Just what the the intercourse do we do in training after watching that tonight I saw no evidence of any game plan any system just 11 players trying to do their own thing

Really dissatisfied with that performance , not worth £10 . Just what our keeper was doing in the first half I don't know .
More questions than answers .
New players only here a few days some nice touches , Pitman got better as game progressed . Old faces same old faults . Will have to improve vastly on tonights showing .

Hope on friday the main first 11 will start to give us a better idea how the season will pan out for us .

At some point we will have to give Doig and Magnay a game or two in central defence as they will be playing in the first game at least.

Two weeks before we start for real and we still don't know our best eleven , or system . Not looking good .

Quoted from DocTower

Two weeks before we start for real and we still don't know our best eleven , or system . Not looking good .

To be fair, he didn't know it last season either. Clearly clueless in Cleethorpes.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

To be fair, he didn't know it last season either. Clearly clueless in Cleethorpes.

Whs

Quoted from MuddyWaters

To be fair, he didn't know it last season either. Clearly clueless in Cleethorpes.

It's a worry that after all this time we have seen no improvements in tactics or performances, optimism running low and we haven't even kicked a ball in vein. I don't think Hurst will ever know his starting eleven.

To follow up, does his traditional pose of arms folded and a finger on his chin fill you with the thought that he has zero passion?

Quoted from MuddyWaters

To follow up, does his traditional pose of arms folded and a finger on his chin fill you with the thought that he has zero passion?

That will get a few.

So we lose 4-0 to a team 2 leagues above us in a friendly and the worlds going to end, some of you lot need to get a grip.

Quoted from jonnyboy82

That will get a few.

;D not off me though

Quoted from ackomariner

;D not off me though

Remember our opinion doesn't count  ;D

Quoted from brad_gtfc

So we lose 4-1 to a team 2 leagues above us in a friendly and the worlds going to end, some of you lot need to get a grip.

Who scored the one for us, was it after I left three minutes after the final whistle

Quoted from brad_gtfc

So we lose 4-1 to a team 2 leagues above us in a friendly and the worlds going to end, some of you lot need to get a grip.

Can you point me to this thread about the world ending.

Some of you lot need to stop dramatising some  peoples opinions on here.

Quoted from Garth

Who scored the one for us, was it after I left three minutes after the final whistle

Edit, don't know where I made that goal up from.

Quoted from jonnyboy82

Can you point me to this thread about the world ending.

Some of you lot need to stop dramatising some  peoples opinions on here.

Maybe your taking things too literally.

Quoted from brad_gtfc

So we lose 4-1 to a team 2 leagues above us in a friendly and the worlds going to end, some of you lot need to get a grip.

4-0 wasn't it? People just seeing more of the same, we have a decent squad apart from a pair of strikers who are clearly not good enough. Lennie couldn't trap a bag of cement and I believe that Hannah lives in Offside Close (not very), Offsidetown, Offsideshire.

Why oh why are we expected to accept another year of inept management in this shite league?

Quoted from MuddyWaters

4-0 wasn't it? People just seeing more of the same, we have a decent squad apart from a pair of strikers who are clearly not good enough. Lennie couldn't trap a bag of cement and I believe that Hannah lives in Offside Close (not very), Offsidetown, Offsideshire.

Why oh why are we expected to accept another year of inept management in this shite league?

We haven't even started the season yet? This is the 1st pre season Hurst has had to mould this team on his own. We've played a team 2 leagues above us with a team of triaists and new signings who don't even know each other.

Quoted from brad_gtfc

We haven't even started the season yet? This is the 1st pre season Hurst has had to mould this team on his own. We've played a team 2 leagues above us with a team of triaists and new signings who don't even know each other.

He had over 40 games last season and we got worse as we went on. Aren't you slightly scared that he bases his attack around a man with an abysmal goal scoring record?

Comical hysteria. Comical.  ;D

Quoted from brad_gtfc

We haven't even started the season yet? This is the 1st pre season Hurst has had to mould this team on his own. We've played a team 2 leagues above us with a team of triaists and new signings who don't even know each other.

You need to learn Brad that it is impossible to employ logical positivism (look it up Codger) with some on here...

