Thompson rues dropped points (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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SWINDON TOWN: Thompson rues dropped points
6:00am Monday 11th March 2013 in Sport By Andy Warren
FEELING LOW: Nathan Thompson in action against Walsall
NATHAN Thompson insisted a team with a defensive record as good as Swindon Town’s should have been able to see out a game like Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Walsall.
After Simon Ferry had given Town a 2-1 lead with 11 minutes to go James Paterson was on hand to head the Saddlers level on 90 minutes, as the tightest defence in the division conceded two goals in a league game for the first time since October.
The full-back had been replaced prior to the equaliser after feeling a pain all the way across his knee-cap, but believes a solid team like Town should have come away with three points.
“It’s very disappointing after we saw last week that we battled all the way through to the last minute, and it’s hard when it goes against us because we deserved the win,” he said.
“With our defensive record it’s very disappointing to concede two, and when you’re 2-1 up going into the last four or five minutes you expect to close the game out.
“The boys have been fantastic all season which is why it hurt a little bit more, because we have been great at the back this season.”
Town need to regroup quickly before travelling to promotion rivals Brentford on Tuesday night, and Thompson believes his side can put their poor recent home form behind them for the visit to Griffin Park.
“I can’t put my finger on anything but we will be working hard before going again on Monday because Tuesday’s game is a huge one after we saw the result was another two points dropped.
“Whenever we play the big teams we always seem to do well and get the three points, and there is no reason why we can’t go there and beat them. They lost at the weekend so it’s a massive game for us.”
Youngsters players Connor Waldon and Alex Ferguson were included in Kevin MacDonald’s matchday squad but didn’t make the bench, and youth team graduate Thompson believes the experience will have done them good.
“It’s fantastic to see because the young lads have come in and played once or twice with us last week and did really well,” he said.
“We will see them in the next couple of weeks as well I’m sure, and it is fantastic for them to be in and amongst the matchday squad. I remember when I was first involved and the experience was incredible, so I’m buzzing for them.
“Paul Bodin (youth team boss) will have stood them in good stead, and the guidance he has given them is really good and he is great to have around for the youngsters.”
Comments(9)
69Champs
says...
9:07am Mon 11 Mar 13
LeGod wrote:Spot on LeGod.
i felt sorry for Thompson on saturday as we had no natural wide man on the right attacking wise he didnt get support and also defensively and that is not a criticism of Ferry either who kept going in to his natural position in the middle and left Thompson exposed.
I felt for an experienced coach the problem should hev been highlighted alot earlier as everyone around me in the Don Rogers said the same thing we had no natural width.
I thought when Thompson went off McCormack should have gone to full back and ferry put in the middle as that would have made us more solid.
I feel on Tuesday Ferry has to go back in the middle with Miller and if Thompson is not fit McCormack should play right back.
If we play the same midfield Tuesday night i feel we will lose the game as Brentford are quick on the counter and they will exploit us if we dont sort it out.
Because of the inbalance in midfield i thought for the first time this season we looked dodgy at the back but it was because the back four werent being protected when they attacked.
Williams and Collins didnt really have much to feed off due to our lack of width and i thought we made it easy for Walsall from a defensive point of view as we were too narrow as you had in effect three players playing in the middle of midfield and only Roberts out wide.
So i hop KM sorts it out for Tuesday night which is going to be a tough game anyway and we need to be more solid than we were on saturday as a unit.
We are not good enough to play tippy-tappy football across the back. We are no Barcelona and Wes risked losing the ball on more than one occassion.
Macca needs tobe more disciplined in front of the back 4 to protect our line and Miller needs to up his game.
class
says...
9:41am Mon 11 Mar 13
The play against Walsall was harder to accept. The problems seemed to stem from the formation and tactics employed. This after the first full week of training under the new management team.
Whilst I would love STFC to play attractive flowing football based upon possession passing and movement surely it must be done within the limits of the players ability? We are “only” a League 1 team aspiring to be in the Championship. The manner of play across the back four, very occasionally linking to the midfield, was verging on SUICIDAL. A team pressing a fraction more that Walsall would likely have stolen the ball from us frequently and created even more chances. The number of times the ball was played back to Wes who was under instant pressure was staggering. I have not been so conscious of play like that for over two years now.
