TomTom92

We got found out for doing something that wasn't against the rules. Don't you understand the difference between breaking the rules and doing something not covered by the rules?

I'm writing this because I've been thinking about it for a little while and I feel that I keep see people misdiagnosing what we are trying to do and why it's not working. (Also because I'm a bit bored whilst a bit ill). This isn't necessarily an attempt to defend what we are trying to do or whether it's the best approach to take (although I do think there is merit) but more an attempt at explaining the tactical intent and why we aren't meeting that intent or at least not consistently. It's worth noting there is an amount of variation in what we have tried to do but I'll try to cover the gist of it and where and why it's varied a little.
The Intent
The primary goal of what Rooney is trying to tactically work towards is aiming to create a chasm of space in midfield in front of the opposition defence for the 3 attacking midfielders (Lawrence particularly) to exploit, with the secondary goal of if that doesn't work having an overload out wide. We do this by working the ball out from the back and having players drift from their starting positions into space we manufacture in turn creating more space where we want it. With that in mind we can look at the player's roles.
GK, CBs - Not much to really explain here and they aren't doing anything fancy. The important bit is that we expect the ball to move around between them a lot and so need to be comfortable on the ball and able to shift possession quickly and accurately. Also the centre backs may be called upon to cover the space wide that the full backs vacate so in an ideal world are positional aware and quick.
Fullbacks - Almost used as wing backs the idea is that when we are building possession they push very high and wide. This is to achieve a couple things; provide width, give an out-ball for CBs and GK or a switch ball for a midfielder and push the opposition wide players back and out of the way contributing to space opening up where you'd typically see the fullback. There has been a minor variant on this with one of the full backs playing high but narrow acting as a pseudo-midfielder with the attacking player in front of them providing the width.
DMs - With the space vacated by the full back the DM on the side possession is moving towards can freely move into that pocket of space hopefully dragging their opposite number out of position and if they aren't tracked they will have time and space to pick a pass. The idea is goes quickly into them and the quickly on either into the 10 or to a wide player on their side. By doing this it contributes to trying to moving the opposition around, get them out of position and ideally out of those central areas which brings me on to the next group.
AMs - This whole tactical system is designed to give these players a platform to play, with the movement of the fullbacks and the DMs the AMs should find it a lot easier (if the ball has been moved quickly) to find time and space in the centre of the park where they can turn and hurt the opposing team. My belief is that there is three nominal roles the left sided player operates as a wideish playmaker, the right sided player operates as the most direct of the three looking to run at the opposition or in behind and the central player is to be somewhat in between both whilst also being the primary target for most of the build up, possession and I suspect the player wanted to be on the ultimate end of the move. You'll notice that there is a big emphasis on getting the 10 on the ball as much as possible. Typically the wider players are inverted so they are more comfortable coming narrow.
CF - Unlike a lot of tactical set ups, the striker isn't here primarily as the focus of things and more as almost a decoy. The idea is they consistently make runs beyond dragging the opposition back and have them back peddling when an AM breaks into the space in front of them. The importance once again is all about disrupting how the opposition set up in order to create space.
Ideally in the build up you'd expect us to look like this (assuming an attack on the right)
 
      
 
And if you look at in that regard I believe you can start to see how we expect to create passing triangles in order to work possession. It then shifts to something closer to this further up the pitch (again assuming an attack on the right)
 

