First off, I hope this doesn't come across as too negative. Fully behind DM and know he'll be the man for the job but I feel like we're overreaching tactically atm.
We've been trying to play this bastardized 4-3-3 formation for a while now and it's clear that we don't have the players for it. We've tried playing Wood, Pearson, Kilkenny, Pitman and Bolasie in forward, attacking midfield roles (whether on the wing or behind the strikers) and it's clear that whoever plays there, tends to become ineffectual. The service doesn't reach the "sole" striker because we play either 1 or two holding central midfielders leaving a MASSIVE gap in the middle of the park. As soon as we concede a goal, this gap becomes even larger as attacking minded players get even further forward and the CDM's drop back to assist a struggling defence. Half our team come out of play altogether letting the opposition boss possession and take as many pot shots on goal as they fancy. When we do have the ball, all the defence can do is play a long ball hoping that Wood/Stead will get on the end of it so we can maintain possession (completely bypassing midfield).
My observation is that we need to go to a flat 4-4-2. It may not be original but we do have the players for it. If the defence has options for the pass, we can play some attractive football. Adomah can beat any man on his day, the same can be said of bolaise. Kilkenny/Cisse/Davis can pick a pass out to the wings and then we can start getting crosses into the box, something we haven't been doing since Doncaster 1st half. We have the strikers to get on the end of these balls and I'm confident that given the service, Wood, Stead and Pitman can bang the goals in, they are definitely good enough for this level.
As soon as we start controlling the centre, we'll score AND we'll shield the defence far better. AKA we'll start winning games!
Don't envy DM atm, but I hope we can be slightly more conservative in our approach and start being tough to beat!
COYR!
We've been trying to play this bastardized 4-3-3 formation for a while now and it's clear that we don't have the players for it. We've tried playing Wood, Pearson, Kilkenny, Pitman and Bolasie in forward, attacking midfield roles (whether on the wing or behind the strikers) and it's clear that whoever plays there, tends to become ineffectual. The service doesn't reach the "sole" striker because we play either 1 or two holding central midfielders leaving a MASSIVE gap in the middle of the park. As soon as we concede a goal, this gap becomes even larger as attacking minded players get even further forward and the CDM's drop back to assist a struggling defence. Half our team come out of play altogether letting the opposition boss possession and take as many pot shots on goal as they fancy. When we do have the ball, all the defence can do is play a long ball hoping that Wood/Stead will get on the end of it so we can maintain possession (completely bypassing midfield).
My observation is that we need to go to a flat 4-4-2. It may not be original but we do have the players for it. If the defence has options for the pass, we can play some attractive football. Adomah can beat any man on his day, the same can be said of bolaise. Kilkenny/Cisse/Davis can pick a pass out to the wings and then we can start getting crosses into the box, something we haven't been doing since Doncaster 1st half. We have the strikers to get on the end of these balls and I'm confident that given the service, Wood, Stead and Pitman can bang the goals in, they are definitely good enough for this level.
As soon as we start controlling the centre, we'll score AND we'll shield the defence far better. AKA we'll start winning games!
Don't envy DM atm, but I hope we can be slightly more conservative in our approach and start being tough to beat!
COYR!
