I'm sorry to say it, but after that disgraceful performance Les does not have a clue what he's doing and is becoming increasingly out of his depth.
This defeatist 4-3-3 is the most bizzare tactical ploy by a Tranmere manager since Brian Little wasted Goodison at left wing back. The 4-3-3 sometimes works away from home, when the opposition has an off day or their useless (Stockport), but at home it just gives teams far too much space and time on the ball. Bournemouth were queing up to shoot at times yesterday. The 4-3-3 only works if you have a good defensive midfielder and a front 3 who can play anywhere in attack are a mobile - we have Showoddoddy who turns like a cargo ship, Gornell who get's out paced by an OAP with a zimmer frame and ITM who spent the whole game sulking.
Les does not seem to understand that we simply do not have the players to play his stupid 4-3-3. And that is his fault. I know the club has a limited budget, but he has still brought players in and has wasted money e.g. Why sign a right back in Cathalina, then bring in another right back on loan when we don't have a right winger at all?! Yes Cathalina is injured, but just play Creswell/Bakayogo there instead. Parry's decision making is bewildering at times, his persistance with playing McLaren is bizzare, his belief that Darville has been "brilliant for us" is delusional and his tactics are non existent.
Yesterday Les supposedly changed to a 4-4-2 in the 2nd half, he had Gornell and Brown out wide! How do you play 4-4-2 with two centre forwards out wide? It simply does not work, rather than bringing on Brown for McLaren, it would have seemed logical to bring on Fraughan to play left wing, given the fact he is a left winger. I suppose that would mean playing players in the right positon which Parry obviously has a reluctance to do. His decision to take off ITM was odd as well, yes he spent the game sulking but he's our only striker capable of scoring a goal surely it would have made sense to take Gornell off and put ITM on the right wing as he's at least competent there. When ITM was taken off, Parry ignored him, not the best piece of man management when your trying to make him sign a new contract!
Player Ratings:
Collister 6: Made some good saves, possibly could have done better for the 1st goal but was left totally exposed.
Darville 3: Put in some strong tackles but has no positional sense whatsoever, leaves Wood and Goodison totally exposed down the right side.
Wood 1: This guy is not a football league player, he looks like a sunday league junior football player. No presence. No positional sense. No confidence. No ability. Goodison must have nightmares of playing with him.
Goodison 5: Made some good interceptions, but looked totally exasperated with the incompetence surronding him. He needs Blanchard next to him ASAP.
Creswell: 4: Looked good going forward but he gets cut up so easily when he defends. Lacks positional sense.
Welsh 3: His passing was awful and he's clearly spent the summer down the pub.
McLaren 1: No need to describe how dire he is. Can we set up a McLaren fund to pay off his contract?
Labadie 4: Got stuck in but lost his dicipline
Gornell 1: No pace, no touch, no idea. Awful.
ITM 3: Spent the game sulking had one decent chance.
Showoddywoddy 5: Put himself about a bit and looked quicker and fitter than before. Lacked effectiveness though.
Subs:
Fraughan 7: Passed the ball to someone in white:shock: and created some opportunities.
McGurk 4: Didn't do much, don't see what all the fuss is about!
Brown 4: Some good runs but gave ball away for 3rd goal, head down all the time.
Man of the Match: Fraughan as he actually played like a footballer.
that it does no good getting on the young players backs and that some of the more established pros weren't pulling their weight today. Midfield being a case in point, as when Welsh lost the ball, he didn't track back at all, leading to their first goal. McLaren, after a decent game last week, reverted to type.
