Tactics for Home Games?

[RoyalAuzzie]

I do think our home performances are slightly to do with confidence. The problem is of course that at home we need to try and break teams down and I think there are a few reasons we're struggling with this:

1. Some of our midfielders are clearly decent passers. Norwood & Chalobah we've both seen they can pass a ball, however Norwood seems a shadow of the player we first signed at present. Chalobah too shows promise but is a little inconsistent. Those two on form I think have the ability to break teams down in this division.

2. Lack of width. This is particularly true on the left, but I think it's important to have Gmac on the right as he's the only player really who is confident to take players on. HRK on the left is clearly being instructed to cut inside, but I think we would really benefit from an out and out winger on the left too.

3. Lack of goalscorers. Pog has never been prolific, Cox is off form and our midfield really haven't chipped in as many as you'd hope. If you look at some of our home games under Clarke we've created plenty of chances, but either we haven't had players in the right places or someone has fluffed their chance. Personally think we'd benefit from a pacey striker who tries to get in behind too. We've been slightly blessed with likes of Long and Forster over the years who could fashion their own chances out of nothing, but same can't really be said for our current strikers.

1. Yep, we have one of the best central midfields in the league when you add Williams, Karacan, and the likes of Akpan, Taylor, Kuhl, Tshibola as back up. All the more reason Guthrie should go.

2. Agreed 100%. I think the key here is Obita pushing forward more and delivering quality crosses in. As we all know HRK can have many off days so Obita gives another option who is also not afraid of taking on his opposite number. He did it against Fulham earlier this season he just needs a bit of confidence back that's all.

3. I heard there is a bloke playing for Coventry right now who is doing quite well, maybe we should start having a look at him?

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

I think I may have said this before Snowball, just oxf*rd off.

You are the sad oxf*rd that was John Beck, who really wasn't that good asda manager. It worked for him up to a certain level. Then his oxf*rd stats based football failed.

[Snowball]

I think I may have said this before Snowball, just oxf*rd off.

You are the sad oxf*rd that was John Beck, who really wasn't that good asda manager. It worked for him up to a certain level. Then his oxf*rd stats based football failed.

Yeah, so we do just as well at home under SC, right, love?

[Platypuss]

Every away game has been approached in the same way

But maybe not by the opposition.

There's that word, "maybe".


The fact is you have no idea.

Yes - and as it's YOU asserting that your stats are significant, it's YOU that has to control for other variables.

Go on then.

[Hoop Blah]

Obviously different style to other managers yes, but how can you know if we went into the Fulham and Millwall games with the same approach as we did Huddesfield, especially when we've played different formations and selections in specific games.

But what does "obviously different style" MEAN?

It means we can infer a certain method just by watching.


For example, for the last few season's Wenger's Arsenal have been too gung-ho,
trying to attack all the time, and had some horrendous defeats. That appeared
to be what Wenger wanted, until (if reports are to be believed) player-power said
"enough" and Arsenal went to Man City, surrendered the ball, forced Man C wide
and dealt comfortably with their attacks.

A three-quarters blind donkey could see the difference in tactics, and since then
Arsenal's premiership win record has been excellent.

Not sure what you're getting at there snowball.

You said that every away game had been approached in the same way. That's clearly not the case when we've got with different tactics and different team selections depending on the opposition and our available resources.

I'd agree we're struggling more at home than we are away. I'd suggest that's a lot to do with how the opposition are playing against us as well as what we're doing.

[Snowball]

Not sure what you're getting at there snowball.

You said that every away game had been approached in the same way. That's clearly not the case when we've got with different tactics and different team selections depending on the opposition and our available resources.

I'd agree we're struggling more at home than we are away. I'd suggest that's a lot to do with how the opposition are playing against us as well as what we're doing.

Whether on paper we are 451, 433, 442 isn't as important as ATTITUDE.
Namely, don't risk going forward en masse, keep it tight, lots of men behind the ball.
It's clear to me we go away from home looking for 0-0's hoping to nick a goal on the break

We were warned by WBA fans that SC tends to be very defensive and grind his way into a game
and that seems to be how it is. Away from home, with teams having a bit of a go, that works
but at home it gives the other side belief and confidence.

