I think 3 to 8 are all important. I particularly like how we've been closing down the opposition quickly and retaining possession better. These two attributes are even more important in the Premier League where the good sides keep possession and don't gift it back to you. As Swords says, we have upped our game against the big boys but can we maintain that improvement against the lower sides where we should have a better chance of getting some points.
Great thread Roller. I enjoyed your lead-up, and all the subsequent posts. Great read, nice one everyone. Btw, I agree with all of it.
As I live in Crystal Palace territory I know a lot of Palace supporters and they say that they were equally surprised when he was their manager. My theory is as follows. He decided to quit football after the Tevez affair. When Simon Jordan persuaded him to come back he did so with a new outlook in so much as he wanted to enjoy the experience. We are benefiting from this.
I knew that you'd be going for the 4-4-2 option! I could argue that it was the introduction of Mackie resulting in playing people in the correct positions that made the difference against Spurs, and that Warnock was giving the formation and tactics that got us promoted a fair crack of the whip, but you could well be right. Would you say that it is a classic 4-4-2 formation or a more fluid version? Iâve not seen it in the flesh, but it doesnât look like the traditional version to me (but the tv, and especially highlights) does not give a good enough impression to be sure.
No argument with anything on here, would just add that experience playing against better opposition must help. Beginning to rise to a Premiership standard rather than trying to drag the opposition down to a Championship one. Plus the defeat against Fulham may have been the best thing to happen to us, perversely, delivered a needed wake up and step up call to everyone.
Ollie did the same after f*cking up Leicester. He went and watched Swansea when he was out of work and Roberto Martinez impressed him so much he decided to adopt football instead of hoofball. His was as big a "philosophy" u-turn as anyone I can think of. SB73 put it concisely: "Rise to Premiership standard rather than drag everyone down to a Championship one"!! I remember watching highlights of Watford's first Prem game after promotion under Aidy Hoofroyd on RTE and when they tipped off their tactic was to kick the ball out of play as near to the corner flag as possible. Put it into touch as it were. Jonnie Giles was disgusted!! Thank God we ain't doin' it that way!
Agreed Swords, What I particularly like is the way we are pressing the ball when the opposition have it. Especially Mackie. When we do have the ball we try and play football, with a degree of patience, and try to keep it a bit more. Our possesion against City was very good, who'd have thought?
