Minority Report v Brentford

At half time of the final game of last season, I wrote that Barnsley had played the perfect pressing game. Brentford had wanted to play the ball out from the back along the floor and Jacob Brown and Conor Chaplin had pressed and pressed, fully supported by the guys behind them. The press had destroyed Brentford’s theoretical advantage. The rest of the game had its ups and downs, but everything worked out for the best in the end. In the short time since then, there have been a huge number of changes. Barnsley has a new Chief Coach. We have a new way of playing and a new system. Jacob Brown, our presser in chief has left the club, and Cauley Woodrow is now the first name on the team sheet instead of the bench. Brentford too are a completely different team. Said Benrahma and Ollie Watkins have moved on, and Ivan Toney has moved in for a fee that Barnsley would not even have to think twice about. But how will all those changes play out on the pitch?


As he did for the previous game, Ismael opted not to play a press. Instead, when we were without the ball, the front 3 dropped deeper, leaving only Woodrow in the opposition half at times. Even so, in that first 15 minutes of the game, Brentford’s 4-3-3 with 2 wide players in their front 3, exposed us at full back. I had actually wonder whether that would happen a few weeks ago if we were to come up against this formation (4-3-3), and it came as no surprise. The problem is that our back 3 are left marking 1, whilst there is room at full back to be exploited by their 2 wide players. I wondered how Ismael would react when it did happen. He did so by restricting the wing backs’ forays in support of midfield. They were less willing to join our midfield 2, too early, leaving the space behind to be attacked on the possible counter. Unfortunately, the effect of this was to draw our front 3 deeper, and on many occasions, there was no player in red in the opposition half when Brentford had the ball in our half. The problem is that when we win the ball back, there is no-one to pass to ahead of the ball. Consequently, there is no way to relieve the mounting pressure. This this the over-riding reason why the team had just 32% of possession. When a team shape is so negative, it invites that sort of statistic.


As the game wore on in the second half, we changed 4 players, but the system stayed the same. For me, it was not the players that were the problem. It was the system, and the changes to personnel therefore, made no difference. It was a system that was created on the premise that the opposition will not score the first goal. When the opposition does score first, there is very little that can be done to change the way the match is being played. For example, changing to a 4-4-2 would require wide players, and it would require a big man to win the ball down the middle. Even if he wanted to make such a move, which I do not think he does, Ismael does not have the right players to do so. I said on Saturday, that we are playing first goal winner football. On Saturday we scored first and won. Tonight, Brentford scored first and won.


There is not a lot more to be said about a very poor game. Brentford were better than Forest, and deserved their win, even though a late penalty should have denied them it. Barnsley failed to entertain. They failed to entertain because they did not score, they had only 1 shot on target, and they had just 32% of possession.

 

Havent got too much argument against that tonight RR.

I don’t share your view on the 3-4-3 generally, as we discussed Saturday.

But it didn’t work tonight. However I’m not so sure it was formation that was the issue tonight to be honest. I’m not convinced that contributed much to how flat we were.

We were plain and simply crap. Couldn’t pass to a man wearing red. The dropping deeper and deeper was as much a reaction to our inability to string three passes together as it was their play.

Brentford set up pretty well against our shape, it has to be said. The centre backs were eventually drawn wide to support the full backs - but as you say they had plenty of space in wide areas, especially early doors.

All this said, in a poor performance (which will happen), we conceded once, from a set piece which was poorly defended. In open play we looked relatively solid - the problem being we created absolutely nothing at the other end.

I still feel we’ll win as many as we lose in the formation, especially when he’s brought a player or two of his own choosing in January.

But I can’t offer a single argument to suggest he got it right tactically tonight. It was a poor night for all involved.

It may well have been worth shaking up the team a little rather than start the same side as Saturday, a few looked a little leggy.

I don’t expect or want a change in shape on Saturday. He won’t do that regardless of what we want anyway. Maybe one or two personnel alterations.

 

Good summary. I have to say very few players had a good game tonight. Solly. Walton & Brittain maybe. Midfield was abject, as were the frontline.

We only lost 1-0 against a very good team & had a very good penalty claim.

 

It actually made us worse, the players we brought on weren't as good as the ones we withdrew, and their fresher legs made no difference, we just lost the quality of those withdrawn (James and Mowatt, not Chaplin who was, and often is, shocking. Frieser isn't great but better than Thomas). No idea how Styles remained on the pitch ahead of Mowatt. Great goal he scored the other day and he's a fantastic talent, but he's a liability at the moment, despite the weird match ratings he's getting from people.

