Talking Tactics

We could also move Mawson into DM to keep all 3 in the team and play a proper LB. It looked like we were planning on playing him there when he first signed, and he has made noises that he'd like to play there.

 

That would mean leaving out Pearson. Are you happy with that?

 

Come on. If you're talking tactics, like Roberts up front, it won't have been tried before.

I favour 8-12-16. Strengthens the defence midfield and forward line.

Plus 5 goalies.

 

Oh and while we're at it I think that it's reasonable to train Roberts to be able to get on the end of his own long throws.

Simply a matter of the angle of the chuck in. Followed by a quick sprint.

 

Now tha talking daft, surely we'd only need 4 goalies if we're going 8 at the back?

 

If we had 17 goalies, they would completely fill the goal, with some of them laid horizontally on the shoulders of those standing up.

Clean sheets are king.

 

I suppose on the surface it does seem simple, but the hours spent behind the scenes by well qualified coaches in order to make 'pass and move' work against certain teams with the players you have at your disposal shows it is quite complicated. There's a reason a squad doesn't just turn up to oakwell on saturday at 2pm and do nowt else in week.

 

Bruce always had 3 dozen with him on stage. I can't believe you're talking minimalism.

 

Aye but he only needed the big man upfront

 

But who would play in the channel?

 

I assure you that I am not simply trying to win an argument. I actually enjoy the discussion and in a discussion there does not have to be a winner or a loser. As for agreeing to disagree, I began the discussion knowing that that would be the result, but hoping to learn something new from the exercise.

I will be honest, I was a big fan of wing backs when we used the system to get to the Premier League. However, the PL soon illustrated the problems with the system and I am a changed man. Now I think it offers little and that is why it is not often used.

I hate it when I have a discussion and it ends like this. I am sorry that you have misunderstood my motives.

 

We do need a bit more than that.

Someone born to run might help. And generally no surrender.

But not Roberts upfront, even in a brilliant disguise.

 

He's not our player so in a way yes.

He did well at RB against Everton for a bit, maybe play him there if Bree is unavailable?

 

On the issue of putting a defender up front. If we needed something from a game then the obvious choice would be Mawson rather than Roberts as he could hold a ball up as well as win headers. The lads great at controlling a ball on his chest.

Anyway it's a mental idea & should only be used in the last 10 mins of a game if we need a winner

 

Decide your best 11/13 players and then look at what formation suits them. Hourihane and Winnall played very well together when they had a runner in Cole on the pitch so not everything is cut and dried.

 

What a very interesting thinking out of the box view. A good read.
Im just reading Inverting the pyramid. The history of football tactics by Jon Wilson. I assume you must have read it. Im only 130 pages in but it does show how important correct tactics are and more importantly picking the right tactics for the personnel you have got. Not the other way around.
As I am sure you would agree there is no one formation that beats all others. Otherwise everyone would play it. Although 90% of prem teams now play 4-2-3-1.

I believe Bristol City and MK Dons both played 3-5-2 all last season and they both did well with it.
I still think its a formation that would suit us if we persevered with it...and made some additions to the squad.

I see your logic in putting Roberts up front. Hes been outstanding so far. But to me him and Mawson must start each week as centre backs if they are fit.
Maybe throw him up for final ten mins if we are 1-0 down and need a big man up there but its a desperate measure.

If playing 2 central defenders then Nyatanga coming in for suspensions, fitness, loss of form ,etc.
If playing 3 then your three best defenders play every week which means there is no cover if one of them isnt available.

On the subject of wingers, Williams is a good winger. Thats what we signed him as last season anyway. He is our only one though and maybe he's not as natural as some of the players we have let go.

Having said all that I do believe you should have a squad that enables you to change tactics depending on how the game is progressing. Chelsea do it all the time.

Im sure some people think all football players are thick and the answer is just to leather it up front and stick it in the back of the net but the modern game has evolved since the 1950's.

 

Rereading Inverting the Pyramid myself it's a great book.

 

So is the role of a manager is pretty much redundant? All the owners need to do is buy players the ability and workrate to pass and move. He can then just put 11 of them on the pitch and they'll win all their games? Who cares about the formation, the opposition and nullifying their threats, choosing tactics to suit the players the team have? It's just a load of guff after all.

I wonder why Mourinho is such a sought after manager? Wouldn't it be much cheaper for Chelsea to replace him with Simon Davey if tactics is all guff? Just don't call for Lee Johnson's head when you think he's got his guff wrong.

 

The secret is to appoint someone who seems to have a clue what there doing.
Lee Jay may well be that man!