Quoted from MuddyWaters

He had over 40 games last season and we got worse as we went on. Aren't you slightly scared that he bases his attack around a man with an abysmal goal scoring record?

Utterly hysterical! ;D

Quoted from MuddyWaters

He had over 40 games last season and we got worse as we went on. Aren't you slightly scared that he bases his attack around a man with an abysmal goal scoring record?

No, because anybody who knows anything about the game knows LJL isn't a main striker, he's the target man, he needs someone alongside him to score the goals. Not many teams have 2 out and out goal scoring strikers in their side.

Quoted from brad_gtfc

So we lose 4-0 to a team 2 leagues above us in a friendly and the worlds going to end, some of you lot need to get a grip.

I am sick of hearing its a friendly it does not count. Could you imagine ab sending a team out with that thought in their minds a game is a game and should be treated as such by the players and the MANAGER  if I had seen a spine within the team a passion to achieve a system of play regardless of the result I would have left happy but all I saw was was the same aimless hoof forward that we have tried to do for the last three years

Quoted from crusty ole pie

I am sick of hearing its a friendly it does not count. Could you imagine ab sending a team out with that thought in their minds a game is a game and should be treated as such by the players and the MANAGER  if I had seen a spine within the team a passion to achieve a system of play regardless of the result I would have left happy but all I saw was was the same aimless hoof forward that we have tried to do for the last three years

What so a Buckley team never played in a friendly going through the motions? Come on, lets be realistic. Results don't matter in friendlys, they dont get you points, they dont get you promoted. They get people fit and players getting to know one another. Half of that team tonight don't even know each other properly yet so how can you expect to see slick passing football with a good understanding is beyond me. We are also playing a team 2 leagues above us so we are not going to pass them off the park.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

4-0 wasn't it? People just seeing more of the same, we have a decent squad apart from a pair of strikers who are clearly not good enough. Lennie couldn't trap a bag of cement and I believe that Hannah lives in Offside Close (not very), Offsidetown, Offside.

Why oh why are we expected to accept another year of inept management in this shite league?

I nearly bit and answered this seriously. But have decided to answer it like other rational humans have....... You are a comical genius.

Quoted from barralad

Utterly hysterical! ;D

You really believe we improved as the season went on? Southport home and away? Hyde? Braintree? Woking?

Fully expect us to start 442 against Bristol Rovers. I'm pretty sure Paul knows his 11, doubt it'll be any different to this(after suspensions etc)...

Macca

Bignot
Toto
Pearson
Thomas

Mackreth
Brown
Disley
Neilson

Hannah
Shop

Simples. Although obviously it'll be Doig and Magnay and Arnold in for the 3 bad boys first game.

Probably agree with your team selection with what we have now . Top 6 at least , will get a better idea after 10 games played .

Quoted from itsnotcoditshaddock

Fully expect us to start 442 against Bristol Rovers. I'm pretty sure Paul knows his 11, doubt it'll be any different to this(after suspensions etc)...

Macca

Bignot
Toto
Pearson
Thomas

Mackreth
Brown
Disley
Neilson

Hannah
Shop

Simples. Although obviously it'll be Doig and Magnay and Arnold in for the 3 bad boys first game.

I really hope we have at least one striker different in that starting line up. Wouldn't mind us signing Pittman to give us something different. But ideally we need at least 2 in my opinion.

On last night's performance, it wouldn't surprise me to see Arnold playing as a striker at times this season though I'd have thought he'll start on the wing against Rovers. Assuming that Neilson/Mackreth are the first choice wingers in a 4-4-2, Arnold will be a good one to have on the bench as he could come on for either winger or as a forward as required.

I agree with mariner91 that we need another 2 strikers, however. Pittman looked decent last night, but the question is whether he's willing to stay on for another game as a triallist?

Quoted from itsnotcoditshaddock

Fully expect us to start 442 against Bristol Rovers. I'm pretty sure Paul knows his 11, doubt it'll be any different to this(after suspensions etc)...

Macca

Bignot
Toto
Pearson
Thomas

Mackreth
Brown
Disley
Neilson

Hannah
Shop

Simples. Although obviously it'll be Doig and Magnay and Arnold in for the 3 bad boys first game.

