Spot on tactics vs Bristol City

[Bergen Blade]

When I saw the team selection yesterday I immediately thought we'd match their 3-5-2 formation. Having had a closer look at it I thought it may also be the same 4-4-1-1 which we played in mid week.

Having seen the match on BladesPlayer, the formation was like a diamond, but with the forwards very wide.

Turner
Brayford Kennedy McEveley Harris
Coutts
Basham - - - Doyle
Baxter
Done - - - - - - - - - - - Murphy​

Bristol City:

- - - M.Smith
Emmanuel-Thomas - - -
Bryan - - Freeman K.Smith Elliott - - Little
Williams Flint Ayling
Fielding
​

The tweak in having our "strikers" so wide meant that we had nobody in the middle, where Bristol City had three centre halves with nobody to pick up. Extraordinarily, this meant that we had a numerical advantage in every area apart from their box, which enabled us to press high up the pitch and dominate the game. City didn't really know who should be picking up our wide strikers, their wing backs, or their lateral centre halves.

I think this confusion meant they never really got their wing backs going offensively either. They've been excellent all season, but their goal apart they were hardly in the game at all. When they got on the ball, Brayford and Harris were usually able to stop them, with Kennedy and McEveley sweeping up whatever came in. Emmanuel-Thomas and Freeman got crowded out, and Matt Smith became rather isolated.

Our midfielders (Basham, Coutts, Doyle) worked exceptionally hard. Interestingly Coutts played furthest back, with Doyle and Basham doing well as ball winners. Our first and last goals were breaks after Basham won tackles in midfield. We didn't create a lot first half, but we played well and clearly managed to upset their rhythm. In the second half Done and Murphy were starting to look more dangerous and when we got our breaks we showed great determination to make the most of them, as we made wholehearted runs into the box. We were fluent, but everybody seemed to know their roles and they always looked to help each other out.

In short this was a phenomenal tactical triumph for Nigel Clough. He's made mistakes this season, but when a manager comes up with such a intricate plan in such a difficult fixture and ends up winning 3-1 he deserves high praise.

 

[Gavlar]

When I saw the team selection yesterday I immediately thought we'd match their 3-5-2 formation. Having had a closer look at it I thought it may also be the same 4-4-1-1 which we played in mid week.

Having seen the match on BladesPlayer, the formation was like a diamond, but with the forwards very wide.

Turner
Brayford Kennedy McEveley Harris
Coutts
Basham - - - Doyle
Baxter
Done - - - - - - - - - - - Murphy​

Bristol City:

- - - M.Smith
Emmanuel-Thomas - - -
Bryan - - Freeman K.Smith Elliott - - Little
Williams Flint Ayling
Fielding
​

The tweak in having our "strikers" so wide meant that we had nobody in the middle, where Bristol City had three centre halves with nobody to pick up. Extraordinarily, this meant that we had a numerical advantage in every area apart from their box, which enabled us to press high up the pitch and dominate the game. City didn't really know who should be picking up our wide strikers, their wing backs, or their lateral centre halves.

I think this confusion meant they never really got their wing backs going offensively either. They've been excellent all season, but their goal apart they were hardly in the game at all. When they got on the ball, Brayford and Harris were usually able to stop them, with Kennedy and McEveley sweeping up whatever came in. Emmanuel-Thomas and Freeman got crowded out, and Matt Smith became rather isolated.

Our midfielders (Basham, Coutts, Doyle) worked exceptionally hard. Interestingly Coutts played furthest back, with Doyle and Basham doing well as ball winners. Our first and last goals were breaks after Basham won tackles in midfield. We didn't create a lot first half, but we played well and clearly managed to upset their rhythm. In the second half Done and Murphy were starting to look more dangerous and when we got our breaks we showed great determination to make the most of them, as we made wholehearted runs into the box. We were fluent, but everybody seemed to know their roles and they always looked to help each other out.

In short this was a phenomenal tactical triumph for Nigel Clough. He's made mistakes this season, but when a manager comes up with such a intricate plan in such a difficult fixture and ends up winning 3-1 he deserves high praise.

Helpful analysis as always Bergs.

I was concerned without JCR we would struggle down the right but with the beard and Done out there we were ace, tho Brayford didn't get back in time for their goal.

 

[pommpey]

Murphy was so instrumental in those goals. Christ knows what we are gonna do if we don't go up and he wants out.

Great to see that run my Done from out in the right midfield into the box to cause nuisance for the first goal. That is striker stuff for me. He is good.

pommpey

 

[Rodley]

great analysis as always.

 

[Bill the Butcher]

We would have drawn (frustratingly) that game a few months ago, without players like Done, like the Oldham game and Notts county. Great signing. 10/10

 

[wizadry]

Good post Bergs. Thought Bashams' dummie for the first goal was great awareness and he showed he does have some good attributes to play the midfield role, he looked a key player yesterday.

 

[boo radley]

Classy Murphy.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

When I saw the team selection yesterday I immediately thought we'd match their 3-5-2 formation. Having had a closer look at it I thought it may also be the same 4-4-1-1 which we played in mid week.

Having seen the match on BladesPlayer, the formation was like a diamond, but with the forwards very wide.

Turner
Brayford Kennedy McEveley Harris
Coutts
Basham - - - Doyle
Baxter
Done - - - - - - - - - - - Murphy​

Bristol City:

- - - M.Smith
Emmanuel-Thomas - - -
Bryan - - Freeman K.Smith Elliott - - Little
Williams Flint Ayling
Fielding
​

The tweak in having our "strikers" so wide meant that we had nobody in the middle, where Bristol City had three centre halves with nobody to pick up. Extraordinarily, this meant that we had a numerical advantage in every area apart from their box, which enabled us to press high up the pitch and dominate the game. City didn't really know who should be picking up our wide strikers, their wing backs, or their lateral centre halves.

