I was surprised we didn't make full backs a priority but we don't know who we've tried for and missed out on. I personally feel you need pace at full back and I know people will disagree but if we didn't bring any in, I'd happily try Allahyar as an out and out full back, once he's fit.
This is such a crucial point that so many people ignore when talking about tactics. People always want it to boil down to something simple enough to easily understand and then wonder how the manager can't see something so simple. Coyle being to blame is always a popular one.
He's not always to blame and Williams did him no favours whatsoever, he was worse than Coyle but Lewie is still a weak link
Covill should have been where both these blue marks are, putting pressure on the ball, cutting off the option to the wing and marking the recipient. If he’d been doing his job properly, whatever Coyle or Williams were doing are completely irrelevant as the pass would never have happened.
Isn’t that slater on the edge of the D?? how is Jones in position when he’s way over on the left? When he’s the right sided centre mid?
I think we do need to bring a right back in, Ngakia is a very athletic full back who’s perfect for a 4 back Thats Woods no idea where Slater is. Williams got me is the disappointing one here, his chance to get a run of games and he isn’t busting a gut when there’s clear danger. Just jogging back with no urgency
Stoke murdered us down that side last year because we are weak there and we were weaker with Hudds in the middle . I’m in East and week after week we are too narrow , this gives easy out ball for the opposition - same happened when Bowen was there he was always 10-15 yds infield - it must be primarily instruction - but better quality would improve things IMO.
Williams is playing as a forward. Why should he be expected to be defending deep in own penalty area? To be fair to him, he did work hard at getting back when their fullbacks were overlapping but he can’t be expected to create chances and also help our defence a few seconds later. A lot of the top teams play with their full backs tucked in to prevent balls down the channels. I am not keen on it myself but it is obviously what they are told to do. We possibly do it more on the right rather than the left because Figs isn’t as quick as Greaves so needs more help.
When you play 433, this is one of the problems. I am not saying Coyle doesn't need more assistance from the winger, and you are right Williams should be tracking back more. This is why Allahyar is a big miss, he does track back, and that is a big help to Coyle. This was always the problem with Wilk's, he rarely track back as did Turbo when he was with us. So, what I am trying to say is that Coyle IMO just needs to be not so narrow, and get out wider. He is a dependable full back, and I am not slating him, I am just saying I think his position needs to be a bit better to stop crosses coming in.
Tucking in the fullbacks is a tactic which worked to good effect in our better defensive performances this season - but does rely on the winger tracking back and occupying the space out wide. Think Coyle is getting grief for something which he's being asked to do and is a legitimate tactic. Of course if no-ones tracking back he's going to look exposed. But then you also have to consider that partnerships in any squad take time to develop.
OK but (without wishing to know anything too confidential) - do you think he will play for City again?
