We worked out afterwards that only 4 of that starting XI could be with us next season (Adomah, Hourihane, Kalinic & McGinn).
The squad is inevitably going to face an overhaul. The issue is will we replace those departing with genuine better players who can cope playing for AVFC.
Loans ending: Abraham, Carroll, El Ghazi, Hause, Mings & Tuanzebe.
Out of contract: Bunn, De Laet, Elphick, Hutton, Jedinak, Lyden, Richards, Steer & Whelan (plus Blackett-Taylor, Clark, McKirdy, Mooney, O'Hare & Suliman).
Regarding the game, it was just so insipid. As much as Hause looked like a rabbit in headlights (particularly first half) and Hutton demonstrating last season was the exception rather than the norm, I felt the diamond of Kalinic, Elphick, Mings and Whelan did well considering the onslaught of pressure we faced.
People say it was McGinn's worse game; I thought he was off it last Friday more. Last night he did pick the ball up and drive on occasions. What lets him down is his distribution, particularly in the final third where all too often he makes the wrong decision.
My current concern is how we change things. Smith is reverting to MO'N times when the starting XI was predictable and we made one change all game (Heskey for Carew at 80mins), in that around the hour mark both wingers get replaced. Actually, one of our most productive spells in the game was the 5-10mins at the end when Kodjia actually got to play up top and we went 4-4-2. Alas, I imagine the legs don't exist in midfield to do this from the off.
Regarding the wingers, a friend was spot on pre-match. The way you go into a club and look to appear attacking and no longer defensive is to push your wingers higher. That's what Smith did and we reaped the rewards. The problem now is club's know this, get in behind them and the poor full-backs are exposed. Even then, El Ghazi last night twice gave the ball away in our third, showed no effort to recover it and subsequently received rightful bollockings from Elphick (first half; he ignored McGinn) and Mings (second half).
Going back to formations, Brentford were set up as a 3-4-3; is that what Smith played there? It works as they play quick neat triangles around the opposition. When you think it was there 2 in the middle against our 3, it's poor we allowed this to happen and furthermore, we couldn't look after it ourselves when in possession. Also, Smith clearly has some nous how to use this squad (whether you permit if it is his or not; personally it isn't an excuse I buy), we wouldn't have performed so admirably at Derby and Boro otherwise.
Alas, this post probably leaves even more questions than answers, but if nothing else, was nice being on a terrace again...