Genuine question - is the side above significantly better than the one towards the end of last season?

There's 4 changes there and right back is certainly weaker (he was second choice right back last season).

Toto or Boyce?  Macreth or Rodman?  Brown or Kerr?

I don't see the significant improvement needed to really make us title challengers.

Definitely short of 2 strikers, and not just 2 to make up the numbers and sit on the bench.  For me they would need to be better than both LJL and Hannah for us to improve.

Arnold better than Macreth at present. Given he will take Neilson's place I reckon he could be hard to dislodge especially if he sets up a couple of goals and scores himself. Clearly he means business and does not intend to be on the bench.

Quoted from Tea bag seats

It's a worry that after all this time we have seen no improvements in tactics or performances, optimism running low and we haven't even kicked a ball in vein. I don't think Hurst will ever know his starting eleven.

If it was anything like last season, we'll kick plenty of balls in vain.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

4-0 wasn't it? People just seeing more of the same, we have a decent squad apart from a pair of strikers who are clearly not good enough. Lennie couldn't trap a bag of cement and I believe that Hannah lives in Offside Close (not very), Offsidetown, Offsideshire.

Why oh why are we expected to accept another year of inept management in this shite league?

because we where not good enough last season and unless they change the rules you don't get promoted by stamping your feet and shouting don't they know we where once in the championship.

You could always throw your money in to the club and let everyone insult you at every turn instead

Quoted from Rob_in_Grimsby

because we where not good enough last season and unless they change the rules you don't get promoted by stamping your feet and shouting don't they know we where once in the championship.

You could always throw your money in to the club and let everyone insult you at every turn instead

Instead of looking at the negative, can you not see that I pointed out that we have the makings of a decent squad. My point is that Shop and Hannah weren't good enough last year, how are we supposed to get promoted this?

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Instead of looking at the negative, can you not see that I pointed out that we have the makings of a decent squad. My point is that Shop and Hannah weren't good enough last year, how are we supposed to get promoted this?

I'm not saying we'll get promoted as you never know how the season will pan out but our midfield it far better than last season. That alone will result in more goals for Hannah and the Shop

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Instead of looking at the negative, can you not see that I pointed out that we have the makings of a decent squad. My point is that Shop and Hannah weren't good enough last year, how are we supposed to get promoted this?

You're right, they're not good enough strikers to get us promoted but I'm hoping there'll be at least 2 additions. One hopefully with pace to burn.

Quoted from mariner91

You're right, they're not good enough strikers to get us promoted but I'm hoping there'll be at least 2 additions. One hopefully with pace to burn.

Two  out there now Bogle and Pittman, just need to make it happen before Luton or FGR

Quoted from Tea bag seats

It's a worry that after all this time we have seen no improvements in tactics or performances, optimism running low and we haven't even kicked a ball in vein. [/b]I don't think Hurst will ever know his starting eleven.[b]

I would imagine he knows them quite well ,he speaks to them most days. ;)

Central midfield was weak last season - we were lucky to scrape some of the wins - the offensive side is looking stronger, but needs a free scoring forward for this level!

Lots of moaners before we play a league game against equal opponents.

Mansfield should be more of a realistic measure of what the squad has to offer, still against higher level opposition.

The interplay from Doncaster last night was top drawer and the passing accuracy made our back four look like they had been mugged!!

Few teams in this league will play to that fashion or keen standard.

The question is - do the back four learn and adapt to accurate passing play, or just let opponents dictate play?

We will perhaps have to wait a while for them to settle into a steady unit, especially with the suspensions to get through, but then, they must act as a unit, whoever stays in place.

The midfield taking a higher line and pressing for second balls will help to relieve pressure in the first couple of games.

Judge after the first two league games !!

Our problem last season was the midfield,

We had a decent defence and the strikers did as best they could with the service,

This season we have got a better midfield, the defence should be stronger than last,

So LJL and Hannah should both score more goals than last season,

If we get another striker, then the job is a good un,

Back to the football league we go. 8)

I feel that we'll have to judge the overall relative quality of the squad once Hurst has finished assembling it. But, at the moment, IMO:

The defence looks a bit susceptible, especially at full back. It doesn't look strong or mean enough to provoke thoughts of winning the league to me.

