We're all assuming other teams won't change the way they play

For the play offs , but maybe they will having seen how successful other teams have been against us who are willing to change their play. Which manager do we think will be most willing to change?

 

Teams, more than often, do well when they have a dedicated way of playing and then stick to what their boss tells them. Therefore, I don't think any of them will change what has got them this far and the playoffs isn't the time to be changing styles to suit the opposition imho. I think we'll see each of the 4 teams trying to impress their own unique style onto the games.

 

Wouldn’t think any will change,
Swansea - beat us twice so can’t see why they would think they need to
Bournemouth will feel with their win at our place and chance at theirs they won’t need to
Brentford again had chances and would imagine they think if they click will be too much.

Don’t see any of the above a negative for us either as it will suit us if they play their own games

 

Worked for Lampard against Leeds though?

 

I thought one of our best performances was against Norwich in the cup when we won 1.0. We got the ball down and played through midfield much more in that game and still beat the best team in the division. So maybe we could be the ones with a change of tactics in mind. Who knows?

 

I'm not sure what you mean Helen as a) Lampard is currently unemployed and b) I thought we were talking about the other teams in the playoffs

 

Obviously she means that Lampard changed formation in the playoffs against Leeds and comfortably beat them. Barnsley did the same against Birmingham. Hence, it is possible that a change in tactics by any of the 4 could work in the playoffs.

 

At the moment they don,t have to change the way that they play, Preston didn,t play the long ball game they tried to play football, so did Rotherham i think, its us thats stopped changing the way we play to counteract the opposition, its hoof ball all the way now no matter how the opposition play, the high press and intensity has all but disappeared.....

 

It might have been obvious to you, but certainly not me! I couldn't recall Lampard was the Derby manager when they beat Leeds, neither did I know they changed formation to do it!

 

Swansea went direct against us both times, surprising Ismael both times.

The others will change slightly, looking to put players in behind our high line, but will probably put a bit more build up into it than teams have recently

 

Good thought, we have been made to look ordinary by ordinary teams playing us at our game, but better.

 

The Playoffs will be a test for Val, can he get the team to perform like they did against Norwich Chelsea and Bournemouth away second half. It's been clear over the last couple of weeks we have lost our way and have struggled against teams that have matched us up and gone long not allowing us to press. Derby Rotherham Coventry. In Val we believe.

 

I hope not. It's got us a play-off place.

 

Interesting question Helen.

Don't think Woodgate or Frank will change but Cooper will. He had the measure of us in both games this season, although their pitch in the away game wasn't even fit enough to play rugby on. Same for both sides though.

Seems like Val would agree with the assessment that we've been below par against Coventry, Middlesbro, Rotherham and PNE. I guess he'll be working hard with the coaching team on re-establishing the intensity of the press, and the way we've previously been able to press in all areas of the field.

I think, in those games, we've lacked that intensity and it's down to Val and the boys to work out why.

 

If we only decide to play well in 45 min stints in both games we are going to have to be extremely lucky to get through.

 

Well that is not something I am assuming so who is "we're all"?

 

I agree. If we play like we did yesterday at Preston, or against Rotherham last week or the way we did against Coventry, we’ll struggle.

Very poor showings. We’ve lost three of the last 20 league games. And deservedly so.

But if we play like we did about 10 days ago, at Huddersfield, I think we give anyone a game. If we play like we did against Brentford or Bournemouth away, I fancy us.

It’s looking like we’ve got Brentford over those two games. We’ve beaten them 2-1 on aggregate already this season. They have never succeeded in a play-off competition. But they do have a 30-goal striker and an 11-game unbeaten run going. But then, they were 21 unbeaten last time we met. And could have gone up automatically last season if we’d not turned them over.

I think it’s lovely that nine months on from that night at Griffin Park, we are set to play them again, but in the play-offs. They’ve finished third again. Even more points than they managed last season. But we’ve got 28 points more than last season. It’s a lovely fixture. Because ideally, the winner of that semi goes up. Nobody wants to see Swansea or Bournemouth back up there. It’s bad enough that two of the parachute clubs are already back up.

Anyway. We shall see. What a time to be a Reds fan.