Tom Jenkins on why we’re doing badly
It is often said by my father that 6 games is enough to tell you how a season will pan out. We are halfway through those games and the outlook isn`t great. No goals, 1 point and an already nervous/angry fan base presents Neil Lennon with a few big problems after less than two weeks of the season. These problems are not numerous, however, and thus I wouldn`t call for panic stations just yet. The major concern is that the difficulties we face are crucial and, without rectifying them, this season may not just cause disappointment but relegation.
1: Lack of Goals (put mildly)
Anyone who attended the Derby and MK Dons matches will know our problem doesn`t lie in creating chances but finishing them. This isn`t cutting edge analysis I know but it is the only reason we didn`t win those games as the performance was there but the ruthlessness was not. Our main goal threat remains Zach Clough who had at least 4 chances last night to score and didn`t take any of them. This lack of goals is worrying now but I get the feeling our Number 10 needs one to go in off any part of his anatomy just to get the monkey off his back. After missing one from a Dean Moxey cross late in the game he looked up to the sky, praying for that little bit of luck he needed. If he gets it, I think the floodgates could open. Clough has bags of ability and a knack for getting into goal scoring positions. If he can find his shooting boots, these problems will cease.
2: No Attacking Plan B
Again, supporters who saw us at Stadium MK last night will have noticed the other issue that hindered us going forward. We played a narrow 4-1-2-1-2 with Feeney and Madine up front which, once more, didn`t work. Feeney is frustrating because he doesn`t use his pace, he is often offside when through balls are played to him and, as we all know, his crossing is usually abysmal. Playing him up front guarantees no goals and he rarely stays there, preferring to go out wide. This is Lennon`s plan B which doesn`t work because the crosses end up 10 yards away from any potential target. When he was rightly brought off, there was no width at all. This forced us to play Barcelona-esque football to break down MK Dons. MK DONS!! They couldn`t defend for love nor money and yet we tried to tikka-takka our way through them (as Lennon had planned to do). Wellington Silva has been brought in for width and I now see why. Maybe his signing will give us a good back up tactic.
3: Similar Players Starting Together
Neil Danns` name on last night`s team sheet sparked some rather amusing memes on Twitter showing displeasure. At the moment he seems to be the one the fans have chosen to pick on. I would say however, contrary to popular opinion, that Josh Vela would be no more deserving of a starting place against Forest than Danns. They effectively do the same job and last night did it equally well/badly. They tackle and pass to someone more skilful (Mark Davies) and remain anonymous otherwise. Our hand is forced at the moment without Darren Pratley to play them both together in holding roles, causing a similar situation like playing Medo and Spearing together. It results in having effectively 10 men on the pitch. One of them needs license to go forward while the other sits or else we will have less attacking impetus but also no defensive cover. This is why Pratley is integral to us: he can do both roles.
Neil Lennon, for me, has these three problems to solve before we can progress and while they may seem obvious they are still rearing their heads each time we play. I feel we have the means to solve them (even if we don`t we have the money to crack them anyway) but it will take a big effort to do so. The rewards will be high but failure will cost even more.