Peterborough United have won three of their last five matches. This is relatively good form, but there are still areas that the Posh must improve on.
Improve the depth of goalkeepers in the squad.
Whilst Ben Alnwick is between the sticks, Posh are in safe hands. Yet, as Dion Henry proved, without Alnwick, Posh appear a weakened side. In mitigation, the 18-year-old Henry was thrown into the deep end against a very competitive Millwall side after Alnwick was withdrawn due to injury. Injuries cannot be helped, but what can be helped is the quality of the backup available for first team players. Posh fans will be hoping that Alnwick will be back in action soon, as the emphatic (yet simultaneously nervy) 5-3 victory over Millwall isn’t the sustainable way to play football.
Stop Marcus Maddison play-acting.
Sometimes the young Englishman has a right to hit the deck, but more often than not he should be playing on. His attitude was the main reason why Newcastle United let him go, and he needs to work harder if he doesn’t want to suffer the same fate at Posh. Maddison has plenty of ability, there’s no doubt about that, but his ability is compromised by his attitude. If he got his head down, played to the whistle and worked as hard as some of his team-mates, he may well just start to put in some truly awe-inspiring performances.
Set Pieces.
Posh have to improve attacking and defending set pieces. Many appealingly positioned free-kicks are wasted by Posh, whether they are ballooned over the bar by Michael Bostwick or chipped into the wall by Maddison. Free-kicks are a vital area to capitalise on in the rough and tumble of League One and can dictate the flow of a match. If they aren’t executed properly, for example, a defender can chop down the striker just outside the area without having to worry about the resulting free-kick. Set pieces should strike fear into the opposing ranks. It seems to be the case for Posh’s defenders sometimes, who seem a little prone to conceding headers from set pieces. This is definitely something that must also be improved upon.
Discipline.
Graham Westley spoke of his dislike for such high scoring, perhaps undisciplined results such as the Millwall result. Hopefully, he will be able to assert his influence over the squad so that they can hold a lead as well as keep a clean sheet. A clean sheet isn’t meant to be an illusive trophy, it should be a benchmark that teams strive to achieve each game. Possibly, this may suggest a defensive approach, but a team should be able to attack and defend effectively. Clean sheets may mean less effort to score goals in the dying moments, but often they ensure that other team remain frustrated and empty-handed in front of goal. A little more cohesiveness and collectiveness wouldn’t go amiss in the final portion of the match.
Youth.
Finally, Posh must continue to invest in the young players at the club. For example, Lee Angol was not favoured by ex-manager Dave Robertson, yet once he was given a chance by Grant McCann, the young man has gone on to score three goals in as many appearances. Similarly, Souleymane Coulibaly is only 20-years-old yet has hit four goals in five games. To have young players like these excelling against more experienced players is a really promising aspect for the club. Why not take some more risks on the younger generation?
All in all, Posh are starting to gain some momentum and put their poor start behind them. However, they must improve on their discipline and set-pieces whilst investing in youth and discouraging a ‘diving’ mentality. It’s not too much to ask, is it?
