Simple football.

[blueju]

I watched the first half of the rag's game the other night. I switched over and it was still 0-0, but I knew they would win. Much as I hate everything about them, I admire the way Baconface usually get's even the most average player to play the simple, devastating ,pressure game they have played for nearly a couple of decades.
Why then, if it is so simple with Carrick and Feltcher (not the fastest or most skillful midfielders) to cause so much havoc to opposing teams do we need to play three dm's and constantly play crablike ,sideways 5yd passes allowing any opposition to stroll back behind the ball en masse?

 

[Bill]

I watched the first half of the rag's game the other night. I switched over and it was still 0-0, but I knew they would win. Much as I hate everything about them, I admire the way Baconface usually get's even the most average player to play the simple, devastating ,pressure game they have played for nearly a couple of decades.
Why then, if it is so simple with Carrick and Feltcher (not the fastest or most skillful midfielders) to cause so much havoc to opposing teams do we need to play three dm's and constantly play crablike ,sideways 5yd passes allowing any opposition to stroll back behind the ball en masse?

fear.

 

[blueju]

I watched the first half of the rag's game the other night. I switched over and it was still 0-0, but I knew they would win. Much as I hate everything about them, I admire the way Baconface usually get's even the most average player to play the simple, devastating ,pressure game they have played for nearly a couple of decades.
Why then, if it is so simple with Carrick and Feltcher (not the fastest or most skillful midfielders) to cause so much havoc to opposing teams do we need to play three dm's and constantly play crablike ,sideways 5yd passes allowing any opposition to stroll back behind the ball en masse?

fear.

Could be Robert, but i'm pretty sure we have the players and experience to take up the same sort of positions and play the same one and two touch football. All they do is constantly make space and play quick passes. If there is nothing on it goes back to the midfielder who plays it to the space that has opened up on the other side. I know this is the simplified version but they are all prepared to run to create space. Most of our attacking play consists of Bellamy, Barry and Bridge playing neat little triangles surrounded by opposing players in about ten yds of space down our left touchline. The rest of the time we do short passes between the mid and back 4.
Sorry this comment is all over the place but it's teatime and ive got the ankle biter pulling at my leg :)

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

I watched the first half of the rag's game the other night. I switched over and it was still 0-0, but I knew they would win. Much as I hate everything about them, I admire the way Baconface usually get's even the most average player to play the simple, devastating ,pressure game they have played for nearly a couple of decades.
Why then, if it is so simple with Carrick and Feltcher (not the fastest or most skillful midfielders) to cause so much havoc to opposing teams do we need to play three dm's and constantly play crablike ,sideways 5yd passes allowing any opposition to stroll back behind the ball en masse?

Good point. I didn't watch the game but saw the highlights. They do the simple stuff well, find space, use the whole park, move the ball quickly and can actually deliver a pinpoint cross 4 times out of 5.

I've noticed that we tend to bunch up close to the touchline allowing the opposition to harry us and crowd us out.

 

[Bill]

fear.

Could be Robert, but i'm pretty sure we have the players and experience to take up the same sort of positions and play the same one and two touch football. All they do is constantly make space and play quick passes. If there is nothing on it goes back to the midfielder who plays it to the space that has opened up on the other side. I know this is the simplified version but they are all prepared to run to create space. Most of our attacking play consists of Bellamy, Barry and Bridge playing neat little triangles surrounded by opposing players in about ten yds of space down our left touchline. The rest of the time we do short passes between the mid and back 4.
Sorry this comment is all over the place but it's teatime and ive got the ankle biter pulling at my leg :)

i'd swap with you anyday:)

bob and the players are shitting themselves in every game, as was hughes to a degree, the expectation is THAT big. hence the negative shit even agaisnt lower placed clubs, this then gives that club hope and they get something from the game because of it.

we do have the players and i think bob would feel better too if he was truly given a 3 year deal. the shackles would then surely come off.

 

[blueju]

I agree with the Bob idea, he should have been told he was the manager full stop. Also he has hardly been playing his own players. I do think he has players at his disposal who can play a more pressing ,attacking game, without giving too much away at the back.

 

[element_mcfc]

shush ur lips, believe in ur own team god damn it

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with the Bob idea, he should have been told he was the manager full stop. Also he has hardly been playing his own players. I do think he has players at his disposal who can play a more pressing ,attacking game, without giving too much away at the back.

It doesn't matter whether they are his players or not, they are to a man all top level professionals and the vast majority of them international class footballers.

I do agree though that we have the players to play a more pressing, attacking, game. I'm sure there will be people who will immediately pipe up with "ooh, but that's what we did under Hughes" - but I don't think we did.

If we could marry the discipline which Mancini is instilling in the players, with the belief and desire to go out and overrun teams like Sunderland, then I think we'd be on to a winner. Whether or not he can do that...we'll have to wait and see...

 

[simon23]

fully agree with the OP's origional post

there is now reason whatsoever for mancini in a lot of the games to continue with his over catuious approach (and after all we are still conceeding goals anyway....not at the rrate we were with MH but we are still conceeding)

we need to go and dominate teams, not sit back absorb pressure and hope to hit them on the break....I can undestand these tactics away at stamford bridge but not at home and not away to sunderalnd, fulham etc

It will cost us 4th place (and maybe 5th place) if he continues

 

[GaudinoMotors]

They play pass and move, constantly looking to advance up the pitch and find space as oppossed to pass and play statues. The don't set out to be over defensive nor to play as a holding team looking to play on the break.
Got to hand it to Rasher cheeks he plays attractive balanced football - his teams make it look far easier than it is. Bruce, Hughes, Strachan etc have all tried - his aura of respect and fear within his squads ensures he gets performance out of the most limited of players and brilliance out of the good ones. Got to credit his coaching and the way he gets his coaches to get them set up and play as he wishes, but to some extent the loyalty and backing in him by the club have enforced this. Our players always know another manager will be along in a few months.
Looking forward to a Fergieless nitid !!