Smiler
Striker
He barely played at the start of the season when we were flying, 2 and a bit games I think he managed then he was injured
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Style of Play
- Thread starter NorthumberlandMackem
- Start date
He barely played at the start of the season when we were flying, 2 and a bit games I think he managed then he was injured
chriswallace85
Striker
I just remember Clarke being outstanding, and it was one game.
Botchie
Striker
Boro at home showed it was a myth. Boro were passing the ball around at the back just a few minutes into the game expecting us to come flooding forward. We sat in shape in our own half while they did it.
DonaldDownTheWing
Striker
It worked back then because we were absolutely solid and the back and never conceded goals.
We’ve conceded 2 in 3 games in a row which I reckon is our worst defensive run of the season.
Roadhouse
Winger
We've very rarely used a high press. The tactic is to be very organised and wait for the ball to get into midfield then pounce. That didn't really materialise in the first half yesterday then when we went behind we had no option but to engage higher up the pitch.
RLB has explained this - he learned that the squad players weren’t good enough and he couldn’t play the same 11-12 players with the high press for three games a week - so he changed the setup.
Botchie
Striker
Yesterday we were far too one dimensional. Having Jobe and Mundle in the side completely changes us as they are the ones that get us up that end of the pitch and keep us there.
Mace
Midfield
Exactly. The quick passing from the back stopped. Too much fannying on between the keeper and back four.
Far Tibetan Mountain
Striker
We still do it, but I think irs pretty difficult to keep that intensity up for 46 games, which is why we start with I density then sit back for a bit and then try again.
Mace
Midfield
Mundle makes a massive difference. A genuine ball carrier with pace and trickery who is an outlet. Roberts carries the ball but is so pedestrian in his movement.
Botchie
Striker
Roberts is very predictable. You just know any attack that he's involved in will pretty much end up breaking down and giving the opposition possession.
Mace
Midfield
The electricity has gone from his game. Just so slow.
Weremuthe
Striker
We need a propa centre-forward our two 'strikers' have scored 14 between them (hopefully Jayden Danns will be fit soon) and a settled tighter defence.
Southern Monkey
Central Defender
The style of play is a bit frustrating at times we were losing yesterday yet happy for Watford to have the ball.
But what’s cost us is not being clinical at key moments. Even yesterday a clinical team takes one of those 2 chances at the end and takes the extra 2 points. Millwall, Blackburn, Stoke, Burnley, Plymouth, Watford, the list is too long to sustain a top 2 push.
But what’s cost us is not being clinical at key moments. Even yesterday a clinical team takes one of those 2 chances at the end and takes the extra 2 points. Millwall, Blackburn, Stoke, Burnley, Plymouth, Watford, the list is too long to sustain a top 2 push.
sir rowell cummins
Striker
We lost the left side in November
Flea Market Trader
Striker
I would say nothing has changed apart from putting Samed in for the 2 homes games where we have dropped points in very winnable gwmes. I would also add that fans frustrations are mostly down to the fact it that we aren’t playing well or using a system that doesn’t suit, but rather we have fluffed our lines each time we have had a chance to lose the gap. Too many games where we have had chances to win it such asst Sheff u and Burnley and at home dropped points that we shouldn’t have which has been down to not taking our chances.
Grumpy Old Man
Striker
And it baffled them because they didn't know what to do. We weren't pressing, but we were closing down all their forward padding lines.
Comeback_Kenwyne
Striker
The high press for me is a red herring. I think RLB clocked that it would burn the squad out playing at that initially furious tempo. And it would have. I suspect he was actually using games as high intensity conditioning early on. Two birds, one stone.
It would be nice to see us get it out the bag more often. But my main problem with RLB is that it seems he is naturally conservative when 1-0 up. His first thought is to drop off and lower the block. I assume he thinks it’s because we are great at counter attack. But what happens more often than not is that we let a side we have reeling back into the game.
Yesterday was the perfect example. But it’s been happening all year if we’re honest. Home, away, high press, low press, it doesn’t matter. It’s his style of game management.
Worrying, because it’s not how you get out this league automatically. Leeds don’t do it. You have to keep your foot on a teams throat in English football.
Definitely Maybe
Striker
The high-press is a myth. We did it once against Burnley early in the season.
Cardiff - low-block
Sheff Wed - mid-block - we allowed them to play it into midfield then pounced when they approached the halfway line
Burnley - high press
Portsmouth - mid-block
Plymouth - mid-block first half then bit all over the place second half
Boro - low-block
We couldn't even get out our own half in the first half against Watford following that, never mind press high. We did set traps and press on triggers during that run though which has dropped off.
I think the Plymouth and Watford games scarred RLB for starters, we were far too open and conceded after we went hunting for late winners. We were much more cautious and controlled against Hull in the next game after Watford and from then onwards. Think we also started to see signs of fatigue around November as he'd essentially ran the same 13-14 players into the ground and rarely made substitutions, plus injuries to Mundle and Watson. We've played without a left winger for over a 3rd of the season now.
Once Mundle returns in the next few games we'll have more or less a full squad available bar Alese and Huggins, who I'd write off anyway. That has to be the trigger for us to be a bit more aggressive again and stop worrying about controlling games and grinding out 1-0s. But we'll see.
Cardiff - low-block
Sheff Wed - mid-block - we allowed them to play it into midfield then pounced when they approached the halfway line
Burnley - high press
Portsmouth - mid-block
Plymouth - mid-block first half then bit all over the place second half
Boro - low-block
We couldn't even get out our own half in the first half against Watford following that, never mind press high. We did set traps and press on triggers during that run though which has dropped off.
I think the Plymouth and Watford games scarred RLB for starters, we were far too open and conceded after we went hunting for late winners. We were much more cautious and controlled against Hull in the next game after Watford and from then onwards. Think we also started to see signs of fatigue around November as he'd essentially ran the same 13-14 players into the ground and rarely made substitutions, plus injuries to Mundle and Watson. We've played without a left winger for over a 3rd of the season now.
Once Mundle returns in the next few games we'll have more or less a full squad available bar Alese and Huggins, who I'd write off anyway. That has to be the trigger for us to be a bit more aggressive again and stop worrying about controlling games and grinding out 1-0s. But we'll see.
