Second half team vs Crewe

[Bergen Blade]

The team that started the second half was

Long​

Westlake Maguire Collins McFadzean​

Robson McDonald Doyle Murphy​

Porter Forte​

- Centre halves that have played together consistently for two seasons
- Two quickish, attacking, overlapping full backs
- One creator on one flank, one out and out winger on the other
- Experience in central midfield, one destroyer and one playmaker
- Target man and a quick striker up front


A perfectly balanced, attacking line up, well done for that Chris Morgan!

When the balance is good, we can move on to different explanations for why it didn't work?

- Psychological reasons - motivation, morale, confidence, nervousness
- Players' ability not good enough
- Players' physical form not good enough
- Preparation/tactics/playing style not good enough
- Inconsistent tactics - due to manager change, the changes from Saturday or even the change at h/t
- Crewe are better than us


Although I definitely think we should look to get the balance spot on, yesterday showed that it takes more than that to get a good performance.

 

[bladeinspaceandtime]

The team that started the second half was

Long​

Westlake Maguire Collins McFadzean​

Robson McDonald Doyle Murphy​

Porter Forte​

- Centre halves that have played together consistently for two seasons
- Two quickish, attacking, overlapping full backs
- One creator on one flank, one out and out winger on the other
- Experience in central midfield, one destroyer and one playmaker
- Target man and a quick striker up front


A perfectly balanced, attacking line up, well done for that Chris Morgan!

When the balance is good, we can move on to different explanations for why it didn't work?

- Psychological reasons - motivation, morale, confidence, nervousness
- Players' ability not good enough
- Players' physical form not good enough
- Preparation/tactics/playing style not good enough
- Inconsistent tactics - due to manager change, the changes from Saturday or even the change at h/t
- Crewe are better than us


Although I definitely think we should look to get the balance spot on, yesterday showed that it takes more than that to get a good performance.

It's no good getting the ingredients right if most of them are old, mouldy and well past their sell by date and the others are cheap, nasty and leave a bad taste in the mouth

 

[Wards]

The two things that strike me as being particularly poor in that line up are the two forwards (ability wise) and the dynamic of the central midfielders. In fact I'd go as far to say we could get away with those strikers if we had a midfielder who'd attack the box and support them. Those two are happy to plod around the pitch at one pace and we really suffer.

 

[DazBlade88]

The two things that strike me as being particularly poor in that line up are the two forwards (ability wise) and the dynamic of the central midfielders. In fact I'd go as far to say we could get away with those strikers if we had a midfielder who'd attack the box and support them. Those two are happy to plod around the pitch at one pace and we really suffer.

This is the key for us in my opinion. If Porter is playing up front he needs a partner who can anticipate, which is why him and Miller worked well together earlier in the season. He might be limited in ability, but he will win most of the aerial battle so you need to get people around him when we're playing how we are. Him and Forte will never work because even though Forte has pace, he doesn't anticipate where the play is going to go. I think Murphy could link up better with Porter personally.

McDonald or Doyle need to get up with the strikers more, but neither of them are that type of player so that's another problem for us. We need to bring in a midfielder (whether it's a signing or a youngster) who is prepared to push on and support the attack from a more advanced position. I

 

[Balham]

DazBlade88 talking of central midfielders reminds me - when we signed Murphy from Motherwell one of their forums had a poster claiming that we'd agreed a pre-contract with Nicky Law ahead of a free transfer this summer. He'd be a very good signing in my opinion; potentially replacing Doyle in the middle next season, adding to the dynamism of the team while allowing us to send Whitehouse on loan.

I doubt it will happen though.

http://www.steelmenonline.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=13402&st=20 <- post 25 onwards

 

[Wards]

I agree that Law would do the job we need. But more closer to home - I'd have thought Elliot Whitehouse would be primed for that position. If he can toughen up a bit he'll be handy in a box-to-box role.

 

[super_pig]

The team that started the second half was

Long​

Westlake Maguire Collins McFadzean​

Robson McDonald Doyle Murphy​

Porter Forte​

- Centre halves that have played together consistently for two seasons
- Two quickish, attacking, overlapping full backs
- One creator on one flank, one out and out winger on the other
- Experience in central midfield, one destroyer and one playmaker
- Target man and a quick striker up front


A perfectly balanced, attacking line up, well done for that Chris Morgan!

why didn't it work?? because we had Doyle, Porter and Forte in the lineup.. stick in Whitehouse for Doyle and Ironside for Porter and i reckon we'd be decent.. plus.. we'd have pace

 

[alcoblade]

why didn't it work?? because we had Doyle, Porter and Forte in the lineup.. stick in Whitehouse for Doyle and Ironside for Porter and i reckon we'd be decent.. plus.. we'd have pace

Yes, Forte and Porter up front = 3rd division football for a long time.


We would have been 2 or 3 up at half time with Blackman in the side. We then wouldn't be talking about other issues (interesting thread though Bergs).

Whilst you have to play with the right balance, first and foremost it's about scoring goals. And we have Forte and Porter to do that ...

I am still to understand the clamour to "get the kids in" though. Can anyone throw any light onto how they play in the U21's. Are they exceptional? Having said that, when you are looking to replace Forte, there really isn't anything to lose.

