12 goals in 24 games v. 12 goals in 10 games

[Yankee_Jack]

In 2012, during the Centennial Celebration, I had an interesting taxi ride with Mel Nurse. He can't stop himself from talking football, and no sooner than we sat down than he was talking about Liverpool and Dalglish signing Andy Carroll from Newcastle. The key point he made was that when you change the #9, you change the way the whole team plays. Every #9 is different - different qualities, different physicality, different style and so on - and the addition of that player to Dalglish's squad forced a significant shift in style and approach on the rest of the team.

What we have seen here, demonstrated by @CroJack's expert analysis and presentation, is that we introduced Hourihane and it created perturbations that rippled across our play. It changed our midfield posture, our approach to attacking, and compromised our defensive record. Unintended consequences, and perhaps unjust to lay all that at the feet of Hourihane, but nonetheless there have been net negative impacts.

I would add that Andy Pandy, or at least agent Tate, should have recognized this and be making adjustments.

 

[CroJack]

we introduced Hourihane and it created perturbations that rippled across our play. It changed our midfield posture, our approach to attacking, and compromised our defensive record. Unintended consequences, and perhaps unjust to lay all that at the feet of Hourihane, but nonetheless there have been net negative impacts.

Spot on @Yankee_Jack .

The main problem is our midfield. Grimes constantly dropping down and playing as centre-back, on one side, and other two attacking midfielders pushing too high or too wide, on the other side. We simply can't play passing football when there isn't a natural connection between our lines. Then we either hoof it, or play along the sidelines. In both cases we, more often than not, lose possession and invite pressure.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Spot on @Yankee_Jack .

The main problem is our midfield. Grimes constantly dropping down and playing as centre-back, on one side, and other two attacking midfielders pushing too high or too wide, on the other side. We simply can't play passing football when there isn't a natural connection between our lines. Then we either hoof it, or play along the sidelines. In both cases we, more often than not, lose possession and invite pressure.

Why is Grimes dropping into that slot when we have 3+2 system? Are we trying to convert the 3 into 4 with Grimes and giving the two WBs a more winger-like freedom?

 

[CroJack]

Why is Grimes dropping into that slot when we have 3+2 system? Are we trying to convert the 3 into 4 with Grimes and giving the two WBs a more winger-like freedom?

Grimes is dropping into the centre-back slot because Naughton plays as full-back. Cooper probably wants to give more support to Roberts who is playing more as a winger than as a wing-back. It's stupid and suicidal. We lose our midfield shape and we almost always lose possession when we try to carry the ball along the sidelines.

This is how it often looks like when Woodman has the ball

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When we play like this we are forced to hoof the ball.

 

[ivoralljack]

Systems and tactics apart it strikes me that many of our players just don't have the ability to play passing football and all that that involves. I feel they don't either have the technique or the mindset to do so. I notice that we don't have any West/EastEuropean/Scandy players in our squad where ball control and pass and move comes so much more naturally to them.

Cooper recruits atypical British players, many that he knows, but who lack the technical talent that we so obviously need and don't have. Back in the day when foreign players were much of a rarity in the British game, even Tosh recruited two Jugoslav players in Jimmy and Ante who had all the skill in the world to go with their toughness - Ante in particular. And sprinkled throughout the team he had players of flair and skill in Curt, Leighton and Robbie James etc.

Our team does not bear comparison with that of Tosh but we don't even make up for it with other attributes such as fitness, pace and aggression etc. Quite where we go from here I don't know but, despite our position, I don't think Cooper does either and it won't be long before we drop out of the promotion picture.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Luton tomorrow .... @CroJack ... FFS open the match thread before @ivoralljack ; it's our only hope.

 

[CroJack]

Systems and tactics apart it strikes me that many of our players just don't have the ability to play passing football and all that that involves.

The Bristol game, and especially the first half, is the proof we can pass the ball.
Just have a look at the passing accuracy here.


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I think Cooper doesn't want us to play passing football.

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[ivoralljack]

Luton tomorrow .... @CroJack ... FFS open the match thread before @ivoralljack ; it's our only hope.

I've actually been waiting for CJ to do it.

 

[CroJack]

I've actually been waiting for CJ to do it.

Ok, I'll do it.

 

[ivoralljack]

The Bristol game, and especially the first half, is the proof we can pass the ball.
Just have a look at the passing accuracy here.

Yes but 45 minutes of good football once in a blue moon will win us bugger all, CJ.

 

[CroJack]

Yes but 45 minutes of good football once in a blue moon will win us bugger all, CJ.

I repeat, our players know how to do it, but Cooper for whatever reason doesn't want them to do it game in game out.

 

[ivoralljack]

I repeat, our players know how to do it, but Cooper for whatever reason doesn't want them to do it game in game out.

He's a bigger fool than I thought then!! And the sooner he fcuks off the better.

 

[CroJack]

He's a bigger fool than I thought then!! And the sooner he fcuks off the better,

I have to correct myself.

Instead of "He doesn't want us to play passing football" it should say "He doesn't know how to play passing football".

 

[Behindthegoal]

I seem to be having trouble editing posts on this page. Anybody else having the same problem?

I’m not having any problems but then agen aye prufe Reed befaw eye poast

 

[Jackflash]

Wel sed. BTG

 

[KVetch]

This is a fantastic analysis. I hope someone on Cooper's staff has figured this out. We have changed, we've been too accepting of conceding goals when we were on track to make the record book. Hourihane has changed our set piece game by tenfold but it can't come at this kind of cost when we're giving away 4 goals to Huddersfield.