A Balanced 4-4-2 formation
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Superbretty
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That looks a lot like 4-1-3-2
You’ve got to be kidding
boabthebetter
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What's Hubby done to deserve benching?
Somebody's got to pay for the recent tripe..
poolseasider
Well-known member
Or could be moved into a 4-3-3 certainly not 4-4-2 unless Byers is playing on the wing!
Superbretty
Well-known member
Yeah, it defo isn’t a 4-4-2
A_Tense_Grin
Well-known member
-----------Grimshaw
Gabriel-Pennington-Ekpiteta-Husband
------Byers-Norburn-Morgan
------Dembele-Rhodes-Joseph
Intentions:
- Simple back four without the complication of transitional play
- 3 solid midfielders to try and win a midfield battle that is proving very difficult away from home
- Wingers playing close to Rhodes
Gabriel-Pennington-Ekpiteta-Husband
------Byers-Norburn-Morgan
------Dembele-Rhodes-Joseph
Intentions:
- Simple back four without the complication of transitional play
- 3 solid midfielders to try and win a midfield battle that is proving very difficult away from home
- Wingers playing close to Rhodes
is suggesting on his thread play 4-4-2!!!
boabthebetter
Well-known member
Please don't ever apply for the Pool job then.
tangerinespud
Well-known member
Not sure on a 442 but 433 or 442 (
) is more stable with the current players.
Grimshaw
Gabriel Marvin Casey Husband
Norburn
2 from Byers/Morgan/Virtue/Carey
Dembele
Lavery Joseph
) is more stable with the current players. Grimshaw
Gabriel Marvin Casey Husband
Norburn
2 from Byers/Morgan/Virtue/Carey
Dembele
Lavery Joseph
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
If we’re going to start playing 4-4-2 we might as well just appoint someone off AVFTT as our New Manager.
We’ve just spent the last two transfer windows trying to recruit to the way Critchley wants to play. Now we’re going to basically adopt some kind of 1960’s throwback type of game???
Seriously Fuck Off with this Mike Bassett bollocks
It’s been an up and down season, but now is not the time for feint hearts.
We’ve just spent the last two transfer windows trying to recruit to the way Critchley wants to play. Now we’re going to basically adopt some kind of 1960’s throwback type of game???
Seriously Fuck Off with this Mike Bassett bollocks
It’s been an up and down season, but now is not the time for feint hearts.
Last edited:
We
Well Critchley and the players are going to have to show big character to come back from last nights result. Definitely not the time for feint hearts.If we’re going to start playing 4-4-2 we might as well just appoint someone off AVFTT as our knew Manager.
We’ve just spent the last two transfer windows trying to recruit to the way Critchley wants to play. Now we’re going to basically adopt some kind of 1960’s throwback type of game???
Seriously Fuck Off with this Mike Bassett bollocks
It’s been an up and down season, but now is not the time for feint hearts.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
No I agree we have to move on.
However what surprises me is that the manager and players can’t figure out what’s needed to beat these kind of teams.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
Superbretty
Well-known member
Yep, this
Threester, your second line is exactly the issue though. Yes we've struggled with the physical and/or direct approach - I'm not going to go back further than this season because it's irrelevant and not fair to NC.
Without going through them to confirm, there's probably 8-10 games minimum this season where we've been devoid of creativity, and they're against teams who are currently lower than halfway, with Stevenage one obvious exception. More than one where we haven't even had a meaningful shot, let alone one on target.
I'm not someone who moans for the sake of it, and I'm certainly not someone who demands the manager loses his job. But the consistency of the trend forces concerns.
We now have several games against teams who play can football themselves, not just stop you playing yours. We've generally looked ok this season against all of them so far, apart from the first half lesson Posh gave us.
So I expect big reactions on Saturday especially, both manager and players. I'm not saying for a second we're going to win, but we're all old enough to know when the team's been competitive and deserves something.
If that isn't evident as a bare minimum Saturday, then I would be really be questioning.
Without going through them to confirm, there's probably 8-10 games minimum this season where we've been devoid of creativity, and they're against teams who are currently lower than halfway, with Stevenage one obvious exception. More than one where we haven't even had a meaningful shot, let alone one on target.
I'm not someone who moans for the sake of it, and I'm certainly not someone who demands the manager loses his job. But the consistency of the trend forces concerns.
We now have several games against teams who play can football themselves, not just stop you playing yours. We've generally looked ok this season against all of them so far, apart from the first half lesson Posh gave us.
So I expect big reactions on Saturday especially, both manager and players. I'm not saying for a second we're going to win, but we're all old enough to know when the team's been competitive and deserves something.
If that isn't evident as a bare minimum Saturday, then I would be really be questioning.
Insider
Well-known member
We've debated the formation ad infinitum.
I'm not claiming to be right but IMO it's a red herring.
Not picking on Hubby, but using him as an example, how would he play any differently if we played him as a LB as opposed to a LCB?
Would it make him a better passer of the ball?
Would he be a better tackler?