The midfield looks quite a bit better player for player. 3 good signings made there.

Our forwards weren't good enough to get us promoted last season and that situation looks worse than it did whilst we've only got 2 signed, and they were both here last season.

We don't have enough to challenge for the championship for me. Not on what we've got today. Why we are refusing to pay football peanuts for the striker we apparently want I'll never know.

For me, just as important as a player for player comparison is a look at other fundamentals that we got wrong last season and for us ask ourselves, do we think we are addressing these aspects?:

*Playing too deep
*Great gaps between defence and midfield, and midfield and forwards.
*Lack of pace
*Lack of physical strength
*Lack of energy and urgency
*Poor turnover of second balls
*Average to poor set-piece delivery
*Ball retention
*Willingness to pass as opposed to defaulting to invariably 'hitting the channel'/looking for LJL
*Shortage of movement
*Quality of crossing

I think we all want to see these aspects much improved in the first few games. Not sure where we are on that scale at the moment.

Quoted from chaos33

*Playing too deep
*Great gaps between defence and midfield, and midfield and forwards.
*Lack of pace
*Lack of physical strength
*Lack of energy and urgency
*Poor turnover of second balls
*Average to poor set-piece delivery
*Ball retention
*Willingness to pass as opposed to defaulting to invariably 'hitting the channel'/looking for LJL
*Shortage of movement
*Quality of crossing

I think we all want to see these aspects much improved in the first few games. Not sure where we are on that scale at the moment.

I think we'll probably play a 'compact' formation as in previous seasons as this appears to be Hurst's general preferred style at present. Nothing wrong with that, as long as you have enough attacking threat to get the goals as well as not conceding them. The full-backs struggled last night but, as I've mentioned elsewhere, they aren't likely to be facing such capable players very often this season so I'm hopeful they will do OK.

Sitting deep was an issue last season due to the almost complete lack of pace in midfield and up front. This is something which has been resolved to a good degree with the addition of Arnold and Mackreth and Brown seems to be a busy player as well, if not exactly rapid. If Pittman and/or another pacy striker joins us, that will help us up front. I'm hopeful that, even if we sit relatively deep, the extra pace should reduce the gaps between the defence and midfield and the midfield and strikers.

Arnold looks strong and aggressive as well as quick to me and I think he could be a real asset. Pittman looked powerful so ought to be a good addition (if we sign him). Brown looked comfortable in possession last night and put some nice passes through midfield so will hopefully help us avoid the 'punt towards LJL' Plan A we saw too often last season. His link up play with Neilson looked very good.

Best crosses put in last night came from Thomas (as usual) and Brown but to be fair to Mackreth, he was playing against a very competent higher-division defender so perhaps not too surprising he didn't really get the beating of him.

I didn't see any really good set pieces put into the box so I'm not sure what will happen there, but I think we need an improvement from last season in this respect.

All-in-all, I was relatively encouraged by aspects of last night's performance, despite the drubbing we received. I think the extra pace is something we've needed for years now and pace alone can cause defensive errors at this level especially.

I just hope that Hurst is able to sign a couple of useful strikers for us as we definitely need a couple more yet. I'd be happy enough with Pittman from what I saw last night. A stronger, pacier Ademeno, but hopefully without the same glass ankles.

We don't really need that many more goals. Just a few more in the right games last season would have seen us challenging near the top. We drew way too many games against mid and lower table opposition at home because our forward line didn't have the nous or pace to nick a winner and gain 2 extra points.

Our away form was great for gaining points, but our home form was too patchy as teams parked the bus and we didn't have the ability to break them down. We were too predictable and one dimensional. Cure that problem at home with a Hearn type goalgetter and someone who makes set pieces count more often and we will be fine.

Despite some of the poor footy on show last season, we were not that far off the pace. Hope PH has learned where we came up short and addressed that.

Exactly. We weren't very good last season but still made the playoffs.

