What my brother thinks

Emails from my brother are usually lengthy and mostly concerned with matters GTFC.
I consider him wise because we generally agree.  
Some of his thoughts:

Hurst had signed too many players who were more attack-minded than he was, and this was the crux of the problem.

The players *are* good enough, as far as I'm concerned.. So what will the new manager face in his in-tray?

(1) Eastwood needs a confidence boost. Cartwright has done well coming into the side, but needs proper competition.

(2) Although the current squad is good enough, I still feel we're two or possibly three quality players short. We certainly need another centre back. Waterfall is starting to look creaky, in my view. I think we also need another right back. If Efete is to play, he has to be either a wing back or even a wide midfielder with a brief to deliver into the box. He has great upper body strength - hard to shove off the ball - but needs to play where his lapses are less costly. He can provide decent assists... ??

(3) I think Town should look at 3-5-2 (or 5-3-2) as this would allow 'Glenno' to play further up the field. He provided two goal assists in the Morecambe game. We need this service!

(4) I reckon Conteh is the best passer in the team, and should be operating more in the opposition half to link up our approach play better. 'Greeny' is better suited to the disruptive (!) play in front of Town's back line...

(5) I think Alex Hunt needs an arm across the shoulder, as the pundits say. Nige and I both felt that, at the moment, he's something of a 'luxury' player, but that when he's on song, he can ping long passes like no one else in the team. We need him to be back in the reckoning, as a strong tactical option.

(6) Town are conceding too many goals through the centre of the defence. This must be addressed, either in terms of formation, tactics or personnel - or some combination of these.

(7) Our ball distribution and retention are not good enough - I'd actually like to see us sign an 'old head' sitting midfielder to keep the engine room ticking over. The old Liverpool premise - wherever you are on the field, you should always have an easy pass - needs to be drummed into one and all.

( Our wide players must be encouraged to go past defenders: Eisa, Gnahoua, Khan and Vernam all have decent pace and ball skills. One of the things that sank Hurst (in my opinion) was that he wanted to pass the ball around - rather than through - the opposition defence, but any time a wide player came up against a defender (with no easy lay-off available, see (7) above) he ended up passing back/recycling the ball and losing any forward momentum in the process. Instead, we need to take more 'sensible risks'...

(9) I think 'Donny' Wilson is the best finisher in the side, and for me, he needs to start games alongside Danny Rose. That said, Pyke has done well in the last few matches. Competition is healthy!

(10) This might sound bizarre, but Town need to improve their throw-in routines. I've lost count this season of how many times in the opposition half we've turned over possession because our throw-in manoeuvres are so sluggish and predictable. Instead, if players are not able to safely receive the ball, you throw to someone down the line to force another throw - to gain territory. The spirit of Keith Alexander, and all that. If we're within 35/40 yards of the opponent's goal, then Maher chucks it long. And if he's not playing, then some other sod takes over... We have to weaponise our throw-ins

Broadly agree with most of these points, but a few further observations-

Glennon is far better attacking then defending, and so either needs to play wing back, or only play full back when the opposition don’t have a tricky winger. Against Morecambe he had little to defend, but often looks poor when having to defend.

I tend to think that Efete looks better running from deep a la Peter Bore. When there is plenty of ground to cover he certainly gets us up the pitch, but tends to get a little lost once he’s there.

Much of our play this season has been too pedestrian, with few runners off the ball. It looks like the interim management team have been working on this, as the last two home games have looked much more dynamic.

Pyke has really surprised me. The first time I saw him play he looked completely lost up front, and I thought we’d signed a dud. In fairness to him, he’s really notched up the goals since.

My biggest concern is central defence where the Waterfall, Smith, Maher combination looks far stronger than the Waterfall, Rogers, Maher version. In part this could be Waterfall slowing down, but Maher hasn’t been at the same level, and after the first 6 or so games, Rogers has looked quite shaky. I’d argue that he’s the one who needs some time out of the team to restore his confidence, and a loanee who could go straight into the team here would be quite helpful (I appreciate that we cannot currently sign any loan players).

Pyke probably is a dud as a lone front man playing with his back to goal, I’m a bit baffled by PH signing him and stating he’d been signed as a striker, without any appreciable league track record in that role. The change of approach B and S have made seem to have been perfect for him.

Looks like your brother is pitching for the job.....and clearly knows how to use a computer...🤔

Quoted from blundellpork

Broadly agree with most of these points, but a few further observations-

Glennon is far better attacking then defending, and so either needs to play wing back, or only play full back when the opposition don’t have a tricky winger. Against Morecambe he had little to defend, but often looks poor when having to defend.

I tend to think that Efete looks better running from deep a la Peter Bore. When there is plenty of ground to cover he certainly gets us up the pitch, but tends to get a little lost once he’s there.

Much of our play this season has been too pedestrian, with few runners off the ball. It looks like the interim management team have been working on this, as the last two home games have looked much more dynamic.

Pyke has really surprised me. The first time I saw him play he looked completely lost up front, and I thought we’d signed a dud. In fairness to him, he’s really notched up the goals since.

My biggest concern is central defence where the Waterfall, Smith, Maher combination looks far stronger than the Waterfall, Rogers, Maher version. In part this could be Waterfall slowing down, but Maher hasn’t been at the same level, and after the first 6 or so games, Rogers has looked quite shaky. I’d argue that he’s the one who needs some time out of the team to restore his confidence, and a loanee who could go straight into the team here would be quite helpful (I appreciate that we cannot currently sign any loan players).

Yeah efete is no good at attacking a defended final third with the ball.

Quoted from toontown

Yeah efete is no good at attacking a defended final third with the ball.

How hard can it be to coach this into his game?!

"Carry the ball as you are doing, but instead of turning back, get as close as you can and cross it into the box..."

If nobody is there to attack it that is not his problem.

Efete has been our best full back this season, we've heard comments from Shaun and Ben Davies that Paul wanted his full backs to tuck in rather than get forward so he was obviously under instructions to not get forward as often.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

How hard can it be to coach this into his game?!

"Carry the ball as you are doing, but instead of turning back, get as close as you can and cross it into the box..."

If nobody is there to attack it that is not his problem.

You mean like he did for the DR goal against Slough?

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

You mean like he did for the DR goal against Slough?

Yes exactly that. But the critism of the previous poster was that he was lost in the final third. He can be coached into crossing it into the box instead of turning back. It's not rocket science is it?!

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Efete has been our best full back this season, we've heard comments from Shaun and Ben Davies that Paul wanted his full backs to tuck in rather than get forward so he was obviously under instructions to not get forward as often.

That's a very low bar tbf!