A few reflections on the Malmö game:
It was very encouraging to finally see a B team do it's job and give the A team a rest. We failed to do that pretty much every time last season and it cost us later down the line. Well done to them.
I think it was probably the most one sided game I can remember seeing. Even a League 2 side would have had a go at us and put some crosses in at least. They never laid a glove on us. At one point in the second half they actually got nearly to our box, before our defenders took the ball off them and shepherded them safely back to their own half, like care assistants in an old folks home;
"Don't be silly now Mr Christiansen, let's get you back to your own half now. I'll look after that ball for you".
But their fans were hands down the best I have ever seen at the City Ground, and that isn't even close.
We could have had 5 or 6 but went flat after the attacking subs. Not sure why- Anderson kept mis-passing it. Maybe they needed more intensity from the opposition, and they certainly weren't getting that.
I sat there in the second half as the subs were being made, and reflected- how crazy would I have thought someone if they had told me 5 years ago that in 5 years time I would be watching Forest demolish Malmö in Europe, and bringing on as subs a swiss international, a Brazillian international and England's number 8?
The right side with Dominguez and Abbot was a disaster from an attacking sense. Dominguez on the wing does not work. He has no pace, no crossing ability really. Dominguez works in just about any position other than the wing- his general work was great, but as soon as he has to work with Abbot actually on the wing, it all just stopped. Abbott had no quality in the cross either.
The problem I felt with McAtee is that his confidence got knocked early on and he hid. He hit a laughable corner, then got a back pass he didn't need to make badly wrong, and his head went. It felt to me very similar to the Adam Wharton performance for England- hiding in the middle of the pitch between players rather than making space and trying to be involved. He didn't really want the ball or trust himself with it after that.
He is young. He has barely played and knows that chances aren't coming frequently and minutes depend on performances. He started badly and his head went. I felt for him, because the psychology of pro sport is very tough in your early 20s. He needs an arm around him and a show of belief from all of us. His cross for the first goal was a peach, but he just wasn't brave enough to make himself as involved as he could be after a knock to the confidence.
If we stick by him he'll come good.
Murillo at left back? Nah.
Yates was sensational all game. He is literally our only player who can arrive at the edge of the box and blast one in on target. Why can't MGW or Anderson do that?
Really liked Kalimuendo. I think he is going to be a great player for us. The way he played made me wonder if he would actually be more effective as part of a front three though, which isn't really our way. Good instincts and always looked dangerous, even though going against a low block isn't really his thing. I'd be using him against teams like Fulham and Palace who will go for it.
And as for the manager...
Postecoglou- 8P/ 0W/ 2D/ 6L scored 7 (0.93pg), conceded 18 (2.2pg) clean sheets 0
Dyche- 7P/ 4W/ 2D/ 1L scored 15 (2.1pg), conceded 5 (0.7 Pg) clean sheets 4
What I like most though is that Dyche and all his staff are absolutely loving it here. They have big smiles on their faces as they do their jobs and it just fits- as opposed to constantly feeling like the rebound from someone's more meaningful ex
