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

[Marinakis Red]

First and foremost I believe we have to better at executing plan A. This for me starts with the defensive structure and pressing that needs to be spot on if we are to evolve as a counter attacking team. With a better defensive structure, movement and pressing we should be able to create more counter attacking situations (forcing the opposition into making errors). Enforcements are required most notably in midfield I would say.

Karanka red, I would say that you are definitely in the "change playing style" camp. I think I can see where you are coming from and I believe many share this belief that if Forest only start playing possession football and attack teams then all will be well. The best form of defense is attack and all of that. Being good at defending is considered negative even though it should be obvious that the current tactic Sabri has implemented is focused on creating the best possible counter attacking opportunities thus maximizing the probability of a successful outcome. Branding this as having a negative mindset is far off the mark IMO.

I think the mindset of setting up not to lose and setting up to win are 2 very different things and can affect confidence of people and I firmly believe we sit in the setting up not to lose camp and I don't not believe that will ever get you promoted. 

I'm wanting a tweek in how the mindset is, we should of attacked the final 6 games rather than setting up not to lose, when it came to the stoke game I believe the mentality of our players had been shot, i do not think they believed they could win the game. 

Barnsley told me a lot about where we are at, that needs to change if you want to get out of this league. That came from the manager and the set up of trying not to lose rather than win. That has a negative impact on confidence of humans, and not trusting them to win a game. Psychology is massive in football now whether we like it or not and that is where the mentality comes from, you have to be full of confidence to get the best performances, I'm not sure our setup gives that to our players. 

You have to defend well as a team absolutely Leeds proved that, but if you spend more time defending than attacking you get mentally tired it's a fact. That then affects your attacking game when players are tired from running in our own half rather than an oppositions. 

We will see next season. Let's hope that tweek in mentality happens.

[GaribaldiRED]

First and foremost I believe we have to better at executing plan A. This for me starts with the defensive structure and pressing that needs to be spot on if we are to evolve as a counter attacking team. With a better defensive structure, movement and pressing we should be able to create more counter attacking situations (forcing the opposition into making errors). Enforcements are required most notably in midfield I would say.

Karanka red, I would say that you are definitely in the "change playing style" camp. I think I can see where you are coming from and I believe many share this belief that if Forest only start playing possession football and attack teams then all will be well. The best form of defense is attack and all of that. Being good at defending is considered negative even though it should be obvious that the current tactic Sabri has implemented is focused on creating the best possible counter attacking opportunities thus maximizing the probability of a successful outcome. Branding this as having a negative mindset is far off the mark IMO.

Personally I can see the way we want to play and have no problem with that. The problem I have is that we become far too entrenched on our 6 yard line late on in games. We can play the counter attacking football and still try to win the ball back a bit further up the field, and also have a player or 2 that are a bit closer to the opposition half so there is an outlet. 

Similarly, being able to change up occasionally, pressing much higher up the pitch when an opposition is chasing our 1 goal lead rather then backing off further and further would make a massive difference I believe. I really don't believe in inviting penalty box pinball, which seems to be where we end up. When we are a goal up, with 5 minutes remaining then trying to win the ball around the half way line would give us much more opportunity to hold out and possibly score a second. The oppo still have the impetus to attack to salvage their draw so their defence will not be in place and how often does a defender mistake lead to a goal...these are the players we need to be pressing, who are less comfortable in possession. 

I do massively agree that it is in midfield we need an upgrade. I think Watson, although has done well, does limit out ability to press higher up - he is move of an absorber of pressure than someone who can press.

I agree, and as I wrote earlier it is very dangerous to be passive when defending in the low compact block. You will very quickly be on the back foot and panic is not far away.

[optimistic_red]

Does anyone think we might play a different formation at home (352) and stick to 4141 away? Or is that too much change for the players?

[GaribaldiRED]

Does anyone think we might play a different formation at home (352) and stick to 4141 away? Or is that too much change for the players?

Could be but I'm not sure where to place our 2 wingers Lolley and Ameobi in the 3-5-2 formation. Maybe a 3-4-2-1 would be more suitable or perhaps a 4-4-2 formation as I wrote in my first post when I created this thread.

[Jean_claude_killy]

Does anyone think we might play a different formation at home (352) and stick to 4141 away? Or is that too much change for the players?

I think with Colback in the side we will not be sat so deep; defending further up the pitch should not leave the midfield so stretched.

Be nice to see at least one more forward option because we desperately need to get more players into the box

[GaribaldiRED]

Does anyone think we might play a different formation at home (352) and stick to 4141 away? Or is that too much change for the players?

I think with Colback in the side we will not be sat so deep; defending further up the pitch should not leave the midfield so stretched.

Be nice to see at least one more forward option because we desperately need to get more players into the box

What do you mean?

[Jean_claude_killy]

Does anyone think we might play a different formation at home (352) and stick to 4141 away? Or is that too much change for the players?

I think with Colback in the side we will not be sat so deep; defending further up the pitch should not leave the midfield so stretched.

Be nice to see at least one more forward option because we desperately need to get more players into the box

What do you mean?

We sit far too deep, particularly at home

[GaribaldiRED]

Does anyone think we might play a different formation at home (352) and stick to 4141 away? Or is that too much change for the players?

I think with Colback in the side we will not be sat so deep; defending further up the pitch should not leave the midfield so stretched.

Be nice to see at least one more forward option because we desperately need to get more players into the box

What do you mean?

We sit far too deep, particularly at home

But we sit deep with the whole team with the intention of creating as much space as possible for when we counter attack. I don't see a situation where our midfield is stretched.

[Sabricadabra]

First and foremost I believe we have to better at executing plan A. This for me starts with the defensive structure and pressing that needs to be spot on if we are to evolve as a counter attacking team. With a better defensive structure, movement and pressing we should be able to create more counter attacking situations (forcing the opposition into making errors). Enforcements are required most notably in midfield I would say.

Karanka red, I would say that you are definitely in the "change playing style" camp. I think I can see where you are coming from and I believe many share this belief that if Forest only start playing possession football and attack teams then all will be well. The best form of defense is attack and all of that. Being good at defending is considered negative even though it should be obvious that the current tactic Sabri has implemented is focused on creating the best possible counter attacking opportunities thus maximizing the probability of a successful outcome. Branding this as having a negative mindset is far off the mark IMO.

I completely agree with this.

I would go further and say that the people who want a change in playing style actually want a change of manager, because Sabri’s style is fundamentally what we saw last season.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Do plan A better?

Warburton style?

Still, the players in so far indicate that wouldn't be such a bad idea.

For starters...

SA.

[Jacksbadhobbits]

We have to sit back and play deep because our central defenders are slow. If we played a high line we would get hammered every week.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Does anyone think we might play a different formation at home (352) and stick to 4141 away? Or is that too much change for the players?

I think with Colback in the side we will not be sat so deep; defending further up the pitch should not leave the midfield so stretched.

Be nice to see at least one more forward option because we desperately need to get more players into the box

What do you mean?

We sit far too deep, particularly at home

Sitting that deep always seemed related to the personal at your disposal.

eg.  Maybe the defenders are slow.  Or the midfield is 'limited/pedestrian/slow/lacks attacking players.'

Or both in Forest's case.

Forest's defence and midfield were not top 6.

SA.