2020/21 Season: Could We See A Change In Playing Style?

[ThePromisedLand]

Not sure why you have Cash in your formation Stirred, he's long gone! Also no Lolley who has played no10 before. It's make or break for Carvalho this season without doubt, will he make the team?

Wondering recently if our low possession percentage approach is actually costing us towards the end of games (and the end of season)?
If we let the opposition have the ball we have to then defend and close them down as a team for the majority of the game and expend energy doing so. If we could find a way to be as effective this season as last, whilst retaining more possession we may then maintain energy/stamina which mean we concede less late goals? Thoughts?

Cos Lolley is injured Square! As I said, he'll be up for that spot when he's fit, but it would be good to see Carvalho take his chance in the meantime if we try that formation.

Ok, I'll accept it, Cash has gone :(   It looks like Darikwa is Sabri's choice for RWB, fingers crossed he does well.

But I think 3 at the back is the best way to get possession and creativity in midfield and two up top. Really hope we can get that to work, cos I think with 4-4-2 we lose it in midfield. 4-1-4-1 more solid and maybe the CM 2 in the 4 can be passing and creative players like Freeman & Silva/Carvalho, but we've sacrificed a striker.

In 4-2-3-1 our wide players in the 3 aren't natural wide players, so we rely on the fullbacks to go forward. I'm not sure we have the midfield to be supporting the attack and covering the defence with marauding fullbacks. The safe thing is then to play two defensive players like Colback & Yates in there, but in that case we're almost back to square one.

But get 3 at the back with players comfortable defending out wide to cover the full back slots, and comfortable in distribution. Then one defensive midfielder in front should give us enough protection and we can start making the opposition worry about us.

Looking like Lolley up for selection...

[PsychoStanleyStone]

i guess we are selling a central defender, however, if we are overloaded with ability, power and muscle at the back and Sabri can only think and build around solid defence maybe liking or preferring even a back 5 what is the chances of a box to box centre back?

so many games, especially when they get chessy the opponents intentionally try to shut down all the forward and often sideways options but leave a central defender with the freedom of the city, see it in alot of games, seemingly trying to suck the centre back up the field or just letting them have the ball because they are the least creative and mobile and best way to force a mistake

Personally i crave for total football and more often crave for the centre back to surge forward on a rampage, ok it's a sort of trap but every team seems to set up in a greater or lesser extent to suck the CB right up the pitch.

The tactical stuff, well most of the games or big chunks of them last season was really the same game and over dependence on Lolley and Ameobi who are often totally knackered by 70 mins. If this new lad is really good and slotting into an area where we are really strong he or the Centre Backs could be more involved in open play and save the legs of other players.

When it's the same tactic all game and all season is it still tactics? I often felt that it seemed like the orders were 'stick to the basics', as in no real variance or shift in tactics during the games

could this new fella be it, a defensive player but unpredictable to play against and maybe given a bit more licence to innovate? Samba Sow fits this role but he's 31 though already in midfield and he will gets knocks and tired and have to choose his moments and like others is done by 70 mins and the opposition are expecting forward surges from Sow

Basically the new fella could change everything from the back, more energy and youth and more difficult for opponents to nullify and not so much reliance on other key players?

Total football here we come?

[Shawoddyred]

Bit like when big Wes used to meander his way up the pitch?! Loved it when he did that!

[Tricky]

i guess we are selling a central defender, however, if we are overloaded with ability, power and muscle at the back and Sabri can only think and build around solid defence maybe liking or preferring even a back 5 what is the chances of a box to box centre back? 

so many games, especially when they get chessy the opponents intentionally try to shut down all the forward and often sideways options but leave a central defender with the freedom of the city, see it in alot of games, seemingly trying to suck the centre back up the field or just letting them have the ball because they are the least creative and mobile and best way to force a mistake

Personally i crave for total football and more often crave for the centre back to surge forward on a rampage, ok it's a sort of trap but every team seems to set up in a greater or lesser extent to suck the CB right up the pitch.
 
The tactical stuff, well most of the games or big chunks of them last season was really the same game and over dependence on Lolley and Ameobi who are often totally knackered by 70 mins.  If this new lad is really good and slotting into an area where we are really strong he or the Centre Backs could be more involved in open play and save the legs of other players.

When it's the same tactic all game and all season is it still tactics?  I often felt that it seemed like the orders were 'stick to the basics', as in no real variance or shift in tactics during the games

could this new fella be it, a defensive player but unpredictable to play against and maybe given a bit more licence to innovate?  Samba Sow fits this role but he's 31 though already in midfield and he will gets knocks and tired and have to choose his moments and like others is done by 70 mins and the opposition are expecting forward surges from Sow

Basically the new fella could change everything from the back, more energy and youth and more difficult for opponents to nullify and not so much reliance on other key players?

Total football here we come?

was this really written by our very own PPS or is it an impostor!!

Good post Bud!

[PsychoStanleyStone]

not forgetting Breckinbauer though i think back to Colin Cooper

[stirred]

Word is that we’d tried 3 at the back in pre-season, and looking at the squad as it currently stands, the best sides I can pick on paper seem to involve 3 at the back, with fairly central attacking players, running of channels with 2 strikers and overlaps by wing-backs – we don’t really have out and out wingers.

Maybe I’m being hopeful here, I want change because the current formation hasn’t really worked since February and I still doubt we have the midfield / wide players to make it work with just Grabs up top.

