I can’t remember the last time I wanted a regular season game to end when losing as much as today.
Firstly, credit to Bolton. It’s easy to point to our mistakes and issues but I thought they looked decent all over the pitch with a couple of players who could really push them into the mix come the end of the season.
That said, we were so poor. Tactically all wrong and, despite what Ainsworth says in his post match comments, one dimensional from start to finish. Balls coming in from wide seldom hit their intended target and when they did Vokes was comfortably marshalled. At the back we were full of holes and it was far too easy for Bolton to get between the lines.
We all know we need a CB but if there is anyone thinking we can continue to wait then today should tell you otherwise. On the GK front, Dickinson did nothing wrong and made a great save at the end. I don’t see Stockdale letting all three of those goals in though, he wasn’t ‘big’ or dominant enough. That’s not his fault, just inexperience. Again, we can’t continue to wait to bring in a genuine first choice ‘keeper.
Even in our arguably strongest area of midfield we’re still showing frailties too. We were cut open with ease.
One or two games don’t define a season but this one and Burton for me sum up perfectly where I think we are at the minute; pretty bang average.
I think the realist in me feels we chalk this one down to experience and a bad day at the office; given how many players seemed to have an off day.
Of course we need some extra bodies in all the positions most of us have been on about all summer (GK/CB/CF), the first two being the absolute priorities. I do not have an issue with the loan market, especially for goalkeepers, but can see why our American colleagues might not get it. Anyway let's hope Bishop is with us soon and we loan in/sign a decent CB who can cover for Forino/Taff, as Grimmer is much more use to us at RB than doing a job at CB.
I am less bothered up front, other than we still struggle to click against better quality defenders, but I cannot see that being solved through a transfer or loan signing given our budget. It is something we need to resolve on the training ground &/or via the development squad.
On today's performance (an important caveat), we are several players short of a promotion push. The number of players playing out of position has been covered - as well as having too few center halves - but the lack of size and speed in the midfield is also a concern.
Too often we were beaten to the second ball and did not appear to have the legs to join in our counter attacks nor get back when facing them. It could be a bad day (especially this early in the season) but it would not be unfair to wonder if we have too many similar players in this part of the field.
I love the way you say you’ve “always” thought Lewis Wing overrated @aloysius. Have you followed his career for a year or more or have you just seen him in a few of the dozen or so games he’s played for Wycombe?
On the goalkeeping front, I have to say that Tyla Dickinson’s body language (including some fierce remonstrations with his defenders!) bespoke a considerable degree of self-confidence. But he doesn’t look physically big enough to have a commanding presence. James Trafford by contrast - on loan from Manchester City - is only 19 but looked very much the finished product. And he is 6’6” ! Tyla may just about be 6’. Nathan Bishop is only 6’1”. All stats from the ever-reliable Wikipedia!
I’m fairly sure James Trafford played against us in that cup game at Maine Road.
that subs bench is very average, its. no comparison with the top 6 squad in the league , GA and Rob are such stubborn people, put your hand in your pockets , they just want fans to put our hands in our pockets! so sad as had a great shot at promotion if we reinforced
This bizarre gamble by Ainsworth of not recruiting or replacing defenders and keeper, could be costly. Now other teams realise we are getting desperate, loan fees and transfer fees can be hiked.
If automatic promotion is the goal set out by the chairman, clearly funds need to made available to Ainsworth soon. We cannot wait until the end of the transfer window. Too many games until end of August and if we are serious about promotion, you cannot be dropping unnecessary points this early.
To me today was a day when the tactics / formation didn’t work. Was at the game and Obita was often that far up the pitch that we looked to be playing a back 3. Then it got confusing as to who was playing in midfield with Wing, Scowen & Gape all below par perhaps because they were competing for the same space and seem to have no ball playing outlet (Horgan a big miss). Am sure GA and the team will review in depth. Onwards to next week!
TBH I don’t normally post on here but enjoy reading the threads on all the subjects. My opinion probably doesn’t count too much either but I’m amazed we haven’t plugged the obvious gaps. I know it’s probably worked in the past to wait and has proved fruitful, but the spine of a team is so important . Rob Couhig makes it clear he wants promotion/ playoff’s. To get that you need to add good quality and I’m not convinced there’s enough right now to compete in a really tough league.
I think we need a John Delaney and John Maskell type of player.
I do wish Gaz would stop peddling the "Plenty in the door last season" when talking about the lack of arrivals. I don't see how that answer covers the fact that Stewart, Stockdale and Bayo left and haven't been replaced.
