Tactics and Personnel - Woefully wrong

[Bris Vegas]

After observing ou first 6 games I think we've been all over the place with tactics and personnel.. We look far better without Croft put it that way..

Firstly we all know S.Davies is not a target man, nor is he a natural striker IMO..

But my biggest gripe is with Croft.. He limits Brayford.. How many times did we see them 2 playing messing about with the ball on the wide right of Covs box, only for Brayford to then aimlessly hit in a cross to our only man in the box (a skinny, weak, glasslegs S.Davies who offers no threat in the air).. The reason for this is Croft can't take on his man, doesn't cut inside and basically takes up the space for an attacking RB to exploit (ie. Brayford)

If you see any decent team play a 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 formation or something similar, the right attacking midfielder needs to cut inside to allow the fullback to overlap or vice versa (on the left) and basically be the RM/LM, playing Croft in that position automatically takes out a player from the game, as he does nothing.

Ward on the other hand cuts it, yet Kilbane doesn't overlap, due to a lack of pace I imagine, leaving a gaping hole down our left side..

This needs addressing immediately

[Ambitious]

After observing ou first 6 games I think we've been all over the place with tactics and personnel.. We look far better without Croft put it that way..

Firstly we all know S.Davies is not a target man, nor is he a natural striker IMO..

But my biggest gripe is with Croft.. He limits Brayford.. How many times did we see them 2 playing messing about with the ball on the wide right of Covs box, only for Brayford to then aimlessly hit in a cross to our only man in the box (a skinny, weak, glasslegs S.Davies who offers no threat in the air).. The reason for this is Croft can't take on his man, doesn't cut inside and basically takes up the space for an attacking RB to exploit (ie. Brayford)

If you see any decent team play a 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 formation or something similar, the right attacking midfielder needs to cut inside to allow the fullback to overlap or vice versa (on the left) and basically be the RM/LM, playing Croft in that position automatically takes out a player from the game, as he does nothing.

Ward on the other hand cuts it, yet Kilbane doesn't overlap, due to a lack of pace I imagine, leaving a gaping hole down our left side..

This needs addressing immediately

League table proves you wrong. I am not saying you are, because to be quite honest, I couldn't be arsed trawl through some fans opinion on how we should be playing football, but I don't think we should be criticising when we occupy a play off spot.

I thought to be in the top 6 after the first month would be good enough for our fans, seemingly not.

[G STAR RAM]

Is the title of this thread aimed at just yesterdays match or is it just a general comment?

[rams71]

i presume its a comment in general

[G STAR RAM]

i presume its a comment in general

Well I think current league position would say that tactics and personnel have been ok so far.

We have beaten two of the relegated teams and had our best start to the season in god knows how many years.

If the argument was that the football was not very entertaining then maybe I would agree but football is a results based business.

[Boycie]

please do not feed the trolls

[Gary Teale]

I think some people are using our table position which isn't even worth looking at until after at least 12 games as an excuse. Our general play isn't very good, we are a pretty solid and work very hard but don't have much about us going forward. We look a threat from set pieces but that alone won't be enough over 46 games. We will always stand a chance as any team does if the game ia tight and can go either way but the good sides try and dominate possession and make chances. Last season we had a bad start but I think most of us could see at least we were trying to pass the ball and make chances and thought it may came good which it dis for a short while but then it needed sticking with, we are not moving forward really. We won't go down, we won't go up, it's midtable all the way unless clough has pulled one out the hat and Tyson is great centre forward.

[BOB BIGGS]

[. We won't go down, we won't go up, it's midtable all the way unless clough has pulled one out the hat and Tyson is great centre forward.

[Leeds Ram]

to all those who say look at the table, that is pointless at the moment, we have won 4 lost 2 which is great, we have lost to coventry and burnley two games we should be getting something out of, we beat birmingham who after 4 games have only managed 4 points and 3 of those came against coventry, they could struggle this year so beating them might not be a massive feat, blackpool away good result, watford away is the type of place we should be getting at least a point if not 3, and doncaster at home who if we hadn't beaten it would have been astounding since they have basically 0 players due to injury.

