding. This is City's DNA now. The team resolutely will not exploit the quick opening or the instinctive run. Every player appears to have been drilled to stop, think, allow formations on both sides of the ball to re-group, then start the slow pass build up to the hope of space or opening of the like we might have had from the first time ball or run we rejected.
It's depressing and it's bizarre and I refuse to believe this is our players MO as it is so obviously laboured and not instinctive for them. Judging by O'Dowda, a £1.5million player, tactical instructions in this area are either too complicated, unclear or regressive, resulting in feeble, hesitant, confused positioning and application, and deteriorating form and ability out "wide".
Time was even an average player like Burns could come off the bench for us late in a game and run direct on the wing and cause some problems. O'Dowda last night was a great example of how we have invested in and yet neutralised technically strong wingers (based on his ability when signed) to the point of them looking like lightweight, poorly coached wastes of money.
The LJ directive: Slow it down. Do not be instinctive.... FFS let these players play.
The Official Ipswich Town v Bristol City Match Day Thread
in The Havanatopia Match Day Archive
Posted
Nail hit firmly on head. Unfortunately.