"There's some financial restraints at times, and I know Rob is working hard to try and free those up and try and some cash to spend in the market." Interesting with the recent price hike in ticketing, merchandise and food and drink concessions.
It needs to be remembered that we would have had some parachute funding last season after our relegation from the Championship, which has probably dropped away this season
But he has never said he is not looking for a keeper or a central defender, so this is a slightly bizarre take on "this is Wycombe Wanderers, so we sometimes have financial constraints, but we are working to deal with those" as said by GA in his post match interview today
On the plus side, Bolton looked a very good team and I'd be surprised if we had as many games this season as difficult as today. And it might have been the same result as last week, but our 3-0 win was far more one-sided than our 3-0 defeat.
On the down side, that formation just didn't work at all. We didn't have sufficient numbers at the back, but in making that sacrifice we didn't increase the time Mehmeti spent on the ball. We lacked someone to get hold of the ball and control the game - which is what Horgan did so well last week. And I think we missed Bayo - someone to come on and make a difference up front.
I think we definitely missed an option to come on and create havoc up front, I don’t know if Hanlan is carrying a knock but I would have gone for him as that option.
It’s obviously early days for Mellor and he should be given time to show what he can do, but on the short cameos he’s had so far he seems to overcomplicate things a little, although it is good to have an option not afraid to run at defenders.
As everyone has already said though, nigh on impossible to find a true Bayo replacement.
Wouldn't be surprised at all if Uche does come in, would be very Ainsworth to bring him back and fix him. Almost a month left of the window, wouldn't rule it out.
We all knew that not replacing key players for the big kick off was a huge risk. A few people tried to pretend the squad was still as strong somehow, but we all knew.
With McCarthy and Forino injured it looks an even madder risk.
We got away with it last week playing such a shocking team, where with all due respect anyone from the terrace could have been in goal and we wouldn't have conceded.
But the first decent team we've played we've been battered.
Only one game etc etc, but we need to get a handle on are we getting Bishop in, and if not, get someone else in asap.
You can't tell me there's not a better centre back than Grimmer out there either.
We need two really, a starter, and a backup, to make it 4 specialists. We won't be able to rely on a JJ or Grimmer in a 2 and get away with it that often
I thought De Barr did well. After his two assaults, he played some neat football with Freeman down the left. Couldn’t work out where Mellor was supposed to be playing, or indeed if there was a formation by that point, all looked a bit like a school team where everyone is just running toward the ball at all times. Either way, Mellor looked pretty skilful but didn’t suit the position he was in.
That really was unacceptable for a professional team.
In the first half we looked very dangerous going forwards but all over the place at the back.
I cannot remember ever seeing us play a back 2 or for that matter any other team in the history of football. The shape of the defence was so amateurish it was like watching under 6s in their first season.
The midfield 3 and front 3 were so narrow first half that Obita was playing left wing and Wheeler was 10 yards ahead of the back 2 on a number of occasions. This just left Tafa and Grimmer woefully exposed.
Wing & Gape tried to cover the gaps left by Obita, which then dragged us out of position even more.
It is the worst defensive tactical performance I can ever remember seeing.
I really don’t mind losing games if we have a recognised game plan. That today was so poor. How can a management team even think playing two at the back and then continuing with it the whole game was ok. Occasionally Wheeler would make it three.
Either Obita was instructed to play like that or he ignored the managers instructions. He continually got the wrong side of his man or just wasn’t anywhere near left back. Given he wasn’t substituted he must have been told to play like that. JJ back next week, at least he would hold his position and be goalside of the attacker.
We got 83 points last season by playing a back four or back three with wingbacks. Why have we changed to this?
Gape playing in front of the back two instead of Scowen was also a switch and I think this just left Josh in no man’s land not really sure what to do.
let’s hope that experiment is put to bed and we move on. If we’d played a flat back four, I really believe we would have come away with at least one point if not all three.
Comments
I can’t remember the last time I wanted a regular season game to end when losing as much as today.
Firstly, credit to Bolton. It’s easy to point to our mistakes and issues but I thought they looked decent all over the pitch with a couple of players who could really push them into the mix come the end of the season.
That said, we were so poor. Tactically all wrong and, despite what Ainsworth says in his post match comments, one dimensional from start to finish. Balls coming in from wide seldom hit their intended target and when they did Vokes was comfortably marshalled. At the back we were full of holes and it was far too easy for Bolton to get between the lines.
We all know we need a CB but if there is anyone thinking we can continue to wait then today should tell you otherwise. On the GK front, Dickinson did nothing wrong and made a great save at the end. I don’t see Stockdale letting all three of those goals in though, he wasn’t ‘big’ or dominant enough. That’s not his fault, just inexperience. Again, we can’t continue to wait to bring in a genuine first choice ‘keeper.