Players on top of their game can fit into any formation.
The problem is why we don't have players playing at the top of their game consistently
I'm not claiming to be right but IMO it's a red herring.
Not picking on Hubby, but using him as an example, how would he play any differently if we played him as a LB as opposed to a LCB?
Would it make him a better passer of the ball?
Would he be a better tackler?
Players on top of their game can fit into any formation.
The problem is why we don't have players playing at the top of their game consistently
A_Tense_Grin
Well-known member
It really isn't. Husband should be left back or on the bench. Centre backs are being asked to overlap and get forward in this transitional bollocks. Midfield being over run etc. Formation and tactics are the root cause.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
Husband is a great example… He’s a lovely lad and been a great servant to our Club, but he’s physically limited… Lyons is another one… a decent ‘good time’ player, but can’t mix it up when things get a bit physical… .
We generally lack physicality and struggle to compete across the pitch as a whole. Our keeper is too small and doesn’t command his area (which means we are forced to use others to cover for his limitations). Our other defenders are all physically limited.
It’s not just physical toughness either, we seem to lack mental resilience too for me.
We are too nice…. far too nice..
We might have spent two windows trying to recruit to the way Critchley wants to play but we still don’t have a squad to do that so there’s no reason why we couldn’t switch to a 433 or a 442. For Critchley’s formation we still don’t have a ball playing, dominant central defender for the middle of the back 3, we’ve got a weak as piss left wing back, no combination of two midfielders who can dominate a game, no wingers on the bench to replace Dembele and Joseph when they tire and no centre forward who naturally plays that lone forward roleIf we’re going to start playing 4-4-2 we might as well just appoint someone off AVFTT as our New Manager.
We’ve just spent the last two transfer windows trying to recruit to the way Critchley wants to play. Now we’re going to basically adopt some kind of 1960’s throwback type of game???
Seriously Fuck Off with this Mike Bassett bollocks
It’s been an up and down season, but now is not the time for feint hearts.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
The recruitment issues aren’t on the Manager…
He’s done his best to try and work to meeting the Clubs expand with the resources available to him.
I didn’t mention the manager? The post was about whether we could switch to a different formation
Insider
Well-known member
I don't disagree with any of that and have probably said pretty much the same over my many posts on the subject.
I'm all for playing to our own strengths and letting the opposition worry about us but if that doesn't work how many times do we need to lose against the same type of opposition before we change our tactics and personnel to combat it.
But like you stay we don't have the players to go toe to toe with the likes of Stevenage, Cheltenham et al but we could and should have done better.
Wizaard
Well-known member
Lavery has been shocking recently. His only contribution last night was a needless penalty.
Insider
Well-known member
That's a nonsense. You can't say Hubby should be a LB and then call him as CB that can't overlap.
Insider
Well-known member
I thought Gabriel conceded the penalty.
A_Tense_Grin
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Either way it hurts my eyes.
straightatthewall
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Husband is one of the only players who's actually shows a bit of spunk.
poolseasider
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Agree with that half the sides in this league are full of big lumps like last night and Stevenage we simply don't have an answer against them.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
He’s weak as piss though mate in all honesty… He probably weighs around 7 stone… Great character etc… but particularly at L1 you’ve got to be able to compete physically… Too many times we’ve been at such a massive height / physical disadvantage…It’s precisely why McCarthy could do fuck all with them… Trybull, Stewart & Big Gaz probably the only players we had with a bit of proper bite about them…
Lytham_fy8
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Last week it was Grimshaw, who's now class again, this week it's Husband, take your bets for the next world's worst ever player folks!
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
It’s not so much about individuals to me as the balance of the type of individuals being wrong. We alluded to it the other night, but there’s just too many of the softy non-physical types.
That’s not to say any of those players aren’t very capable in their own right, it just means that when we have a side full of them we are always going to be found wanting in a physical battle.
Grimshaw is a decent back up keeper… (possibly a decent enough first team keeper if matched with a big and physical back four). However in a defence that already lacks height and physical presence, he’s just another weak link.
Adams Kebab
Well-known member
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
I think you’re right to a certain extent…. I do wonder if that’s where a more grizzled No 2 might come into play… (I.e. Someone with an understanding of the physical demands of Lower League football)
I also think though that Critchley has been willing and maybe forced through circumstance, to at least try and work with and develop the players he has at his disposal… I think most of us expected Norburn to offer a bit more steel than has been the case.. reality was that KD probably had more bite in midfield!! I think we need another window to put this right … January was a poor one really …
We don’t need to go down the Mick McCarthy Road of course, but at the same time we can’t just collapse and be forced off our game plan as soon as the going gets a bit tough.
Lytham_fy8
Well-known member
I think there's something in that, he often doesn't seem to fancy players we sign either, as if he's not really involved in the process.
Adams Kebab
Well-known member
Any direct & physical team who sit back against us at home fully have our number. Critchley should be embarrassed that it happens and he’s not been able to rectify it as as all the losses have been very similar. This is where I’m struggling with it now. He’s learnt zero from it.
