JJpool
Well-known member
Said this on a couple of threads now but we apparently are trying to play this style.
It's early days of course, however it has to improve and there's elements that I expected to be far better.
We seem to give up on our apparent possession based style when we're pressed. This seems bizarre as if we stick at it that's the only way to improve, we also don't seem set up in the best way and the movement isn't enough to do it. OK we should mix it up occasionally to keep the opposition on their toes, but not over use it.
If we look at an example, Burnley, they were good on the ball but you could see them passing out and making mistakes early on, but stuck with it and went up with ease. I didn't see them having to go long time after time.
I want to see us dominate the ball, as is the plan, from there we can work our way up the pitch, draw teams out, limit their chances and with a bit more quality we can take some. If we were doing that but not scoring people could see the plan and that we just need that bit of cutting edge and we're getting there.
But we've abandoned our principles far too easily at times, so are the players going long because they feel they have to, out of habit? Or are they told to? Given how meticulous NC is it seems odd they wouldn't be working to his plan, but his plan is at odds with... his apparent plan.
We need our midfield to drop deeper and recieve the ball on the half turn, we need little hesitation, good weight of pass, give and go, a positive mindset and encouragement to stick with it from the manager and fans.
The best example of what I want to see, and clearly the club do as they showed it proudly on the preview show, is like away at Derby, the passing was crisp and the ball kept and worked up and down with ease and confidence, at speed at times.
So why give up on that style so easily, especially as NC is meant to be so good at getting them drilled with the tactics? Exeter didn't give up on it when we played them, they carried on playing whilst we went long at times.
Let's get back to it and that's the base we build from. It's not just pointless possession either, which is what we've had in a lot of the cases recently before going long, although there will be some where we're waiting for an opening, so better for us to have it than pump it long back to the opposition.
We need to be brave, at times it'll be close to losing it, they'll be shouts from some fans of get rid of it etc, but I'd rather see us sticking to a popper possession based plan and improving than a half hearted effort that means we're the master of nothing.
If we are to go back up that style is the best way to keep us up, so it's best we master it now and stick to the apparent style we're meant to be playing.
It's early days of course, however it has to improve and there's elements that I expected to be far better.
We seem to give up on our apparent possession based style when we're pressed. This seems bizarre as if we stick at it that's the only way to improve, we also don't seem set up in the best way and the movement isn't enough to do it. OK we should mix it up occasionally to keep the opposition on their toes, but not over use it.
If we look at an example, Burnley, they were good on the ball but you could see them passing out and making mistakes early on, but stuck with it and went up with ease. I didn't see them having to go long time after time.
I want to see us dominate the ball, as is the plan, from there we can work our way up the pitch, draw teams out, limit their chances and with a bit more quality we can take some. If we were doing that but not scoring people could see the plan and that we just need that bit of cutting edge and we're getting there.
But we've abandoned our principles far too easily at times, so are the players going long because they feel they have to, out of habit? Or are they told to? Given how meticulous NC is it seems odd they wouldn't be working to his plan, but his plan is at odds with... his apparent plan.
We need our midfield to drop deeper and recieve the ball on the half turn, we need little hesitation, good weight of pass, give and go, a positive mindset and encouragement to stick with it from the manager and fans.
The best example of what I want to see, and clearly the club do as they showed it proudly on the preview show, is like away at Derby, the passing was crisp and the ball kept and worked up and down with ease and confidence, at speed at times.
So why give up on that style so easily, especially as NC is meant to be so good at getting them drilled with the tactics? Exeter didn't give up on it when we played them, they carried on playing whilst we went long at times.
Let's get back to it and that's the base we build from. It's not just pointless possession either, which is what we've had in a lot of the cases recently before going long, although there will be some where we're waiting for an opening, so better for us to have it than pump it long back to the opposition.
We need to be brave, at times it'll be close to losing it, they'll be shouts from some fans of get rid of it etc, but I'd rather see us sticking to a popper possession based plan and improving than a half hearted effort that means we're the master of nothing.
If we are to go back up that style is the best way to keep us up, so it's best we master it now and stick to the apparent style we're meant to be playing.
