Regardless of who appears on the injury list the strategy and formation remains the same. The embodiment of possession based football without keeping the ball. Whether this overly defensive approach is a reflection of Simon Wilson's stats obsession is questionable but the formulaic passing starting from Hogan and ending up with the opposition can't be something practiced at Carrington. Our players are surely better than that and I am sure Rusk is too although one of the most depressing aspects of the weekend was his pre match interview where he hinted that the defensive set up is here to stay though he may change the attacking strategy.
Rusk has been defender / defensive midfielder obsessed for months now (though not so much left footed ones). We started the season with 3 attackers just about enough so long as nobody is injured or suspended. First match of the season we start with the giant Ben Whitfield up front alongside fellow giant Paddy Madden. No midfield of note other than Rooney so hoof ball it is. Has nobody got a clue?. Our opponents will clearly know where the emphasis is.
Our opponents have worked us out. SR referred to teams parking the bus and catching us on the break. Some know we may have a good defensive record but there's a frailty in there and they can take advantage of it. Southend played the same system as us whilst Grimsby were putting their own (new) house in order but both Dagenham and Yeovil took advantage of it and they won't be the first because others notice how rather than that they both won. It may well have served us well but that was then.
His interview post match was very good although JK's questions were bland. He should have been exploring what he was going to do to turn it around not just accepting the "work hard" response or describing what we had already witnessed.
Whether he's Wilson's lapdog is a moot point but how we set up from tomorrow onwards will IMO determine his future. Wrexham could be quite toxic.