One Up Front podcast - Doncaster Review

[dannyboy]

In this episode I discuss:

Reasons why Karl may not be our head coach next season

Salford's signs of fatigue due to a lack of squad rotation

How recent opposition have played deeper to prevent us winning as many second ball

How Karl is adapting his direct playing style to combat this

Salford use of a 4-2-4 and 4-2-1-3 formation

And as always much, much more besides..........


Here’s the link:

open.spotify.com/episode/1SOUhnSrdzs3Z6RbQSR0wF?si=cCkPP0bTTG2rbMU5S-ae3A

[je85]

Not going to lie Danny some of that was a tad harsh in my opinion, especially in relation to Hendry, Ingram and Karl Robinson’s position beyond the season - but credit to you for maintaining a high bar standards wise.

I think going into the season I would probably agree that high bar was a fair place to judge from, on the back of the previous campaign and the additions to the squad. I am less inclined to judge performances at that level now because we have regressed rapidly in the first half of the year individually and collectively. After 8 games under Robinson I do think he has simplified things and I agree this feels more like when Bowyer arrived post Wellens than it did after KRs first game against FGR. The brand of football we are playing is survivalist and is built off whatever is required for that opponent to get a result on the day. Under Bowyer ‘pragmatic’ was the buzz word in this and other forums, because we still had a whiff of the playoffs. What we have now is completely comparable, but it’s evading the trap door that is the prize at the end of the rainbow not L1.

I imagine an experienced football manger won’t see it like the supporters do, who think we have broken the rope tethering us to the relegation zone and should be marching up the league now - I am one of them maybe not playoffs but mid table. KR knows we are not a L2 side in 24/25 yet and this maybe why we are not seeing a more dynamic possession lead or expansive attack minded approach. Patience is key here and I think quality will shine through - Garbutt, McAleny and Watson are testament to that under KR already.

It should be noted that Injuries and squad depth still are holding this team back, however like Bowyer I think KR gets a two-year deal in early April. 18 players are currently set to leave in the summer due to contracts or loans ending - this includes Watt, Smith, Hendry, Lund, Mallan, N’Mai, Luamba, Vassel, John, Ingram. Like last summer retention is as important as additions, the likes of Watt, N’Mai and Luamba as U23s should be offered deals now in my mind to mitigate them leaving for free. Hendry at 26 should be getting ready to hit his prime years as a striker and fully fit I agree with KR he is one of our best players. John will be a free agent in the summer and you would like to think a deal is in play for him to stay beyond his loan as a permanent member of the squad, Vassell and Mallan also I think at 27/28 are worth keeping.

With the above retentions you would have 11 players leaving including Smith, which you would hope creates enough room for KR or a future incumbent to mould a squad that gets us back in the playoff conversation at least. If the current top 4 in L2 went up and the current bottom 4 in L1 came down with more depth I believe our current best 12 - 14 players could be in the mix for top 6 finish for the 24/25 season. I think Karl Robinson is a good fit for us right now, that may look different come the end of the season granted, but I think there is genuinely room for optimism for the end of this season and going into next. The spotlight for scrutiny long term should be on the board and the recruitment team, in the mean time I think we are in for a ride through to the end of the season - it’s practically a free hit every week after the start we had so fans should get behind the team for the next 14 games.

[dannyboy]

Really appreciate you listening to and engaging with the pod je85, and always enjoy reading your analysis as I can rely on it coming from an angle that hasn't occurred to me.
I can see what you mean with your comment about my harsh critique as I know my views can come across that way. From my end its very much ‘say what you see’ while trying to be as rounded in my view as possible. It always feels to me when I'm at games that the notes and observations on a match just flow out of me and I try not to interfere with that process by worrying too much about what others may make of my viewpoint. I know that my take on things is not for everyone and more than anything it's like a therapy for me to get these thoughts out of my brain and out into the world.
One thing I am learning is that less is more and that just because I might notice Salford set up in a handful of different formations doesn't necessarily mean I need to make a big deal about. I find that people are more interested in the why than the what as relates to football tactics and I am trying to bear that in mind more often as I record each episode. Im sure regular listeners will now see that I tend to not focus too much on the traditionally important game events of goals and the like as from my stint as a reporter covering Radcliffe Borough I disliked the restrictions of what a match report should and shouldn't contain. Through the pod I like to let loose and provide content that no one else is producing about our club and I love doing it so much that I can't imagine ever stopping at this rate.
Apologies if I went off on a bit of a tangent there but just went with the flow of what I was thinking.

[chipbarm]

Another good listen, thanks Danny. Some interesting points about KR too. I wouldn't necessarily read too much into the lack of transfer activity in January. If KR is going to be here for the longer term my opinion is he and the owners would rather look to build a squad to his requirements in summer when there's much more choice available than possible panic signings from the slim pickings available in Jan. I think we have enough depth and quality in the squad as it stands to avoid relegation and then take it from there. I doubt we'd have done anything had Ashley not been written off for the season and Bolton not left. Davies and particularly Chesters seem to be direct replacements for what we lost.

[je85]

Feb 15, 2024 8:54:27 GMT dannyboy said:

Really appreciate you listening to and engaging with the pod je85, and always enjoy reading your analysis as I can rely on it coming from an angle that hasn't occurred to me.
I can see what you mean with your comment about my harsh critique as I know my views can come across that way. From my end its very much ‘say what you see’ while trying to be as rounded in my view as possible. It always feels to me when I'm at games that the notes and observations on a match just flow out of me and I try not to interfere with that process by worrying too much about what others may make of my viewpoint. I know that my take on things is not for everyone and more than anything it's like a therapy for me to get these thoughts out of my brain and out into the world.
One thing I am learning is that less is more and that just because I might notice Salford set up in a handful of different formations doesn't necessarily mean I need to make a big deal about. I find that people are more interested in the why than the what as relates to football tactics and I am trying to bear that in mind more often as I record each episode. Im sure regular listeners will now see that I tend to not focus too much on the traditionally important game events of goals and the like as from my stint as a reporter covering Radcliffe Borough I disliked the restrictions of what a match report should and shouldn't contain. Through the pod I like to let loose and provide content that no one else is producing about our club and I love doing it so much that I can't imagine ever stopping at this rate.
Apologies if I went off on a bit of a tangent there but just went with the flow of what I was thinking.

As harsh as the words hit my ear I actually rate it because you’re right - expectations should be high. We have the quality just haven’t had the scheme in my mind for 6 months of the year.