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Tactics next season

Discussion in 'Sunderland' started by alcoauth, Jun 6, 2025.

  1. alcoauth

    alcoauth Well-Known Member

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    Just wondering if there's a consensus on what sort of football we should aspire to play next season.

    Obviously with RLB at the helm we will likely adapt our style depending on opponent, injuries and form etc but reading comments on social media from Premier League supporters since our promotion it seems like there has been a number of promoted teams in recent years that have tried to play expansive "tiki-taka" like the big boys and have been relegated with room to spare. There are some saying the best chance for survival is for a team to adopt a defensive counter-attacking style to frustrate teams with a low block, soak everything up and then seek to hit them on the counter as the game goes late and the opponent gets more desperate to find a winner.
     
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  2. Southern A

    Southern A Well-Known Member

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    Gegenpress and counter for me. So not so much a low block. Fight and power all over the pitch.
     
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  3. clockstander

    clockstander Well-Known Member

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    Play two up front out of Mundle, Wilson Mayenda plus one other Doak would be my shout on loan, then a strog defensivelly capable midfield 4 only , Elf Rigg and O/9 fit the bill (assuming Jobe and Dan leave) then a back 4 behind them with probably only Hume as a starter out of those already at the club and having backup from our first team squad of Higgins Ballard Cirkin Alese and Seelt , this would mean at least two new faces .
    I wathched the Dilks podcast and go along with all he says tbh. That is only teams with strong defensive capability have a chance of survival, in fact he gives any team joining the established 17 as having little chance even then.



    Sobering thoughts indeed from Mr Dilks.
     
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  4. Scout73

    Scout73 Well-Known Member

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    I don't think our tactics will change a huge amount, we seem to be better out of possession than in it. We will set up 442 defensively and play on the counter. I want us to still be brave in possession though, don't be afraid to play football but do it in the right areas. We need to get players into the box and be aggressive with our press.

    I don't think it'll be a 'full court' press but rather an aggressive press once opponents get into a certain area of the pitch
     
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  5. Mackem-Tiz

    Mackem-Tiz Well-Known Member

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    And pace is vital too
     
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  6. OldNewtown

    OldNewtown Well-Known Member

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    Straight up the middle, with smoke :emoticon-0140-rofl:

    I just hope that we are brave enough to give the opposition something to think about.
    Occasionally :emoticon-0102-bigsm
     
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  7. JimHeron92

    JimHeron92 Well-Known Member

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    The Sheffield Wednesday and first Burnley game stuck out to me as great examples for our pressing triggers - isolating fullbacks or the weakest midfielder when their back is to goal.
     
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  8. Chunksafc

    Chunksafc Well-Known Member

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    Balls out, give their all, leave everything on the pitch.

    That will do me
     
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  9. Brainy Dose

    Brainy Dose Well-Known Member

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    It's being defensively solid,breaking up the opposition play and counter attacking with pace and numbers.....and,when we do, the most important thing....taking our chances. It's goals that keep you alive in this league. We can be as defensively sound as you like,but,if we can't score when we get the chance,we'll struggle.
     
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  10. Flash Gordon

    Flash Gordon Well-Known Member

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    Something I was saying for months last year is that tactically we will transition into the Premier League more easily than any promoted team in a while.

    Most promoted teams are used to dominating the ball and suddenly have to adapt to better teams controlling the game.

    We're used to setting ourselves up with a solid shape without the ball and making ourselves difficult to break down, then counter attacking against teams.

    Our challenge is to improve at the transition point both ways. Not to get caught out when the opposition turn the ball over but to be ruthless and efficient when we counter.
     
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  11. kirkyboy

    kirkyboy Well-Known Member

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    Really good post
     
    #11
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  12. Downeys Loup

    Downeys Loup Well-Known Member

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    I don’t think this is a happy accident either but has been part of the long term plan. The ambition in the forward thinking from Speakman and co is really quite impressive.
     
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  13. Nads

    Nads Well-Known Member

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    Hume special everyone, give it to Mayenda.
     
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  14. LD19SAFC

    LD19SAFC Well-Known Member

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    Pace, pace and a bit more pace on the counter
     
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  15. TopCat.

    TopCat. Well-Known Member

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    Defensively solid, look to play on teh counter and utilise set pieces. It's going to be hard, but harder for the likes of Burnley who only have one way to play. Leeds are very open too. I think we will do better than those 2
     
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  16. LD19SAFC

    LD19SAFC Well-Known Member

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    Leeds will be the best promoted side imo. That could quickly change though, all about recruitment
     
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  17. Daz

    Daz Well-Known Member

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    Old school Championship Manager 2001/2002 1-4-5 long ball tactics with Cherno Samba up front.

    Guaranteed at least 10 goals scored each game.
     
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  18. TopCat.

    TopCat. Well-Known Member

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    They are so open and Farke doesn't have any other way of playing. I think they will get torn to shreds in the early weeks, once the novelty of promotion has worn off. I don't see Farke lasting the season
     
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  19. FellTop

    FellTop Well-Known Member

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    Said this elsewhere and I stand by it. We cant be a counter attacking team for 38 games. We need to target some games where we play with more possession and more attacking intent. Sitting in our good shape against premier league players is way more difficult to execute.

    I think our home atmosphere, and therefore potential form, is where we have a point of difference over other recently promoted teams. At least it should be. We need to pack it to the rafters and make it a as noisy as hell. To do that the team needs to get on the front foot, the crowd will respond better to that. I think there are probably 10-12 home games where we will need to open up a bit. I am not saying we go gung ho, but we are going to need to get it down and play through lines. We can play counter attacking in other games, and a lot of awag games. But the path to points has to be a mixed style of play for me. I have never met a footballer who would rather play for a team without the ball than with the ball. We need to strike a balance.
     
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  20. LD19SAFC

    LD19SAFC Well-Known Member

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    Know what you’re saying mate but that’s where Leeds will have the advantage over others. Their overall atmosphere is better and their home form was unbelievable last season, they’re used to winning games
     
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