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"Plan B"

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Tommy
August 1, 2015, 5:05pm
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In the last couple of years we've not had much of a "Plan B" when things weren't going our way.

We've tinkered about a few times under Hurst/Scott&Hurst with 433 but that hasn't worked.

But it looks like we may have stumbled on a solution in the 5-3-2/3-5-2 we've switched to now a few times during pre-season.

It allows us to play the 3 top class (at this level) centre-backs we've got and allows us to get more bodies in central midfield without losing one of the outlets up front.

The other thing is it gives us a bit of flexibility with how we set the 3 midfielders up. It could work quite well with 2 CM's and then Arnold ahead of them "in the hole" for example.

Time will tell if it becomes a genuine option during the season but it looks to me as if it could. And I can imagine Hurst going for it as it saves him having to leave out one of Pearson/Gowling/Nsiala.

UTM.


"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one."
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MeanwoodMariner
August 1, 2015, 5:57pm

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I agree with your positive vibes but I think you're not giving Hurst enough credit by saying we've "stumbled" upon a possible solution. He's actively been testing it and it seems to be a decent option.  
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acko338
August 1, 2015, 8:22pm
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You also need the right players who can adapt and look comfortable with formation changes.

This squad looks like it is no problem to them.
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Grantham_Mariner
August 1, 2015, 8:54pm

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Plan B sorted.

What about Plan C !!!!!!


If the football is bad you can always watch the gulls.
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Mrs Doyle
August 1, 2015, 10:18pm
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Formations only work if the players are good enough we have players that can confidently play in several positions if need be yet still be a potent force. That is the big difference we can adapt our play to counter are opponents. No doubt a lot will park the bus but having a good attack and not relying on one man (Lewis) any more could be a real blessing.
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rancido
August 2, 2015, 11:15am

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Quoted from 59[b
]Formations only work if the players are good enough we have players that can confidently play in several positions if need be yet still be a potent force. That is the big difference we can adapt our play to counter are opponents.[/b] No doubt a lot will park the bus but having a good attack and not relying on one man (Lewis) any more could be a real blessing.



This is a very important point and often overlooked by fans. Players win games not systems BUT if the players are adaptable to cover more than one role and play accordingly then the system becomes important. A lot of full-backs can't play the role of wing-back and certainly a lot of centre-backs are very uncomfortable when they are pulled wide. Although Toto is no full back he can certainly cover the right back area as indeed can Pearson on the left ( let's face it he did it enough times when Aswad went AWOL ! ). The way PH picked is team against Boston , especially with the changes , shows to me that he was using certain players versatility to see how they coped with a change of formation. He may have been forced to because of Marshalls injury but he certainly used the opportunity to try something different. The fact that we played without a " conventional target man " also demonstrated an intentional change in our approach.


The Future is Black & White.
"The commonest thing on this planet is not water , as some people believe, but stupidity ". Frank Zappa
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Garth
August 3, 2015, 1:51pm

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Quoted from rancido



This is a very important point and often overlooked by fans. Players win games not systems BUT if the players are adaptable to cover more than one role and play accordingly then the system becomes important. A lot of full-backs can't play the role of wing-back and certainly a lot of centre-backs are very uncomfortable when they are pulled wide. Although Toto is no full back he can certainly cover the right back area as indeed can Pearson on the left ( let's face it he did it enough times when Aswad went AWOL ! ). The way PH picked is team against Boston , especially with the changes , shows to me that he was using certain players versatility to see how they coped with a change of formation. He may have been forced to because of Marshalls injury but he certainly used the opportunity to try something different. The fact that we played without a " conventional target man " also demonstrated an intentional change in our approach.


Bogle will be our target man when played
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Maringer
August 3, 2015, 3:19pm
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Not convinced that Bogle is strong enough in the air to play the 'target man' role. However, he does look strong on the ball so, providing we play the ball into his feet, he could do a decent job in that respect and I reckon he'll win lots of free-kicks a la Akinde.

I'm just not convinced he's going to win too many headers against the massive meathead defenders we get in this division.
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diehardmariner
August 3, 2015, 4:48pm
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Based on what I've seen so far in pre-season all of our strikers will be used as target-men but in a different mould to how LJL was.  

Last year with LJL it was often hit it high and just anywhere.  If it's near LJL he'll either flick it on or (more often the case) pressure/bully the defender into making a mistake.  If it goes to a defender with no pressure on them, LJL chase down and will pressure the defender into making a mistake.  

This pre-season a lot of long passes from the back have been at chest or lower height with the intention of Amond, Pittman, Arnold or Bogle bringing it down and under control, often 30-40 yards out from goal, with the intention of laying it off before turning for the forward pass from midfield.

We've also used the wings to much greater effect too.  Obviously how we play will partly be affected by the opposition but I'd like to think we've got enough quality in our squad to break sides down when they do park the bus rather than resort to formation changes and needed to chase games.

For me the key has to be getting at teams early, especially at BP.  If we get an early goal, sides who have come for a point have to change their approach.  The other important factor is getting sides on the ropes and then finishing them off.  
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rancido
August 3, 2015, 5:09pm

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Quoted from Maringer
Not convinced that Bogle is strong enough in the air to play the 'target man' role. However, he does look strong on the ball so, providing we play the ball into his feet, he could do a decent job in that respect and I reckon he'll win lots of free-kicks a la Akinde.

I'm just not convinced he's going to win too many headers against the massive meathead defenders we get in this division.



That was the point I was trying to make. Long balls down the middle to a " conventional target man " are " bread and meat " to the majority of centre- backs at this level. Once you start playing the ball wide a lot of them get out of their comfort zone and we have he strikers to capitalise on this.


The Future is Black & White.
"The commonest thing on this planet is not water , as some people believe, but stupidity ". Frank Zappa
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