I'm not convinced scott neilson does enough to start. Even if he does, he normally gets dragged off after an hour
Mackreth will definitely start but will probably only play an hour too
So this leaves plenty of game time for arnold to show what he can do

Quoted from brad_gtfc

No, because anybody who knows anything about the game knows LJL isn't a main striker, he's the target man, he needs someone alongside him to score the goals. Not many teams have 2 out and out goal scoring strikers in their side.

But Hurst has already suggested a 4-3-3 with LJL up top on his own? So where the hell do your goals come from?

Quoted from pontoonlew

But Hurst has already suggested a 4-3-3 with LJL up top on his own? So where the hell do your goals come from?

The other 2 of the front 3. Also runs from midfield, overlaps, set pieces, etc. The usual.

Doubt we will make the playoffs unless we sign a pacy goal scorer, obvious statement I know, you know,  Paul Hurst must know, lets do it quickly and get someone bedded in before Bristol

Last season when Luton came here, they had a team full of fast players that sat deep, absorbed everything we threw at them, & then caught us on the break with fast counter attacks.

I was surprised at how defensive they were, but they walked the league by making sure they didn't get caught at the back, & making the most of it when they got it.

A point that Paul Hurst would have noticed, hence he's gone for fast counter attacking players this season.

Quoted from ginnywings

We don't really need that many more goals. Just a few more in the right games last season would have seen us challenging near the top. We drew way too many games against mid and lower table opposition at home because our forward line didn't have the nous or pace to nick a winner and gain 2 extra points.

Our away form was great for gaining points, but our home form was too patchy as teams parked the bus and we didn't have the ability to break them down. We were too predictable and one dimensional. Cure that problem at home with a Hearn type goalgetter and someone who makes set pieces count more often and we will be fine.

Despite some of the poor footy on show last season, we were not that far off the pace. Hope PH has learned where we came up short and addressed that.

Very sensible post.

Quoted from crusty ole pie

Just what the the intercourse do we do in training after watching that tonight I saw no evidence of any game plan any system just 11 players trying to do their own thing

Hurst just may be trying out different tactics/players. Give him more time to adjust with tactics/players and hopefully we will see a improvement as pre season continues in time for the start of the league

Quoted from Maringer

The other 2 of the front 3. Also runs from midfield, overlaps, set pieces, etc. The usual.

But our wingers and midfielders don't have barely any goalscoring form to speak of?

Quoted from pontoonlew

But our wingers and midfielders don't have barely any goalscoring form to speak of?

How can you say that when only Disley and Neilson remain from last year (oh and Paddy)? And Disley scores goals and Paddy does too.

Hannah was our top scorer last season. I think he'd probably still play as one of the front 3 in such a formation though he's perhaps not as well suited to this as some of our other players. He should certainly be looking to top the scoring charts again this year.

Neilson scored a few last season (though I think he should score more as he doesn't shoot enough), Arnold has a reasonable goalscoring record at this level (got 10 the other season for Alfreton, I think). We could do with a few more from Mackreth.

Disley will score goals if last season is anything to go by and Brown and McLaughlin will chip in with some as well.

Not to forget that we've got at least 1 and possibly 2 strikers still to sign so they'll be getting goals as well. As I've said before, I think LJL is capable of double figures at this level - he certainly gets into the right positions but needs to stop missing too many sitters!

We could really do with more goals from the centre-halves this season as well. Two tall, powerful blokes and with the right service, they should score some goals from set pieces. This is one aspect where I've been disappointed with Pearson since his arrival - he scored loads for Boston but seems to miss the chances for us - another sitter missed on Tuesday as he really should have scored with his second half chance but failed to hit the target.

Quoted from mariner91

How can you say that when only Disley and Neilson remain from last year (oh and Paddy)? And Disley scores goals and Paddy does too.

Because believe it or not, those other signings have played football before and not scored many goals. For all I'm excited by Mackreth, he's not a scorer of goals. Even if Disley gets his usual 10 ish and LJL gets the same, we're still a shed load of goals short across the team with few of them having ever scored the required ammount.

That's presuming Hannah is behind LJL in the pecking order.

Quoted from pontoonlew

Because believe it or not, those other signings have played football before and not scored many goals. For all I'm excited by Mackreth, he's not a scorer of goals. Even if Disley gets his usual 10 ish and LJL gets the same, we're still a shed load of goals short across the team with few of them having ever scored the required ammount.

