Reaction to the Northampton defeat
By theimps.tk
October 18 2009
Chris Sutton's first defeat as manager saw the Imps put in a poor performance, one that resembled the days of Peter Jackson. The formation isn't really working at the moment, but there are reasons for optimism.
You know what worries me the most? It's not that we lost, it's not that we didn't force their goalkeeper into a save, it was when I was driving to Nottingham to watch All American Rejects after the match, none of the aforementioned really bothered me. Have I just got to the mindset where a defeat isn't really a surprise anymore? Is it that I generally accept that we're not likely to challenge for promotion? I don't know, but it's certainly a strange feeling.
Let's be honest, the 4-5-1/4-4-1-1 formation that we're playing isn't exactly going to thrill us with high scorelines on a regular basis. Other than the Aldershot game, we've not really come anywhere near getting it into the net from open play. The problem with that formation is that whenever we have had an opportunity to put a decent attack towards goal, the man on the ball, as well as any players he could potentially pass to to keep the danger up, are being marked by several players and the ball is forced backwards and out of danger.
The lack of strength in depth is also a bit worrying at the moment, especially up front. Rene isn't producing the goods (under any of the three men who've managed him this year) and has only scored in one game from open play. Then again, who do you replace him with? Chris Fagan is too lightweight, Jamie Clarke is another Ollie Ryan (performs in the reserves but does nothing in the first team) and Paul Connor is always injured. It is a bit worrying and although that will hopefully change, it's not exactly a great position to be in.
The midfield is a bit of a strange one as well. Stefan Oakes and Scott Kerr don't seem to be able to play together and Oakes usually has to make way for Kerr, that despite Oakes consistently having a bigger impact than Kerr. Anthony Pulis appears to be living up to his reputation as a poor player, whereas Shane Clarke is just Shane Clarke.
Then we get onto the defence. I'm still not a fan of Kovacs and if he didn't climb all over other players then he probably wouldn't get booked that often. It sums him up really that the first thing he does after coming back from a suspension is to get another yellow card.
However, there are a few positions and other than the goal, we did keep an inform Northampton strike-force very quiet. Granted, Northampton were a bit crap, but they've been scoring a lot of goals recently, including against sides considerably better than the Imps.
6 points from the first three games is a good start and was probably what a lot of fans had expected given that the first game was against a very strong Aldershot side. Our next two games are vital, facing Torquay and Morecambe, two strugglers. A minimum of four points would be expected, especially as City have gone a combined seven games unbeaten against those two sides.
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With Torres going back maybe Sutton will bring another striker on loan?
The biggest worry is the lack of chances created but having said that Sutton will prove a great asset in the coming months and more victories to come without any doubt.....
keep the faith