Even in our arguably strongest area of midfield we’re still showing frailties too. We were cut open with ease.
One or two games don’t define a season but this one and Burton for me sum up perfectly where I think we are at the minute; pretty bang average.
I think the realist in me feels we chalk this one down to experience and a bad day at the office; given how many players seemed to have an off day.
Of course we need some extra bodies in all the positions most of us have been on about all summer (GK/CB/CF), the first two being the absolute priorities. I do not have an issue with the loan market, especially for goalkeepers, but can see why our American colleagues might not get it. Anyway let's hope Bishop is with us soon and we loan in/sign a decent CB who can cover for Forino/Taff, as Grimmer is much more use to us at RB than doing a job at CB.
I am less bothered up front, other than we still struggle to click against better quality defenders, but I cannot see that being solved through a transfer or loan signing given our budget. It is something we need to resolve on the training ground &/or via the development squad.
On today's performance (an important caveat), we are several players short of a promotion push. The number of players playing out of position has been covered - as well as having too few center halves - but the lack of size and speed in the midfield is also a concern.
Too often we were beaten to the second ball and did not appear to have the legs to join in our counter attacks nor get back when facing them. It could be a bad day (especially this early in the season) but it would not be unfair to wonder if we have too many similar players in this part of the field.
I love the way you say you’ve “always” thought Lewis Wing overrated @aloysius. Have you followed his career for a year or more or have you just seen him in a few of the dozen or so games he’s played for Wycombe?
On the goalkeeping front, I have to say that Tyla Dickinson’s body language (including some fierce remonstrations with his defenders!) bespoke a considerable degree of self-confidence. But he doesn’t look physically big enough to have a commanding presence. James Trafford by contrast - on loan from Manchester City - is only 19 but looked very much the finished product. And he is 6’6” ! Tyla may just about be 6’. Nathan Bishop is only 6’1”. All stats from the ever-reliable Wikipedia!
I’m fairly sure James Trafford played against us in that cup game at Maine Road.
For how poor we were today we still had a good few chances that we wasted.
Missed Jacobson and Horgan I thought, Bolton's no21 Conor Bradley had a field day down the right and looks a really good player.
Get back to winning ways next week and it won't be a bad start to the league
that subs bench is very average, its. no comparison with the top 6 squad in the league , GA and Rob are such stubborn people, put your hand in your pockets , they just want fans to put our hands in our pockets! so sad as had a great shot at promotion if we reinforced
In fairness, I don't think the manager is the one funding the team!
This bizarre gamble by Ainsworth of not recruiting or replacing defenders and keeper, could be costly. Now other teams realise we are getting desperate, loan fees and transfer fees can be hiked.
If automatic promotion is the goal set out by the chairman, clearly funds need to made available to Ainsworth soon. We cannot wait until the end of the transfer window. Too many games until end of August and if we are serious about promotion, you cannot be dropping unnecessary points this early.
They’re out there….
https://twitter.com/chairgirl83/status/1555946305624612871?s=21&t=aKny1RiNrqr8AzdQj50CFQ
To me today was a day when the tactics / formation didn’t work. Was at the game and Obita was often that far up the pitch that we looked to be playing a back 3. Then it got confusing as to who was playing in midfield with Wing, Scowen & Gape all below par perhaps because they were competing for the same space and seem to have no ball playing outlet (Horgan a big miss). Am sure GA and the team will review in depth. Onwards to next week!
TBH I don’t normally post on here but enjoy reading the threads on all the subjects. My opinion probably doesn’t count too much either but I’m amazed we haven’t plugged the obvious gaps. I know it’s probably worked in the past to wait and has proved fruitful, but the spine of a team is so important . Rob Couhig makes it clear he wants promotion/ playoff’s. To get that you need to add good quality and I’m not convinced there’s enough right now to compete in a really tough league.
I think we need a John Delaney and John Maskell type of player.
Too easy for Bolton to spread the ball quickly and get straight at our defence. Their 16 was superb.
Overall I felt they looked quicker and more athletic than us, which has happened before against top teams in this division.
Having said that, it might have been a different game had we scored one or more of the first half chances.
Maybe it’s time to bring him home:
https://twitter.com/boropolis/status/1555830784296116226?s=21&t=FZoLp20mMzHuczDnLWK3LA
I do wish Gaz would stop peddling the "Plenty in the door last season" when talking about the lack of arrivals. I don't see how that answer covers the fact that Stewart, Stockdale and Bayo left and haven't been replaced.
