Brush this lot aside! - Leicester (H) 22/4/14

[boltonboris]

It's clear watching that game that good teams concentrate on passing the ball, moving into space and working patterns. Getting close to each other and making things happen.

Dougie has our lot getting rid and getting back in position. There's absolutely no cohesion, no plan, we just look completely uninterested in going winning games like that

[boltonboris]

Chungy leaving the fray for Lester?

On that performance he's not likely to be leaving for Leicester.

Thought he was one of our better players on the night. almost everything good we did, came through him

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I forgot this match was even on until now. The apathy is growing

[Athers]

It was pretty poor fare but then we were trying to play an alien formation which I always think requires specialists -

Full/Wing backs with massive engines and comfortable on the ball (Ream & White - no)
Other players understanding how to cover these wing backs when the opponent gets two men forward out wide (they did this on the left and isolated White 1v2 about a dozen times)
Probably two centre backs comfortable on the ball due to regularly being the unmarked men on the pitch (That lot - no)
Centre midfielders who can make off the ball runs forward (Spearing & Trotter - no)

Then again the shooting of Juke and Beckford was again off, last night's special was ending up off balance and producing a weak effort.

I'm all for seeing some kids get minutes but did anyone else think the senior players didn't quite make as many passes to the two wingers as much as they might? Threatened? Or am I making it up...?

[bobo the clown]

Dougie has our lot getting rid and getting back in position. There's absolutely no cohesion, no plan, we just look completely uninterested in going winning games like that

I played for a season in a team that did this.

It's very, very easy ... let them have the ball until the final third, then you've all fallen back and there's simply no room for them to pass or attack. It's immensely uncreative and means the only possible way of scoring is from a fast breakaway.

You can often draw, but you don't often win. It's no way to play.

[BWFC_Insane]

Dougie has our lot getting rid and getting back in position. There's absolutely no cohesion, no plan, we just look completely uninterested in going winning games like that

I played for a season in a team that did this.

It's very, very easy ... let them have the ball until the final third, then you've all fallen back and there's simply no room for them to pass or attack. It's immensely uncreative and means the only possible way of scoring is from a fast breakaway.

You can often draw, but you don't often win. It's no way to play.

There are times in a season you NEED to play like that. Possibly against the champions is one such time. Though the result was irrelevant.

There isn't a one size fits all approach.

[LeverEnd]

Dougie has our lot getting rid and getting back in position. There's absolutely no cohesion, no plan, we just look completely uninterested in going winning games like that

I played for a season in a team that did this.

It's very, very easy ... let them have the ball until the final third, then you've all fallen back and there's simply no room for them to pass or attack. It's immensely uncreative and means the only possible way of scoring is from a fast breakaway.

You can often draw, but you don't often win. It's no way to play.

Team shape being everything. No risk, no adventure and very little in the way of entertainment.

Just seen the goal on SSN. Very good finish. Also noticed Spearing going nuts and shouting at someone. Presumably Knight for standing there and watching him score it while making no attempt to do anything about it.

And BWFCI, sure you do at times, but I don't think you do need to play like that when you're at home and there is nothing riding on the result. Have a go, give fans something to cheer.
You certainly don't need to do it against lower teams at home, which we have done.

[StaffsTrotter]

Thought we livened up in 2nd half with the introduction of Beckford - just a pity both the Duke and becks showed what they are and where we are ( as an aside why when chungy did some fantastic skill and beat a couple of defenders to create a chance that duke fluffed, did the crowd then shout 'joooook' - is it just easy to shout.

Having said that the chances once again seem to come out of nowhere. There is little coherence or speed or movement or positivity to our play and its been the same all through DFs tenure, so I guess its what he wants.

Wont be bothered to go the Brum game. As it stands I've not renewed and other than from a nagging loyalty (of over 40 years habit), have very little inclination to do so - its tedious, its boring, & I have no faith that the current manager can or will change things for the better ... and it even irritates me that he has made me become so apathetic about my club.

[StaffsTrotter]

Dougie has our lot getting rid and getting back in position. There's absolutely no cohesion, no plan, we just look completely uninterested in going winning games like that

I played for a season in a team that did this.

It's very, very easy ... let them have the ball until the final third, then you've all fallen back and there's simply no room for them to pass or attack. It's immensely uncreative and means the only possible way of scoring is from a fast breakaway.

You can often draw, but you don't often win. It's no way to play.

thing is bobo, was that having fallen back into position, their players just passed and moved around our 'shape' and do we really have the players of the intelligence, speed and skill to play the fast breakaway ?

[Lord Kangana]

This...

There are times in a season you NEED to play like that. Possibly against the champions is one such time.

May have a certain amount of merit.

Followed by this...

Though the result was irrelevant.

Is a complete non-sequitur.

We lost. Playing a way that we NEED to play against the potential champions. So it didn't work. We need to learn from that.

[StaffsTrotter]

Dougie has our lot getting rid and getting back in position. There's absolutely no cohesion, no plan, we just look completely uninterested in going winning games like that

I played for a season in a team that did this.

It's very, very easy ... let them have the ball until the final third, then you've all fallen back and there's simply no room for them to pass or attack. It's immensely uncreative and means the only possible way of scoring is from a fast breakaway.

