Rubix Cube

[A Storm of Blades]

Afternoon Chaps,

Long time lurker, first time poster.
I’ve heard a lot of noise about teams ‘figuring out’ our style, usually with some conclusion that once that happens, we’ll free fall down the table.

You could argue that knowing what’s going to happen and stopping it are 2 very different prospects, but I think there’s more to it. We know about our cavalier centre halves doubling up on the wings, and whilst the mechanism for who goes and when is likely developed on the training ground, the execution is clearly directed, at least as much from the sidelines.

That’s the secret ingredient for me, Knill’s constant presence in the technical area (more than I’ve seen of other assistants) seems to be about executing and adapting our system depending on what’s happening on the field. You’re not going to watch a DVD and deduce that JOC always goes in situation X, Bash in situation Y, it will only paint half a picture. Plus you’ll tie yourself in knots trying to stop our system, rather than strengthening your own.

Teams don’t seem to know whether to stick or twist - play their own way and risk being overrun, or play the game with a counter active style, that players aren’t used to. It’s an incredibly effective methodology.

 

[Steve Mackan]

Totally agree. It's almost a silly tactic to try and counter the overlapping centre-backs. The most obvious way to beat our 3-4-1-2 is to play three up-front and play direct. Cardiff pretty much did this...they could also play a bit and we were more nervous in that game.

But yeah, trying to 'match us up' or prevent our attacks is silly because it leads to the opposition having to play 4 defensive wide players, they are far better off playing narrow and direct with a ridiculously deep back four.

 

[Blade56]

Welcome SoB, will all you thread titles have foooook all to do with the content?

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I’ve heard a lot of noise about teams ‘figuring out’ our style, usually with some conclusion that once that happens, we’ll free fall down the table.

A handful of vocal fans wanted us to ditch our magnificent formation the moment we hit an inch of choppy waters in January, that the system had been “found out” by our League 1 rivals, and it was time to get back to four four fucking two. This for me feeds into an inherent pessimism that it’s only a matter of time before things all go pear-shaped, when there is nothing inevitable of the sort.

We as you say have an excellent system perfectly directed by the management team. We’ve played exactly this way for well over a year now – anyone scouting us at any point over that period, regardless of the individual line-up, will have seen a consistency in style and approach. And despite this no-surprises clarity, time and again we’re coming up against teams unable to get any points of us, and at time unable to cope with us. It’s a great time.

 

[Pinchy]

Welcome SoB, will all you thread titles have foooook all to do with the content?

I think it’s a metaphor. It might have worked better with Rubik’s Cube...

 

[A Storm of Blades]

I completely agree, you could effectively play 3 up top and push the wide forwards right up to try and pin back the wingbacks and exploit gaps left by advancing centre halves. However , the downside would be you’d be matching up 3 midfielders to our 5, so whilst you might nullify the wide threat, you’re effectively handing over the midfield battle!

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Welcome SoB, will all you thread titles have foooook all to do with the content?

I think it might be something to do with getting all the reds to form one complete side B56

 

[A Storm of Blades]

A handful of vocal fans wanted us to ditch our magnificent formation the moment we hit an inch of choppy waters in January, that the system had been “found out” by our League 1 rivals, and it was time to get back to four four fucking two. This for me feeds into an inherent pessimism that it’s only a matter of time before things all go pear-shaped, when there is nothing inevitable of the sort.

We as you say have an excellent system perfectly directed by the management team. We’ve played exactly this way for well over a year now – anyone scouting us at any point over that period, regardless of the individual line-up, will have seen a consistency in style and approach. And despite this no-surprises clarity, time and again we’re coming up against teams unable to get any points of us, and at time unable to cope with us. It’s a great time.

Ha!

Welcome SoB, will all you thread titles have foooook all to do with the content?

Ha! Duly noted

 

[A Storm of Blades]

I think it might be something to do with getting all the reds to form one complete side B56

Shit! I’ve spelt it that way for years!

 

[Pinchy]

A handful of vocal fans (yearning for their beloved but grotesque hoof) wanted us to ditch our magnificent formation the moment we hit an inch of choppy waters in January, that the system had been “found out” by our League 1 rivals, and it was time to get back to four four fucking two. This for me feeds into an inherent pessimism (happy in the comfort zone of their Bladey Inferiority Complex and wildly doffing their caps) that it’s only a matter of time before things all go pear-shaped, when there is nothing inevitable of the sort.