I think we will be mid-table is that enough with what we have spent? well we have probably spent more than most teams, but we haven't addressed the glaring problem, the goals, where will they come from consistently our strike force has to be one of the poorest in the league, nigel has failed to address this problem and until he does we will either be mid table or struggling, whether it is his fault or the boards that they focused on one target in waghorn, no other striker has been mentioned and when teams are interested usually there is a story, this does genuinely concern me as a serious problem which we need to fix.

[Luke]

Ward is wasted playing behind Davies, he had his best games playing wide left, where he could take people on 1v1.

I would like to see Maguire given a start v Forest along with Tyson if fit.

My team would be :

Fielding

Brayford O'Brien Shackell Kilbane

Bailey

B.Davies Bryson Ward

Maguire

Tyson/Davies

[Van der MoodHoover]

Ward is wasted playing behind Davies, he had his best games playing wide left, where he could take people on 1v1.

I would like to see Maguire given a start v Forest along with Tyson if fit.

My team would be :

Fielding

Brayford O'Brien Shackell Kilbane

Bailey

B.Davies Bryson Ward

Maguire

Tyson/Davies

I suspect Cloughie will be cagier than that and will set us up to try not to concede rather than to thrill. So i reckon it'll be the 7-2-1:

Fielding

Brayford O'Brien Shackell Kilbane

Bailey Hendrick

Croft Bryson B Davies

S Davies

[Bris Vegas]

League table proves you wrong. I am not saying you are, because to be quite honest, I couldn't be arsed trawl through some fans opinion on how we should be playing football, but I don't think we should be criticising when we occupy a play off spot.

I thought to be in the top 6 after the first month would be good enough for our fans, seemingly not.

Erm if you think the league table after 6 games means anything then youre deluded.. Yes I can criticise our play, whether we win, lose or draw..

I couldn't actually give a f*ck where we are after 6 games, the fact that in our best seasons at this level after 6 games we were nowhere near the playoffs shows that to even look at the table at this point is pointless.

Even last season when we'd won 1 out of our first 6 we played far better (ableit a poor 0-1 at home to Sheff Utd) than what we are now.

[Bris Vegas]

please do not feed the trolls

So you don't agree then? To think I'm trolling just because I offer genuine reasons why our play isn't actually very good and that I'm concerned despite being in the playoffs (after 6 games which means nowt)

But you keep your head firmly stuck up your ar*e.. Garauntee you'll be moaning like f*ck next week should we lose to them lot with a similar performance..

[tomsdubs]

to all those who say look at the table, that is pointless at the moment, we have won 4 lost 2 which is great, we have lost to coventry and burnley two games we should be getting something out of, we beat birmingham who after 4 games have only managed 4 points and 3 of those came against coventry, they could struggle this year so beating them might not be a massive feat, blackpool away good result, watford away is the type of place we should be getting at least a point if not 3, and doncaster at home who if we hadn't beaten it would have been astounding since they have basically 0 players due to injury.

I think we will be mid-table is that enough with what we have spent? well we have probably spent more than most teams, but we haven't addressed the glaring problem, the goals, where will they come from consistently our strike force has to be one of the poorest in the league, nigel has failed to address this problem and until he does we will either be mid table or struggling, whether it is his fault or the boards that they focused on one target in waghorn, no other striker has been mentioned and when teams are interested usually there is a story, this does genuinely concern me as a serious problem which we need to fix.

You could look at every game and say we should be getting something out of them, if only it worked like that. Agree with the striker sentiments, we would have won yesterday with a true goalscorer on the pitch. I think Nigel's hands were tied to be honest, no one wanted our crap.

[DCFC1976]

Part of the problem yesterday was that S. Davies isn't a lone striker (as has been mentioned before). He never won a header or held the ball up, we had the same problem against Burnley first half. If we're not going to buy/loan a specialist centre forward who knows how to hold the ball up then we would be better playing a pacey forward (Ward/Theo) so at least their defence would drop off because they would be scared of the striker running in behind and our midfield would have more room to play!!

Also, I think O'Brian needs a rest, you can't fault his commitment but his distribution is not very good as was highlighted yesterday. I would play Anderson now he is fit because his distribution is better?!

