match thread (image) [FT] Hearts 2 - 1 Rangers (Kent 47)

[Frankie 8,570]

Fair comment D'Art but it's still difficult to change a winning team, average performances or not.

 

Further, it's not like Jones or Docherty have ever really shown up when they have played, though neither have had much of an genuine run in the team.

 

It's worth noting though that I felt the bench was a bit light yesterday and someone like Docherty might have been useful to help us gain a foothold in the midfield with Davis and Kamara being so poor and Jack having to go off.  Instead we had Edmundson, Halliday and Polster, only two of whom I think should be needed.  

[Rousseau 10,640]

12 hours ago, BlackSocksRedTops said:

Only positive for me was that Polster looked half decent. His distribution was good IMO

I don't think Polster is great, but going from yesterday's performance, he's got a better all-round game than Flanagan. 

 

I'd still say Flanagan is the better defender, though. 

[Rousseau 10,640]

9 hours ago, T-1000 said:

Although we played poorly I think some credit has to be given to how Hearts played. Unlike most teams we come against they did not use a defensive block.  Against these sorts of teams we can dictate the tempo, establish some rhythm and have the bulk of possession.  Hearts did not do that but instead they hassled our midfield and ensured they had little time on the  ball.  We thus got sucked into a scrappy game with the ball in the air a lot which does not suit our style.  In addition, they had Clare playing down the wing which restricted Barisic (an exception was our goal) thus negating one of our strengths.  On the other side Flanagan is not noted for his offensive qualities and thus the combination of these meant we were forced into a more restricted game.  Upfront we missed Morelos who can occupy the centre backs much more than Defoe who doesn't have the same physicality and who is now lacking a bit of pace and therefore is not able to outrun defenders.  As others have also noted hitting long balls into the box is not playing to Defoe's strength which is being a penalty box predator.

Picking up on a point may much earlier by Rousseau our lack of movement at throw-ins is dire making it difficult for players to have the time to make  a telling pass and spread the play.  Instead, we tend to become hemmed into a small area and it needs some bit of skill or ingenuity to make something happen. 

I read that Liverpool's throw-in coach has implemented a 5 second policy (they have to take the throw-in within 5 seconds of getting it, so opponents don't have a chance to set up).

 

I noted yesterday we had players standing with the ball in their hands for ages waiting for something to happen. Hearts were set.   

[BlackSocksRedTops 3,752]

6 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

I don't think Polster is great, but going from yesterday's performance, he's got a better all-round game than Flanagan. 

 

I'd still say Flanagan is the better defender, though. 

You're probably right. I think Polster has played a lot in midfield before coming to us. I like the fact that he got his head up and was always trying to pass forward. For someone with so little game time, he could have easily opted for the safe options. 

[JohnMc 2,754]

Put me in the 'we really missed Morelos' camp. I don't think Defoe is physically capable of playing 3 full matches in 8 days and his lack of pace was really shown today, twice caught when put through by a defender a good 3 or 4 feet behind him initially. As an option coming off the bench he's perfect, his touch and speed of thought in the final 20 minutes of a match when defenders are tiring remain an asset. You have to wonder about the wisdom of releasing Hardie and Rudden. Neither seem like they had long term futures at the club, but holding onto Rudden in particular until the summer at least offers us some cover up front. 

While the midfield was poor yesterday Morelos ability to hold the ball up, make runs that create space for others and come deep to link was sorely missed yesterday, that kind of ability helps midfielders, it allows them to play it early if needed knowing Morelos can chase it down, hold it up or draw a foul. 

Morelos missing doesn't excuse us throwing away a lead or some of the puzzling decisions (Ojo coming on??) made, but for me it further underlines his huge importance to our side. 

[Gaffer 1,665]

I thought Hearts got their tactics spot on yesterday.  Our players have a mindset for all SPL games which is all about how they are going to break teams down, but Hearts seemed to surprise us by pressing us all over the pitch.  They fought for every inch of the field and we didn't seem to be able to cope.  I think I'm correct in saying that the only team all season to do this against us was Porto away.  We looked lost and our consistent performers were not able to respond.  In particular, Davis, Jack, Kamara, Aribo and Defoe all looked shocked.  Even Goldson (who I thought defended well) was just kicking the ball forward in the hope that it would stick somewhere.  It didn't because as we know Defoe is not that type of player.

 

I posted after the Aberdeen game that I had concerns about the mentality of the team, in particular when something needs to be worked out on the pitch.  It was obvious that Hearts surprised us and therefore we needed to work out a way to handle this.  In these moments (as at Aberdeen when they started to come back into the game) we need real leaders and I don't see any.  Players like Davis, Goldson and Defoe tend to lead by example, rather than being so vocal with their team mates, but when they're struggling themselves, they seem to be ineffective at rallying the troops around them.  I felt that Kamara, Aribo and Jack were negatively affected when they saw Davis panic in the early stages of the game.  I can understand that but in these moments we need the player who will take control of the players.  Sometimes that means a call for some extra determination, a crunching tackle, a change of width or higher pressing.  Sometimes it's an individual kick up the backside.  Having spotted this flaw in the Aberdeen game I was particularly conscious of it yesterday and watched with real interest to see what the players were saying or gesticulating to each other.  The answer was very little.  It seemed that each player was trying to work out what they individually needed to do rather than communicating or even getting help from their team mates.