(Diagrams aren't perfect but I hope they get the point across)
The Execution
Whilst the above is the intent we often see it breakdown well before the final third giving the impression that we aren't going anywhere and it's partly we see some players end up consistently coming very deep. What's basically happening is to an extent we aren't able to execute what we are trying to do tactically and forever recycling the initial phase of it. The problem is rife throughout the team and there are a lot of players out there who are clearly unsuited to doing what is asked causing severe breaks in the tactical cohesion. 
GK Roos is actually perfect for the role in terms of his attributes. Whilst he may have his moments; at this level his distribution is excellent and he is fast off his line if somebody breaks beyond the defence. CBs Admittedly this feels a touch unfair to criticise and in fairness they've made about as a good a fist of it as can be expected but fundamentally we need CBs much more comfortable on the ball the Davies and Stearman if we want to build out from the back. Jagielka coming in will help this mind and if we can pick up Mengi as well we will be golden. Fullbacks  Forsyth just isn't really quick enough anymore to properly stretch the pitch and then return to position, Buchanan returning will improve this but I think we need start seriously considering bumping Williams up to second choice. Byrne whilst he has made mistakes is probably ok in the role with a couple caveats; ideally we'd have someone a little faster and more capable of drilling the ball into the box (as opposed to Byrne's floaters). Ebosele would fix some of the issues but is a little rawer in possession than Byrne. Also whilst Byrne is fine with the primary role, he is clearly supremely uncomfortable playing as an inverted full back as we saw against Peterborough. DMs Bird tactically and positionally completely gets what he should be doing and whilst it might look odd is following the plan set out for him to a T.  The ball comes into and back out from him quickly and reliably. The only minor problem is because of the position he is taking up the quick forwards pass is typically on his wrong foot  and he'd be far better off if he was playing on the left half of the pitch. Shinnie however is arguably one of the biggest issues in the current set up and blatantly unsuited for it. Tactical he looks unsure of his role and the number of times that one of the following happens when he gets the ball is significant; the momentum of the move is killed dead because he takes too many touches, he gives up possession or he passes in a such a way that the next player does. As much as he is liked if Rooney wants to tactically make work what he's trying to do, Shinnie has to come out of the side. AMs The system has been built with Lawrence playing at 10 in mind and whilst he hasn't perhaps pulled up any trees he does seem to tactically understand what his role and what he should be doing at a given time. Need a bit more creatively from him and I think we will see that once other things click into place. Morrison somewhat similar to Lawrence I feel was firmly in the coaching team's mind when thinking on how they want to play this season and does his role well The problem position is the RAM slot. The plan very clearly was to get Aluko in here. Jozwiak and Ebosele have started here but neither are really right for both being right footed and given that Byrne behind them can't play the compensatory role. The player very clearly most suited to it is Sibley but it's just a question of whether Rooney gets over his hangups with him as he looked like a clear fit when he came on versus Peterborough. CF This is also where there has been a bit of a problem. I really like CKR but this system needs someone energetic and spinning in behind to open up the space and keep the opposition honest and it's just not his game. It wasn't surprising to me that the game seemed to change when he got injured and Stretton came on because suddenly spaces started to appear. I'm relatively convinced Baldock was being brought in with this in mind and was going to be earmarked as first choice. Personally however I think Stretton looks a better fit and I suspect is more likely to be clinical when it comes to chance creation.  Whilst it might not look great now with perhaps a couple signings/players returning to fitness it could quickly click into place, it's just down to Rooney and Co to realise why it's not working and fix it. For example a theoretical line up along the lines of the following would likely execute the plan set out pretty well 

There have been two key moments under Mel Morris' ownership that have defined us - and neither were his fault, just terrible luck
1) The pre season knee injury to George Thorne in 2014/15 - we'd have walked the league with him playing but we had to loan in Omar Mascarell as cover
2) The 1st game of the season in 2015/16 at Bolton when both Will Hughes and Craig Bryson did their knees and were out for most of the season causing Mel to 'panic buy' Bradley Johnson & Jacob Butterfield and triggering our spiral of FFP overspend
 
Both of those seasons we still managed to hit top of the league but lacked the quality of Thorne, Hughes & Bryson to see it over the line
We've been fire fighting ever since

I’m not sure who’s more selfish Rooney or Morris. Rooney must know he’s not the man for the job but he’s staying on regardless knowing that he has the perfect excuse in our off field troubles. As for Morris the fact he’s still the owner and still clashing swords with the EFL because of pride is toxic. Both need to go but I can’t see either going any time soon. 

I’m not sure who’s more selfish Rooney or Morris. Rooney must know he’s not the man for the job but he’s staying on regardless knowing that he has the perfect excuse in our off field troubles. As for Morris the fact he’s still the owner and still clashing swords with the EFL because of pride is toxic. Both need to go but I can’t see either going any time soon. 

8 points from the last 51 available. 
1 win in 18. 
Surely it’s time for him to accept this job is, understandably, too much for him and do the right thing and walk away. Install Mac until the end of the season and try to regain some kind of positive and understandable style of play. 

I understand the doom and gloom I really do but for 90 minutes there was nothing in it and arguably until we scored we had shaded it.
Unfortunately I agree with other posters and you have to say when 11 mins went up I feared the worst and I’d have snapped your hand off for a point at 1-1…..it was clear as day that a second was coming in the next 9 minutes.
Both goals were poor defensively and looked to be the result of tiredness (mentally and physically) and that won’t have been helped by the lack of games pre season and not being in a position to get 90 mins into most players legs at least once due to the risk of injuries….
As hard as it may be, Must stay patient and must offer as much support as possible because if frustrations on here spill into the stadium I fear for the younger players. 