"There's some financial restraints at times, and I know Rob is working hard to try and free those up and try and some cash to spend in the market." Interesting with the recent price hike in ticketing, merchandise and food and drink concessions.
Probably blown all the budget on fireworks
That's long gone, all the championship money went on that. Shame we didn't get any money for Fred or Uche either.
Don't worry though, only Shrewsbury, Exeter, Barnsley and Charlton left in August. Points don't count before the end of the transfer window, do they?
I reckon he could have packed a few more clichés in here https://twitter.com/RCouhig/status/1555968738305916928?t=0nLTP5hTBOAnzE4LRlhpkA&s=19
You're so negative @ReturnToSenda 😓 Clearly, he would have added more in, had more than 280 characters been available.
It needs to be remembered that we would have had some parachute funding last season after our relegation from the Championship, which has probably dropped away this season
But he has never said he is not looking for a keeper or a central defender, so this is a slightly bizarre take on "this is Wycombe Wanderers, so we sometimes have financial constraints, but we are working to deal with those" as said by GA in his post match interview today
On the plus side, Bolton looked a very good team and I'd be surprised if we had as many games this season as difficult as today. And it might have been the same result as last week, but our 3-0 win was far more one-sided than our 3-0 defeat.
On the down side, that formation just didn't work at all. We didn't have sufficient numbers at the back, but in making that sacrifice we didn't increase the time Mehmeti spent on the ball. We lacked someone to get hold of the ball and control the game - which is what Horgan did so well last week. And I think we missed Bayo - someone to come on and make a difference up front.
I think we definitely missed an option to come on and create havoc up front, I don’t know if Hanlan is carrying a knock but I would have gone for him as that option.
It’s obviously early days for Mellor and he should be given time to show what he can do, but on the short cameos he’s had so far he seems to overcomplicate things a little, although it is good to have an option not afraid to run at defenders.
As everyone has already said though, nigh on impossible to find a true Bayo replacement.
Wouldn't be surprised at all if Uche does come in, would be very Ainsworth to bring him back and fix him. Almost a month left of the window, wouldn't rule it out.
We all knew that not replacing key players for the big kick off was a huge risk. A few people tried to pretend the squad was still as strong somehow, but we all knew.
With McCarthy and Forino injured it looks an even madder risk.
We got away with it last week playing such a shocking team, where with all due respect anyone from the terrace could have been in goal and we wouldn't have conceded.
But the first decent team we've played we've been battered.
Only one game etc etc, but we need to get a handle on are we getting Bishop in, and if not, get someone else in asap.
You can't tell me there's not a better centre back than Grimmer out there either.
We need two really, a starter, and a backup, to make it 4 specialists. We won't be able to rely on a JJ or Grimmer in a 2 and get away with it that often
You talking about heights again has cheered me after a bleak looking result
Obita is a good left back in fairness. Not quite the same as Wheeler filling in there as an emergency
I thought De Barr did well. After his two assaults, he played some neat football with Freeman down the left. Couldn’t work out where Mellor was supposed to be playing, or indeed if there was a formation by that point, all looked a bit like a school team where everyone is just running toward the ball at all times. Either way, Mellor looked pretty skilful but didn’t suit the position he was in.
That really was unacceptable for a professional team.
In the first half we looked very dangerous going forwards but all over the place at the back.
I cannot remember ever seeing us play a back 2 or for that matter any other team in the history of football. The shape of the defence was so amateurish it was like watching under 6s in their first season.
The midfield 3 and front 3 were so narrow first half that Obita was playing left wing and Wheeler was 10 yards ahead of the back 2 on a number of occasions. This just left Tafa and Grimmer woefully exposed.
Wing & Gape tried to cover the gaps left by Obita, which then dragged us out of position even more.
It is the worst defensive tactical performance I can ever remember seeing.
I really don’t mind losing games if we have a recognised game plan. That today was so poor. How can a management team even think playing two at the back and then continuing with it the whole game was ok. Occasionally Wheeler would make it three.
Either Obita was instructed to play like that or he ignored the managers instructions. He continually got the wrong side of his man or just wasn’t anywhere near left back. Given he wasn’t substituted he must have been told to play like that. JJ back next week, at least he would hold his position and be goalside of the attacker.
We got 83 points last season by playing a back four or back three with wingbacks. Why have we changed to this?
Gape playing in front of the back two instead of Scowen was also a switch and I think this just left Josh in no man’s land not really sure what to do.
let’s hope that experiment is put to bed and we move on. If we’d played a flat back four, I really believe we would have come away with at least one point if not all three.
rant over…