[Boycie]

So you don't agree then? To think I'm trolling just because I offer genuine reasons why our play isn't actually very good and that I'm concerned despite being in the playoffs (after 6 games which means nowt)

But you keep your head firmly stuck up your ar*e.. Garauntee you'll be moaning like f*ck next week should we lose to them lot with a similar performance..

Phew!, talking s*it gives you bad breath.

We are playing quite well, but not taking our chances. Keep up the performances and the results will come.

The difference is, I'll be there at the city ground and return on here to give my opinion. You'll be giving yours from hear say or a dodgy stream.

Adiós.

[RotherhamRam]

Ward is wasted playing behind Davies, he had his best games playing wide left, where he could take people on 1v1.

I would like to see Maguire given a start v Forest along with Tyson if fit.

My team would be :

Fielding

Brayford O'Brien Shackell Kilbane

Bailey

B.Davies Bryson Ward

Maguire

Tyson/Davies

I have a feeling against Forest you will pretty much see the side you have listed . Against Villa Maguire and Tyson looked good together until Tyson was taken out by the centre halves. I honestly think Tyson will be key this year as he will terrify centrehalves with his speed. He has not run at a centre half in years and against Villa he won a lot in the air and was blistering fast. Ward would be better on left and Ben davies on the right.

[Alph]

IMO we'll get murdered in midfield with one dm.

I very much like Hendrick/Bailey with bryson in there.

I just think the wide areas are a bit blunt. Croft is a defensive winger who struggles to beat a man. B. Davies requires a ton of space on his right foot. They're just a bit easy to negate.

Tyson and ward could alter that. Cywka too. Even S. Davies if we can bring in a finisher on loan to play upfront instead.

I think Nigel will be aware of how blunt croft and B. Davies can be. Infant croft was dropped for a game but then got back in the side with an excellent sub performance. I think Nigel went with davies, Bryson and ward for one game didn't he? But ward had to limp off?

Against Coventry Bailey was injured so Nigel was forced to drop Bryson back. Maybe cywka could of come in? Or Robinson started?

But it's all hindsight. Now I think a couple of lessons have been learned. A shame we have an important game next week and we can't afford to throw maguire or cywka in at the deep end really.

The team is still taking shape tbf.

I bet ward will start wide if bailey is fit. It may cost croft his place and afford derby some invention?

[EastKentRam]

Phew!, talking s*it gives you bad breath.

We are playing quite well, but not taking our chances. Keep up the performances and the results will come.

The difference is, I'll be there at the city ground and return on here to give my opinion. You'll be giving yours from hear say or a dodgy stream.

Adiós.

If our form this year is 'playing well' then you've got very low expectations. Only Doncaster, who have got 1 point all season, we've beat convincingly.

[Bris Vegas]

Phew!, talking s*it gives you bad breath.

We are playing quite well, but not taking our chances. Keep up the performances and the results will come.

The difference is, I'll be there at the city ground and return on here to give my opinion. You'll be giving yours from hear say or a dodgy stream.

Adiós.

Are you blind? Or seriously on a windup, played well? Were you living under a rock during our George Burley / Jim Smith days? Or were you too young to remember them?

Those days we played well, we used to go away to teams and attack, and win.. Sometimes by more than one goal..

Nowadays it's a case of 11 behind the ball, 2 wingers who act like covering fullbacks, A CM position for B.Davies that makes him invisible during open play.. And a target man whose about as strong as a 70 year old Peruvian in need of a hip replacement.

Are your expectations that low that you genuinely believe we've played well this season?

During a peak last season we had a front 4 of Bueno, Commons, Green/Cywka and Kuqi/Moore.. Now we have Ward, Croft, S.Davies and B.Davies.. Do you honestly believe we are better off now? Bleddy hell.

Also, what bleddy chances aren't we taking? We don't create f*ck all.. You can't call a ball out on the right wing with Croft and Brayford p*ssing about before Brayford whips in an aimless cross to our only man in the box (S.Davies) a chance..

I'll be giving my opinion via a dodgy stream what's your point? I'll see exactly what you'll see.. Or let me guess, you're a better fan than me because you're going? Your petty insults because you can't contribute anything remotely like an interesting debate/opinion is tedious.. Bore off..