I find it interesting that we have got more information from Ravel Morrison deleting a tweet and unfriending us on social media than we got from a 4 hour meeting with Mel Morris on Wednesday night.

Given our clubs conduct over the last 12 months I'm inclined to believe we'd do something this stupid.
The place is an absolute shambles so why should we give them the benefit of the doubt? They no longer deserve it.

*circus music plays*

its a bit like going on a blind date, you know that the other person will most probably be a grunter but you feel deflated when they are.

Mel’s lost the plot. Can someone collect him and put him to bed please. 

Oh FFS he can’t be serious in regards to the Academy
 

I actually wasn't nearly as depressed for example when we were relegated to Div 3 as I knew there were people at the club capable and motivated to move us forward and was waiting for the renaissance to get us back on track again with an eager anticipation.
The whole situation now is just meh - the club is being gradually suffocated with no palpable end in site, the current owner is unwilling or unable to take decisive action either way to move us out of this mess and we just appear to be stumbling from one new crisis to another on an almost weekly basis. 
The most shocking thing for me is the total lack of communication from anyone inside the club which almost matches Captain Bob's era after the decided that he no longer had any interest in his train set and it didn't exist anymore. 
I'm not depressed I'm at the point where it's like an enthusiasm for the club has been gradually squeezed out of me due to the ongoing events and the total lack of any appetite from the current owner to resolve the mess that primarily they have dropped us into. 

Don't forget, getting 5 players in will still leave us on a par with last season - at best - & look how bad that was
Still, it's a must needed start though
If I was Rooney & I could bring in 5 players, i'd be looking further than just the current trialists  - there's an awful lot of players out of contract around the country

Sone Aluko is the kind of player that always causes us massive problems when we play against him, but will immediately become useless the moment he signs for us.

Hi. Did I miss anything overnight?

This shows not only the vindictiveness of the EFL but also its sheer stupidity. If they'd let it lie, that would have been that. By pursuing an appeal they now leave themselves open to be being sued on all sides depending on what they do and do not decide. It's an organization not fit for purpose and one that has lost touch with the Member clubs in whose interests it should have been acting, but that is palpably no longer the case (eg refusing to accept clubs can use the new Covid accounting rules put in place by the Government when all clubs are suffering massive Covid problems). I hope the Championship breaks away to form a Premier League 2.

The EFL are a disgrace. If they’ve given us the green light to do something it’s irrelevant whether it’s sly, cheating or anything else. We made decisions on their say so. They can’t then change the rules and punish us. Best thing they can do is give us a bit of a fine and move on. Of course then Wycombe etc will throw their hat in to the ring and drag it out for another season. Pathetic. 

The EFL are a disgrace. If they’ve given us the green light to do something it’s irrelevant whether it’s sly, cheating or anything else. We made decisions on their say so. They can’t then change the rules and punish us. Best thing they can do is give us a bit of a fine and move on. Of course then Wycombe etc will throw their hat in to the ring and drag it out for another season. Pathetic. 

I know the saying “you reap what you sow” comes to mind but all the off field antics is really starting to tarnish my love for the game. 
Did Derby splash the cash under the presumption we’d get promoted? Yes
Did Derby fail to gain promotion in typical Derby manner? Yes
Are we in enough mud as it is without other clubs poking their noses in to our business? Yes
As far as I can tell we’ve used every loophole going. Which of course is against the spirit of the game. However if the loopholes are there then it is the EFL’s problem and they should change their rules to make them water tight. 
 
For saying football was in uproar in regards to the super league. It’s disgusting how the EFL and a handful of clubs are going out of their way to kill off a founding member of the football league. Have a day off.

I’m at a loss. Even when we score first the wheels come off. Our only hope is that it’s 0-0 in the final minutes and with them pushing forward we catch them on the break and poohouse a 1-0. 
  
As soon as Lawrence scored yesterday I thought great but it’s too early. That said for us to concede twice in 5 minutes is ridiculous. If we’d have hung on for a point things would be looking much rosier.

I’m at a loss. Even when we score first the wheels come off. Our only hope is that it’s 0-0 in the final minutes and with them pushing forward we catch them on the break and poohouse a 1-0. 
  
As soon as Lawrence scored yesterday I thought great but it’s too early. That said for us to concede twice in 5 minutes is ridiculous. If we’d have hung on for a point things would be looking much rosier.