Our current form

[Constantly Optimistic...]

If my memory serves me right we went through the same mid-season dip last year when the opposition setup to frustrate us rather than play their own game. As stated earlier in the thread we combated this by mixing up the style of play and eventually went on to storm the league. I'm sure CW and AK are already working on this, hence recent signings. Stearman is taking over from JW and the defence is really looking more solid now. Some of the inventiveness we had last year on set pieces, sharper round the box, and mixing it up a bit more will see us right. The team is still evolving, in CW I trust. I think we could be in for an exciting second half of the season. It will depend on who else in the division steps as well. In my eyes apart from Wolves the rest is there for the taking. Keep the faith! UTB

 

[MobileBlade]

If we'd have any other manager, would we be calling for his sacking?

After 1 defeat in 5 games. Never.

 

[S1 Blade]

Yes it’s not good, yes we should put teams away. BUT a drop in form was always going to happen to some extent - teams will set up like Bolton and Wendy - we’ve done it at various points with other managers. New signings will reinvigorate the squad and we’ll pick up. Have faith. I still think Billy will come back and make a difference - before we even talk about Brooks (who is of course if you listen to any Pig fan l)

 

[ucandomagic]

Nothing wrong with our shape or our game plan. Tufty says we aim to stretch the game side to side until we get an overload. When that happens we go by and get the ball across - low or high.

3 things wrong with our execution at present though.

Firstly, the ball is moving side to side more and more slowly. This gives the defence plenty of time to move across and prevent any overload. The loss of Couttsy is a major contributor to this.

Secondly, we (Baldy in particular) seem to beat the man and then cut back in before crossing, and then often lose the opportunity. Need to cross sooner.

Thirdly, we seem to have lost our ability to execute a cross effectively from either WB’s or CB’s (and from corners).

Hopefully the new additions will help with all of this. Leonard (like Flecky does sometimes) will drive forwards, bringing the defence in narrow and so creating more space outside. Holmes’ dead ball skills will deliver better corners, and if we can get him or Duffy outside rather than WB’s or CB’s it should improve our crosses.

It ain’t broke - it just needs an intermediate service.

Even Magic Needs Maintenance

 

[Pedro's Winger]

We're playing like we lack a bit of confidence which is only normal when you go through a run of relegation form.
We need the new players to have an impact, either by themselves or by giving the current first team a kick up the rear end by just being here, or the season's going to fizzle out pretty quickly.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

A very interesting and thoughtful OP and I agree with much of what was said in it.

The reality is that, had the results from the last ten games occurred at the start of the season, rather than focussing on individual players many would have been questioning the formation of the team and would have been right to do so, and to do so now is even more relevant.

I have always thought that, if you are to play three at the back with five in midfield, then the two wide players have to be special in that they need to be very good defensively but also creative and dangerous going forward.

Recent games have highlighted the fact that ours are not and to be blunt and use an old phrase, are neither fish nor fowl.

That being the case, and given the qualities generally attributed to our new signings, I believe that a strong case can be made for a 4 - 4 - 1 - 1 formation with the full backs given licence to get forward, much in the way that Spurs were so successfully set up last season.

Having four natural defenders on the pitch allows the introduction of more creative players further up the field and my team, based on such a scenario would be :-

------------------------Moore-----------------
Leonard Wright. Stearman O' Connell
Holmes Lundstram / Evans Fleck Duffy
----------------- Brooks -------------------
----------------- Clarke --------------------

Before any one starts shouting we can't play with just one striker I should point out that all five of those behind him are capable of scoring goals given the opportunity, which is something they are not getting at the moment but would do in this far more creative formation.

 

[Houston_Blade]

If we play a formation with 1 up top and Brooks behind and we don't score the moaners will be going mental about only having 1 up front.

I honestly think it's just a case of getting the right personnel in and freshening things up a bit. It does look like we've been worked out and I really don't want a fantastic start to be undermined by relegation form for 2/3's of the season. Hopefully we have someone in these new signings who can make that difference. I will say though that if the new signings have a few bad games it doesn't make them bad signings, we need to persevere. Wilson probably being the one we'll need to persevere with most as he's not had regular football for a while.

 

[blade too long]

I did.

Well I did too but we are optimists

 

[Steve Mackan]

We don’t know what to do when teams come to defend. We don’t ask any questions really, we just pass across the pitch and cross the ball in to an already packed box.

I’d drop Leonard in at RCB, he CAN play in that role, not exclusively though. One of the posters in the Southend view from says he’s best as a marauding right back in his view, our RCB is essentially a full back quite often. He’s 6 foot, physical, athletic and I think very capable of playing that role.

Certainly agree with those points. We should move the ball much quicker against team that put ten men into the box, or at least try to.

And yeah, if we persist with overlapping centre backs there's no point in it being Basham with his inability to cross the ball

 

[blade too long]

Our system works well when we get around the backs playing to feet but is reliant on the final cross into the 6 yard box or laid back to an onrushing player .
It's been that cross that's been poor of late . We just need to be finding that ball again

 

[sheffielder]

Drop golden balls ?

Sacrilege

UTB

How many have we won with him as captain? Will get my tin hat

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

It was mentioned a lot during pre-season.

The majority of teams in this league - and the Premier League set up to try 'not to lose' rather than to try to win. The best players in the world struggle to break down organised defensive displays.

Unfortunately, we're stuck with teams coming to the lane and using a 'defence first' mentality.

 

[Slim Man]

How many have we won with him as captain? Will get my tin hat

I don’t think that’s even nearly a contributing factor