New Systems and Tactics

[SharpshootingBilly]

3-4-3 would be good simply because of the amount of crosses we could get in box. Currently there is too much pissing about on wings (mainly between Bash and Baldock) and not enough first-time crosses. With 2 wide players each side and the overlapping CBs there could be much more chances created... OR... 3 people pissing about on wings instead of 2 and then it's even worse!

Bring back Woolford.

 

[Bladezz]

We have to stick with 352. But we can edit the formation like we have this season, 3 central midfielders / Duffy role / 2 wide men.

That’s all we need to be able to have. Just need to improve players. We now have a basis of a championship squad (apart from the transfer listed players) so we are slowly but surly cementing ourselves in the league.

Teams like Ipswich Who have been a championship mainstay aren’t looking to reach playoffs and it’s taken them a few transfe windows to ensure they will be safe year on year.

 

[Carlton Blade]

On recent form Coutts, Holmes, Stevens and Brooks haven’t been anywhere near good enough to be our plan B. I presume this would be something which we could consider near to Christmas if those players are fit and in form

As always, any change in system needs the players

"On recent form" is a bit harsh on Coutts!!

Brooks, Leonard and Holmes get a fresh start. For the latter 2 I'd say if they aren't getting game time by the end of September they'll be gone in Jan.

If we go into another year with no competition for Stevens that's verging on crazy

 

[SwissBlade]

"On recent form" is a bit harsh on Coutts!!

Brooks, Leonard and Holmes get a fresh start. For the latter 2 I'd say if they aren't getting game time by the end of September they'll be gone in Jan.

If we go into another year with no competition for Stevens that's verging on crazy

It may be harsh on Coutts, but there’s no place for sentiment when the likes of Lundstram and Evans are playing well

 

[Carlton Blade]

It may be harsh on Coutts, but there’s no place for sentiment when the likes of Lundstram and Evans are playing well

Coutts problem might be that he plays a position that doesn't always lend itself to 30 minutes a week cameos. If you need a game changing sub he may miss out on game time

 

[DronnieBlade]

It may be harsh on Coutts, but there’s no place for sentiment when the likes of Lundstram and Evans are playing well

Coutts is on a different planet to those two, both of whom are good young players.

They will both be aware of this, and know they will have a heck of a job getting a shirt off either he or Fleck.

Sentiment not in my thinking. Quality very much is !

UTB

 

[SUFC Guy]

It's quality AND strength in numbers that we need. Due to our style and fast paced approach play then players will tire towards the end of the season - having more quality players and 2 for each position will allow us to rotate week in week out and conserve energy for the full season.

Same tactics - just more players of equal quality!

RWB is already sorted - just another 10 positions to cover now

 

[DronnieBlade]

Coutts problem might be that he plays a position that doesn't always lend itself to 30 minutes a week cameos. If you need a game changing sub he may miss out on game time

Of course there was an abundance of 30 minute cameos from PC over the last 2 seasons to draw this conclusion

FMD.

UTB

 

[SwissBlade]

Coutts is on a different planet to those two, both of whom are good young players.

They will both be aware of this, and know they will have a heck of a job getting a shirt off either he or Fleck.

Sentiment not in my thinking. Quality very much is !

UTB

Coutts was on a different planet, now he has to work his way back to that level again, otherwise he’s just a player who had two good seasons then got injured

 

[Carlton Blade]

Of course there was an abundance of 30 minute cameos from PC over the last 2 seasons to draw this conclusion

FMD.

UTB

I just meant coming back from injury and easing back in to 1st team football.

I have no idea what FMD means

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

This season has been among the best in my lifetime, and I feel there's very little to complain about on the whole.

One thing that does slightly concern me, is the way teams have adapted to the way we play. One of the main reasons (IMO) why we had a poorer second half of the season is due to teams understanding our tactics and nullifying them.

To combat this, I would like us to have a Plan B: at the moment, teams know that we will likely set up 5-3-2, with the wingbacks and number 10 key to creating chances - It would be nice to keep them guessing.

Our problem is though, that we lack wide players, so switching to any formation involving wingers would involve some serious recruitment (Requiring funds we may or may not have)

That is why I think we should try this:

I've used our current personnel to demonstrate that minimal incomings would be needed to fill the places. Holmes is the obvious weak link, but I feel other than there, it makes the most of our squad.

Do you think a 4-2-3-1 has legs? If not, what would you suggest?

Having posted previously on similar lines, I agree with much of what you say ( and top marks for the excellent graphic ! )

I'm not sure though, that we need all three of Brooks, Holmes and Duffy and would prefer to see just two of them with another striker playing alongside Leon. This could easily be Billy and, given the improved service such a line up would bring, I can easily see them getting 25 goals between them.

