Preston North End started the new season in the same fashion they ended the last one. A defeat, with no goals scored, and Ryan Lowe being booed off the pitch.
Sheffield United didn’t ever have to get out of first gear to secure the three points. With a deflected goal coming from Ollie Arblaster and then Gustavo Hamer capitalising on a calamitous error from Freddie Woodman to give them a 2-0 win.
Hangover from last season
Preston only scored in one of their last eight games at the tail end of the most recent season. The last five were all dismal defeats. We have now carried that into the new season. It’s now 540 minutes without a goal.
From an outside point of view it may seem ridiculous that Ryan Lowe was booed off the pitch after the first game of the season. Even more so given the fact that we faced one of the favourites for promotion from the Championship.
But even after a three month gap, it’s clear that nothing has changed. The players looked dejected, and out of ideas as soon as the second goal went in. This formation does not work, it never has under Lowe. It doesn’t give us anywhere near enough attacking threat, and the players struggle getting the ball up to the front from the back.
The fans have had enough of these turgid displays. It really is a tough watch at Deepdale. No one is expecting us to go and thrash Sheffield United on the opening day, but put up a fight, test the goalkeeper now and again.
What have they been working on in pre-season? Deepdale will become very toxic unless there is a huge upturn in performances. But even then history shows us it won’t last. It seems as if we are just waiting for the inevitable. Ryan Lowe is hanging by a thread.
Woodman’s distribution
It’s been an issue for some time. Whenever Freddie has the ball he seems to take an age to release it. Time and time again there is a player in acres of space making a run forward, but Woodman refuses to give them the ball.
Friday night took the proverbial. With the impressive Stefan Thordarson galloping away down the left looking for a quick counter, Woodman spotted him but thought it wasn’t worth starting a counter attack. Instead the former Newcastle United ‘keeper looked to the middle of the pitch and thought it would be a good idea to throw the ball aimlessly.
Gustavo Hamer controlled the ball and beautifully caressed the ball over the top of the flailing Woodman. Game over, and an early contender for howler of the season already.
Peter Ridsdale has already hinted that one player with a year remaining on his contract is happy to leave next summer. That player could well be Woodman, but if he’s playing like that it could be best to get rid of him now and get a replacement in.
The Iceman a breath of fresh air
Alan Browne’s boots are going to be big ones to fill. Both his leadership and footballing ability will be missed. The man tasked with filling the void is Stefan Thordarson. An Icelandic international signed from Silkeborg in Denmark.
He was handed a start on his debut and he was one of the very few positives to come from the game.
Playing alongside Ben Whiteman with fellow new signing Same Greenwood sat ahead of them, Thordarson didn’t sit back. At almost every opportunity he looked to get forward, whether that was carrying the ball or playing it to the strikers.
He looked confident to have a run and take a few efforts on goal. In what is otherwise a very slow, lethargic team, he could be key in turning defence into attack. A very promising debut.
Potts back in his natural habitat
For the best part of three years Brad Potts has been nailed on as the starter in the right-wing-back position. He has had little to no competition for that role, but that does lead to him tiring in games, and us being short when he is injured.
The loan signing of Kaine Kesler-Hayden from Aston Villa does now give us another option down that side. KKH came on for Greenwood in the second half, and he took up that wide right role, which allowed Potts to play more centrally.
Within moments Potts was driving through the middle, and we were reminded that he can actually do a job in his natural position as well. The addition of an actual right-wing-back will give us the option to use Potts more effectively, and give us more power in the centre of the pitch.
What does Lowe do next?
The boos must surely be ringing loud in his ears. He must know the fans aren’t happy with what they are seeing. But then again his post-match press conferences always suggest that we play well, and he’s happy with what he’s seeing. That is worrying.
He is so stubborn in playing the same formation time and time again, but has no idea how to execute it. We look very open at the back and clueless up top. It’s not a good combination. At the end of last season, the owner Craig Hemmings came out and said the last few games of the campaign were ‘unacceptable’. That should not be forgotten just because this is a new season.
It’s a continuation and most fans would have predicted this. Surely the owners must realise this is a sinking ship, and it needs new direction fast.