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Lee Johnson's Tinkering Works.

Discussion in 'Bristol City' started by wizered, Nov 18, 2019.

  1. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
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    Why Lee Johnson's tinkering works: Bristol City's tactical trends of the season so far
    Flexible formations, direct passing and electric Eliasson.

    As we’re in the midst of the third international break of the season, with 30 games of the Championship campaign to go, I’ve taken a look at Bristol City’s tactical trends of the season so far, which sees us lie in sixth place after 16 games.

    Unlike the Sheffield United of last season, or Wolves the year before, I wouldn’t say that we have one clear and obvious way of playing, and I think we’re pretty good at adapting to most situations we may find ourselves in during a match.

    With Lee Johnson’s tactical nous, and willingness to make changes whenever he feels they are necessary, it is rare that we would stick to Plan A for 90 minutes in any game, as Johnson is always looking for ways to counter-act the opposition.

    Therefore, ironically, I believe not having one clear tactic is the club’s biggest tactical trend.

    On the whole, the constant changes of tactics, formations and personnel during games does benefit us, as it’s incredibly hard for the opposition to second-guess us or know how to respond to Johnson’s bold in-game decisions.

    The fact that we’ve scored nine times between the 75th and 90th minute, compared to the opposition’s four goals, helps to prove that Johnson’s tinkering does pay off.

    Interestingly, City’s most common starting formation is the 3-5-2/3-4-1-2 (they’ve started this way 65% of the time), however the formation we’re most likely to finish matches in is the 4-4-2 (47% of the time). Again, this highlights our flexibility and readiness to try something new if Plan A isn’t working out.

    Starting strongly
    For the most-part, however, City look to play at a high tempo, playing forwards as much as possible in order to not allow the opposition to settle.

    A couple of good examples of this came in the game at St Andrews vs Birmingham City, where Kasey Palmer split the defence open with an early through ball on two occasions, resulting in two one-on-one opportunites for Benik Afobe.

    With the second-most long passes and fourth-most through balls attempted in the league, City try to build attacks as quickly as possible and Andi Weimann is key to this with his willingness to make runs both in behind and out wide in order to stretch back lines.

    While quick, direct (not hoofball) football is a strength, City do struggle when teams counter this by sitting deep and staying compact at Ashton Gate.

    In the last two seasons, when the bottom-placed sides have come to town, we have struggled to break them down resulting in some poor performances and results when we should really have too much quality for them.

    On the flip side, no club has won more away points than City in 2019, and the Robins ability to hit teams on the counter with fast and direct football is one of the biggest factors to this.

    Dan Bentley’s willingness to launch attacks as quickly as possible by rolling or throwing the ball out has been key in catching the opposition off guard and we’ve created a good amount of chances from his swift distribution.

    Most conceded in the Championship
    City may have conceded the joint third-most shots in the division (222), but have the 11th lowest xGA (expected goals against). This is because they attempt to stay compact and hard to break down so, consequently, teams have to resort to taking lower-quality chances from less threatening positions, hence the high number of shots conceded.

    With a solid base, and energy in midfield, City have made the most interceptions (259) in the league as they look to steal the ball back and launch fast counter-attacks of our own.

    Obviously, you can’t counter-attack for the whole 90 minutes, so when City do have a spell of possession in the opposition's half, they look to create space out wide for either the wing-backs or wingers (depending on formation) to put dangerous crosses into the box.

    The Robins have scored by far the most goals from crosses in the Championship so far, with Jack Hunt and Niclas Eliasson racking up nine assists between already this season.

    Incredibly, Eliasson has set up the joint most goals in the league despite starting just three times, averaging an assist every 86 minutes. The Swede’s ability to whip balls in with pace, dip and pinpoint accuracy is a nightmare for defenders to cope with, and a vital weapon for City.

    Similarly, City have scored the joint most goals from set pieces too (seven), with a number of players in the squad being able to attack the ball in the air: Ashley Williams, Weimann, Pedro Pereira, Taylor Moore and Nathan Baker have all scored from dead-ball situations.

    Not that there’s a right or wrong way of playing, but I would expect City to start playing a slightly more open and attractive style as some of their key players start returning to full fitness.
    Adam Nagy made his return in the Severnside Derby, which was huge, and I believe his ability to retain possession and dictate the tempo will be massive going forward.

    https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/lee-johnsons-tinkering-works-bristol-3548591
     
    #1
  2. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
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    LJ is a little tinker...:emoticon-0142-happy
     
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  3. oneforthebristolcity

    oneforthebristolcity Well-Known Member

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    It's nice to see a coach acknowledging, that there is more than one way to play football....LJ's a good coach and we are lucky to have him.
     
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  4. AshtonRed

    AshtonRed Well-Known Member

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    On the whole I agree, my only criticism is sometimes he overthinks things.
     
