Play Your Best Players

[Richo]

In their best positions.

On my way back from Exeter and reflecting on the game I have to say both Lyons and CJ just dint look comfortable playing in the position they did today.

As a consequence we struggled to gain any sustained control of the game.

Also today Carey and to a lesser degree Morgan struggled .

Content with a point based on today’s performance.

There’s a lot more to come from this squad.

 

[Marton Monorail]

Lyons played in the position he was playing in for Shamrock when we became aware and ultimately signed him

 

[seasidepaddle]

To be fair the Chelsea loanee looked a threat and pushed Lyons back.

 

[Eternaloptimist]

Ricoh, I have said many times, decent professional footballers should be able to play anywhere on the pitch.
When a manager plays someone out of their natural position there will be a reason for it and it is never just a case of play your best XI in their best places all the time.
Why do managers and assistants go out of their way to watch the opposition playing ?
To suss them out and nullify them in the best way possible and that is why Critch set up the way he did AND it worked.
Exeter had a great win on the opening day but we outplayed them and gave them nowt, disappointing we didn’t come away with 3 points really, but hey, 3 clean sheets now.

 

[AllTheBoysAreCheerin']

Critchley has always favoured inverted wide players which is fine in a front 3 but I don't think it works nearly as well with wing backs.
CJ's crosses are much better from his stronger left foot and he cuts back far less on the left.

 

[Willie Mcgrotty]

I think CJ & Mitchell cancelled each other out.
Lyons had Rankine in his pocket. Lost count of the times he took the ball off him after 17 step overs.

 

[gjr]

Ricoh, I have said many times, decent professional footballers should be able to play anywhere on the pitch.
When a manager plays someone out of their natural position there will be a reason for it and it is never just a case of play your best XI in their best places all the time.
Why do managers and assistants go out of their way to watch the opposition playing ?
To suss them out and nullify them in the best way possible and that is why Critch set up the way he did AND it worked.
Exeter had a great win on the opening day but we outplayed them and gave them nowt, disappointing we didn’t come away with 3 points really, but hey, 3 clean sheets now.

Inverted wing backs resulted in their wide players and ours offering little in attack. So you can see why it was 0 0, and it was a good away point for us against a decent side.
If we play inverted wing backs every game then your theory loses credibility but we didn't do it at Derby so maybe it will be horses for courses.
I guess if we shut down the threat on the flanks you want Carey and Morgan to step it up but it didn't happen for them yesterday.

 

[Eternaloptimist]

Inverted wing backs resulted in their wide players and ours offering little in attack. So you can see why it was 0 0, and it was a good away point for us against a decent side.
If we play inverted wing backs every game then your theory loses credibility but we didn't do it at Derby so maybe it will be horses for courses.
I guess if we shut down the threat on the flanks you want Carey and Morgan to step it up but it didn't happen for them yesterday.

gir, but we wouldn’t play inverted wing backs every game would we?
Critch will pick his team and formation that he sees best to nullify the opposition
I can foresee a strong attacking formation against Port Vale so the wide men will be well up the field

 

[Chunkylad]

The theory on inverted wing backs isn’t about crosses. It’s about making slide rule passes between the CB and FB (or between CBs in a 3) with your strongest foot at a straighter angle.

So if you look at our two strikers, you’d argue they’re better running onto a ball into space than winning a towering header.

Secondary is the cut inside and shoot.

So you look at the strikers in the squad and decide are we more likely to score off crosses or passes?

 

[Ping Pong]

In their best positions.

On my way back from Exeter and reflecting on the game I have to say both Lyons and CJ just dint look comfortable playing in the position they did today.

As a consequence we struggled to gain any sustained control of the game.

Also today Carey and to a lesser degree Morgan struggled .

Content with a point based on today’s performance.

There’s a lot more to come from this squad.

Cant understand why he doesn't swap them over during the game, should confuse the opposition too?

 

[Lost Seasider]

The theory on inverted wing backs isn’t about crosses. It’s about making slide rule passes between the CB and FB (or between CBs in a 3) with your strongest foot at a straighter angle.

So if you look at our two strikers, you’d argue they’re better running onto a ball into space than winning a towering header.

Secondary is the cut inside and shoot.

So you look at the strikers in the squad and decide are we more likely to score off crosses or passes?

Hamilton, slide rule?

 

[A_Tense_Grin]

How come Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal etc don’t play with inverted wing backs. It’s a load of over complicated bollocks.

 

[gjr]

gir, but we wouldn’t play inverted wing backs every game would we?
Critch will pick his team and formation that he sees best to nullify the opposition
I can foresee a strong attacking formation against Port Vale so the wide men will be well up the field

I've said that in another post EO, we didn't play them at Derby and put them on the back foot so hopefully we mix it up depending on opposition. If he does that I'm all for a coach who thinks about a gameplan, with well coached players depending on opponents.
Don't want a McCarthy type manager again.

 

[gjr]

The theory on inverted wing backs isn’t about crosses. It’s about making slide rule passes between the CB and FB (or between CBs in a 3) with your strongest foot at a straighter angle.