I also feel that neither Stevens nor Baldock are good enough defensively to play as conventional full backs, whereas Basham an JOC are both well equipped for this role. This would require another CB to play alongside Stearman which could be Jake Wright or the big fuck off centre back which many think we need.

As you rightly say, all this can be achieved with a minimum level of recruitment rather than the 7 or even 8 I have seen suggested on here, which I believe would be seriously counter productive.

 

[Liaminho9]

We could even go back to the Clough FA Cup run Formation...

FALSE 9.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

The encouraging take on this is that we aren't too far away from where we want to be - it's tweaks to systems, rather than wholesale changes. Add some depth and quality and we ought to surprise a few again!

I'd add:
Blackman
A LWB
1-2 CFs and anything else is a bonus.

 

[The Fox]

I think you've all spent too much time on those new fangled manager games .. ..
Formations are just where you stand for the kick off after all ..

Can I have a go at manager pundit bollox ..
We need a good solid spine , overlapping wing backs backs running the channels , we need a midfielder to sit in the hole and one to drive forward at the top of the diamond we have a false no 9 playing off a number 10 ...

You get the drift , feel free to add your own cliches that no one understands

 

[tincan]

9 wins since November is not a promotion squad. So far Stevens, Basham, Holmes, Evans not good enough for a Champ promotion team, Clark and Sharp okay but need the upgrade to speed merchants.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

9 wins since November is not a promotion squad. So far Stevens, Basham, Holmes, Evans not good enough for a Champ promotion team, Clark and Sharp okay but need the upgrade to speed merchants.

You must tell us more about these 'speed merchants' you have in mind.

Presumably, they're going to score far more goals than Leon and Billy did last year, are readily available and within our budget and wage structure .

Or are you thinking more on the lines of Adrian Littlejohn and Jonathan Forte who could catch pigeons but we're at best, good for half a dozen goals a season.

I eagerly await your insightful knowledge on this topic.

 

[diode_blade]

This season has been among the best in my lifetime, and I feel there's very little to complain about on the whole.

One thing that does slightly concern me, is the way teams have adapted to the way we play. One of the main reasons (IMO) why we had a poorer second half of the season is due to teams understanding our tactics and nullifying them.

To combat this, I would like us to have a Plan B: at the moment, teams know that we will likely set up 5-3-2, with the wingbacks and number 10 key to creating chances - It would be nice to keep them guessing.

Our problem is though, that we lack wide players, so switching to any formation involving wingers would involve some serious recruitment (Requiring funds we may or may not have)

That is why I think we should try this:

I've used our current personnel to demonstrate that minimal incomings would be needed to fill the places. Holmes is the obvious weak link, but I feel other than there, it makes the most of our squad.

Do you think a 4-2-3-1 has legs? If not, what would you suggest?

Good god that defo won't work someone's chopped their legs and heads off.......

 

[Cerberus Blade]

This season has been among the best in my lifetime, and I feel there's very little to complain about on the whole.

One thing that does slightly concern me, is the way teams have adapted to the way we play. One of the main reasons (IMO) why we had a poorer second half of the season is due to teams understanding our tactics and nullifying them.

To combat this, I would like us to have a Plan B: at the moment, teams know that we will likely set up 5-3-2, with the wingbacks and number 10 key to creating chances - It would be nice to keep them guessing.

Our problem is though, that we lack wide players, so switching to any formation involving wingers would involve some serious recruitment (Requiring funds we may or may not have)

That is why I think we should try this:

I've used our current personnel to demonstrate that minimal incomings would be needed to fill the places. Holmes is the obvious weak link, but I feel other than there, it makes the most of our squad.

Do you think a 4-2-3-1 has legs? If not, what would you suggest?

I liked your post because I do think we need to approach things differently this coming season. A lot of this will depend on who we can bring in of course.

Looking at that team above I wonder where Lee Evans fits into it? I also think having a 2 man midfield would leave us wide open to being over-run.

If I was to be critical, and why not, I usually am, then I would say, Clarke not good enough as a lone striker, Brooks not good enough for a whole 90 minutes, Holmes totally unproven, Coutts may take a while to get back to fitness after a serious injury. Fleck normally prefers to play on the left. Stevens is not of the calibre for the Championship and struggled last season. Basham is not a centre-half. And Moore is not the first choice goalkeeper.

Other than that - totally agree!

