Valerien Ismael - Manager

Sounds like an artisan cider.

 

Definitions are as follows:

Park the bus: this style focuses on setting up to defend deep out of possession and using counter-attacks as the main means of generating chances.

Direct domination: a style of play characterised by high pressing out of possession and a similarly direct approach when in possession.

Bait the press: this style sees a low block defensively, while in possession some short passing occurs deep, but with the intention of encouraging the opponent to press and then attack with long balls either in behind or towards a target man

Wing overload: the emphasis in this style is on combination play in wide areas and a reliance on wing-play, crosses, and cutbacks to generate chances

Deep build-up: this style is built on lots of short passes and a high volume of passing in possession, while there is an emphasis on pressing high out of possession

Full control: another high pressing style, but one that combines high pass circulation numbers and the ability to pin opponents deep in their half

 

ie hoofball.

 

So that's what we've been doing for the last couple of seasons! Lots of sideways passing between the centre backs, then eventually get pressed and hoof it to no-one in particular. The masterplan revealed!

 

Apparently our managers have had the following playstyles with us:

Wilder: Full Control
Bilic: Deep Buildup
Edwards: Bait The Press
Hodgson: Park the Bus
Ranieri: Park the Bus
Xisco: Deep Buildup (Championship), Bait The Press (PL)
Ivic: Deep Buildup

 

Lol.

 

Interesting that the manager most similar to Ismael at Besiktas is Marco Silva - the only manager who left the club when the Pozzos wanted them to stay. Silva even pops up as one of the most comparable managers to Ismael when Silva was at Everton and Ismael was at LASK, perhaps suggesting their approaches have also evolved in a similar way to a degree.

The data also shows what was being mentioned in the other thread that Ismael used a quite different approach at Besiktas to the one he took in his earlier managerial spells. It doesn't seem completely obvious what he will do with us next season and maybe the club don't want to play senior friendlies in public to keep it under wraps until the season starts?

 

Not exactly - "direct domination" is probably most like hoofball, which Ismael used at Barnsley and to a lesser extent West Brom, but "bait the press" seems to be first try and draw the opponents towards you with short passing, thus creating space further up the pitch, before hitting it longer. "Beat the press" is likely more just hit it long straight away immediately regardless of where the opponents are.

 

Could also be down to sample sizes, 8 games in one season and 11 in the other isn't the biggest. Might also come down to team strength, Besiktas are likely to be naturally more dominant than most other teams in the league due to the quality of players they have which might distort things slightly.

 

Sure, though weren't LASK also one of the stronger teams in the Austrian Bundesliga as well? West Brom also had a relatively strong team, but not quite to the same extent.

He did also go with a different formation at Besiktas to his other clubs, which would surely be more down to his personal choice rather than how strong a team they were.

 

Shame that "no control" isn't an option

 

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/...t_campaign_type=owned&at_campaign=Social_Flow

Good interview

 

Didn't think his quotes really reflected that line.

 

Normal comment anyway isn’t it? As no new manager will say ‘omg the squad I’ve inherited is terrible and all need replacing” (that’s our job on here lol)

The trick is to keep the current players happy and feeling wanted while of course Manga and co work hard to find better.

I agree with @Markoa$...it’s a good interview..he’s saying all the right things so far and despite all my reservations I’m sure we will see a team this season playing more for the badge and showing an intensity and will-to-win. I’m hopeful that certain players of whom we have lowish expectations based on last season will improve a lot under him and maybe surprise us all.

 

Well seeing a committed team will be a massive upgrade.
I'm not overly impressed with the word hoofball either. We need to be able to mix play and going long isn't a problem for me. If that's the only option then it's doomed to failure.

 

10 games.
The club want 20 points after 10 games, so failure to reach this target will see Ismael gone.

 

That's generous from our board.

 

Ismael will not get the 20 points. Our squad is super weak.
I think will be at 10 points or less after 10 games and the taxi will be waiting the ground for Ismael.

 

fewer

 

Ah! So @Keighley has an apprentice now.

 

I must have missed that press release

 

Stick or twist?

I'm happy to stick; I can't see we'd progress with twist. If we find ourselves in a potential relegation scrap with 10 games left, then maybe twist...

 

Obviously obviously obviously keep him and back him unless we're spiralling and 10 points deep in the relegation zone. He's doing and saying all the right things. We have a clear style of play, player power is at an all time low, and we actually look like we give a **** on the pitch.

Even if it means a disgraceful, disgusting mid table finish for the mighty Watford, keep him for the foreseeable.

 

I appreciate that any suggestion of changing manager is made in the context of our trigger-happy owner and appalling recent managerial record, but it would be absolute madness to be even considering that. Everything I have seen from VI has greatly impressed me and I would be so disappointed if we self-sabotaged so spectacularly after a couple of disappointing results.

 

He showed some balls benching Louza even though it made our midfield look utter droppings. That's either going to impress Pozzo or Louza will stir things up within the squad and they'll have Ismael gone by Oktoberfest.

 

Two words. Par dew.

 

He’s been very impressive so far, and if there was any justice our results would soon start to improve, although our terrible away record since January suggests things may get worse before they get better.

What I find interesting is not only are we adapting a new style of play but it seems so is Ismael. While my initial reaction to his appointment was way over the top and I feel silly about that, it was based on his long-ball reputation. However, he has really changed from what we saw at Barnsley and Brom. I would suggest he’s learning on the job along with our players, and it’s interesting to observe.

Change can often be a painful process and these past few weeks haven’t been easy. But what seems to be emerging is a new style of play, a more collective unit and a better sense of discipline at the club. It still feels as if he’s working with his hands somewhat tied behind his back as our summer recruitment so far hasn’t been all we hoped, and the next three days will be vital. It could be another false dawn of which we’ve endured many these past few years, but I’d like to think these painful changes are building the foundations of something a little stronger and that in a few months we can all look back at the summer of 2023 and realise it was necessary. Fingers crossed!

 

Stick for sure. Squad has been gutted so what can the gaffer do. Performances have been relatively enjoyable also.

League position is also par for the squad.

 

Lots of good things about our playing style, but I’m concerned that there is too much change in the line up, with obvious starters left out yesterday and the unwillingness to put two strikers up front when chasing the game.