Negatives:
Players:
Wellingham: He's performing well below even what I expected of him when we traded for him. Some would say he needs more midfield minutes but i'd question that. I have confidence he and others like Hutchings can improve though.
Cox: He offers nothing as a forward. He's slow, cumbersome and doesn't move. His seniority attracts a lot of long, high and slow kicks and once the ball hits the deck he offers us nothing. Around the ground he's still solid when it comes to the uncontested stuff but he's a liability when the ball is in dispute. The issue is he's not a structural tall and offers us very little for our (non existent) smalls to work off.
Kennedy: The structure isn't helping him, holding on the ball too long and slow movement to a forward line with too many talls. Talls that aren't moving quick enough to generate space for each other and blocking and clogging up space. Unless we're moving the ball like lightning and keeping it off the deck then it looks dysfunctional.
Scooter: has really gone back to his Pre 2011 disposal in terms of quality. He's missing Kerr's strength at the stoppages and is much better suited to uncontesed possession on the counter punch where he can retain his balance. Needs to be moved out of the role of ball winning midfielder and back to tagging first and offense second.
Sheed: Needs to be given a full game next week and down a level. Not ideal substitute material.
Structure:
Midfield: It's inability to share the ball effectively amongst themselves and generate space is the sole reason for the oppositions rebound off the half back. In the end we're forced to blaze the ball forward in hope to a tall forward line because no overlap or loose man exists. Two reasons for this a lack of pace at the ball drop and a lack of class by hand and foot.
We need strong, clean and willful midfielders who will go get there own ball and do creative things with it. Waterman will hopefully assist in this but there is no quick fix as Waterman won't bring much in the way of leg speed.
Forwards: They're too tall. Talls are there to provide marking power from which structure is given to forward attacks, if you aren't capable of generating separation and getting up and down the ground and taking marks then you aren't a KPP in the modern game. Screw the contested stuff, unless you can generate one on ones around the ground and expose their defenders then don't go long and high for the talls, not unless they are surrounded by competent smalls and you've run out of other options.
Need to play two more small forwards than we currently are. Ideally i'd have LeCras, Cripps and Tunbridge all play in the 21 at the moment. We really need more natural goal sense and scoring potency and our list just doesn't contain those speedy mid/ forward types that allow you to take the opportunities given to you by your midfielders and backmen. Find the right mix of players to take as much pressure of the ball carrier as possible needs to be the aim of our recruiting staff/ match committee.
Backs: Positive all around, smalls and talls. Probably lack another genuine medium/ small who has excellent speed, lateral strength and agility. Which would help in allowing us to release Yeo up the ground in the future.
Positives:
Players:
McGovern: Not cocking up is a win for KPD in their first game and he did well with limited ball.
Bennell: A poor first half backed up by a brilliant second half.
Yeo: Was easily our best game for us. He's quick, he can move laterally, he's strong in the air and on the ground. His kicking was ok today and he won a fair bit of his own ball. Shame he's needed down back.
Sheppard: He's coming on really well. Classy by foot, putting his body on the line and breaking lines.