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  5. oneforthebristolcity

    oneforthebristolcity Well-Known Member

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    I agree, but I would rather someone in charge with the balls to change things than just stand there and do nothing...We've had a few of them down the Gate!!
     
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  6. AshtonRed

    AshtonRed Well-Known Member

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    So would I, it’s a balance really isn’t it , he’s still a relatively young coach, part of becoming experienced is knowing what to change and when, he’s improving but at times he still tinkers a bit too much.
     
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  7. Red Alert

    Red Alert Well-Known Member

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    If its Cardiff its hoof ball if its Bristol City its direct. Bentley hasn't been rolling the ball out for a month!! hits it long and hard but doesnt hoof it!!!
     
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  8. oneforthebristolcity

    oneforthebristolcity Well-Known Member

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    I actually think there is a difference,Intending to play a good long ball I would say is direct and IMO on occasions there is nothing wrong with that.
    Hoofing a ball, "kick and hope", is not what I would want to see unless under intense pressure...
     
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  9. Red Alert

    Red Alert Well-Known Member

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    Bristol City play a lot of long stuff and have become low possession and are not going to feet.. Bentley barely plays the ball out at all now!!
     
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  10. bcfcredandwhite

    bcfcredandwhite Well-Known Member

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    I thought WE played more ‘hoofball’ than Cardiff did last Sunday - but who cares if it brings 3 points.
    It’s hard to argue against the ‘tinkering’ when we are still top 6 without playing particularly well.
    If we go on a bad run then it’ll be different. We have a 6-pointer coming up vs Forest and it’ll be interesting to see what formation LJ goes for against a very good side who are (like us) good away from home.
    I’ve looked on the Forest board and they seem to be expecting 3-5-2.
     
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  11. Cliftonville

    Cliftonville Well-Known Member

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    Bristol City outpunted Cardiff by a distance. The team had less possession. The team had a lower passing accuracy. There is a consistency to this beyond tinkering as the teams is displaying low possession and accuracy x attempting to penetrate over games. It is not a short passing high possession style.

    If this becomes the norm and it takes sixty minutes to manage one shot on target as they did v Cardiff more will care. Some fans already care that Bristol City do not play good football/ are dull depending on perception.

    I find it mildly interesting in the short term and low on excitement. I do not want to watch it in the long term.
     
    #11
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2019
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  12. Loathsneyd

    Loathsneyd Well-Known Member

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    Its horses for courses. We've tried to play football against Cardiff in the past and have been pretty unsuccessful with it.
     
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  13. bcfcredandwhite

    bcfcredandwhite Well-Known Member

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    I agree with most of this, but would challenge that people would get frustrated over performances if we were bringing home the points. If we were losing games then definitely, but winning? Hmmm - I don’t think so - not in great numbers anyway.
     
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  14. Cliftonville

    Cliftonville Well-Known Member

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    Couple of seasons back Johnson played two up top with Djuric being one and lamped it all game. Lost that. Fans were trying to fight their way out of the new Ninnies stadium, could have been they wanted a row, some thought it was the football.

    People are frustrated now. Unless the effs and cees flying around last home game were a sign of appreciation.

    It would be very hard to stay away in great numbers like fans did when Russell Osman was manager when season ticket holders are the overwhelming majority.
     
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    Last edited: Nov 19, 2019
  15. Redprintt

    Redprintt Well-Known Member

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    Premier league clubs have come in for our best players.
    It's an absolute mystery to me why these clubs haven't come in for LJ.
     
    #15
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  16. bcfcredandwhite

    bcfcredandwhite Well-Known Member

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    He’s too old now RP - they missed the boat .......
     
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  17. RedorDead

    RedorDead Well-Known Member

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    Take it the break away in the sun, didn’t cheer you up then
     
    #17
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  18. oneforthebristolcity

    oneforthebristolcity Well-Known Member

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    Most of them dropping down to the championship! LJ would have much better cred, taking us up than jumping ship to a mediocre prem club......and how do you know Premier league clubs haven't come in for LJ.......we don't always get the inside gos!!
     
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  19. Redprintt

    Redprintt Well-Known Member

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    It was £12 a pint I'm our hotel, would you be happy?
    Offset by my bet on Leicester beating Arsenal and City beating Cardiff. Couldn't believe City were almost 3-1 to win.
    Seem to remember old non-believer 1For reckoning I was building bridges.
    The Cardiff game could have gone either way. It was pure luck that City beat Cardiff.
    So's gambling.

    'we don't get all the inside go's!!'

    City fans get all the fake news from AG. Absolute joke a club will come in for LJ.
    Struggling to think of a club who'll allow/afford LJ a scatter gun appoach to sign 60 players in 3 years. Unless you can.
     
    #19
  20. Loathsneyd

    Loathsneyd Well-Known Member

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    Where did you learn to count?
     
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