 

Our style of play this season has been excellent.  It's clear that this has been drilled so often into the players that it's become second nature for them.  It's the same with the Man City team under Guardiola and I've seen it for years in the Arsenal team.  When it works it's just a joy to watch, and it works most of the time.  It works because at training the players are continually operating under these conditions and know what they are expected to do without even thinking about it.  The problem comes when we do have to think about it, because at Hearts yesterday (and at Aberdeen), we needed to think about how we could get some width in the team, as well as how we could shore up the middle of the pitch when Boyce dropped deeper.  It took until the 35th minute before I felt Goldson, Katic and Davis had worked out between them who would pick him up.  Equally, it took until half time (when the manager hooked Flanagan) before anyone (on the field) recognised that we needed width on the right.  Flanagan was being pinned back and Aribo was reluctant to go out wide, preferring his inside forward position instead.  Why are the players not working this out for themselves?  Can they see this?  Are they empowered to make changes on the field?  This concerned me.

 

I hope we pick ourselves up and go on another run but even if we do, this frailty in the team still exists.  I'm sure Gerrard (as a strong on field leader) can see this, but what can he do this season?  I suspect not a lot.  It does however suggest that in the summer we have some work to do to either make someone into a leader/organiser or buy someone who is.

Edited January 27, 2020 by Gaffer

[D'Artagnan 173]

3 hours ago, Frankie said:

Fair comment D'Art but it's still difficult to change a winning team, average performances or not.

 

Further, it's not like Jones or Docherty have ever really shown up when they have played, though neither have had much of an genuine run in the team.

 

It's worth noting though that I felt the bench was a bit light yesterday and someone like Docherty might have been useful to help us gain a foothold in the midfield with Davis and Kamara being so poor and Jack having to go off.  Instead we had Edmundson, Halliday and Polster, only two of whom I think should be needed.  

No theyve not but Docherty going out on loan and being voted player of the season at Shrewsbury, the loan club, kind of reinforces the question what they have to do to get ahead  of the pecking order when some are clearly underperforming. ?

 

Im surpised at SG given his previous comments in interviews about getting the shirt and ensuring performances warrant a plyer holding onto it.

[der Berliner 3,747]

I just checked it: Earth is still rotating. Despite what I read elsewhere after our defeat.

 

Anyway, After a certain time, the opposition teams sussed out how MW`s team played and how his players worked. Roundabout the turn of the year, Warburton`s Magic in the Premiership was gone. SG has assembled a far better team with better players, but IMHO still sticks far too often to  the same game-plan ... even if the players not always work. I had and have my reservations regarding Aribo in a right-sided attacking slot that ain't his prime role. Tav needs someone to work with and Jack usually supplies this if Aribo ain't close, Then again, it is asked of Aribo to go inside once the striker is being drawn away ... and Morelos is rather mobile up front. He sure is good there, but I wouldn't place him on a wing.

 

Now, the Hearts game was the usual hectic affair and they played their game and we tried to adapt, rather than forced our play upon them. Hence SG's comments. Too bad that our second striker, the more creative Stewart was/is injured. Too bad, that SG kept Ojo on the bench, rather than giving the Hearts backline more to think about. Too bad that Jack had to come off injured and we lost the chance to put Jones on.

 

When it comes to Wednesday, Ross County will provide the same stubborn rersistance that we saw at the Scumhut on Saturday. I'd keep Polster at right-back, who looked willing to create and go forward. Who can drop into the DM role if need be. Arfield looked willing and more like himself, so may keep a slot. Morelos will be back and add another dimension to our attack, even though the rest of the team should be able to cope with and in his absence. While we could very well stay with the "4-3-3" ... 4-2-3-1 line-up on Wednesday, I would ponder ...

 

McGregor

 

Polster - Goldson - Katic - Barisic

 

Aribo/Arfield - Davis

 

Ojo - Kent - Jones

 

Morelos

 

... with us switching to a 3-5-2 when we attack, and/or Polster dropping into a DM role near to Davis, while Aribo moves slightly further forward as ball-winner (which he can), distributor or option going forward like Jack does on occasion. The left wing is well covered, Jones may even go into a striker slot when Baraisic moves forward or Morelos comes to the flank. Kent in a more free, roving role. I suspect that the Stags won't come out to attack us too often, so we should have enough players in the attacking third to tear their wall down.

Edited January 27, 2020 by der Berliner

[MoodyBlue1872 62]

Line up looks ok apart from Ojo.  I honestly cannot see what he brings to the team/squad full stop.