They gave the ball away or passed it straight out of play a few times early on, we are often at our best when the opposition are pissing about and we're no nonsense, really made Kone coming off and the pressing stopping for 20 mins more puzzling.
I would like someone with a better grasp of mathematics than I have (flymofrank?) to confirm my belief that following tonight’s results we will be mathematically safe if we beat Derby tomorrow.
Our identity under GA was clearly being "horrible to play against" and using a certain type of player to achieve that.
Whilst I liked it at the time, football evolves and it won't work forever. Teams began to figure us out.
We are now matching top footballing sides in this league and adapting tactically. Not ONE person predicted that Lonwijk and Forino would start - but it worked. MB clearly does his research.
I think he wants to build a squad with options, and beat teams by playing to our various strengths.
Burton can only get 52 and Cheltenham 53. So 3 more points makes Wycombe safe. I have though not checked to see if any sides have to play each other so we may already be safe.
Barring a huge goal swing, Wycombe will also be safe with just a draw v Derby if Port Vale lose to Peterborough. This because Burton still have to play Cheltenham.
We were very effective with GA because that was our identity and style. When we suddenly went to expansive football with playing around the back it was obvious what was going to happen. Peterborough get a lot of plaudits for passing around at the back (mainly from Peterborough) but if you don't fall into that trap by pressing them they are not that effective, eventually they have to smash it forward. They have good ball players who can pass it, but it is not panacea of a set up. When we tried it with less comfortable passers it was a predictable disaster. This was obvious to most in Adams Park during the early part of the season. Matt seemed to wake up to the fact that he needed to play with the tools he had and tweak rather than evolve overnight into something most teams are not. Butcher being the key.
Next season I hope to see more pace in attack, whilst at the same time building on the rocks Butcher, Scowen, Leahey in the middle. Hanlan back, KVY back, and Kone more experienced we have reason to be positive.
I think the Barnsley game forced Matt to look at other options, in came Rav for the Morecambe game and that will be remembered by all those who saw it as one of the worst displays in living memory - including Rav being caught off his line by a cross (you live and learn). The Stevenage sending off then gave Rav another look and after a wobbly first game he showed he was on a par with Max. What the coaching staff will know is whether Max is at a dip and Rav is at a peak. Neither are likely to improve massively but neither give me sleepless nights when I see their names on the team sheets.
I'm guilty of occasionally getting names wrong but we do seem to have a few that cause some angst currently.
I always have to check Stryjek and Lonwijk. It seems Vokes and Leahy also cause some confusion. Jacobson, I always want to put an e in there somewhere.
I'm waiting for us to sign a Sri Lankan to really put the cat amongst the pidgeons - always loved how Laxman Sivaramakrishnan rolled off the tongue...any other favourites out there?
Of course it will stop. Teams had started to figure us out. It showed. The rule changes that eradicated our time wasting tactics mean that won't work anymore.
Playing like that you will only ever attract a certain type of player, and if we are to become a Championship side (and stay there), we will not attract many decent, technically gifted footballers.
Better to go through the transition now, than realise that it won't work in this league or the league above. All the teams that have "wowed" us this season (and previous seasons) have all been good footballing sides. Ipswich, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Bolton Coventry, Luton, Sunderland. Speaks volumes towards my argument.
Comments
They gave the ball away or passed it straight out of play a few times early on, we are often at our best when the opposition are pissing about and we're no nonsense, really made Kone coming off and the pressing stopping for 20 mins more puzzling.
I would like someone with a better grasp of mathematics than I have (flymofrank?) to confirm my belief that following tonight’s results we will be mathematically safe if we beat Derby tomorrow.
Our identity under GA was clearly being "horrible to play against" and using a certain type of player to achieve that.
Whilst I liked it at the time, football evolves and it won't work forever. Teams began to figure us out.
We are now matching top footballing sides in this league and adapting tactically. Not ONE person predicted that Lonwijk and Forino would start - but it worked. MB clearly does his research.
I think he wants to build a squad with options, and beat teams by playing to our various strengths.
That is correct!
Burton can only get 52 and Cheltenham 53. So 3 more points makes Wycombe safe. I have though not checked to see if any sides have to play each other so we may already be safe.
Burton play Cheltenham and Port Vale play Cambridge.
Our goal difference is also so far superior that even 2 points realistically will be enough.
Barring a huge goal swing, Wycombe will also be safe with just a draw v Derby if Port Vale lose to Peterborough. This because Burton still have to play Cheltenham.
This is spot on.
There is no reason why being horrible to play against, if done well, will stop working.
“…sign a few wingers..”. Crikey !!
We were very effective with GA because that was our identity and style. When we suddenly went to expansive football with playing around the back it was obvious what was going to happen. Peterborough get a lot of plaudits for passing around at the back (mainly from Peterborough) but if you don't fall into that trap by pressing them they are not that effective, eventually they have to smash it forward. They have good ball players who can pass it, but it is not panacea of a set up. When we tried it with less comfortable passers it was a predictable disaster. This was obvious to most in Adams Park during the early part of the season. Matt seemed to wake up to the fact that he needed to play with the tools he had and tweak rather than evolve overnight into something most teams are not. Butcher being the key.
Next season I hope to see more pace in attack, whilst at the same time building on the rocks Butcher, Scowen, Leahey in the middle. Hanlan back, KVY back, and Kone more experienced we have reason to be positive.
What about the goalkeeper situation?
I think the Barnsley game forced Matt to look at other options, in came Rav for the Morecambe game and that will be remembered by all those who saw it as one of the worst displays in living memory - including Rav being caught off his line by a cross (you live and learn). The Stevenage sending off then gave Rav another look and after a wobbly first game he showed he was on a par with Max. What the coaching staff will know is whether Max is at a dip and Rav is at a peak. Neither are likely to improve massively but neither give me sleepless nights when I see their names on the team sheets.
Leahy 😉
I'm guilty of occasionally getting names wrong but we do seem to have a few that cause some angst currently.
I always have to check Stryjek and Lonwijk. It seems Vokes and Leahy also cause some confusion. Jacobson, I always want to put an e in there somewhere.
I'm waiting for us to sign a Sri Lankan to really put the cat amongst the pidgeons - always loved how Laxman Sivaramakrishnan rolled off the tongue...any other favourites out there?
Jacoboson, who's that @Commoner?
Do you mean Joe Jacobson?
Haha! Of all the times to do a typo!
The first two are fairly game to get wrong without checking occasionally.
But getting Vokes wrong is pretty bizarre. Famous player and been here 3 years!
Of course it will stop. Teams had started to figure us out. It showed. The rule changes that eradicated our time wasting tactics mean that won't work anymore.
Playing like that you will only ever attract a certain type of player, and if we are to become a Championship side (and stay there), we will not attract many decent, technically gifted footballers.
Better to go through the transition now, than realise that it won't work in this league or the league above. All the teams that have "wowed" us this season (and previous seasons) have all been good footballing sides. Ipswich, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Bolton Coventry, Luton, Sunderland. Speaks volumes towards my argument.
And I hate to bring this up because the ship has sailed, but how PERFECT would Al-Hamadi been for our current system?
Hopefully Ipswich get promoted and we sneak him back in on loan!
He's a regular in the Championship - they're not gonna loan him out to League One are they
We should sign some of these guys https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/the-greatest-names-in-football
I think tonight told us all we need to know about Bloomfield and the players he has got.
No sign of a Wembley hangover, no feeling sorry for themselves. Straight back into it giving their all and playing for their manager.
That'll do for me
Lasagna would go towards our "Pasta XI" with Tafazoli and Ravizolli.