You can often draw, but you don't often win. It's no way to play.

thing is bobo, was that having fallen back into position, their players just passed and moved around our 'shape' and did we really have on the field the players of the intelligence, speed and skill to play the fast breakaway ?

edited for accuracy

[wigan white]

Im still in shock at the first half from last night:
1) How many times players had to tell White where he should be, it was incredible, it was like he's never actually played football in his life.
2) I don't mind trying out the youngsters but in a formation that we've not played all season, feckin crazy!!
3) Just what does Trotter do, a bloke near me said "He's just a giant Ray Wilkins", when he gets the ball (on a rare occasion) he automatically either passes it backwards or sideways. He just doesn't move!!!!!
4) Can't recall a game ever where the opposition stopped with his foot on the ball at the edge of our box for about 20seconds before anyone even went anywhere near him, it was like a training ground practise session.
5) Chungy, why does he insist on going backwards all of the time??? TBF in the second half he went forward more and looked a bit more dangerous, but whether he's scared of getting clogged again, but in the first half everytime he got the ball he went fecking backwards with it.
6) Feckin Beckford, he's a lazy fecker who doesnt play for the team, admittedly, the Juke did have equally poor finishing like night, but compare Juke's workrate to beckfords, it embarrasing.
7) Wish the rest of the team had as much passion as Spearing
8 ) DF fecked himself with his team selection!!!
9) Matt Mills Beard, absolutely first class.

[bobo the clown]

Dougie has our lot getting rid and getting back in position. There's absolutely no cohesion, no plan, we just look completely uninterested in going winning games like that

I played for a season in a team that did this.

It's very, very easy ... let them have the ball until the final third, then you've all fallen back and there's simply no room for them to pass or attack. It's immensely uncreative and means the only possible way of scoring is from a fast breakaway.

You can often draw, but you don't often win. It's no way to play.

There are times in a season you NEED to play like that. Possibly against the champions is one such time. Though the result was irrelevant.

There isn't a one size fits all approach.

I took last night's formation & line-up to be an experiment. At this stage, with nothing at stake, experiments are OK. Though I'd expect him to be trying out a formation he may be planning to use in future times. If that formation is in his mind I'd not be too impressed.

I'm also pointing out that they way it panned out last night is a most unedifying version of that style which, even when it works, it's stifling to watch ... let alone play in. Furthermore, he found last night that his squad hasn't the players to play in that way.

Finally, and to your point above, I'm not sure, even against the league champions-elect, effectively giving up and hoping to hang-on and ride our luck, is a way to go ... at all, let alone plying at home. Especially not for a team who's last 30 game form has been play-off or better ... as we keep being told. (I know that, really it hasn't been but you can't have your cake and eat it).

[BWFC_Insane]

This...

There are times in a season you NEED to play like that. Possibly against the champions is one such time.

May have a certain amount of merit.

Followed by this...

Though the result was irrelevant.

Is a complete non-sequitur.

We lost. Playing a way that we NEED to play against the potential champions. So it didn't work. We need to learn from that.

There is no basis for saying it didn't work. We have no idea whether it worked or not relative to 'other ways of playing'.

My point was that we need to be more flexible. This league has shown that some weeks you need to dig in and keep a clean sheet. Others games are more open and you need to get on the front foot.

Sometimes teams come and sit back against you and give you lots of possession.

So you need to be adaptable.

For all the talk about only using 23 players or whatever, this season Burnley have shown that adaptability. Grinding out lots of results where they've camped in their own half hanging on to a 1-0. But also being on the front foot in certain games. Though, Burnley's stubbornness would probably be derided by their own fans as dull if they hadn't had two 20 goal strikers up front.

[wigan white]

This...

There are times in a season you NEED to play like that. Possibly against the champions is one such time.

May have a certain amount of merit.

Followed by this...

Though the result was irrelevant.

Is a complete non-sequitur.

We lost. Playing a way that we NEED to play against the potential champions. So it didn't work. We need to learn from that.

There is no basis for saying it didn't work. We have no idea whether it worked or not relative to 'other ways of playing'.

My point was that we need to be more flexible. This league has shown that some weeks you need to dig in and keep a clean sheet. Others games are more open and you need to get on the front foot.

Sometimes teams come and sit back against you and give you lots of possession.

So you need to be adaptable.

For all the talk about only using 23 players or whatever, this season Burnley have shown that adaptability. Grinding out lots of results where they've camped in their own half hanging on to a 1-0. But also being on the front foot in certain games. Though, Burnley's stubbornness would probably be derided by their own fans as dull if they hadn't had two 20 goal strikers up front.

Errrr......we lost!!!!! So in summary, it didn't work!!!!

[Lord Kangana]

There's no way that first sentence is for real. We lost. If we're up to being thankful for lesser degrees of a beating, then I think it highlights quite succinctly how moribund we have become under yon Douglas.

[LeverEnd]

9) Matt Mills Beard, absolutely first class.

[Bruce Rioja]

9) Matt Mills Beard, absolutely first class.

It's a fecking outrage. He looks like Willie Rushton, and has the same eye for a pass too.

[wigan white]

9) Matt Mills Beard, absolutely first class.

It's a fecking outrage. He looks like Willie Rushton, and has the same eye for a pass too.

HOW VERY DARE YOU SIR!!!! I demand Pistols at dawn upon Winter Hill!!!!

[LeverEnd]

9) Matt Mills Beard, absolutely first class.

It's a fecking outrage. He looks like Willie Rushton, and has the same eye for a pass too.

I'm sick of you and your beardist views.