Tactically Outclassed – Gary Johnson Has To Shoulder Some Responsibility For Posh’s Loss Today.

This isn’t a “Johnson out” reaction, I don’t like blaming manager’s, for what it’s worth I still rate Darren Ferguson highly – as a manager rather than a human being, feel Mark Cooper had a baptism of fire and thought Jim Gannon, tactically, was excellent but Gary Johnson must shoulder some responsibility for today’s disaster. Eddie Howe masterminded Bournemouth’s victory today and his system left Johnson bewildered – it cancelled out any threat Posh offered to the game.

Johnson initially started the game with a 4-4-2 formation and the same team that hammered Bristol Rovers at London Road. There is nothing wrong with that, it deserves another chance after such a great showing on the first Saturday of the season. However, from the stands, it was obvious after ten minutes that we were going to be in trouble. It was then it should have been changed, not at half-time when the damage was already inflicted. Bournemouth’s winger’s Marc Pugh, scorer of the first goal, and Liam Feeney were immediately ‘The Cherries’ outlet with Brett Pitman and Michael Symes staying central. Howe had obviously scouted Posh throughly and he targeted Nana and Little, our two full-backs, brilliantly. Mendez-Laing and Boyd, in the nature of our system are expected to break forward quickly, this leaves a lot of room between right/left midfielder and right/left back with neither particularly strong on the defensive side of the game, the former doesn’t look very competent whichever way he is facing. This left Bournemouth’s two wingers in space and Symes and Pitman, two aerial threats, to battle with two centre backs and meant that ‘The Cherries’ could simply create chance after chance for themselves, the majority of which they took.

It wasn’t just on the attack that Howe’s side were clever though. Defensively their system was also very astute. Marvin Bartley is effectively Bournemouth’s midfield enforcer and was utilised as a centre back, a position where many ‘Cherries’ fans feel he is most comfortable, when we were attacking. This meant Bournemouth were able to have three centre backs to deal with Mackail-Smith and McLean who, as the half-drew on and frustrations grew dropped back deeper and deeper, leaving Mackail-Smith exposed up-front on his own against a very physical defence. Mendez Laing, on the right wing, did not help matters, his continuous insistence to cut inside meant that any width we did have was lost with Boyd making central runs as normal. This meant Little and Nana had to make runs forward, in turn creating more space for Bournemouth’s wingers to utilise, and left this Bennett and Langmead completely exposed to the counter attack, especially as neither are particularly fast.

In the second half Johnson changed things to limit the service to Bournemouth’s wingers, who were crucial to their success, in changing to a 5-3-2 formation (shown below). However, Little and Rowe were both very attacking and these runs forward from the wing-backs, who were supposed to act as a shield for Langmead, Lee and Bennett, still left the three central defenders exposed, this time one of the trio at centre back had to drop out into a wide position still leaving the problem of having two centre backs marking Bournemouth’s two potent attackers. This space was meaning Brett Pitman was having a field day and his hat-trick was very simple. The second-half system was clearly untested and although slightly more threatening going forward with the ‘Mac Attack’ receiving more support it was unbelievably exposed defensively every time Bournemouth attacked.

Kelvin Langmead’s goal was the cue for an over ambitiously attacking formation to be deployed by Gary Johnson in his hope to get something out of the game. At times there were five Peterborough United players in the forward line – McLean, Hibbert, Boyd, Mackail-Smith, Wesolowski – and with only Grant McCann sitting in midfield the defence were horribly exposed meaning Bournemouth could pick Posh off with ease and it could of easily seven or eight by the end of the game.

Today, the side put out was beaten by an average Bournemouth team – only Marvin Bartley and Brett Pittman are quality players at this level -with a simply brilliant manager. Eddie Howe, who I rated as one of the best in the lower leagues before today has gone up in my reputation to being one of the best in the whole of England. His formation, which was perfectly deployed by the Bournemouth side, countered our much reputed attacking threats whilst still meaning Bournemouth looked threatening every time they attacked; one can only hope opposition scouts weren’t watching the horror show today otherwise this strategy will be deployed by many a team this season against us after seeing how effective it was today.

Of course, Johnson can only be blamed for so much. His team let him down today as well; Grant McCann couldn’t pass, George Boyd was almost invisible, Aaron McLean and Craig Mackail-Smith didn’t make any creative runs to at least test the Bournemouth defence, Charlie Lee was horribly out of position when coming off the bench at half-time and was terrible, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing put in one of the worst displays I have seen in a long time in his forty-five minutes… the list could go on. Only Kelvin Langmead, who after initially looking a little sluggish, has been a rock and has filled a Craig Morgan sized hole with immediate ease, Tommy Rowe who was impressive after coming on and Joe Lewis, who couldn’t be blamed for any of the five goals which travelled past him, can come out of this trip to the South coast with any pride. Everyone other starter, and substitute, was simply horrendous, partly as a result of Howe’s tactics and partly due to an off day – or at least that’s what every Posh fan hopes it is.

As much as you don’t become a bad team overnight though you don’t become a bad manager in 24 hours either. Gary Johnson is an excellent manager who was tactically outclassed by Eddie Howe and Peterborough United have a terrific squad for this level who were out-played by Bournemouth. This isn’t the end of the world, we won’t be relegated as a result of it, and it may be a blessing in disguise in the long run – the player’s now know they cannot expect to turn up and win – but Peterborough United must improve if they are to achieve their goal of a swift return to the Championship.