I think this confusion meant they never really got their wing backs going offensively either. They've been excellent all season, but their goal apart they were hardly in the game at all. When they got on the ball, Brayford and Harris were usually able to stop them, with Kennedy and McEveley sweeping up whatever came in. Emmanuel-Thomas and Freeman got crowded out, and Matt Smith became rather isolated.

Our midfielders (Basham, Coutts, Doyle) worked exceptionally hard. Interestingly Coutts played furthest back, with Doyle and Basham doing well as ball winners. Our first and last goals were breaks after Basham won tackles in midfield. We didn't create a lot first half, but we played well and clearly managed to upset their rhythm. In the second half Done and Murphy were starting to look more dangerous and when we got our breaks we showed great determination to make the most of them, as we made wholehearted runs into the box. We were fluent, but everybody seemed to know their roles and they always looked to help each other out.

In short this was a phenomenal tactical triumph for Nigel Clough. He's made mistakes this season, but when a manager comes up with such a intricate plan in such a difficult fixture and ends up winning 3-1 he deserves high praise.

Bergen , very spot on . The tactics yes , but the players have to carry them out . It does seem they have taken on board the instructions , and the biggest positive this result will give them , over and above any cup win . - belief in there own ability.

UTB

 

[Trickymicky]

So glad our Nige got it right. It saves him from being tarred, feathered and driven outta town.......this week anyway

 

[Foxy]

I'd suggest the way we started the game, that Brayford and Harris were more wing backs too, sitting 's little further forward than the usual defensive line.

 

[Ben_1982]

Struggle without JCR... He's an awful player . Impact sub at best

 

[Lane Ender]

That's what happens when you play positive Bristol wasn't expecting that.

Great to see the amount of players getting in the box when we scored.
There centre backs didn't no who to pick up when we went forward.
Saturday was a big step forward

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

I tend to see the game as 22 individuals chasing round after a bag of wind. This sort of thing is a real eye-opener.

make the most of them, as we made wholehearted runs into the box.

Four players in the box for the first goal? From what I recall this season often it's been just one, McNulty.

We were fluent, but everybody seemed to know their roles and they always looked to help each other out.

To play like this you need to have players who understand the game very well and don't have ego getting in the way.

I've never bought into the 'footballers are stupid' crap and, at the moment, judging from some of the brief interviews on SheffieldUTube and the occasional Tweet, most of our players, and staff, seem to have a good understanding of their roles on and off the pitch.

Of course if they don't win against Notts County then I reserve the right point out they are all knuckle-dragging cavemen.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

So glad our Nige got it right. It saves him from being tarred, feathered and driven outta town.......this week anyway

This week?

He's got till Tuesday night.

 

[Davie Blade]

As I eluded to in my mini report of the game, in another thread; Clough had in mind to play Higdon,and how the hell he would have fitted into that side and system.

We cant have been training to like we did, as Higdon was only ruled out lateish on.

The big difference to my mind was Brayford and Harris playing further forward, as Foxy said. We did get caught out for their goal when JB lost the ball and we had no defence cover on the wing. We needed to cover their break down the wing much earlier, and TK was far too late coming across.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

As I eluded to in my mini report of the game, in another thread; Clough had in mind to play Higdon,and how the hell he would have fitted into that side and system.

We cant have been training to like we did, as Higdon was only ruled out lateish on.

The big difference to my mind was Brayford and Harris playing further forward, as Foxy said. We did get caught out for their goal when JB lost the ball and we had no defence cover on the wing. We needed to cover their break down the wing much earlier, and TK was far too late coming across.

Are you basing that totally on the article in The Star saying "Higdon COULD make his return to the side against Bristol City?":-

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheff-utd/higdon-could-return-at-city-1-7102479

Higdon hasn't been Clough's first choice striker for a long time and even if fit he would probably have only been on the bench.
James Shield has to come up with an article every day. Too much shouldn't be read into what he fills the space with on a slow news day.

 

[Davie Blade]

Are you basing that totally on the article in The Star saying "Higdon COULD make his return to the side against Bristol City?":-

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheff-utd/higdon-could-return-at-city-1-7102479

Higdon hasn't been Clough's first choice striker for a long time and even if fit he would probably have only been on the bench.
James Shield has to come up with an article every day. Too much shouldn't be read into what he fills the space with on a slow news day.

Sorry that wasn't the article, there were two other articles indicating Clough saying Higdon would be back.
Indeed I read one of Higdon not being fit in the pub just before the game, said the same to some blades there.
These get dropped from the Star app as it's old news now .

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Sorry that wasn't the article, there were two other articles indicating Clough saying Higdon would be back.
Indeed I read one of Higdon not being fit in the pub just before the game, said the same to some blades there.
These get dropped from the Star app as it's old news now .

It still seems unlikely that Clough would reveal his plans for the starting XI to journalists days before the game.
More likely that he said Higdon could return to the squad and it was exaggerated or he was spreading misinformation to keep Bristol City guessing.

 

[Davie Blade]

It still seems unlikely that Clough would reveal his plans for the starting XI to journalists days before the game.
More likely that he said Higdon could return to the squad and it was exaggerated or he was spreading misinformation to keep Bristol City guessing.

Think we are spinning into the realms of fantasy island now.

Did you hear Steve Cotterill's post match interview?
"that would make no difference whatever their formation was, that wasn't why the game was won or lost today"

 

[SwindonBladeJnr]

Think we are spinning into the realms of fantasy island now.

Did you hear Steve Cotterill's post match interview?
"that would make no difference whatever their formation was, that wasn't why the game was won or lost today"

What makes Steve Cotterill's opinion sacred?