Our sparring first half tactics.

sambaDTR

sambaDTR

Well-known member
We seem to use these tactics nearly all the time, even when we have a fully fit squad. Starting off at a slow pace, passing the ball around at the back, presumably to tire out the opposition. Unfortunately it hardly seems to work as we often end up being behind at half time and having to step up the pace to get us back in the game in the second half. Maybe we are getting too predictable. It would be good, especially at home, to start off at a fast pace like we did against Preston where we blew them away by half time. The team (and fans) can then have a bit more relaxed second half. Maybe Micheal Carrick should give the half time team talk before the game starts! (y)
 
I can see the logic in it were we breaking the way that Ipswich did, moving with pace and overloading the areas between the centre and the box, but it doesn't make that much sense when we get to that zone between the box and corner, kill the ball and look up while they get back and defend quickly.

To an amateur like me, retaining possession in that way without a cutting edge seems to make it easier for the opposition to keep pressing and shutting down, as an error will eventually give them possession.
 
I think we have a decent pub gig, expecting them to sound like a huge "stadium" band. They do a good karaoke, sound great with a few beers, but have to go back to their day jobs on Monday (y)
 
I'm not sure its our tactic but more the opposition. Teams press us high in the first half and we struggle to get it going.

They tend to stop pressing us so hard in the second either because they are in front and go a bit more pragmatic or they start to tire.

I said after the Leeds gane I think it would be beneficial if we played the odd long ball into channels when we are being pressed so high, it just forces teams to drop a bit deeper rather than committing so many players to the press. Dieng played one super long ball in the first half yesterday into Rogers (I think) and it created a 3v3 which we didn't capitalise on. But it did catch them out. If we played them a little bit more frequently it would make teams think about pressing us so high.

We've struggled against teams that do press us even running back into last season. Warnocks Huddersfield were the first toreally do it. Leeds dud it well last week. Ipswich did it to less effect yesterday. Its the way to beat us and any managers doing their homework will set their team up that way.

Preston played right into our hands by sitting off us.
 
The biggest stand out for me was our lack of shots only one shot on target at home in 90 mins.

Ipswich showed what happens when you shoot. But our team seem reluctant to do it.
 
I understand the playing it out from the back thing, but Saturday the tippy tappy between Clarke, Fry and Dieng was a pointless waste of time. Ipswich were better organised and were happy to sit in their positions and watch us do it, especially once we were behind.

In fact the were better organised, worked harder and when we did go forward they crowded us out. They were nowt special, just did all that a bit better.
 
Hull play a similar style to us and Ipswich. Unless we do a Preston, expect a boring first half again.
 
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