That's presuming Hannah is behind LJL in the pecking order.

Connell's scoring record was poor before he played for us. You can't say with anymore certainty that Mackreth won't notch 10 goals than I can say he will.

Where has these shed load of girls disappeared from last year? We scored 65 goals last season and most of those goals are still in the squad, the problem was we drew too many because we didn't have the guile to break down teams who park the bus. I'm hoping that with added pace and improvements out wide and in midfield we'll hopefully be able to nick a few more of those games which would make a big difference.

I'm not for a second saying we don't need another striker. I've stated on here a couple of times that I think we need at least 2. For me, I'd like to see someone with pace such as Pittman sign (if fit I think he'd be a great signing) and a clever player in the vein of Gary Jones as that is something I think we lack currently going forward. But people are acting as if we scored no goals last year when in reality, last year's total plus a player capable of getting around the 15 mark (ideally in close games) would make a considerable difference to our league points and position. I don't think we'd ever be a team that scores for fun under Hurst as he was a defensive player and sets his teams up to be solid. And that's fine, I'd rather we went up winning most games 1-0 than to fail in the play offs scoring 100. But he's recognised what we were lacking going forward last year (not hard granted) and has so far acted on it.

Quoted from mariner91

I'm not for a second saying we don't need another striker. I've stated on here a couple of times that I think we need at least 2. For me, I'd like to see someone with pace such as Pittman sign (if fit I think he'd be a great signing) and a clever player in the vein of Gary Jones as that is something I think we lack currently going forward. But people are acting as if we scored no goals last year when in reality, last year's total plus a player capable of getting around the 15 mark (ideally in close games) would make a considerable difference to our league points and position. I don't think we'd ever be a team that scores for fun under Hurst as he was a defensive player and sets his teams up to be solid. And that's fine, I'd rather we went up winning most games 1-0 than to fail in the play offs scoring 100. But he's recognised what we were lacking going forward last year (not hard granted) and has so far acted on it.

In general, you make a lot of sense. My biggest concern is that we still seem intent on basing our attack around a striker who doesn't score. It's absolutely right that pace breaks down defences at this level and LJL clearly has pace as well as strength, but it's even more important in a 433 that your central striker is prolific than it is in a 442.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

In general, you make a lot of sense. My biggest concern is that we still seem intent on basing our attack around a striker who doesn't score. It's absolutely right that pace breaks down defences at this level and LJL clearly has pace as well as strength, but it's even more important in a 433 that your central striker is prolific than it is in a 442.

I share that concern. I think LJL has a role to play this season. He has his detractors but he can play a very useful role as he does give the defenders a headache and can draw them away from a player more likely to score. But I wouldn't like to think we were entering the season with him as a foremost striker and I don't think we will. But time will tell.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

In general, you make a lot of sense. My biggest concern is that we still seem intent on basing our attack around a striker who doesn't score. It's absolutely right that pace breaks down defences at this level and LJL clearly has pace as well as strength, but it's even more important in a 433 that your central striker is prolific than it is in a 442.

I'd disagree with your view that the central attacker in the 4-3-3 needs to be the one scoring the goals. All you need is the goals to come from somewhere so, if LJL (or somebody else) is up there winning the ball, laying it off, or just forcing defenders into mistakes, it is quite possible for the other two attackers to be picking up the pieces and scoring the goals. Of course, you still need a couple of the three strikers to be scoring a decent number of goals, whichever ones they are.

The main issue with 4-3-3 as a formation, I'd say, is that it tends to stay more as a 4-5-1 when the team isn't performing effectively. It is very reliant on the front 3 plus one or two of the midfielders to get up and down the pitch very quickly so the attackers aren't isolated and, when we tried it last season, we were so lacking in pace that this is what tended to happen.

I'd still expect to see us play 4-4-2 the majority of the time this season, but having 4-3-3 (or even 4-5-1 away from home at times) in the locker would be handy, especially against the teams who flood the midfield area with players at BP.

For me this notion about teams coming to BP and "parking the bus" is just a bullshit excuse for our inability to beat these teams because of our lack of a decent goal scorer and the p!ssing about with swapping players about.

