Some good points made from both sides on this playing out debate. A final thing from me on the matter. I get the idea of it and how we maintain control of possession. My point will always come down to that I think possession is overrated unless you have world class players like Man City - we don’t and we likely never will. Therefore I would rather the ball be in the opponents half of the pitch for the majority of the game rather than us most likely giving the ball away because we have tried to pass it out. I get the end goal, it works when it works. The problem is, it will never work to the standard we want, because the players aren’t good enough. Rosenior had it working more-so midway through the season. Then teams figured out how to play against us. Either way, even with the high quality we had then, we still couldn’t make the playoffs. I do think Tim Walter will get us having more chances, but I will always believe this losing the ball in your own half will hold us back. We didn’t lose on Saturday because Bristol City don’t have those good strikers (they scored when they brought one on). But most of the other Championship teams do. The only way to prove if it works is to tally the amount of times we lose it from the short goal kick, and how many times we actually get out of our half doing it. If I could be bothered, I would. Anyway, I said final thing, didn’t mean to go on so long, but that’s me done on the matter (do I hear people cheering? )
I dont see that is much of an advantage once the ball is kicked attackers can still move in to get the ball and tackle the defenders
the aimless long balls were made because the attackers closed our defenders down only a few yards from goal if we passed the ball further forward there would be no need to panic
What's all this talk about seeing more by watching on the TV or on a replay of the game? I thought it had been decided that you had to be there live in the stadium to get the whole picture.
As has been mentioned a few times. That's the point. Walter and a lot of modern football coaches have a different philosophy to yourself. Its time you accept it rather than rehashing this old argument every time there's a pass in the defensive third of the pitch
McLoughlin, Simons, Giles, Pandur and Estupiñán weren't rated by LR and barely featured, if at all; Jacob and Ömür weren't in the team until late in the season; and Mehlem, Millar, Burns, Jarvis, and Sellars-Fleming didn't play for LR. There's only really Slater, Coyle, and Jones that regularly played LR's system. I'm not sure there's actually enough of LR's squad left in the team for them to still be stuck playing that system?
All I’ll say is it’s no coincidence when 2 players (Millar and Jarvis), who weren’t here at all last season came on, we looked miles better and miles more threatening. They took risks nearly every time they got the ball
Millar replaced Giles who doesn't look bothered for a number of reasons, and Jarvis replaced Slater, who should really be a squad player at this level. Both Millar and Jarvis have something to prove. It's not surprising they added something.
I think it is coincidence actually. I think it's more to do with throwing on two attacking players after 60 minutes of the first game of the season when other players were gassed. And even then Jarvis only had maybe 1-2 instances of playing 'risk free'.
So these 'modern football coaches' are happy with defenders kicking the ball into touch or wildly upfield from three yards from the goal line when closed down by attackers like we saw repeatedly on Saturday?
Regardless of if LR rated them or not, they would’ve all been taught to play a certain way in training. Walter’s biggest challenge will be to make them unlearn that so his principles become second nature/muscle memory rather than the ones LR has instilled them. Edit: It’s pretty telling that Walter is trying to build a whole new back line - Drameh, Hughes, Burns.
Rating: 7.6 rating - 25th in league - Jarvis Goals: 1 goal - 4th in league - Oscar Assists: None Tackles: 9 tackles - 9th in league - Coyle Interceptions: 2 interceptions - 15th in league - Mehlem/Mcloughlin Clearances: 8 clearances - 4th in league - Mcloughlin Duels Won: 9 duels won - 12th in league - Coyle Dribbles: 4 dribbles - 1st in league - Jarvis Big Chance Creation: 1 creation - 4th in league - Giles Key passes 3 key passes - 6th in league - Simons xG: 1.17 xG - 2nd in league - Oscar I will try to share cumulative numbers every week.
No I dont think they are but its an execution issue earlier in the play. If they're braver and play the correct pass it doesn't lead to getting caught out.
Does it tell us most of our backline was the backline we signed in League One and hasn't been upgraded in 4 years?
If we could always play the correct pass we'd have won saturday. As said there's plenty of ways to play this game. The way you want to play it isn't the way the Walter wants to. Its best just to embrace it rather than micro-analysing every pass like you did when we played WBA last year.