I said on Saturday that we'll never see another system from this manager. This game radically needed a change in system, but he's not capable. He never will be.

Having said all that, it was a penalty. Without question it was a penalty. We weren't much good, but we worked spectacularly hard, the players believe in the manager and that's such a huge plus, and they won a penalty despite being second best. And I can't account for that penalty not being given and at the same time claim this was a fair result. It clearly wasn't. Actually, we may have missed the penalty, but I've seen Woodrow take a penalty and it's as good as it gets.

 

Agree with all of that.

 

If it any consolation Brentford thumped us Hatters 0-3 and were a very good side. Tonight we played Birmingham who were awful if you haven't played them. Goodness knows how we only drew. Good teams we have played this season: Watford, Brentford, Blackburn, Millwall. The rest nothing special

 

It seems a bit presumptuous to say that bearing he's only been in charge for a few games.

 

Fair comment. I guess we'll see.

 

I'm surprised to see Birmingham so relatively high up the table. They were one of my tips to be fighting relegation. Along with Reading......

 

If Clinton Morrison jokes he'd never be a manager then it's time to be sceptical about his credentials.

 

It's fair to say that the system didn't work last night. However, Brentford are far and away the best team we've played this season and therefore it was a surprise to see they hadn't scored for nearly 3 games. Both teams cancelled each other out and it looks like one goal would win the game, as it proved to be. Saying that it looked a 0-0 all over until inadequate marking from a corner left Toney free to head it into the far corner. One could say zonal marking was at fault but a) Why wasn't there someone on the far post to knock it away and b) It's only the 4th goal we've conceded at home in 12 games since lockdown ended, so something must be working.

With both teams nullified would a change of shape/system helped? Was the onus on us to go for the win as the home team? Most of us agree that they were a good team and also most of thought a point would be a good point, so we kept the shape/system the same. In fact we should have had a point, or at least a penalty kick to try and gain the point. Blatant handball deemed not worthy of a penalty by the incompetent referee.

 

Just glad we weren't thrashed.

 

On most other occasions that game would have ended 0-0, couldn't see either team scoring.

 

Imho i believe our coach thought we may get picked of if we tried the high press.
So he allowed their defenders more time and space, probably on the hope they would go long and play onto our hands a bit (having 3 central defenders who are decent with the high ball and gift us possesion. That did happen a bit in the first half, unfortunately it wasnt the greatest night for several of our better players in possesion last night. The second half, brenford showed their extra quality and mobility in midfield and i felt we did as well as we could to keep in the game.
Im not so sure tactics were the defining factor last night, just caught a better team, with better players and some of our lads need a rest.

 

If we’d have pressed them high up last night, they’d have scored a hatful. Without the magic of Benrahma it’s better to allow them the ball and hope to nick it and hit them in quick breaks. But our passing was off last night and we looked a little leggy.

It had 0-0 all over it which would have been a decent result but one of their many corners eventually found us wanting defensively.

The referee then failed to give us a blatant penalty.

A tough watch, a tough night and because of that official, a tough result to swallow. But my god have we made some huge strides forward in the last few weeks using this system and personnel. Says a lot that I’m disappointed to lose so narrowly to the side I see as the best in the EFL.

Onto the next one.

 

Wasn't able to watch the game last night, looking at the highlights it seemed we restricted them to long range efforts until they scored. Not sure what Helik was doing for the corner. Seemed content to let it go past him till he realised Toney had made the run. Whenever we concede from a set piece, it seems to happen without any of our defenders even attacking the ball, which is frustrating.

Can't comment too much on the substitutions, but was surprised to see Thomas on before Adeboyejo, followed by another three like for like changes after 70 minutes. Did we not make a fifth change? It seems strange to keep all three centre backs on if you have a sub left and you're towards the end of the game with a goal down.

 

Some fans seem to have an obsession with tactics,formations and statistics,possession doesn’t win you games goals do.Its all well and good having the ball but it’s what you do with it that matters.We are under a new coach playing a new formation and developing some young exciting footballers.Enjoy the ride.Up the reds!

 

I'm struggling to see the enjoyment at losing 0-1 at home with one shot on target.

 

With the players we’ve got,what team/formation would you have played last night?please don’t cop out or give us a political answer.