We have not got to the position we currently have in the league with the exceptional goal difference and lack of goals against playing like this.
Nathan seemed to be constantly exposed by a lack of cover from a right sided midfielder in front of him. I like Ferry very much and think we play better when he is in the team but wide on the right does not appear to be the best use of his talents.
The lack of width on the right was disappointment given that we had four players at least in the match day squad used to playing out wide. Even more frustrating was the ponderous central midfield. I cannot believe Miller lasted the 90 minutes. He biggest contribution being the tackle that gave away a penalty. Late to the ball again? The game was begging for Ferry to be moved into the centre and a wide man out to the right.
If the set up isn’t tweaked tomorrow and the tactics revised I can imagine is being quite easily overrun or bullied into submission. #seventhplace
billywells
says...
11:39am Mon 11 Mar 13
LeGod
says...
12:26pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Your obviously some deluded Villa fan or from Poxford if your Villa i think you have got your own problems you should be commenting on as we could be playing you next season and if you are a Villa fans you look like a lower league team at the moment.
Remember you idiot if read the comments properly no one is criticising.
P***K
old town robin
says...
2:04pm Mon 11 Mar 13
LeGod wrote:agree with comment LeGod, if we can see the problems, surely an experienced coach like KM will, won't he?
i felt sorry for Thompson on saturday as we had no natural wide man on the right attacking wise he didnt get support and also defensively and that is not a criticism of Ferry either who kept going in to his natural position in the middle and left Thompson exposed.
I felt for an experienced coach the problem should hev been highlighted alot earlier as everyone around me in the Don Rogers said the same thing we had no natural width.
I thought when Thompson went off McCormack should have gone to full back and ferry put in the middle as that would have made us more solid.
I feel on Tuesday Ferry has to go back in the middle with Miller and if Thompson is not fit McCormack should play right back.
If we play the same midfield Tuesday night i feel we will lose the game as Brentford are quick on the counter and they will exploit us if we dont sort it out.
Because of the inbalance in midfield i thought for the first time this season we looked dodgy at the back but it was because the back four werent being protected when they attacked.
Williams and Collins didnt really have much to feed off due to our lack of width and i thought we made it easy for Walsall from a defensive point of view as we were too narrow as you had in effect three players playing in the middle of midfield and only Roberts out wide.
So i hop KM sorts it out for Tuesday night which is going to be a tough game anyway and we need to be more solid than we were on saturday as a unit.
BournemouthRobin
says...
2:10pm Mon 11 Mar 13
billywells wrote:And who are you exactly????
League one team , conference league supporters ! Didn't realise Swindon town supporters are so ignorant and inept at understanding tactics and formations. . Move on KM you deserve so much more !
Did you go to the game? Do you know anything about our players and what their best positions are? Maybe you could enlighten us as to what would constitute an understanding of tactics and formations??
Swindonian63
says...
3:30pm Mon 11 Mar 13
billywells wrote:**** off BW to whichever stone you've crept out of. You are an idiot.
League one team , conference league supporters ! Didn't realise Swindon town supporters are so ignorant and inept at understanding tactics and formations. . Move on KM you deserve so much more !
hertz
says...
4:30pm Mon 11 Mar 13
LeGod says...
8:36am Mon 11 Mar 13
I felt for an experienced coach the problem should hev been highlighted alot earlier as everyone around me in the Don Rogers said the same thing we had no natural width.
I thought when Thompson went off McCormack should have gone to full back and ferry put in the middle as that would have made us more solid.
I feel on Tuesday Ferry has to go back in the middle with Miller and if Thompson is not fit McCormack should play right back.
If we play the same midfield Tuesday night i feel we will lose the game as Brentford are quick on the counter and they will exploit us if we dont sort it out.
Because of the inbalance in midfield i thought for the first time this season we looked dodgy at the back but it was because the back four werent being protected when they attacked.
Williams and Collins didnt really have much to feed off due to our lack of width and i thought we made it easy for Walsall from a defensive point of view as we were too narrow as you had in effect three players playing in the middle of midfield and only Roberts out wide.
So i hop KM sorts it out for Tuesday night which is going to be a tough game anyway and we need to be more solid than we were on saturday as a unit.