Pulled out the dvd from the triple assault season last night and watched it. Was great looking back at the tactics we were playing there and what were doing now.
We seemed to play a 4-5-1 tactic alot away from home which worked well with monty and mcall getting the tackles in and letting brown push forward with tonge and Ndlovu getting forward down the wing and putting great balls into the chief. At home we favoured the 4-4-2 tactic alot with monty usually out or mcall depending on fitness i presume, and asaba up front playing off allison.
I tried to look at the players we had then, and compare them to the squad we have now.
We had Paddy in goal, same as now, but most probably he has got better with age. One of the best shot stoppers in the bis and shouts alot, which is good for the defenders.
Jags at right back often came and supported the midfield. Geary somewhat does this, but id say jags would be better out of the 2 there. No real detriment as geary is very capable.
The centre half's we had were murphy and page. not the fastest 2 but worked well together. Id say kilgallon is better than both murphy and page, he has pace and good in the air too. Morgan is good in the air but abit slow, id pick murphy if i could to partner kilgallon at the back if i could.
There were various left backs shown on the dvd, jon harley and wayne quinn to name 2. Personally i think naysmith is better than both of them at the back end of last season since blackwell took over. Quinn had a good corner and harley got forward abit, but a defender's main job it to defend, and naysmith does this well for me.
Tonge was the left midfield. What a player he was. i lost count of the times tonge had 3 men round him, beat all 3 and smashed the ball into the top corner. he was even seen on several occasions jumping like a salmon and winning header. His passes and crossing was amazing and how he beat his man and ran to the box and won penalty's. He isn't this player any more and its a big shame. He would be one of the best outside the prem if he was still like this. He gets knocked off the ball too easy now and doesn't want to beat men and get into the box. I would like to give him a copy of this dvd and tell him to sit down and study the young MT. Maybe it will show him he can do it and its that what we want back.
Monty, same as before never stops running and putting the boot in. He is shown, yes its on film for you doubters, playing though balls cross field balls and shooting outside the box. Balls went to the men the were destined for. I still like monty, he gets stuck in and that's what we need. His passing might be off, but he would inspire me on the pitch, chasing lost causes and not giving two hoots if it will hurt.
McCall was getting on in age, but his knowledge of the game was the key. he could tackle and play in other players, he didn't have the pace but could pick a pass. I hope this is what speed will be, the new McCall. just sit in front of the defence and allow our full backs to get forward as jags and harley did. Speed may want to be more involved but i think this role would suit him best.
Brown cannot be replaced. We can try but i doubt we will get anyone as good in a while. His fitness and willingness to score made him one of the best midfielders outside the prem. His free kicks were great and we looked like scoring from most of them, and his penalty's, he scored 6 out of 7 pens that season i think. I fell hendrie could be the player we need to fill browns boots. He wont be as good, but could be the closest thing we have. If he calms his attitude he can be a great player. We need him to put the foot on the ball, look up and maybe feed a player in or run at the opposition. He has a decent strike on him and the willingness to score, so maybe.... just maybe he may fit the role.
Ndlovu was the pace down the wing, beating players, getting to the byline and putting killer balls in. Cotterill may not have the pace of nuddy but he can put in a killer ball into the danger zone, and hes not frightened to run at the full back either. He's young and always room for improvement.
The chief was the big man, knocking the defence about and his headers were a real asset for the balls nuddy swung in. He took numerous battering's going for the ball but it didn't stop him going for another. Henderson for me is like the chief. Not got too much pace but will take a beating and go back for more. He will put himself about and is good in the air. Cotterills balls in to relish with be a key tactic for us.
Kabba had plenty of pace for the forward line. he would run at players, knock the ball past them and do them for pace and end up one on one with the keeper. Webber is probably the closest we have to him. Webber may not have the pace of kabba, but he is good at beating defenders and running at them and getting into the box. I would say he is the fastest striker we have, but with his dribbling skills he may be better beating them like that, than knocking it past them and running as past as possible.
Pesh was a legend to most of the crowd. The super sub. Not too much pace but could get in positions to apply the finish. Sharp is this player. Doesn't have the pace, and often offside, but could come on as a sub and play off the knock downs from BT/Relish.
Asaba usually played with allison up front for most of the season untill injury. Linked up well and had a good finish on him. BT is alot better than asaba, and could also play solo in the chiefs role this season. Whichever BT will get us goals and can play with pretty much anyone. His free kicks and penalty's are most probably better than browns of the 02/03 season.
The other striker was windass. Brought in for the injured asaba. Not too much pace but shoved his weight around well and had a good strike on him. worked well with the team and although not really having sill to beat men, still got in goal scoring positions. We now have stead. He has the pace and skill windass hasn't but, although he is alot taller, he gets knocked around too easy.
With watching this and looking at the squad we have now to then, i feel we are better off now. The midfield probably wont be as good, but the strike force is better. Hopefully we can do as good as then this season but go all the way and win the league. We have the squad to do it, all we need is the support and belief. With both of these, we beat leeds twice. we beat Liverpool after being behind and several other teams too.
