Football style

I think we must be the only team barring Norwich in the division who don’t play trying to counteract the opposition thus employing new tactics & formations on a weekly basis, we play our own style no matter who the opposition is, each player knows their role, & we don’t try to fit square pegs in round holes for a change. It’s just basic attacking high intensity football, & the fact we have one of the youngest squads in the division helps play like that. I mean Johnny Howson? Yannick Bolasie? Assombalona? Pfft, all players who clearly are on far too much money with little motivation, & our boys beat them well and truly!

 

I thought we played some nice football under Bassett, was a surprise to me that we did mind because I wasn't that thrilled at the appointment.

 

If the opposition want to play their "quality football style " good luck to them. They adapt to negate our style then tell the world we're the spoilers. Fortunately it's usually after they've lost.

 

This will be a very interesting thread when football adopts a ‘points for artistic merit’ method of attaining points!

 

Whitey puts this into context. Also i think sometimes we, us fans also occasionally fall into the trap that we are a hoofball team and make our judgement on that perception. If we truly looked at the stats as Whitey points out, we aren't as agricultural or long ball as some make out. I believe there are quite a few clubs who play more long balls (including Boro) over the season, who have less possession, less short passes etc. Our players as individuals also show stand out stats. Our RB is one of the top in assists and blocked crosses. If you read the stats only you would be interesting in coming to watch a side with so many goals per game, shots etc. Pundits have moved from describing us as 'direct football' now to 'a new brand of football', 'long ball with a purpose'. They are entertained by us. Opposing managers cant find a formula to play against us. But take away the perception and tags and just look at some of our play thats not 'direct'. The passage of play, 2-3 phases for our second goal yesterday was like watching Brazil. We passed it accurately and quickly and relentlessly hemmed em in as the 'footballing side' panicked. I could pick other goals and moments with a good amount of 'on the floor style' and traditional footballing approach from the season. We can do both, the difference is we choose when and where on the pitch we do it.

 

You don't score goals from your own half, get the ball quickly up to the strikers, play off them, play football in the final third - you can throw all the classic metaphors at it, they work and I love it!!!

 

In my opinion it's all down to the opposition.
Look at the games e.g. Norwich which we won 1 0 Bournemouth we won 3 2 Chelsea lost 1 0.
After the Chelsea games pundits raved about our high pressing style.
Against Boro yesterday Warnock tried to match us which led to an awful watch first half.
Which as not been the only game of recently as teams no how to play against us now.
The fact that we won against Boro yesterday shows us we can beat teams now who come and match is.
Play offs look more likely now and if teams try to play football against us we will be promoted through the play offs.
I don't think many in Barnsley will be saying " ah but that not the way Danny achieved this"
Hats off to big Val he's getting the best out of nearly the same squad who survived relegation on the last game of the season.

 

Well said, old mate. I totally agree.

 

I think the comparison to John Beck’s Cambridge is unfair.

We remind me much more of Wimbledon in the premier league, and to some extent : Republic of Ireland under Big Jack, Sheffield United under Bassett, Warnock and latterly Blackwell.

These were all teams with a real brand, identity & purpose, greater than the sum of their parts, everyone knew exactly what they were doing, very difficult to play against, grafted for each other, had very skilful players to complement the steel and above all else, successful.

I respect others’ opinions but if you haven’t found this season entertaining then I’m at a bit of a loss as to what you’re after.

 

I agree completely with the messing about in our own box and playing to their strengths comment, but surely it must frustrate you when they just constantly hoof it aimlessly to nobody but the opposing centre backs or straight out for a goal kick, there are times when they clearly have time to put a foot on the ball and pick a pass, it doesn,t have to be no nonsense all of the time....

 

Its a results based business.

 

It will also be interesting next season if we're mid table.

 

I think we ought to differentiate between positive hoofball and just kicking the ball anywhere for the sake of it.
So many times do we see a punt to nobody in particular which frustrates me to the extreme. Some of you will see a tactic in this. I don't.
It seems more a panic measure than a tactical one. But is this a player thing or a coaching thing?
Having watched us since 1968 I have seen dross and brilliance. If I was sitting in the stand watching our current performances then I'd be feeling more than frustrated. But 3 points is all that matters.
But my 50 mile home journey would be full of mixed feelings.

 

It's entertaining in terms of our league position and we play some good stuff away when teams don't adapt to our style. It's strange that when they do it's them in the enteirity that are held responsible for the resulting slugfest. In terms of the recent home games I'd actually derive as much entertainment (Dike's goal v Brum apart) from just checking the score at full time and then looking at the league table.
I'm happy enough if this is short term but if this were to be the way we play from here to eternity then I'm out I'm afraid. To expect teams to play the way we want them to is ridiculous. They won't do it.
I've no problem being in 5th. It's great. But I wish folk would stop claiming it's great football. It's not. It's ok when we get our way. There's a real emperor's new clothes attitude. We'd be massacring Wednesday for playing our style.

 

Forgive me for having the audacity to actually enjoy watching us this season. I love seeing all our players give 100% every game. I love watching skilful players like Mowatt, Woodrow, Morris, Styles & Brittain. I enjoy watching us win on such a regular basis. I love watching players like Brittain & Morris, who some of our fans were more than happy to write off and deride as not being good enough before they'd even pulled on a red shirt.
Others may not enjoy watching us and that's their right. I do and that's mine Their knowledge & appreciation of football is no worse nor better than mine, just different.

 

I used to live in Reading for over 20 years. I've driven a round trip of 400 miles to watch dross under Spackman, Hodges, Parkin and Lee Johnson.

Give me Valerien Ismael any day.

Edit - and Viv Anderson won 1 of his first 10 home games, losing 8.

 

I'd be happy mid table next season seeing as big Val and the team has spoiled my before season hopes of mid table mediocrity this!

 

Warnock reckons that we won’t get away playing like this next season ie teams will have sussed us out. Do we agree?

 

I wouldn't want us to be anything like Wimbledon - it was all about the off ball stuff with them and the constant bullying of the officials. We aren't as good in a pure football sense as we were under Stendel and Struber but while we are winning we will definitely cope with it. It scares me a bit to think what Premier League teams might do to us though, but I think all the top Championship clubs may well be thinking the same.

 

I don’t

They haven’t sussed us out now so why would they in the months of June and July when we’re not playing?