State Of The Union Pt 2: Five Problems Rooney Needs to Solve
The key issues facing Rooney before real pressure starts to tell
Welcome back to part 2 of One Team In Devon's international break special (I JUST got this out in time) – and a look at the key problems Wayne Rooney needs to solve to get Argyle firing.
In part one, I offered a fairly glass-half-full assessment of Argyle at the international break. In short, I see a team that is showing ideas, cohesion, and a defined system that’s starting to work – but lacking a cutting edge. However, with a new round peg in the round hole of a #10 in the tweaked 4-2-3-1 shape, there are encouraging signs.
This time out, I look at the problems Rooney needs to solve for Argyle to pick up results in a tough run of games post international break.
Let’s go.
1. Chance Creation
The biggest glaring problem isn’t getting Argyle to create chances – it’s creating better chances. Even a cursory look at the Hull, Stoke, and QPR games would show that Argyle are having periods of good play and making chances – but the quality of those chances needs to improve. The above graphic shows how many of Argyle’s chances came from outside of the box against Stoke.
You might remember that Argyle’s xG is the lowest in the league. While Argyle’s chances are numerous – they’re not that dangerous.
The big hope is that the effect of Al Hajj on the team is transformational. That his unselfish passing will feed a disconnected Hardie and enable the likes of Whittaker and Cissoko to gain possession in more dangerous areas and start creating more dangerous chances.
There also needs to be an improvement in the quality of final balls – where too often, players have held onto the ball too long or overlooked the correct pass. This element, I hope, comes as part of an ongoing trend of improved cohesion and confidence within the system.
2. Confidence
And confidence is a key component – and there’s a narrow window before pressure from the points table begins to weigh on the team.
I spoke last week about some of the signings that we have reason to be pleased about – Grimshaw now has a huge role with the injury to Conor Hazard, and Al Hajj will be the first name on the team sheet within a couple of weeks.
But Rooney will need to instil some confidence in one or two players that need to find another gear.
Darko Gyabi has a hugely important role and has stepped up after an injury setback in pre-season. But he must find his feet in midfield, and his passing game must improve, while maintaining his ability to progressively carry the ball.
Likewise, Tijani is yet to impress in his very short amount of game time so far. His physicality is useful, but he must adapt to the league. Pálsson, who scored for Iceland this week from RB, isn’t getting near the team with Joe Edwards locking that spot down. I saw an interesting call on #pafc to try him at DM – which I wouldn’t mind seeing.
There are players – including old faces such as Bundu and Wright – that need confidence and to find a role in the team.
3. Giving Up Big Chances
Argyle have looked generally organised at the back, and barring the Wednesday game, have defended well.
But the team seems predisposed to giving up a few big chances. That’s in contrast to their own attacking problem of creating plenty of low-xG chances. Together, it’s a problematic combination.
In the Hull game, Argyle gave up one (statistical) big chance, and two against Stoke. And that’s on the balance of play being fairly even. Argyle are yet to create a big chance themselves – the only team in the league yet to do so.
So until that happens, we must be more resolute. Against QPR, Argyle gave up serious chances within the first three minutes. While Argyle are hardly being torn apart at will, Rooney must tighten up further still. And it’s even more crucial while goals are hard to come by at the other end.
4. Fortress Home Park
If there was one standout trait of the Schumacher era, it was mentality and imperious home form.
While our home form was trashed in the Foster era, the Nance/Dewsnip combo never lost a game at Home Park. That’s incredible. Rooney has lost one already – and in fairly limp circumstances (even if the goal was something of a freak). What’s more, Argyle never fail to score at home.
The players never looked beaten, even in the final few games. The goal against Stoke knocked the stuffing out of them – I don’t recall seeing an Argyle team less likely to make something happen than in those final minutes.
Rooney must build back Fortress Home Park. Not an easy feat in the Championship, but the mentality must change.
The pictures of staff and players clapping Ashley Philips after the Stoke game are perhaps a sign of the lack of ruthlessness. If there’s one person to instil a mentality, you’d think it would be Wazza.
5. A Plan B
The 4-2-3-1 formation hasn’t got the best out of our team to date – but there’s evidence that’s changing. A quick look at the difference in Whittaker’s heat map shows more time spent in forward positions in the Stoke game – something we called out in the first couple of games.
Al Hajj can further unlock its potential, but a challenge is that our two most dangerous players (Cissoko and Whittaker) are still picking up the ball a long way from goal.
Before the Stoke game I was yearning for a move back to 4-3-3, but I think Rooney might have solved the worst of the formation problems in the new 4-3-2-1.
However, I’d like to see us have an alternative – especially for times when Al Hajj is unavailable. At that point, a 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 that enables Wright/Bundu to be more effective would be useful to have. We’ve not seen too many in-game tactical switches from Rooney as yet – something that Schumacher was excellent at doing.
And with top-of-the-table Sunderland next up – we’re going to need a masterclass.