Give the lads the support and backing they need, and we shall see what great things we can achieve.
We seemed to play a 4-5-1 tactic alot away from home which worked well with monty and mcall getting the tackles in and letting brown push forward with tonge and Ndlovu getting forward down the wing and putting great balls into the chief. At home we favoured the 4-4-2 tactic alot with monty usually out or mcall depending on fitness i presume, and asaba up front playing off allison.
I tried to look at the players we had then, and compare them to the squad we have now.
We had Paddy in goal, same as now, but most probably he has got better with age. One of the best shot stoppers in the bis and shouts alot, which is good for the defenders.
Jags at right back often came and supported the midfield. Geary somewhat does this, but id say jags would be better out of the 2 there. No real detriment as geary is very capable.
The centre half's we had were murphy and page. not the fastest 2 but worked well together. Id say kilgallon is better than both murphy and page, he has pace and good in the air too. Morgan is good in the air but abit slow, id pick murphy if i could to partner kilgallon at the back if i could.
There were various left backs shown on the dvd, jon harley and wayne quinn to name 2. Personally i think naysmith is better than both of them at the back end of last season since blackwell took over. Quinn had a good corner and harley got forward abit, but a defender's main job it to defend, and naysmith does this well for me.
Tonge was the left midfield. What a player he was. i lost count of the times tonge had 3 men round him, beat all 3 and smashed the ball into the top corner. he was even seen on several occasions jumping like a salmon and winning header. His passes and crossing was amazing and how he beat his man and ran to the box and won penalty's. He isn't this player any more and its a big shame. He would be one of the best outside the prem if he was still like this. He gets knocked off the ball too easy now and doesn't want to beat men and get into the box. I would like to give him a copy of this dvd and tell him to sit down and study the young MT. Maybe it will show him he can do it and its that what we want back.
Monty, same as before never stops running and putting the boot in. He is shown, yes its on film for you doubters, playing though balls cross field balls and shooting outside the box. Balls went to the men the were destined for. I still like monty, he gets stuck in and that's what we need. His passing might be off, but he would inspire me on the pitch, chasing lost causes and not giving two hoots if it will hurt.
McCall was getting on in age, but his knowledge of the game was the key. he could tackle and play in other players, he didn't have the pace but could pick a pass. I hope this is what speed will be, the new McCall. just sit in front of the defence and allow our full backs to get forward as jags and harley did. Speed may want to be more involved but i think this role would suit him best.
Brown cannot be replaced. We can try but i doubt we will get anyone as good in a while. His fitness and willingness to score made him one of the best midfielders outside the prem. His free kicks were great and we looked like scoring from most of them, and his penalty's, he scored 6 out of 7 pens that season i think. I fell hendrie could be the player we need to fill browns boots. He wont be as good, but could be the closest thing we have. If he calms his attitude he can be a great player. We need him to put the foot on the ball, look up and maybe feed a player in or run at the opposition. He has a decent strike on him and the willingness to score, so maybe.... just maybe he may fit the role.
Ndlovu was the pace down the wing, beating players, getting to the byline and putting killer balls in. Cotterill may not have the pace of nuddy but he can put in a killer ball into the danger zone, and hes not frightened to run at the full back either. He's young and always room for improvement.
The chief was the big man, knocking the defence about and his headers were a real asset for the balls nuddy swung in. He took numerous battering's going for the ball but it didn't stop him going for another. Henderson for me is like the chief. Not got too much pace but will take a beating and go back for more. He will put himself about and is good in the air. Cotterills balls in to relish with be a key tactic for us.
Kabba had plenty of pace for the forward line. he would run at players, knock the ball past them and do them for pace and end up one on one with the keeper. Webber is probably the closest we have to him. Webber may not have the pace of kabba, but he is good at beating defenders and running at them and getting into the box. I would say he is the fastest striker we have, but with his dribbling skills he may be better beating them like that, than knocking it past them and running as past as possible.
Pesh was a legend to most of the crowd. The super sub. Not too much pace but could get in positions to apply the finish. Sharp is this player. Doesn't have the pace, and often offside, but could come on as a sub and play off the knock downs from BT/Relish.
Asaba usually played with allison up front for most of the season untill injury. Linked up well and had a good finish on him. BT is alot better than asaba, and could also play solo in the chiefs role this season. Whichever BT will get us goals and can play with pretty much anyone. His free kicks and penalty's are most probably better than browns of the 02/03 season.
The other striker was windass. Brought in for the injured asaba. Not too much pace but shoved his weight around well and had a good strike on him. worked well with the team and although not really having sill to beat men, still got in goal scoring positions. We now have stead. He has the pace and skill windass hasn't but, although he is alot taller, he gets knocked around too easy.
With watching this and looking at the squad we have now to then, i feel we are better off now. The midfield probably wont be as good, but the strike force is better. Hopefully we can do as good as then this season but go all the way and win the league. We have the squad to do it, all we need is the support and belief. With both of these, we beat leeds twice. we beat Liverpool after being behind and several other teams too.
Give the lads the support and backing they need, and we shall see what great things we can achieve.
