Why have we put the handbrake on..?

[wilkos_perm]

It's obvious by watching us this season that, compared to the majority of last season, we are very much playing with the handbrake on, why?

Granted, we have lost a lot of quality at the top end of the field, but I am absolutely baffled as to why are deciding to not commit as many bodies forward in attack. We are also much less fluid when we are building up play, a massive part of our success last year was down to the fluidity of our attacking players, however we seem to have become much more ridged, but to what gain? Riley McGree was a key part of our team last year, floating in from the left side and popping up in dangerous areas, whilst creating space for Giles to get into to cross, again, I do not understand why we have abandoned this approach. It’s widely accepted that Coulson wasn’t good enough, however he was not a defensive player, why was he, and why is now Engel being asked to rarely cross the half way line?

I think this is why we seem much, much slower in attack, because there’s much less movement / bodies in the final third which equals less options to pass to, so players hold on to the ball longer, this gives the opposition more time to get set into their defensive position and then the attack fizzles out. Latte Lath’s movement looks great, and whilst I do think it is good, I feel like it looks even better at the moment because, again, compared to last season, literally nobody is moving.

You could kind of understand it if we had went into the market and bought more solid, defensive players - but we haven't done that. The players we have been starting matches with suit the system we finished with last season, but we seem to be choosing to play differently.

I think you're over analysing it. Our players aren't as good as last season. Less ability, less vision, less pace, therefore less dangerous and less quick on the attack. That's why we look slower. For example you're saying Engel is being asked not to cross the halfway line. I don't think for one moment this is true. He just lacks the pace, athleticism and confidence to get up and down (at the moment).
If anything we ARE trying to play like last season, but with poorer players, therefore we're open and susceptible to breaks without the flip side of outscoring them at the other end.

 

[Magic Man]

I think you're over analysing it. Our players aren't as good as last season. Less ability, less vision, less pace, therefore less dangerous and less quick on the attack. That's why we look slower. For example you're saying Engel is being asked not to cross the halfway line. I don't think for one moment this is true. He just lacks the pace, athleticism and confidence to get up and down (at the moment).
If anything we ARE trying to play like last season, but with poorer players, therefore we're open and susceptible to breaks without the flip side of outscoring them at the other end.

Wow, really? I think it's glaringly obvious we are trying a different style of play to last season. Now, that may be due to the players available, but how can you say Engel lacks the pace and athleticism 'at the moment', if he hasn't got those things now - he never will have. BTW, I think he does have those attributes now, hence the reason he had 10 assists from left back last year. He is clearly just being asked not to get forward enough.

 

[Jedi boro]

The midfield is at the core of our issues. They dont provide enough support tracking back, leaving our back 4 exposed, niether do they support the front 2 enough.

The midfield are too immobile, easily ran through or shrugged off.

McGree HAS to start the game for me, Jones is a last 20 minute impact player at best, and a complete waste of a shirt at worst.

Howson and Hackney are far too close together for far too much of the time, we need to play one or the other as they as effectively one and the same.

It’s been non existent this season

 

[wilkos_perm]

Wow, really? I think it's glaringly obvious we are trying a different style of play to last season. Now, that may be due to the players available, but how can you say Engel lacks the pace and athleticism 'at the moment', if he hasn't got those things now - he never will have. BTW, I think he does have those attributes now, hence the reason he had 10 assists from left back last year. He is clearly just being asked not to get forward enough.

You're being a bit pedantic there - you know what I mean - at the moment he's not showing the qualities needed, but players adapt, settle, improve, gain confidence etc. There's no way in the world that Carrick doesn't want him doing what Giles did. He just looks way off being able to achieve it right now. Without wanting to state the obvious, he's not playing in the Danish league anymore so although his stats show that he can deliver some decent quality, the question is can he successfully get in those positions in the championship (and have the pace to get back)?

It isn't glaringly obvious we're trying anything different, we're just not doing any of it very well.

 

[Magic Man]

You're being a bit pedantic there - you know what I mean - at the moment he's not showing the qualities needed, but players adapt, settle, improve, gain confidence etc. There's no way in the world that Carrick doesn't want him doing what Giles did. He just looks way off being able to achieve it right now. Without wanting to state the obvious, he's not playing in the Danish league anymore so although his stats show that he can deliver some decent quality, the question is can he successfully get in those positions in the championship (and have the pace to get back)?

It isn't glaringly obvious we're trying anything different, we're just not doing any of it very well.

Pedantic? I think we probably just completely disagree. Maybe it is glaringly obvious to me, but not to you.

I agree with players taking time to settle, but that doesn't usually effect your pace, as your first message stated. I think maybe you are over analysing that bit.

 

[B_G]

Pedantic? I think we probably just completely disagree. Maybe it is glaringly obvious to me, but not to you.

I agree with players taking time to settle, but that doesn't usually effect your pace, as your first message stated. I think maybe you are over analysing that bit.

If Bangura comes into the team we might get the answer...

 

[wilkos_perm]

Pedantic? I think we probably just completely disagree. Maybe it is glaringly obvious to me, but not to you.

I agree with players taking time to settle, but that doesn't usually effect your pace, as your first message stated. I think maybe you are over analysing that bit.

i just completely disagree and the suggesting im missing something glaringly obvious i can't buy into. Not everything on a football pitch is by design. It doesn't work like that.

Regarding pace that was the pedantic bit - as you know players can look better, sharper etc with confidence. So he may have pace, but he's not asserting himeslef and showing uit.

 

[Magic Man]

i just completely disagree and the suggesting im missing something glaringly obvious i can't buy into. Not everything on a football pitch is by design. It doesn't work like that.

At elite level football it actually is like that, though. That's exactly why I think it is glaringly obvious we have changed the system, and you've just told us why you don't - football is all about opinions, it's fine we disagree

 

[changingman]

We need a settled attacking three in order to dictate what our full backs do.

If we play with two narrow inside forwards, all the width needs to come from the flanks. I think it's more likely we'll go narrow one side, with an overlapping full back, and play wide with FB supporting on the other. We haven't got that balance yet but I think it will come.

I'm pretty sure it will be Bangura/McGree and Smith/Forss in time.

Silvera not intelligent in picking up positions without the ball for me, something Ramsey excelled at last season. Ditto Jones, both good one on one but too easy to defend against when their off the ball movement isn't great.