Why can't we play like that all the time?

[Pretty Little Boother]

This is a genuine question aimed at people who are more schooled / tactically aware than me.

I'd really like a reasoned answer rather than just "It WaS a DeAd RuBbEr GaMe".

Seriously- what are the reasons why we don't play a more attacking game? I'm aware that our defenders are a bit crap but Bristol City, certainly in the opening stages at least, looked like they weren't fucking about and attacked us seriously.

If we'd gone at a few more teams like we did, we'd have had more points. Please answer in detail- why didn't we?

Edit- please feel free to talk about zonals and channels etc, that's exactly what I'm trying to understand. Ta.

[theonlooker]

I'd say a lot of it is because the pressure was off rather than anything tactical.  Sure we've played well recently but not as free or as loose as that.  That's football sadly.

[frasier37]

Probably because teams usually have something to play for 

[Pretty Little Boother]

May 4, 2024 20:31:01 GMT frasier37 said:

Probably because teams usually have something to play for 

You've fallen foul of my preemptive dEaD rUbBeR gAmE mockery there.

More fool you.

[walrus]

Why oh why did we waste a third of the season playing with a back three/five?

We’re really quite good going forward and really quite ropey at the back. I will never understand why both Neil and Schumacher chose to play a significant number of matches with a formation that neutralises our best players and invites pressure on our weakest.

Hopefully it’s a lesson learned and it’s 4-3-3 all the way next season.

[Paul Spencer]

May 4, 2024 20:24:46 GMT theonlooker said:

I'd say a lot of it is because the pressure was off rather than anything tactical.  Sure we've played well recently but not as free or as loose as that.  That's football sadly.

Exactly.

If we'd gone into that game today knowing we needed a point before it started, there's not a chance we would have played the same.

Cundle is the perfect example of somebody who comes into his own, once the pressure is off him.

[suck_the_mop.]

Yes as said above pressure off playing with freedom they have also been getting fitter and more organised in recent weeks
Also the sjw appointment permanently seemed to give fresh impetus to us.

[cvillestokie]

Usually there’s some sort of pressure on? The players are fairly weak mentally.

[lordb]

Confidence

[cheadlepotter]

Manhoef and Junho have adapted to the league well.

Cundle took longer than he maybe should have to get going but now he has he looks excellent.

A left back at left back rather than Thompson who’s quite poor there.

Thompson playing with much more discipline than Pearson.

Iverson has got rid of the rust.

It all goes to show how easy it is to look good in this division, and with a few problems how easy it was to look poor.

Oh, and no Daniel fucking Johnson.

[stokecitydom]

To be fair we have had times in recent weeks where we have played similarly.

Plymouth, Southampton & West Brom in particular we played some really good stuff. There are definitely signs that we are gelling as an attack.

[Veritas]

Last game of the season often throws up some oddities for example

Rotherham 5 v 2 Cardiff

Leicester 0 v 2 Blackburn

Sunderland 0 v 2 Sheff Weds

[smallthorner]

May 4, 2024 22:09:55 GMT cheadlepotter said:

Manhoef and Junho have adapted to the league well.

Cundle took longer than he maybe should have to get going but now he has he looks excellent.

A left back at left back rather than Thompson who’s quite poor there.

Thompson playing with much more discipline than Pearson.

Iverson has got rid of the rust.

It all goes to show how easy it is to look good in this division, and with a few problems how easy it was to look poor.

Oh, and no Daniel fucking Johnson.

Think that's an excellent summary.

Ps... Completely off topic.

I think "Pep"is a fucking knobhead.

[pushon]

Cundle and Manhoef have changed the dynamic.
Also, surprisingly to me, Laurent has decided to play to his potential.

[mr]

Sometimes the opposition let you play, sometimes they don’t.

[Stretfordpotterer]

May 4, 2024 21:52:22 GMT cvillestokie said:

Usually there’s some sort of pressure on? The players are fairly weak mentally.

Are they though? I’ve certainly accused them of it but the facts don’t necessarily back it up. You don’t expect a mentally weak team to go 15-3-2 in games they’ve held the lead in. And one of those defeats was QPR away with 10 men for a decent chunk of the game.

Of course the flip side of that is we’ve taken 8 points from games we’ve gone behind in.

How much if that is tactical issues and how much is mental, fuck knows. But it’s certainly strange that they’ve been so strong in one aspect and so weak in the other.

[foxysgloves]

Pressure off.

Players more confident to express themselves.

But also maybe (just maybe) the manager is beginning to have a positive influence. His coaching and ideas are becoming evident on the pitch. Hopefully that’s a big part of it anyway.

[senojbor]

I forgot I was I was at the bet 365 today and not the Etihad. That was seriously good football.

After 5 months in charge SS has made the difference.

[jokker]

continuity

[oldschool]

Realistically I’m putting it all down to the changes we have made in the back room.

Getting rid of Neil and Martin is a huge part of how we have played. And it goes to show just how much work Schuey and Walters have had to put it.

I wouldn’t put it down to less pressure as we’ve played well the last 8 games and relegation was only off the books in the last fortnight, look at the results!

I would keep every single player that was on yesterday, they now look like a unit and are playing for each other. Something you couldn’t say at the end of November.

[george2again]

May 4, 2024 20:23:34 GMT Pretty Little Boother said:

This is a genuine question aimed at people who are more schooled / tactically aware than me.

I'd really like a reasoned answer rather than just "It WaS a DeAd RuBbEr GaMe".

Seriously- what are the reasons why we don't play a more attacking game? I'm aware that our defenders are a bit crap but Bristol City, certainly in the opening stages at least, looked like they weren't fucking about and attacked us seriously.

If we'd gone at a few more teams like we did, we'd have had more points. Please answer in detail- why didn't we?

Edit- please feel free to talk about zonals and channels etc, that's exactly what I'm trying to understand. Ta.

You said it your self. No pressure, relaxed players. Got to repeat when there’s jeopardy in a game then you know your on to something.

[cobhamstokey]

Confidence is such a huge factor in football. You only have to look at Ipswich to see that.
Good but not great side coming off a promotion and they carried that roll on all the way through the season after a great start.

There was a time in the season where we were playing OK but losing games where it felt like every chance to the opposition went in. That’s going to knock a teams confidence especially young players.
From this there were an awful lot of changes.
Not having a LB or real leader didn’t help either.

The last 3 games have shown what can happen if you get on a roll and are also playing a settled side.
There’s also been more of a feel good factor since Jon Walters came back too.

Laurent’s played really well the last 3 games but I’m not sure he’s the type of captain who leads from the front. We need someone who’ll drag the team up when things aren’t go well. Not sure that’s in his armoury.

I really think a proper Overson type skipper at the back would make a huge difference. Someone like Conor Coady.

[questionable]

The return of Stevens can’t be overlooked

[frasier37]

May 4, 2024 20:49:51 GMT Pretty Little Boother said:

May 4, 2024 20:31:01 GMT frasier37 said:

Probably because teams usually have something to play for 

You've fallen foul of my preemptive dEaD rUbBeR gAmE mockery there.

More fool you.

 I knew I shouldn't have replied