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Just be interested in your thoughts. Admittedly we have been playing weaker teams post Fulham as opposed to the games leading up to that match, but the drop in the number of goals conceded is fantastic progress and not sure has been sufficiently acknowledged by us the fan base. I will hold my hand up and admit I was one of those who was starting to despair because I just thought if we can't keep it tighter at the back we have no chance of the play offs. But fair play to Mark, he has really tightened it up.
Reasons I can think of but as I say would welcome your insights:
Return of Wallace (but we had tightened up a bit before his return anyway, tho sure he helps)
Uncle (not only has he been very good going forward he has, IMHO, been the most disciplined of the three right wing backs we have tried this season and unlike Kakay and Odubajo he is not letting players run in behind him - has the solution to our right wing back problem been sitting there all along?)
Dunne (again I hold my hand up, I was getting frustrated that he would play well but drop one absolute Danny Maddix style clanger a game that was costing us a goal - he has been excellent the last couple of games)
Dickie and Barbet (both seemed to have upped their form)
Seny (certainly against Huddersfield looked back to his best)
Defensive midfield (Stef getting much better after a poor start to the season. Dozzell altho not a great tackler like Ball tends to be more careful in possession so we aren't losing it in as many dangerous areas - tho he did do some sloppy passes late on against Huddersfield which is prob why he was hooked - still we now have a midfield that can all pass/ keep possession with no weak links in terms of skill)
Having the likes of Amos and Field to bring on late when we need to close a game out
Tactics (is Warbs making us play a bit more defensively? I will yet again hold my hand up and say I was getting a bit frustrated before we scored in the week because there was rarely a player on the overlap which seemed odd when we had at times three players down the left - but maybe Warbs is now saying to the team "keep it tight for the first hour, pass the other team off the park, then spaces will open up late on- only then go gung ho." Not sure about this but it just seemed to be more how we are setting up now?)
Only qualification to above is in the opening minutes against Huddersfield and at several points against Luton against a more clinical side we would have been punished. So its probably a work in progress rather than job done.
Reasons I can think of but as I say would welcome your insights:
Return of Wallace (but we had tightened up a bit before his return anyway, tho sure he helps)
Uncle (not only has he been very good going forward he has, IMHO, been the most disciplined of the three right wing backs we have tried this season and unlike Kakay and Odubajo he is not letting players run in behind him - has the solution to our right wing back problem been sitting there all along?)
Dunne (again I hold my hand up, I was getting frustrated that he would play well but drop one absolute Danny Maddix style clanger a game that was costing us a goal - he has been excellent the last couple of games)
Dickie and Barbet (both seemed to have upped their form)
Seny (certainly against Huddersfield looked back to his best)
Defensive midfield (Stef getting much better after a poor start to the season. Dozzell altho not a great tackler like Ball tends to be more careful in possession so we aren't losing it in as many dangerous areas - tho he did do some sloppy passes late on against Huddersfield which is prob why he was hooked - still we now have a midfield that can all pass/ keep possession with no weak links in terms of skill)
Having the likes of Amos and Field to bring on late when we need to close a game out
Tactics (is Warbs making us play a bit more defensively? I will yet again hold my hand up and say I was getting a bit frustrated before we scored in the week because there was rarely a player on the overlap which seemed odd when we had at times three players down the left - but maybe Warbs is now saying to the team "keep it tight for the first hour, pass the other team off the park, then spaces will open up late on- only then go gung ho." Not sure about this but it just seemed to be more how we are setting up now?)
Only qualification to above is in the opening minutes against Huddersfield and at several points against Luton against a more clinical side we would have been punished. So its probably a work in progress rather than job done.
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