The positive we can take from Saturday is....

[Glover_elbow]

I think Barlaser can, I think he's the best passer of the ball we have, especially the more difficult passes or at least he has the best vision for them. I think he's fine in possession too, when we have some options, but we seem very slow at creating triangles etc. A key flaw for me is we lose momentum when someone fluffs a 15 yard pass, either passing to their weaker side, the trouble side, or passing behind them. The players passing the ball should be enabling the next guy to make a first time pass, but we fail this so many times, so they end up having to roll it back, or we just lose all momentum we had.

I don't rate O'Brien at all, but willing to give him time.

A couple of thoughts playing 3 central defenders 3 can make a triangle and it would be much easier for one to step out from the back with the ball. Our problems seem to stem from passing/walking it out from the back against a high press, even if we do beat the press we are so pedestrian without jones the advantage is not significant. As an alternative we seem to play much better on the counter when we are not dominating possession therefore why not lump it up as you term it and gift the opposition the ball and play on the counter at home.

 

[Otto42]

If Newy's on the naughty step can anyone else provide me with a list of random free agents we should be in for and/or suggested formations or squads for Stoke/next season please?!

 

[Otto42]

A couple of thoughts playing 3 central defenders 3 can make a triangle and it would be much easier for one to step out from the back with the ball. Our problems seem to stem from passing/walking it out from the back against a high press, even if we do beat the press we are so pedestrian without jones the advantage is not significant.
As an alternative we seem to play much better on the counter when we are not dominating possession therefore why not lump it up as you term it and gift the opposition the ball and play on the counter at home.

Yes - if we had got at Plymouth early on Saturday with a more direct approach it would have unsettled them, the Leicester boss said as much with our tactics. We are too complacent against teams we think we should beat at home, see Rotherham, Bristol City and Plymouth recently and Stoke and QPR earlier in the season. Our playing out from the back early on gives them confidence.

 

[Andy_W]

A couple of thoughts playing 3 central defenders 3 can make a triangle and it would be much easier for one to step out from the back with the ball. Our problems seem to stem from passing/walking it out from the back against a high press, even if we do beat the press we are so pedestrian without jones the advantage is not significant. As an alternative we seem to play much better on the counter when we are not dominating possession therefore why not lump it up as you term it and gift the opposition the ball and play on the counter at home.

Yeah, makes sense, but also reduces our numbers further forward, so I can't see us creating too much, but something like that/ 5-3-2 might make sense whilst we're lacking any real natural width up top,

 

[Andy_W]

Barlaser is terrible at it. He can pick a great through ball and will give you 2 or 3 good balls in behind most games but he needs time. He's terrible against the press. Always plays the way he's facing. Doesn't travel with it to break lines when there's space. He racks up a load of touches and passes because he plays ball backwards and sideways. He can't/doesn't receive the ball in the midfield and look to turn. He just plays back again or sideways. He has to come so deep to receive the ball just so he can get turned and look forward. That then takes another man out the midfield and restricts the options forward.

Barlaser is fine when a team sits back in and allows him a bit of time to look for his passes but as soon as he's getting pressed in our own half you can guarantee he's going to get sloppy or tap it backwards and put the onus on the CBs or his CM partner to try and move the ball forward. His best games for Boro were against Cardiff and Preston at home but both teams just sat back and defended their own half allowing him to get on the ball and take his time a bit.

Yeah, I don't disagree with that, he's not great on the quick turn or doesn't seem confident with his local awareness, think he plays better in there with Howson and Hackney as he gets more time.