"Jonathon Forte - an apology". Actually, that is correct, but not in the way Tarquin Delouche intended it....

UTB

 

[Gavlar]

The team that started the second half was

Long​

Westlake Maguire Collins McFadzean​

Robson McDonald Doyle Murphy​

Porter Forte​

- Centre halves that have played together consistently for two seasons
- Two quickish, attacking, overlapping full backs
- One creator on one flank, one out and out winger on the other
- Experience in central midfield, one destroyer and one playmaker
- Target man and a quick striker up front


A perfectly balanced, attacking line up, well done for that Chris Morgan!

When the balance is good, we can move on to different explanations for why it didn't work?

- Psychological reasons - motivation, morale, confidence, nervousness
- Players' ability not good enough
- Players' physical form not good enough
- Preparation/tactics/playing style not good enough
- Inconsistent tactics - due to manager change, the changes from Saturday or even the change at h/t
- Crewe are better than us


Although I definitely think we should look to get the balance spot on, yesterday showed that it takes more than that to get a good performance.

good post bergs and youve been banging on bout this formation for a while. the biggest worry for me is the players arent good enough. it seems that way, so how do you get success when that is the case? tis a nightmare really.

 

[Darthblade]

why didn't it work?? because we had Doyle, Porter and Forte in the lineup.. stick in Whitehouse for Doyle and Ironside for Porter and i reckon we'd be decent.. plus.. we'd have pace

And replace forte with the tea lady .........
UTB &FTP

 

[Bergen Blade]

good post bergs and youve been banging on bout this formation for a while. the biggest worry for me is the players arent good enough. it seems that way, so how do you get success when that is the case? tis a nightmare really.

We won't be facing world beaters in the play offs, and I think it would be worth sticking with that attacking line up against Preston to see if we could find some rhythm and create more chances. If it failed miserably, we might as well go defensive again and try to nick a promotion that way.

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

In theory you present good reasoning why they are picked but.....
Your not going to win with the disappearing duo of McDonald and Doyle in the middle, Mr can't beat one man on the wing Murphy, Mr Offside Porter and the masterpiece..... Useless tit Forte.

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

teams shit.

 

[Bladesway]

Lots talked about formation, tactics and how/why its not working.

DW I assume played the way he did (a team within itself defensive and not very inspiring) because in the main its shit. The back 4 are solid and I am guessing he hoped that would get us up. It may have had McCabe not gone and shat himself a few games back.

We go and replace him with Mr Passion and what happens, very quickly the wheels fall off and we get the shortest ever new manager syndrome. Why is that? Well it has little to do with formation etc and more to do with replacing decentish players with shit ones.

People talk about using the kids and how Wilson never did. I know we are desperately trying to unearth the next Walker or Naughton etc but they will play 15 games and get sold. Also, I don't think this crop of kids is actually all that special. Otherwise wouldn't any manager drop them in?

 

[Brisca Blade]

As always a good post from bergs. Think this is the way forward as far as formation goes its just we don't have the personal to fit it. We can all see the lack of mobility in midfield so playing Robson out wide just multiples that problem. Overlapping fullback's and wingers are what we need as Porter will win his fair share of headers and as stated before a player like Miller who can read the knock ons should always be a good combination

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

We won't be facing world beaters in the play offs, and I think it would be worth sticking with that attacking line up against Preston to see if we could find some rhythm and create more chances. If it failed miserably, we might as well go defensive again and try to nick a promotion that way.

Haven't faced any all season hence why I think this season is marked down as FAIL.

 

[Kempy]

We won't be facing world beaters in the play offs, and I think it would be worth sticking with that attacking line up against Preston to see if we could find some rhythm and create more chances. If it failed miserably, we might as well go defensive again and try to nick a promotion that way.

Good post Bergen, although I think it is quite clear what we are missing. Pace in the middle of the park, looking through the core midfield and centre backs and the problems we face against any team who has a pacey midfield player who likes to get forward its plain to see. It simply rips us apart, if they also have a pacey striker then we get stretched and cannot deal with them. This on a big pitch for example say Wembley will be the end of us as even on the smaller pitches we get hit on the brake far too quickly for our slow team to react. The fullbacks simply aren't experienced/good enough to counter this and tuck in as well as playing their own roles.

The lack of a good delivery from open play is something else we suffer from. Everyone knows porter is no goal machine.... neither are most of the shit strikers in what is a very poor league. The difference is the balls put on a plate for them. Take Cotteril at Donny for example, the reason they have done so well this year is due to the delivery from him, you can't tell me Billy Paynter or Ian Hume are better strikers then our lot?

Just another quick little point on the Crewe game, was Forte actually playing upfront for the second half or more on the right hand side? I do not rate Forte at all, however played upfront in his favoured position he has the ability to stretch teams. He is quite simply too thick to play on the right hand side and looks like a headless chicken. Stick him upfront, with someone like Kitson telling him where to go and he will produce. He is yet to click with porter and where to run to pick off the nock ons.

Too many things need changing including what is probably a big dent in confidence to get up this year via the play-offs, this coupled with the fact we are Sheffield United most likely mean we will get nowhere near and bottle it. (This my anti prayer to the football gods)