Last season the likes of Aldershot, Nuneaton, Cambridge, Welling, Macclesfield, Halifax and Woking all left with one or all three points because they played better than us not because they came here to defend and nick a goal.  

Quoted from Maringer

I'd disagree with your view that the central attacker in the 4-3-3 needs to be the one scoring the goals. All you need is the goals to come from somewhere so, if LJL (or somebody else) is up there winning the ball, laying it off, or just forcing defenders into mistakes, it is quite possible for the other two attackers to be picking up the pieces and scoring the goals. Of course, you still need a couple of the three strikers to be scoring a decent number of goals, whichever ones they are.

The main issue with 4-3-3 as a formation, I'd say, is that it tends to stay more as a 4-5-1 when the team isn't performing effectively. It is very reliant on the front 3 plus one or two of the midfielders to get up and down the pitch very quickly so the attackers aren't isolated and, when we tried it last season, we were so lacking in pace that this is what tended to happen.

I'd still expect to see us play 4-4-2 the majority of the time this season, but having 4-3-3 (or even 4-5-1 away from home at times) in the locker would be handy, especially against the teams who flood the midfield area with players at BP.

Thanks for making my point for me. If the front three becomes a front one, he needs to be a goalscorer!

Quoted from arryarryarry

For me this notion about teams coming to BP and "parking the bus" is just a bullshit excuse for our inability to beat these teams because of our lack of a decent goal scorer and the p!ssing about with swapping players about.

Last season the likes of Aldershot, Nuneaton, Cambridge, Welling, Macclesfield, Halifax and Woking all left with one or all three points because they played better than us not because they came here to defend and nick a goal.  

Agree with you comment , sometimes we just expect these lesser teams to roll over . Where as when they come here it's like their cup final and seem more up for it than us .
Also , has been said before but our inability to change tactics and our substitutions to change a game .

Quoted from mariner91

Connell's scoring record was poor before he played for us. You can't say with anymore certainty that Mackreth won't notch 10 goals than I can say he will.

Where has these shed load of girls disappeared from last year? We scored 65 goals last season and most of those goals are still in the squad, the problem was we drew too many because we didn't have the guile to break down teams who park the bus. I'm hoping that with added pace and improvements out wide and in midfield we'll hopefully be able to nick a few more of those games which would make a big difference.

I'm not for a second saying we don't need another striker. I've stated on here a couple of times that I think we need at least 2. For me, I'd like to see someone with pace such as Pittman sign (if fit I think he'd be a great signing) and a clever player in the vein of Gary Jones as that is something I think we lack currently going forward. But people are acting as if we scored no goals last year when in reality, last year's total plus a player capable of getting around the 15 mark (ideally in close games) would make a considerable difference to our league points and position. I don't think we'd ever be a team that scores for fun under Hurst as he was a defensive player and sets his teams up to be solid. And that's fine, I'd rather we went up winning most games 1-0 than to fail in the play offs scoring 100. But he's recognised what we were lacking going forward last year (not hard granted) and has so far acted on it.

Connell hadn't played at this level before, our latest bout of signings have.

Last year 65 goals wasn't enough, I believe it was the lowest of anybody in the play-offs? Also, saying you'd rather us win games 1-0 every game rather than score 100 goals. That's all well and good, but the form in the season isn't 'out the window' in the play-offs like people said going into the play-offs. The reason we didn't get the result in the first game in the play-offs was the lack of fire power up front, we should have won that first leg and would've with a goalscorer. That wasn't a problem that just 'cropped up' in the play-offs, it was an ongoing problem throughout the season that Hurst failed to address.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Thanks for making my point for me. If the front three becomes a front one, he needs to be a goalscorer!

Well, no.

As noted, if the front three becomes a front one, you're doing it wrong in the first place!

You're also unlikely to score many goals - how many players are there actually out there who score goals when playing the lone striker role and outnumbered 2 or 3 to one by defenders? At this level, pretty much none.

If you're deliberately playing 4-5-1 away from home you need a player to hold up the ball to relieve pressure and allow other players to break forward - not necessarily one to score goals! Any of those are a bonus.