 

[Dnblade]

I'd prefer us to stick with the 3-5-2 or 3412 whatever way you want to describe it.
We often change to a back 4 during games anyway,and the Full Backs still have to get forward in a 4...Maybe we can tweak things or improve in certain positions.
Hopefully Coutts is back and up to the level before injury..For me,we need to sort a Keeper unless Blackman comes back,another striker who's better than what we've got..a goal scoring midfielder and another Centre Back.
Brooks will have to feature more,or we'll lose him unless he's gone anyway.
Maybe we'll see the 2 10's behind the striker like when Brooks played at Leeds.

 

[Liaminho9]

I'd prefer us to stick with the 3-5-2 or 3412 whatever way you want to describe it.
We often change to a back 4 during games anyway,and the Full Backs still have to get forward in a 4...Maybe we can tweak things or improve in certain positions.
Hopefully Coutts is back and up to the level before injury..For me,we need to sort a Keeper unless Blackman comes back,another striker who's better than what we've got..a goal scoring midfielder and another Centre Back.
Brooks will have to feature more,or we'll lose him unless he's gone anyway.
Maybe we'll see the 2 10's behind the striker like when Brooks played at Leeds.

Whilst i agree with what you're saying, who drops out of the team here - i can't decide

 

[wizadry]

Whilst i agree with what you're saying, who drops out of the team here - i can't decide

A non goal scoring midfielder?

Take your pick!

 

[nopigfansintown]

I've been an advocate of our tactical approach eventually changing to 4-2-3-1 (or some variant) since early last season, or at least having this formation change in our pocket for certain games.These are the reasons: 1)It is easier, and cheaper to get two to four widemen/inside forwards, than it is to get a similar volume of Championship quality forwards.Sharp and Leon are ageing and nobody in the squad is of a sufficient quality to replace let alone supplement us in this area; this one is staring us in the face.
2) The emergence of David Brooks. This kid has only looked comfortable playing in a fee role or off of a target man. He can be afforded a similar role in some variant of one up top, as the emphasis immediately changes from high pressing to exploiting space on the counter.He's a long way from doing what Duffy does of the ball which is absolutely essential to the success of our current formation.
3)Bringing in competition for Duffy in the high pressing pivot.In two years we haven't managed to do it.He normal drops off after Christmas due to his exertions, and we have nobody with a similar skill set.We must also consider his age.Can we find another Duffy or turn Brooks or Holmes into his direct replacement? I think not
4) Early days yet, but I must mention the players we are being linked with: Marvin Johnson would suit the wide positions in a one up top role; Hugill would suit the lone striker role.This assessment may change if we start looking for strikers who can play off of another forward.
5)There has also been no necessity to bring in competition for Stevens who dropped off in the second half of the season. Whilst it would be folly to dispense with Stevens,there is less emphasis on his attacking contribution in this new formation.Perhaps a formation change explains this lack of urgency in supplementing the LWB position?
6)Since Paul Coutts sustained his serious injury our ball retention is not as good, regardless of the midfield contributions we have used. We can't guarantee he will be at his pre injury form when he comes back. Teams that don't keep the ball well are unlikely to play two up top in this day and age.

 

[oldblade]

Kick it long; Kick it hard; Kick it high.

Always knew you were a closet hoofer.

 

[Beans]

I think you've all spent too much time on those new fangled manager games .. ..
Formations are just where you stand for the kick off after all ..

Can I have a go at manager pundit bollox ..
We need a good solid spine , overlapping wing backs backs running the channels , we need a midfielder to sit in the hole and one to drive forward at the top of the diamond we have a false no 9 playing off a number 10 ...

You get the drift , feel free to add your own cliches that no one understands

 

[Steve Mackan]

Think the 'plan b' will be 3-4-3. Probably some loan players with more pace either side of Clarke/New signing.

Can't see us changing to a four at the back unless we begin to hemorrhage goals.

 

[Dnblade]

Whilst i agree with what you're saying, who drops out of the team here - i can't decide

Difficult,i think i'll try and swerve that question L9 and leave it to Chris haha...obviously it depends on who comes in and who goes..if you mean if we're playing Brooks and say Duffy behind a Striker...for me Clarke is the best option at the moment.. I thought Holmes was going to be the goal scoring midfielder,but it's not happened for him yet.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Nothing wrong with how we play. For the ones who watch closely, we have changed formation during games already. We've also changed more than once in a game. CW has already said what he would IDEALLY do this summer, and that is add quality. We already have the right manager, coaching and the ability to change tactics during a game, it's now all about finding 3,4 or 5 players to go straight into the team or to put serious competition on existing players eg: Stevens. We need the cash to do this. We don't have any other problem except for the cash. What it will mean is some of our fans accepting some of their favourites, or players that have got us to this position being sidelined or jettisoned, and as a sad example that means Holmes. If we want to finish top 6, then it means quite simply, BETTER players. Some of you need to take the sentimental hat off, CW for sure has already taken it off.

UTB