So if you look at our two strikers, you’d argue they’re better running onto a ball into space than winning a towering header.

Secondary is the cut inside and shoot.

So you look at the strikers in the squad and decide are we more likely to score off crosses or passes?

Quality players make slide rule passes, competent players can do a decent cross on their best foot.

 

[thecatintheroof]

I think CJ & Mitchell cancelled each other out.

Why did we get rid of Mitchell? Heard the lad on the Exeter podcast raving about him.

 

[Willie Mcgrotty]

Not dissimilar to CJ, think he'd been a bit injury prone with us & hadn't seemed to progress.

 

[Tango1953]

Ricoh, I have said many times, decent professional footballers should be able to play anywhere on the pitch.

** hell, what nonsense.

Imagine sacrificing Xavi to play him right wing and complaining that he fant play there. Or the same with Iniesta at left back, Messi at centre back.

Players are specialists for a reason. Seems you'd be happier with a squad full of 'Jack of all trades'.

 

[AllTheBoysAreCheerin']

The theory on inverted wing backs isn’t about crosses. It’s about making slide rule passes between the CB and FB (or between CBs in a 3) with your strongest foot at a straighter angle.

So if you look at our two strikers, you’d argue they’re better running onto a ball into space than winning a towering header.

Secondary is the cut inside and shoot.

So you look at the strikers in the squad and decide are we more likely to score off crosses or passes?

You seem to be assuming that all crosses are in the air which they obviously are not.
Hard and low crosses and cut backs are generally far more effective and suit our strikers and attacking midfielders more.
Running on to balls behind is effective when teams leave space behind but I fully expect more teams to defend deep against us this season than did last season so such chances may be few and far between in many of our games.

Just my thoughts on the matter anyway.

 

[CGP1]

Why did we get rid of Mitchell? Heard the lad on the Exeter podcast raving about him.

Demi was slipping down the order, made sub appearances mainly.

But then there was that day where he was caught in the final minute, was it Boro? Pass to him wasn't the best and we lost the game having equalised in injury time? After that it almost felt like he was moved out to save himself embarrassment.

Decent player Demi. A good contributor to the success of the time.

 

[Chunkylad]

You seem to be assuming that all crosses are in the air which they obviously are not.
Hard and low crosses and cut backs are generally far more effective and suit our strikers and attacking midfielders more.
Running on to balls behind is effective when teams leave space behind but I fully expect more teams to defend deep against us this season than did last season so such chances may be few and far between in many of our games.

Just my thoughts on the matter anyway.

I’m just explaining the coaching theory. It doesn’t rule out crosses nor does it take into account the weakness of strength of individuals it’s just why they invert wide men.

It is easier to hit a cross with your wrong foot (either on the ground or in the air) into a general area than it is to place a precision pass with your wrong foot.

 

[td53]

Hamilton, slide rule?

More an out of control retractable tape measure that has been let go and is flapping about wildly as it winds back into its case.

 

[Eternaloptimist]

** hell, what nonsense.

Imagine sacrificing Xavi to play him right wing and complaining that he fant play there. Or the same with Iniesta at left back, Messi at centre back.

Players are specialists for a reason. Seems you'd be happier with a squad full of 'Jack of all trades'.

Tango, you have totally missed my point.
Not once have I suggested playing people out of position I have stated that a competent player should be able to move about the pitch if required to do so.
How often do you see managers switch players from one position to another during a live game?
Regularly, that’s how often.
If you think that is nonsense then that is your prerogative but maybe understand what I am saying before you berate it.

 

[Tango1953]

Tango, you have totally missed my point.
Not once have I suggested playing people out of position I have stated that a competent player should be able to move about the pitch if required to do so.
How often do you see managers switch players from one position to another during a live game?
Regularly, that’s how often.
If you think that is nonsense then that is your prerogative but maybe understand what I am saying before you berate it.

I haven't missed the point.

I feel many/most players "can" play any position, but will have reduced effectiveness. Playing mutiple positions can help you understand what your teammate that plays in that role regularly needs.

However, just because they "can" play another role, doesn'tean they "should", which is what you said.

 

[Eternaloptimist]

Tango, we will have to agree to disagree on this one.
If a manager deems it fit to play someone “out of position” as a result of watching the opposition then, if it’s for the best, that player should play wherever he is asked. And my point being that a decent player SHOULD be able to do that without being uncomfortable. Which is what started this discussion when a few on here mentioned that CJ looked uncomfortable. I would accept that if he was asked to play as a full back which would be alien to him, but he wasn’t.
You failed to respond to the example I gave earlier about a manager moving a player during a game but surely that is a prime example!
It mostly happens when a manager switches a player from one side of the pitch to the other to get more impact out of that player so, in reality, that is no different than moving a player from their “natural” position before a game if it will have the desired effect.

 

[Enzo]

I’d go grimshaw
Husband Pennington casey
Thompson Carey norburn weir apter
Lavery beesley