Slavi*a Jokanovi* - Manager

Not like the good old days...

 

Looks like SJ has a fairly positive attitude judging on team selection today. Made adjustments when needed ie when JCP was brought on. Early days but very encouraged.

 

Agreed, hope he stays in charge for at least the Forest game.

 

I'd have a new man on standbye in case we're not ahead at half time.

 

Dyers already got a mate lined up if he can't get in the team.

 

Played Doyley at right back. It's a yes from me.

 

Doyley is entitled to one game under each coach. It's in the contract. Joka just wanted to get it out of the way.

 

Just watched the interview with him on hornets player. He looks a scarey so and so with a hint of Martin Freeman about him! He actually looks the part and from those that were there yesterday seemed to be tactically spot on.

 

What I like about him is he recognised to have a potent striker like Vydra, who is not just a box player and will come deep, is not to leave him isolated. Playing a 4-3-3 away from home was gutsy and with Fessi providing close support, Wednesday just couldn't cope with their movement. Ighalo although not blessed with the greatest of first touches, is also mobile - the 3 of them had Wednesday chasing shadows at times.

You had Abdi, Toszer and Munari hitting Fessi and Vydra in space quickly when the time was right and then slowing it down and keeping possession to break up any head of steam Wednesday were building. This says to me that Joka has given them free reign to express themselves and play their natural game and use their own intelligence to launch attacks. The only criticism I had yesterday was decision making in the final third otherwise it could have been 6 easily.

I wasn't Sannino's biggest fan, Garcia I thought could have been good. I didn't like McKinlay after the Brentford and Brighton games, I like a manager/head coach who makes statements that his team is better, so it's up to the opposition to stop us.

First impressions are very good and we'll have a few bumps along the way, but I think he is someone the fans can get behind because he goes for it with controlled aggression.

First time since Zola that I am excited about the team.

 

I agree we we often made the wrong decision at the death, but I put this down to tactical unfamiliarity. I think that will improve as we play the system more (assuming we do).

I have to believe this is the formation we'll be using as our primary in the future, though. I don't think it's a coincidence that the formation played yesterday allows for our most dangerous players to all be on the pitch at once.

 

Is the Joker the first manager ever to start Doyley in his first match?

 

No. Sannino, Zola and Dyche all did. And probably some others.

 

Lewington, Boothroyd, Mackay, Dyche, Zola and Sannino all did!

Ironically, I was just looking up Lewington's first game and look who is mentioned in the final paragraph! http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2181105.stm

 

Difficult to tell how much woeful Wednesday made it easy for us, but we certainly looked solid. 4-3-3 makes it possible to play our three best midfielders and three best forwards, with the option of moving FF back for 4-4-2, but it does mean we don't have much width (although we do have the option of bringing on wide players if needed).

Bassong gives us the dominance in the air that we haven't had since Fitz Hall left, though he does suffer from lapses in concentration that One-Size didn't, and also takes Keith Dublin-style risks in trying to beat people in his own penalty area. Ideally he would have somebody whose concentration doesn't waver alongside him: if he was right-sided that would be Lloyd, but as he's left-sided I'd prefer Hoban as the other centre-back. Which would mean leaving out Angella, our most skilful and elegant defender, and that won't happen.

Cue outrage...

 

Or Cathcart, on the basis of his few games ofr us. Forget about him.