What was Richie thinking?

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Just to be clear, I’m not slagging Rich off. I’m a massive fan of his work and he’s got us to where we’ve got to. He also knows more about football than me.
I’m trying to understand if there was a rhyme or reason to play with Williams as a wingback and three CBs, when their best player came down right time and time again?

I wasn’t sure if we thought that playing Williams high up would pin back their number 10 or that their front three would play narrow in the spaces and therefore wanted an extra CB?

Apart from the first 10 mins cooper was exposed and Williams didn’t want a bar of it defensively.

It was clear after 45 mins something would come from that side and it happened twice for their goals.

Any insights?

[i8ubutler]

Nope.
Don't get it.

[gshaw]

If Currie wasn't fit enough for more than 30 mins then it's all Richie can do. Sweeney isn't a viable option, we saw that in the games Currie was suspended so change the shape instead

[Rich Tea Wellin]

If Currie wasn't fit enough for more than 30 mins then it's all Richie can do. Sweeney isn't a viable option, we saw that in the games Currie was suspended so change the shape instead

Yeah guess so

[Bandy Legs]

Just to be clear, I’m not slagging Rich off. I’m a massive fan of his work and he’s got us to where we’ve got to. He also knows more about football than me.
I’m trying to understand if there was a rhyme or reason to play with Williams as a wingback and three CBs, when their best player came down right time and time again?

I wasn’t sure if we thought that playing Williams high up would pin back their number 10 or that their front three would play narrow in the spaces and therefore wanted an extra CB?

Apart from the first 10 mins cooper was exposed and Williams didn’t want a bar of it defensively.

It was clear after 45 mins something would come from that side and it happened twice for their goals.

Any insights?

To not be out of the tie at the end of 90 minutes.
We play much better away.
Keep the Faith & we'll be going to the Final

[RedDwarf 1881]

Just to be clear, I’m not slagging Rich off. I’m a massive fan of his work and he’s got us to where we’ve got to. He also knows more about football than me.
I’m trying to understand if there was a rhyme or reason to play with Williams as a wingback and three CBs, when their best player came down right time and time again?

I wasn’t sure if we thought that playing Williams high up would pin back their number 10 or that their front three would play narrow in the spaces and therefore wanted an extra CB?

Apart from the first 10 mins cooper was exposed and Williams didn’t want a bar of it defensively.

It was clear after 45 mins something would come from that side and it happened twice for their goals.

Any insights?

To not be out of the tie at the end of 90 minutes.
We play much better away.
Keep the Faith & we'll be going to the Final

That's my thoughts exactly . We are better away so I wouldn't say Stockport had the advantage.. The main thing is we're still level so all to play for

[RedDwarf 1881]

If Currie wasn't fit enough for more than 30 mins then it's all Richie can do. Sweeney isn't a viable option, we saw that in the games Currie was suspended so change the shape instead

Yeah guess so

Yes , I would say that's the reason as well . However when James and Currie came on we looked a lot more assured at the back . If both players are fit enough I would start with them both on Wednesday night

[ContrifibulatoryFred]

Stockport were very good
Their No 10 was unplayable
We did well to draw 2-2.
I feel certain we can play better but I don’t believe Stockport can.
So we are still in with an excellent chance to win the tie

[PKM]

Could we sign up Jayden Fevrier?
Looked good

[Rich Tea Wellin]

To be clear I’m pretty happy with the result. But their goals were clearly only gonna come from the right. Surprised he didn’t change it sooner, even if it went to a back 4 with someone on Fevrier

[PKM]

Yes, Richie was way to slow to react, everyone else could see what was coming.

[BiggsyMalone]

Williams gave us natural width and an outlet over that side. He was the reason RW came down in the first half though, he wasn’t following instruction.

Currie and James can’t be risked playing a lot longer in the first leg, we’d be f*cked for the 2nd and possibly final if they aggravated the injury by doing too much too early

[Real Al]

Their right winger was the best player on the park by a country mile. In the home game a few months ago he absolutely rinsed Currie.

Thought Williams did a reasonable job against a tough opponent

[Mistadobalina]

He was thinking we just won our last two games, one against the 5th placed team, by playing this system, and that Currie wasn't fully fit.

