The influence of Pep on English football lower leagues

[Deleted member 77198]

So, what you're saying is that football is boring at all levels now? The Rags and Dippers reckon we're boring, so by extension they must hate all football in England now.

There are some City games that I think are boring so there will be a lot of City games that are boring to watch for non-City fans.

This is not because of City and the way we play football, but because the opposition’s tactics are boring. At times mind numbingly so.

 

[Iassel]

It’s a bit of a false equivalence to say it’s simply the Guardiola factor - the reality is that the way the game is coached professionally has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, along with the changes to the youth game to prioritise technical ability.

The tactics of ‘hit the big man’, ‘turn the defence around’ and ‘target the channels’ have gone extinct at a rapid rate because it simply doesn’t work against teams with a well coached pattern of play offensively and defensively.

Still though, there are several teams in the championship with Southampton the worst who target possession above anything else - they will routinely play 30+ passes GK - CB - RB - CB - GK - CB - LB - CB - GK etc. with no attempt to break any press and that sort of plan is just as poor as hitting the big fella.

 

[SambaStyle]

How many typical hoofball teams are left in the top flight now?

Everton? Luton? Sheff U? West Ham?

One by one they are falling to a continental possession style, and I can't be happier! If Leicester and Southampton come up next year, they are another two sides averaging over 600 passes per game in the Champ.

 

[The Future’s Blue!]

How many typical hoofball teams are left in the top flight now?

Everton? Luton? Sheff U? West Ham?

One by one they are falling to a continental possession style, and I can't be happier! If Leicester and Southampton come up next year, they are another two sides averaging over 600 passes per game in the Champ.

You can add the Rags to that list.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

Championship - Team Statistics

Championship Team Statistics

www.whoscored.com

Look at these stats.


12 teams in the Championship this season averaging over 80% passing accuracy, 4 teams averaging 500+ short passes per game, 12 teams averaging 400+ short passes per game.

Mind blowing.


Now...

2015/2016 stats (year before Pep)

Championship Playoff - Team Statistics

Championship Playoff Team Statistics

www.whoscored.com

0 teams averaging 80% passing accuracy. 0 teams averaging 500+ short passes per game, 1 team averaging 400+ short passes per game.

Quite incredible.

Fantastic. Confirms my feeling that the quality of English football has never been higher. Clubs are dominating the European competitions and England are probably in the top three in the world. Yet I still spoke to a rival fan (Leeds) last week who insisted the Premier League was poor. If you look on youtube in the 90s you see some diabolical defending and lots of long balls.

 

[Bantamgaz]

Hughes tried to have us playing the Pep way and it simply doesnt work when you havent got the players in to do it :(

 

[Plays By Sense Of Smell]

I think Peps influence is fucking a lot of teams up, they don’t realise that to play the way City do, takes amazing ability, supreme confidence and top notch spatial awareness… Teams at that level don’t have that skill set..
I watch the football league show regularly and it’s comical watching some teams try to play the Pep way….
Fair play to em for trying though ..

Although it may be the case that a bit of the Pep way at a lower level can work well against the old style effort and strength at a lower level.
Allows players who have some of that awareness and skill to bring and use their quality.

And while a different game with different dynamics, I think experienced a similar thing in 5 a side when my side’s movement and teamwork would regularly (most of the time) beat teams with stronger/more individually skilful players.

We just understood the principle of clever effort, spatial coverage and continuously making yourself available to make your teammate’s options easier - without that necessarily needing to be a decisive pass each time.

 

[Keeper!]

If you could, would anyone go back to the old style of play?

Some teams need to, Pep ball is wonderful but only if you have the right environment and players, some teams simply can't do it, which is totally understandable.

There are many ways to win a football game.