We as you say have an excellent system perfectly directed by the management team. We’ve played exactly this way for well over a year now – anyone scouting us at any point over that period, regardless of the individual line-up, will have seen a consistency in style and approach. And despite this no-surprises clarity, time and again we’re coming up against teams unable to get any points of us, and at time unable to cope with us. It’s a great time.

Spot on, with a few clarifications.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Ha!

Ha! Duly noted

Come on Stormy, everyone knows it's a Rubik's Cyoob FFS.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Sorry, scratch all of this. I’m reliably informed that it’s all to do with momentum. As you were.

 

[boo radley]

Welcome A Storm of Blades.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Come on Stormy, everyone knows it's a Rubik's Cyoob FFS.

Well, I do now!

 

[Grizzly blade]

There is no way to deal with it, without creating bigger problems for yourself.

It’s all about knowing the “right time” to go on that overlap, knowing that when you do, the midfield will play that ball and not stitch you up out of position.
It can’t be predicted when it happens, you just know as an opponent it will, and that when it does you will have to defend properly in the box. Because more often then not when we commit the extra centre half to an attack we generally get a ball in the box.

It’s simple, but very effective.
I actually want us to face a premier league side so we can see them struggle with it too.

 

[Punk Blade]

I’m starting to tell people Chelsea and Man City will start using our genius system as the next progression from 3-4-3. They’re close to it already, but they don’t have a Mark Duffy or a Leon Clarke to make it work.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

There is no way to deal with it, without creating bigger problems for yourself.

It’s all about knowing the “right time” to go on that overlap, knowing that when you do, the midfield will play that ball and not stitch you up out of position.
It can’t be predicted when it happens, you just know as an opponent it will, and that when it does you will have to defend properly in the box. Because more often then not when we commit the extra centre half to an attack we generally get a ball in the box.

It’s simple, but very effective.
I actually want us to face a premier league side so we can see them struggle with it too.

A bit like a pilot knows how to land a plane

I’m starting to tell people Chelsea and Man City will start using our genius system as the next progression from 3-4-3. They’re close to it already, but they don’t have a Mark Duffy or a Leon Clarke to make it work.

At it’s core it’s a system almost perfectly designed to nerf the perceived benefits of 442. By strategically overloading each wing with additional players depending on the attacking pattern of play, you almost instantly overcome the width advantage 442 has. All this whilst outnumbering the opposition in the centre of the field. This is also true in reverse, haven’t we faced something like the least amount of shots? I would imagine a part of this is because we also deploy the same overloading tactic to stop crosses. Much like 90s Italian teams.

 

[Blade56]

Shit! I’ve spelt it that way for years!

Oy, I'm the king of dilexica on ear

 

[Northyorksblade]

There is no way to deal with it, without creating bigger problems for yourself

It’s simple, but very effective.
I actually want us to face a premier league side so we can see them struggle with it too.

We did and lost 1-4

 

[super_pig]

Sorry, scratch all of this. I’m reliably informed that it’s all to do with momentum. As you were.

The Rubiks cube is about group theory actually.. fascinating subject..
..sorry

 

[Tom Bott]

Group therapy ? what the wendies need some of that.

Their 'family' ethos of ripping each other off, especially their owner Mr No- Chance iery, seems to be failing.

HA HA HA HA HA

 

[super_pig]

Group therapy ? what the wendies need some of that.

Their 'family' ethos of ripping each other off, especially their owner Mr No- Chance iery, seems to be failing.

HA HA HA HA HA

heh .. quality

 

[snootyfenooty]

United's tactic of chasing back passes down then Billy, Leon plus A N Other marking their defenders prevents the goalie rolling it out and stops any build up before it even starts. It also disrupts the oppos game plan and usually ends up with the goalie making a hurried hoof to nowhere, very often straight into touch. This tactic is so fucking outrageously simple the only surprise being that everyone else doesn't adopt it. There seems to be an unwritten rule that the attackers should back off and jog back into position and allow the goalie to distribute the ball as he pleases. Glad CW doesn't see it that way!

 

[blade too long]

We do more pressing than a Chinese laundry. So simple but effective and gets us the ball back far more often making us look far more aggressive than we really are .But we are just more persistent.. joc and bashes forays are not mathematical precision but a calculated gamble on the basis the opposition can't hurt us ás we are in posession

 

[Tom Bott]

Yes not rocket science, just proper football as Lord Wilder calls it.

I think it is more Chess than Rubix (ks) though.

So we have a team of committed players plus two tactical geniuses and 20K supporters, what chance does the opposition have ?