The surprise and disappointment today was Abdulai. Clearly has talent but his decision making looks abysmal and he was the weakest link by far.

[DelightInE10]

He was thinking we just won our last two games, one against the 5th placed team, by playing this system, and that Currie wasn't fully fit.

The surprise and disappointment today was Abdulai. Clearly has talent but his decision making looks abysmal and he was the weakest link by far.

We needed a player like Brown with the positional awareness. Abdulai has a lot of ability but lacks what Brown has. That left so many holes in our midfield that allowed them to play the long balls and thats what made the game so end to end. Probably unpopular choice but I would have gone for Ball over Abdulai - if Brown and Pratley are injured he is the next best choice for that more defensive 8 if he is fully match fit (which he should be considering he has been with us for 7 8 months)

[Proposition Joe]

Their No 10 was unplayable

If it wasn't for the fact he was tearing us a new one, I'd have really enjoyed watching him today.

[Urbane Vancelo]

RW has already apologised for not changing it sooner in one of his interviews. I think it was BBC Radio London.

[redintheface]

If Currie wasn't fit enough for more than 30 mins then it's all Richie can do. Sweeney isn't a viable option, we saw that in the games Currie was suspended so change the shape instead

It was noticeable I thought that almost as soon as Currie was brought on the threat posed by Fevrier was nullified. And personally, I don’t buy the “ only fit for 30 minutes “ argument. In the event of an early injury/ sending off Currie ( or any other substitutes for that matter) may have to play 80/ 85 minutes. Currie should have started imho or at the very least been brought on after half time when it became clear the danger down the Stockport right side was growing more dangerous.

[Stowaway]

Their No 10 was unplayable

If it wasn't for the fact he was tearing us a new one, I'd have really enjoyed watching him today.

He looked great but his end product was negligible. All wind and no piss.

[The Reverend]

Their right winger was the best player on the park by a country mile. In the home game a few months ago he absolutely rinsed Currie.

Thought Williams did a reasonable job against a tough opponent

If you’re talking about the number 10 then I thought that Williams and Cooper both did a pretty decent job of keeping him out. They kept playing the same ball out to him but he only actually managed to break through a handful of times. He’s a very good player for this level but he was dealt with fairly well.

[Hoover Attack]

Lots of valid points already made. I don’t think playing the 3 at the back was the problem.

What Richie did get wrong was playing Donley in CM.

[faith1234]

Look we didn't lose thats the main thing

[Hoover Attack]

He was thinking we just won our last two games, one against the 5th placed team, by playing this system, and that Currie wasn't fully fit.

The surprise and disappointment today was Abdulai. Clearly has talent but his decision making looks abysmal and he was the weakest link by far.

We needed a player like Brown with the positional awareness. Abdulai has a lot of ability but lacks what Brown has. That left so many holes in our midfield that allowed them to play the long balls and thats what made the game so end to end. Probably unpopular choice but I would have gone for Ball over Abdulai - if Brown and Pratley are injured he is the next best choice for that more defensive 8 if he is fully match fit (which he should be considering he has been with us for 7 8 months)

You know that Abdulai wasn’t Browns replacement, right?

It was Donley.

[DrWindy]

He was thinking we just won our last two games, one against the 5th placed team, by playing this system, and that Currie wasn't fully fit.

The surprise and disappointment today was Abdulai. Clearly has talent but his decision making looks abysmal and he was the weakest link by far.

100%. I like the look of Abdulai but he had a stinker.

[moonwalk19]

Their right winger was the best player on the park by a country mile. In the home game a few months ago he absolutely rinsed Currie.

Thought Williams did a reasonable job against a tough opponent

If you’re talking about the number 10 then I thought that Williams and Cooper both did a pretty decent job of keeping him out. They kept playing the same ball out to him but he only actually managed to break through a handful of times. He’s a very good player for this level but he was dealt with fairly well.

I don’t agree. The amount of times he skinned either Cooper or Williams in the second half was all to see. He was the instigator of both their goals. RW should have replaced both Cooper and Williams much sooner than he did. Challinor replaced him when they came on. He was the best player on the pitch by a mile when he was on