A Case for the Offense

[Mad Squad]

Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack.

Fine but using which players exactly?

[optimistic_red]

Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack.

Didn't we try that under Warburton?

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack.

Fine but using which players exactly?

I think MS post was just a bit of fun but it's worth noting that Silva, Carvalho, Ameobi, Grabban, Da Costa, Mighten and Lolley were all available for selection against Barnsley.

[Sabricadabra]

Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack.

Didn't we try that under Warburton?

We did and it was awful. 2 goals conceded every game. It was like playground football.

Lamouchi has focussed on a strong defence first of all, and for me this is the right approach. We wouldn’t be so high in the league if we were more open.

[Widdow]

It can be done right.

My point was at the very beginning was the best form of defence is attack. The stats prove that, Brentford, Leeds and West Brom. Look where they are in the league, attacking teams with the best defensive record.

We have majority of different players from the Warburton era.

[Sabricadabra]

Leeds & West Brom have two of the best squads in the league. Leeds have spent millions to get one of the best coaches in the world and play a different style to everyone else as a result. We don’t have the budget to bring in better players than everyone else. Brentford have a clear plan which they have followed diligently for years regardless of change of coach (what we should do...)

In the Premier League Klopp focussed on making Liverpool defensively strong and adept at counterattacking first of all before adding players to make them play a more expansive game. Even now when they score they immediately sit deep in that well organised shape and invite the other team on to hit them on the counter.

A balance between strong defence and incisive attack is obviously best, but I prefer to see a coach focus on making the defence tight first of all. It means we’re always in games. There have only been a couple of times this season where we have been well beaten. We do attack when needed in games, but overall Lamouchi has the right approach.

[Jean_claude_killy]

It amazes me that complete arm chair amateurs should think that they know better than the manager; a manger who works with the players every day of the week, a manger who knows the strengths and weeknesses of each and every player in the squad, knows how they have trained, how they are fitness wise and how they are behaving; and then has to weigh up the opposition.

Having an opinion is one thing; taking it far too seriously is another.

Talking shite is far easier than having to deal with issues and then select a team.

[Widdow]

Leeds & West Brom have two of the best squads in the league. Leeds have spent millions to get one of the best coaches in the world and play a different style to everyone else as a result. We don’t have the budget to bring in better players than everyone else. Brentford have a clear plan which they have followed diligently for years regardless of change of coach (what we should do...)

In the Premier League Klopp focussed on making Liverpool defensively strong and adept at counterattacking first of all before adding players to make them play a more expansive game. Even now when they score they immediately sit deep in that well organised shape and invite the other team on to hit them on the counter.

A balance between strong defence and incisive attack is obviously best, but I prefer to see a coach focus on making the defence tight first of all. It means we’re always in games. There have only been a couple of times this season where we have been well beaten. We do attack when needed in games, but overall Lamouchi has the right approach.

Fair points, and again as i said in my post, we have spent the season developing the defense and a style of play that Sabri thinks gets the best out of the squad.

Now the next steps are to perhaps take the breaks off in games against certain team, most recently against Barnsley, go for it rather than play for the point. End of day we ended up with zero points.

And of course Sabri needs to learn from this season as Bielsa did, as Klopp did, and now he has a defensive style, make sure the players he brings in can play it, and also bring in quality players who can give him options in attack, and give him the confidence to play.

I have bigged up the Brentford method for years, we havent gone down that route, and reason we have continual problems.

Also, look at Norwich last year, didnt spend big but attacking football got them to the Premier League, and Sheff Utd, developed a style of play which was both defensive with 3 central defenders but attacking, and that is doing well in the Premier League. (wilder a manager i suggested for Forest when he was at Northampton).

The football at moment is sterile, and lacklustre, and late goals derail all that hard defensive work. The only plan b i have seen was on Sunday against Barnsley to play 5 at the back and make it more defensive, it simply didnt work. He has players to attack, but for whatever reason doesnt trust them, so next season, needs to rectify that.

Sabri now has an extended deal, has had his eyes opened by the Championship, and i hope will be all the more stronger for it next season (albeit a very short pre season to change much for next season) but he has just got to attack teams and stop worrying about them, they're not that many of the ilk of Leeds, West Brom, Fulham and Brentford in the league, and with Leeds going up i can see 2 of that group joining leeds in the EPL.

[Widdow]

It amazes me that complete arm chair amateurs should think that they know better than the manager; a manger who works with the players every day of the week, a manger who knows the strengths and weeknesses of each and every player in the squad, knows how they have trained, how they are fitness wise and how they are behaving; and then has to weigh up the opposition.

Having an opinion is one thing; taking it far too seriously is another.

Talking shite is far easier than having to deal with issues and then select a team.

It amazes me you actually posted that on a forum!!!

I dont think forums are for you then, as thats all about amateurs providing thoughts (positive and negative), we are all arm chair fans at moment, but some of us amateurs do go to games, have done for years and can form pretty good opinions and offer advice.

I for one dont think Sabri is reading this and think, wow going to change everything i believe in, but he does end of the day have to look in the mirror and grow, and develop. He gets paid millions to train and pick team We get paid nothing to post on forums, but why cant we say what we feel then?

The comments you make are standard excuses, and more akin to keeping your head in the sand!

Every Manager does know his squad, i guess you have never questioned a selection in your life, or why we bought him, why did we sell him or why didnt we go after him??


The likes of Platt, Megson, Martin O Neill, Kinnear, Warburton, Davies, McLeish, Cotterial, Freedman, etc etc (too many to type) did you want them all to stay, they new their squads inside out as well?

You are bit sheep like, and thats great, blindly follow and be happy. Some of us crave a little a more, and not so easily satisfied.

But, i do think you are the one talking shite and knocking posters opinions.

[ozzyten10]

I really do think the derby equaliser knocked the stuffing out of us. Until then I was reasonably happy with results. I also think we’ve had teams with something to play for ever since we started back. No easy games in the championship but with teams either desperate for points at the bottom or trying to scramble into the top 6, we have had a particularly hard set of fixtures. Derby were on a run and we gave a really good performance. Swansea threw everything at us and Sammy came up and saved us. Fulham - a gnats whisker in that game. Barnsley was very poor indeed. Tonight defines us. Can we stay calm and get a win or a draw? I think yes!

[Widdow]

I really do think the derby equaliser knocked the stuffing out of us. Until then I was reasonably happy with results. I also think we’ve had teams with something to play for ever since we started back. No easy games in the championship but with teams either desperate for points at the bottom or trying to scramble into the top 6, we have had a particularly hard set of fixtures. Derby were on a run and we gave a really good performance. Swansea threw everything at us and Sammy came up and saved us. Fulham - a gnats whisker in that game. Barnsley was very poor indeed. Tonight defines us. Can we stay calm and get a win or a draw? I think yes!

Totally agree with that.

Tonight Forest are the team to play for something, Stoke have nothing to play for. Lets see how we perform, then of course if we get the result, its all about the Playoffs!