I keep mentioning the time we had a game called off v Burton and you had Jimmy Floyd giving the ref pure grief and NC was just stood there hardly said a word. Chizzy said something last week in commentary about NC saying he was going to stand as far away as he could from Steve Evans as his way of dealing with his touchline antics… both these examples highlight what he’s about. I’m not asking him to be like Joey Barton in the tunnel but have a bit about you and tell him to get to fook or something or lay off the cream cakes. I can’t ever remember him arguing with another manager or coach? Or a man opposition player? He gives the ref a bit of grief the odd time but it’s all too soft and nice.
This is exactly what 9-10 of our starting 11 are like.
Infact, CJ is the perfect example of NC’s personality. He’ll show flashes and got some ability in parts but he’s got the tiniest balls going when push comes to shove and in this League you have to show it.
To put it another way, every away game at Broadwaters on a Sunday morning we’d get beat.
Adams Kebab
Well-known member
The recruitment policy is all over the gaff I think, the club aren’t sure.
We’re on the edge of the play-offs and made 2 signings… both loans.
And 2 players who won’t play all season and Sassi who’ll be in and out the development squad.
Critchley might be a part of this but it’s happened without him.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
There’s potentially something in what you say there and arguably the way he left us was a similar case of maybe shying away from controversy and failing to confront a situation head on. It’s difficult to say for sure though without really knowing the real person or how he goes about his business.
There was certainly a similar naivety about the way we conducted ourselves in the Championship under Critchley. As well as we did that season, we could certainly have benefitted from a capability to employ the ‘darker arts’ as required from time to time.
All that said though, we had an even softer underbelly when Appleton at the helm and so I do also wonder whether our policy of searching for the right ‘Characters’ is maybe all a bit too prescribed and samey…
I said on another thread, players like CJ are absolutely fine if you also have players around them who are capable of mixing it up… The trouble is that we’ve too many softies.
straightatthewall
Well-known member
If there's anything I've learnt it's that bite doesn't always equal spunk
TangerineBayern
Well-known member
4-1-3-2 for me
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
Spunk is probably the best way to describe most of them at the minute. They’ve got about five minutes max in them and thn that’s their spunk completely shot…. They’re totally disinterested after that.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
That’s the point though… changing the system just to accommodate the players leaves us stuck in this continuous loop of forcing the system to suit the players, rather than finding the players to suit the system… We never actually get to realise our objective of playing football the way we want to play it.
Mcewans Mullet
Well-known member
Barnsley took the big CH from the cods and my tykes mate says that physicality has been missing.
So much so that they brought in another one 6'4" who had been playing for DC United in the States.
Add to that a set piece coach.
From throw ins to 11 at the back for corners, we invite teams on.
HappyasLarry
Well-known member
For me, much of this season's problems lie up top. It's easier to score in this league and yet we've repeatedly failed.
Beesley not good enough, Kouassi raw, Lavery average, Joseph not there and thank God for Rhodes
Massive rethink up top needed.
Insider
Well-known member
Back to this again.
There's so much rubbish talked about 3 at the back beyond obsessive for one poster in particular.
Our CBs wouldn't suddenly become creative if there was only 2 of them, Norburn wouldn't suddenly turn into Kevin De Bryune. The players need the same skill set whatever the formation.
It's not how we set up but how way we play.
The theory of playing the ball across the back 3/4/5 is to draw the opposition into a press, drag them up pitch and exploit the space they leave behind them. Peterborough x2 gave us a lesson in how to do it at Bloomfield Rd. The downside is that League 1 defenders sometimes lack the skill set to do that consistently and that's why we beat Posh away with a our press being more effective than their possession.
We just dwell on the ball far too long and that's why we are ineffective when we dominate the possession. (Look at the stats thread)
If the opposition take the game to us they create the space for us that we try to generate by "me to you" from Penny to Eky to Casey.
We are then better able to use the skills of Dembele to exploit it.
I'm not supporting Critch and his stubbornness it just won't resolve anything by playing a different formation.
There's so much rubbish talked about 3 at the back beyond obsessive for one poster in particular.
Our CBs wouldn't suddenly become creative if there was only 2 of them, Norburn wouldn't suddenly turn into Kevin De Bryune. The players need the same skill set whatever the formation.
It's not how we set up but how way we play.
The theory of playing the ball across the back 3/4/5 is to draw the opposition into a press, drag them up pitch and exploit the space they leave behind them. Peterborough x2 gave us a lesson in how to do it at Bloomfield Rd. The downside is that League 1 defenders sometimes lack the skill set to do that consistently and that's why we beat Posh away with a our press being more effective than their possession.
We just dwell on the ball far too long and that's why we are ineffective when we dominate the possession. (Look at the stats thread)
If the opposition take the game to us they create the space for us that we try to generate by "me to you" from Penny to Eky to Casey.
We are then better able to use the skills of Dembele to exploit it.
I'm not supporting Critch and his stubbornness it just won't resolve anything by playing a different formation.