Coventry 4 Newcastle 1: 4231 Isn't Working
Updated: 2 days ago
Nobody ever likes hearing "I told you so"...
But you are going to hear it from me.
This is what I posted in my Match Preview...
Two questions need to be asked...
Can Coventry score and can Newcastle keep a clean sheet?
I think we'll have too much for Coventry not to concede, however our problem so far this season is that we don't have enough to stop teams scoring.
Unfortunately, I'm still in that frame of mind that I was in before the Leeds game where no performance or result would surprise me.
And there you have it - another 4-1 defeat.
It isn't often that I have a real go against a manager's team selection, system and in game management but I'm making an exception for this game.
Team Selection
What was in Jaissle's mind to play Willock alongside Nico?
Why leave Stuer out when he is our best player for MJ's favoured vertical passes?
Why were all three of our fit again physical players - Burn, Jo and Osula - left out from the start?
Why didn't Jaissle make subs at HT when it was obvious that his selection wasn't working? Pardo is currently nowhere near a PL striker able to lead the line, Wissa and Murphy were totally ineffective, and Willock was still bombing forward leaving gaps galore for Coventry to threaten on the break.
The 4231 System
A two of Nico and Willock and a three of Murphy Wissa and Barnes has as much defensive protection when out of possession as a candy floss wall against an incoming tide.
Again, I'm going to say I told you so, but when I saw the team sheet my opinion was it that was a weak midfield against a break or a press. And so it was.
It has been staring us in the face game after game; it isn't necessarily the 4231 system that is wrong it is the selection of the players in it.
No out and out defensive player in the two and two wingers in the three doesn't work - we are a gift to play against for any team, concede space and shots galore and are virtually guaranteed not to keep a clean sheet - as we haven't done against any team this season including those from lower league's in the LC.
In Game Management
My opinion in the blog comments was that HT was a test of MJ's management.
And he failed.
Why didn't he bring on the subs immediately that we clearly needed?
Coventry were awful and there for a thumping - but the team that started and finished the half, for all their possession, totally lacked a cutting edge and, worringly, every time we lost possession Coventry looked like scoring.
I posted this comment at HT...
8 minutes ago
I can just see Coventry getting a second early in the second half.
It has that feeling written all over it.
It only took two minutes for that to be proved right.
And yet.. even at 2-0 down Coventry were so bad I said to my mates that we could still win this 3-2.
They laughed...
Until Botman scored and Coventry allowed us to walk up to the edge of their penalty area as they retreated in depth exactly as we did when Hull pulled a goal back.
And just when it looked as if we could get an equaliser and even go on to win the game, what do we do?
Concede acres of space out of possession, dawdle on the ball around the box, and allow an abysmal Coventry to score another two goals.
Matthias - You Need To Learn Fast
Our young manager is an intelligent guy, but this isn't the Suadi league or anywhere near it.
The PL is ruthless and no team is ever going to perform at a consistent high level if it has a powder puff defensive weakness and that's exactly what Jaissle's 4231 has with the players that occupied those positions tonight - and the glaring evidence has been there all season.
No clean sheets and two 4-1 hammerings, one against an awful team in Coventry, cannot be ignored.
The honeymoon period is well and truly over and the spotlight is glaring down at full strength.
Jaissle has to either change the 4231 system or radically change the players in it.
If he doesn't do that on Saturday I can see another hammering against Aston Villa.
The last thing I want to be doing is another "I told you so" post after that match.
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Jo and Nico need in two tandem in the defensive pivot and Ramsey or Steur with the number 10.
It's ridiculous.
Another chastening defeat
Same score as last Monday night away game but thats the only comparison
Leeds are a far better team than Coventry and I remain unconvinced that they will stay up - yeah and they beat us comfortably - or so the score suggests
That wasn't the case as we totally contributed to that outcome ourselves
Got caught in first 5 mins and gave away pen that both gave Coventry confidence but also no need to then overexposed themselves to our pace on break
We then wasted possesion overplaying around their box - Botman finally has a go and result -goal
Willock Pardo Barnes through to Osula couldn't take or wildly hit chances
Midfield unable to protect back…
Let's Not Panic... Yet.
The manager saying he wasn't concerned in the post-match presser was indeed concerning 🤔
The best part of £80m spent on Toure, Bamba and Willock, and Murphy are still starters. Will Coventry beat anyone else again this season by scoring four? Botman and Thiaw need to be taken out of the team as they seem terrified when playing together, or we should be going back to three in the middle. I'm worried about the Villa game.