Crewe Alex 3-2 Rochdale 26-27 Review - Never Easy

It's never easy following Crewe is it? Coasting to a comfortable win would be too simple for them. They have to make life unnecessarily hard on themselves. Hey, there are worse problems to have than being sloppy in the latter stages of a game you're winning heavily, but it is frustrating that what should have been a comfy 3-0 win turns into a nailbiting 3-2 win instead. Still, it's a win, 3 points and another game unbeaten to start the season. Here is my review of the Alex's win over Rochdale:

Tactical Plan

I will never not be frustrated watching the Alex give the freedom of Gresty Road to opposition teams to stroke it around virtually unchallenged. Because that's what happened in the first 30 or so minutes of this game. However, whilst it frustrates me, I get why they do it. Today, Rochdale had a lot of the ball in the early stages and created very little, bar a few efforts from range.

The Alex on the other hand maximised their limited moments with the ball to create chances. March, Gibson and Holicek all had presentable openings but failed to really test Sam Waller in the Dale goal. I wouldn't say through that first third of the game that they deserved to lead, but they were more effective with the ball.

Quality

Whilst the game was in the balance for the first 30 minutes of the game, it was won during the middle 30. 2 quick fire goals put them in complete control. The first was a well worked short corner routine which saw Gibson find Holicek and Matus thundered in his first of the season. Gibson went from provider to finisher 5 minutes as Owen Lunt, making the most of a tactical switch, pressed Rochdale defender Kaiden Wilson into a mistake and he squared for Gibson to put the Alex 2-0 up before half time.

It was what should have been game over on 55 minutes when more decent attacking play saw the ball reach Kyle Ure and his mishit shot fell nicely to Gibson again, who had an easy finish to make it 3-0. It's nice when they can have a good third of games and have the quality to score 3 goals in the space of 16 minutes of actual game time.

Midfield Conundrum

I mentioned the tactics from the start of the game, but what really made a difference today was the swapping of Lunt and Holicek. Lunt had a much better game in the more advanced role and it was no surprise things went downhill once he moved deeper. But that in itself presents a problem. Holicek doesn't suit a deeper role. Lunt seemingly doesn't either. Nor potentially does White. But if you start saying certain players can't operate in the number 6 role, who can? Conor Thomas with his dodgy fitness record? Kyle Ure? They don't have a lot of options right now and it's something they could do with solving.

Would a move to something like what Rochdale played today, which was essentially a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Gilmour at the base of the midfield and 2 advanced players in Adeeko and Taylor in the middle and Hayes and Middleton out wide, be more suitable? Maybe try Ure in the 6 and have White and Lunt slightly more advanced? Would it get more out of players who all seemingly want to play higher up the pitch?

Coasting/Complacency/Concern

What caused the late almost collapse today? You felt that had they kept attacking at 3-0 up, they could have had a couple more goals, given the spaces Rochdale were presenting to them. But for some reason they struggled badly in the final 30 minutes. Was it them thinking the game was won and them dropping in to 1st gear to see it out with a minimal amount of fuss?

Was it complacency and them thinking that Rochdale, who'd struggled to create a decent chance up until the hour mark, presented minimal threat? Or was it them having half an eye on the trip to Exeter, hence why certain changes and switches were made? It's hard to say. As I said at the top, there are worse problems to have than struggling after going 3-0 up. I doubt it'll be a problem for them in any of the next few games given their opponents.

Opposition Analysis

It's refreshing to see an up and coming manager trying to play the game the right way with Ian Watson. Rochdale moved the ball around nicely and I think there are foundations there for success for them in the future, but there is a lack of quality at both ends of the pitch which might hold them back this season. Still, a solid mid-table finish isn't a bad thing given the level of change they underwent in the summer.

Also, credit to the Rochdale fans who travelled in numbers, sang throughout the game and gave their players a rousing reception at the end.

Referee Assessment

A bit inconsistent, but he managed what was an easy game well. There weren't a lot of decisions to get wrong and he didn't.

Management Assessment

I agreed with the starting XI and I get the first 2 changes were forced, but had they let the lead slip, the decision to switch to 3-5-2 would have been scrutinised intensely. Still, it was a positive day for them where their major decisions tactics wise mostly paid off.

Player Assessments

Tom Booth

Nothing he could do for the goals, his distribution and decision making was mostly sound.

Lewis Billington

Not the best defensively unfortunately. Got caught out for the 1st Dale goal and wasn't much better for the 2nd.

Luke Offord

Solid enough, one of his quieter games on the whole.

Josh Stephenson

Fine until late on when his play got uncharacteristically sloppy with some woeful passes.

Kyle Ure

Struggled in the first half against the lively Hayes, but improved in the 2nd and got his first assist for the club on Gibson's 2nd goal.

Joe White

Still doesn't look very comfortable in the deeper role, his booking was a cheap one and forced his withdrawal.

Owen Lunt

6/10 in the deeper role, 8/10 in the advanced role. Got an assist on Gibson's first goal through tenacious work. His best game since his return.

Joel Tabiner

Lively, but his decision making was muddled and he needed to get the ball out of his feet quicker. Still, it was a solid enough display before he came off, even if he was very unfortunate to be the scorer of the own goal.

Matus Holicek

Got his goal which is a big positive but he couldn't come back out for the 2nd half. Still, it's not injury related thankfully, just a precaution.

Jordan Gibson MOTM

Was right amongst the chances today, having 2 efforts blocked before the 2 he converted. Those and an assist mean he's in a rich vein of form right now.

Josh March

Worked tirelessly, but aside from one blocked shot he wasn't able to grab a chance. He looks exhausted and he probably should have come off. Does he get rested on Tuesday to keep him fresh for later in the season?

Subs:

Conor Thomas

Had a couple of nice blocks and defensive moments, but a quieter game from him compared to the last 2.

Calum Agius

Brought on in the number 10 role, he had an effort curl way over and not much else.

Reece Hutchinson

Good to see him back, he made a couple of key defensive contributions and dealt well with their replacement RW.

Stan Dancey

A little nervous in his first league appearance of the season, but he got stuck in well and didn't shy away from trying to pick a pass.

Adrien Thibaut

Not great. Ran around a lot, achieved little.

Overall Verdict

Let's end this review with a new record for the Alex. In their 150 history, they had never gone 11 league games unbeaten to start a season. Until now. So full credit goes to Bell, Dicker, the staff and the players for their achievement. Obviously this will mean little come the end of the season if they don't carry it on and make it truly mean something by finishing in a top 7, but it's a great record in itself. Now let's see how long they can carry it on for, starting with Tuesday at Exeter.