I hope everyone isn't going to get carried away with this revelation of playing real 'football'. I'm all for getting rid of the aimless lumping and hoofing, but that doesn't mean to say that our game can't be direct, athletic and powerful. It is delusional to think that we going to play 'football' and once promoted advance up the Premier League with our resources. What we need is to develop better football habits, be versatile enough to play keep ball against weaker opponents and not give the thing away pointlessly. Against better ones we need to be about power and pressure - I hope Aidy will go back to his previous preference for speed in every area of the pitch, for example. So yes we could play a lot better, attack more creatively and be prettier to watch. Ultimately this could protect us from being knackered out by each January and make it less easy for teams to adapt to our style... ....but just remember those teams whose fans are always demanding 'football', Spurs for example, rank among the most tedious furkers in creation. I'd rather be a Hornet anyday
Good post Moose, I was only thinking the same thing last night when I got bored counting sheep. We still need to play to our strengths (Bromby's throw, Hendo's physicality) and it's pointless playing pretty little Arsenalesque triangles to amuse the fans when you are 4-0 down. 4 me the style of the 2 playoffs was pretty close to what I'd like to see. Ball retention is the key as is making use of a creative midfield. We have the basis of a squad that can perform to the required level with my only doubts surrounding the support staff.
Agree If we had the players ot play it why didn't we ? Performances like that week in week out, opening teams up and creating chances we will win games A bit of tightening up at the back and a finisher and it may not be relegation form
If we are going to start playing some decent stuff then Henderson should be nowhere near the team, we'll need someone up top who actually has a decent first touch and knows which colour his team are playing in.
I would like us to mix it up. passing and then long ball/direct when need be. It's going to upset all the Doyley fans as it must mean he is off ?
As long as the replacement is actually worth the money and makes an impression unlike a number of recent signings (OK the 3 lads brought in January have done ok) then that is fine about Doyley. But can we trust Aidy to bring in better players or just more youngsters or expensive flops?
It was a dream >>>> we beat Scunnie at the Vic then ?? Just an example of a player we currently have and playing to his strengths. Agree if we get a decent bid then Hendo (and his hairdresser for that matter) should be nowhere near Watford.
Why ? Even if we were to play a generally passing game, having a tall striker capable of winning the ball in the box and laying it off or scoring seems like a good idea to me. Besides, one of our issues this season has been the monodimensionality of our playing style... once teams 'found us out' they could reliably stifle us and we had no practical plan B. We need to be able to play possession football, with ball-winning assertiveness and accurate passing, but we also need to be able to provide cross-field passes to our wingers and then dangerous crosses into the box. Ideally, we need to be able to vary our style of play during a game so that we can use what works.
Agree 100% Moose. I hope Aidy has seen the light but this could be yet another one of his Shakespearian monologues and could be getting carried away. Another thing that riles me slightly, is how we figured out 'our style' of play wasn't particularly working months and months ago... why did it take so long for AB to notice? Its almost like the last person realising a joke long after someone had said it. Better late than never i guess
I'm pretty sure he did notice but was caught between two stools, damned if he did, damned if he didn't. Staying with a type of football (if you can call it that) which had been successful in terms of results was the low risk option. I am sure that if we has suddenly started playing attractive football but missed out on the playoffs we would have all said "Why didn't he wait until we were promoted before changing the system ?"
It seems like a good idea to me too, shame we haven't got a tall striker capable of laying the ball off.
Its not about the style, its about the results. We used to have a squad that thrived on long balls from Foster's left boot: Spring, a very attacking, less combative midfielder who loved to go forwards regardless of what he left behind which is fine if you score enough goals, which he did. More than enough. Young, England standard winger who can fit in with pretty much any style. King, who has been shown to be far less effective at Wigan where he cannot rely on a quick Foster>Hendo>King (takes it round a defender and shoots) chance. Certianly he could have done it any other way in this division as was shown when Ellington turned up, but fact remains he loved the balls that came directly to him. Hendo, who is a long ball player. Foster>Hendo>King. Compare that with the replacements of Lee, Willo, Muff, Ellington and Priskin and suddenly the long ball game seems daft. If we had won every game this season playing long ball then nobody would have cared. Its just so obvious that we can't with the current squad it is painful.
Totally agree. Allardyce's Bolton weren't as direct as everyone makes out! Players like Campo, Okocha, Anelka, Diouf, Stelios & Nolan aren't going to just lump the ball whenever they recieve it! They use to keep the ball in midfield, but had the option of going long to Kevin Davies if needs be! They were very strong on set-pieces, Okocha has a very long throw and also puts in a good corner/free-kick! Bolton could play either way, and got into Europe doing so! Villa and Pompey are also two sides that MIX their styles of play up very well! Pompey are very big, powerful and athletic! Villa have the ability of Barry and Young on set-plays, and the aerial ability of Carew and Laursen! I don't expect/want us to play pretty tap-tap football which leads us nowhere! I just want to see us keep the ball better in midfield and play from the back more! You can be a successful side if you have TWO different styles in your make-up! We have one, but we need to establish the other, which is playing a bit more football! I have being saying it all bloody season!