I feel we need those 3 need in the middle of the park, but want the second striker too else feel we’ll continue to see Grabban isolated up front and lack the out ball. I’ve gone for two attacking midfielders out of the 3 similarly to knit the play with those strikers but may have to temper that against better sides.

                SAMBA

      FIGS    WORR    BLCKT

CASH        CLBCK              RIBS

        CARVS          FREEM

          GRABS      TAYLS

(It may seem controversial to have Carvs ahead of Lolley but I’m assuming he’s injured to start with). We have depth and quality / alleged quality / high potential replacements for those front 4 positions, e.g. Lolley & Johnson for Carvalho & Freeman, with Guerrero & Mighten, maybe De Costa to come in up top. And there’s Ameobi too.

There will be times to play 2 more defensive mids in more of a 3-4-1-2, we have Silva and Sow, Fred and Yates in reserve. Maybe the new Cypriot in for Ribs / Blackett.

I can’t bring myself to take Cash away. My biggest concern on that side, other than getting players to adapt, is the wide players when I finally accept Cash has gone, and maybe Figs bringing the ball out.

I'd pay a tenner on ifollow to see that given a go.

                SAMBA

      M-SOH  WORR   BLCKT

CASH        CLBCK              RIBS

        CARVS          FREEM

          GRABS      TAYLS

Improved distribution with a new right centre-back?

And now the lack of RWB addressed. Assuming this Christie guy is good:

                 SAMBA

      M-SOH  WORR   BLCKT

CHRIST        CLBCK              RIBS

        LOLLY          FREEM

          GRABS      TAYLS

Crosses on the right shouldn't be a problem :)  This side is looking promising, and some quality on the bench.

[Mad Squad]

I am liking it ^

Looks good on paper at least.

[stirred]

Word is that we’d tried 3 at the back in pre-season, and looking at the squad as it currently stands, the best sides I can pick on paper seem to involve 3 at the back, with fairly central attacking players, running of channels with 2 strikers and overlaps by wing-backs – we don’t really have out and out wingers.

Maybe I’m being hopeful here, I want change because the current formation hasn’t really worked since February and I still doubt we have the midfield / wide players to make it work with just Grabs up top.

I feel we need those 3 need in the middle of the park, but want the second striker too else feel we’ll continue to see Grabban isolated up front and lack the out ball. I’ve gone for two attacking midfielders out of the 3 similarly to knit the play with those strikers but may have to temper that against better sides.

                SAMBA

      FIGS    WORR    BLCKT

CASH        CLBCK              RIBS

        CARVS          FREEM

          GRABS      TAYLS

(It may seem controversial to have Carvs ahead of Lolley but I’m assuming he’s injured to start with). We have depth and quality / alleged quality / high potential replacements for those front 4 positions, e.g. Lolley & Johnson for Carvalho & Freeman, with Guerrero & Mighten, maybe De Costa to come in up top. And there’s Ameobi too.

There will be times to play 2 more defensive mids in more of a 3-4-1-2, we have Silva and Sow, Fred and Yates in reserve. Maybe the new Cypriot in for Ribs / Blackett.

I can’t bring myself to take Cash away. My biggest concern on that side, other than getting players to adapt, is the wide players when I finally accept Cash has gone, and maybe Figs bringing the ball out.

I'd pay a tenner on ifollow to see that given a go.

                SAMBA

      M-SOH  WORR   BLCKT

CASH        CLBCK              RIBS

        CARVS          FREEM

          GRABS      TAYLS

Improved distribution with a new right centre-back?

And now the lack of RWB addressed. Assuming this Christie guy is good:

                 SAMBA

      M-SOH  WORR   BLCKT

CHRIST        CLBCK              RIBS

        LOLLY          FREEM

          GRABS      TAYLS

Crosses on the right shouldn't be a problem :)  This side is looking promising, and some quality on the bench.

I'm getting ahead of myself but with speculation of us being in for Arter and given Sabri is most likely to play 2 deeper mids for most matches, if we were to pop Arter in close to Colback for one of the offensive mids or play with a single striker, that would be tasty too. Would have some good players on the bench as well.

                 SAMBA                                                        SAMBA

      M-SOH  WORR   BLCKT                                 M-SOH  WORR   BLCKT                          

CYRUS    CLBCK   ARTER     RIBS                  CYRUS    CLBCK   ARTER     RIBS

                   FREEM                                                LOLLY      FREEM       

          GRABS      TAYLS                                                 GRABS

And maybe another wide option to come...

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Plenty of options that is for sure but where has this 3 at the back come from all of a sudden? It's not the system associated with Sabri.

[stirred]

Plenty of options that is for sure but where has this 3 at the back come from all of a sudden? It's not the system associated with Sabri.

Bit of guesswork and wishful thinking. I read it was tried in pre-season? And seems we have brought in defenders that can play in that system.

[Jacksbadhobbits]

Plenty of options that is for sure but where has this 3 at the back come from all of a sudden? It's not the system associated with Sabri.

I thinks it is based upon speculation based upon the players signed and their strengths. For example Christie strength is coming forward and Blackett and the Mbe Lol Soic are supposed to play best in a back 3. Also 3 central defenders seems to be back in vogue amongst a number of teams. Today might be a good match to play it because of the extra height needed to counter Cardiff's areial threat.

[Marinakis Red]

Plenty of options that is for sure but where has this 3 at the back come from all of a sudden? It's not the system associated with Sabri.

He tried it on 4 separate occasions last year to be fair.