The old adage for away sides is be safe for twenty minutes and quieten the home crowd.
Unfortunately SC's too-safe defensive attitude means they don't have to do that as most
games we do it for them!

[Snowball]

Curious to see when we've opened the scoring at home under SC


25th Minute Norwich Won 2-1 (Penalty )
29th Minute Wednesday Won 2-0

Failed to Score Boro Drew 0-0

Failed to Score Watford Lost 0-1
Failed to Score Leeds Lost 0-2
Failed to Score Wigan Lost 0-1
Failed to Score Forest Lost 0-3

P7 W2 D1 L4 4-7 One point per game

God, that looks bad laid out like that. Relegation Form

Bradford favourites for Wembley?



Under Adkins

06th Minute Won 3-2 Millwall
15th Minute Won 3-0 Fulham
19th Minute Drew 3-3 Wolves
23rd Minute Won 3-0 Blackpool
26th Minute Won 1-0 Ipswich
29th Minute Won 3-0 Rotherham

79th Minute Lost 1-2 Huddersfield (We were 0-2 down)

Failed to Score Derby Lost 0-3
Failed to Score Charlton Lost 0-1
Failed to Score Bolton Drew 0-0

P10 W5 D1 L4 17-11 1.6 points per game.

[Geekins]

Score more goals than the away side.

[Snowball]

Score more goals than the away side.

I'll ring Mr Clarke. Bet he's not thought of that.

[RoyalAuzzie]

Score more goals than the away side.

I'll ring Mr Clarke. Bet he's not thought of that.

Just shut up you miserable old fart.

[seahawk10]

Adkins
Top 8: P7, W3, D1, L3 = 1.4 ppg
Middle 8: P8, W0, D1, L7 = 0.1 ppg
Bottom 7: P6, W4, D2, L0 = 2.3 ppg

Clarke
Top 8: P5, W3, D1, L1 = 2 ppg
Middle 8: P4, W1, D0, L3 = 0.8 ppg
Bottom 7: P5, W0, D3, L2 = 0.4 ppg

I think you are on to something here. Let's bring Adkins back to manage vs. Bottom teams. Keep Clarke vs top 8 teams. And find a new manager for the Middle teams, someone who averages 2 ppg preferably.

That would win us promotion for sure.

[kwik-silva]

Not sure what you're getting at there snowball.

You said that every away game had been approached in the same way. That's clearly not the case when we've got with different tactics and different team selections depending on the opposition and our available resources.

I'd agree we're struggling more at home than we are away. I'd suggest that's a lot to do with how the opposition are playing against us as well as what we're doing.

Whether on paper we are 451, 433, 442 isn't as important as ATTITUDE.
Namely, don't risk going forward en masse, keep it tight, lots of men behind the ball.
It's clear to me we go away from home looking for 0-0's hoping to nick a goal on the break

We were warned by WBA fans that SC tends to be very defensive and grind his way into a game
and that seems to be how it is. Away from home, with teams having a bit of a go, that works
but at home it gives the other side belief and confidence.

The old adage for away sides is be safe for twenty minutes and quieten the home crowd.
Unfortunately SC's too-safe defensive attitude means they don't have to do that as most
games we do it for them!

So you don't see Clarke saying that cup games aren't as important as the league as a change in attitude? Whether legitimate or not, I'd say there's clearly a shift in the way we approach league to cup games if you're taking what Clarke's said into account - which you are.

[Snowball]

So you don't see Clarke saying that cup games aren't as important as the league as a change in attitude? Whether legitimate or not, I'd say there's clearly a shift in the way we approach league to cup games if you're taking what Clarke's said into account - which you are.

Seriously? Seriously?

He never said a dickie-bird, clearly "rested six players", team got a walloping,
so he HAS to say, "The league is more important" to cover his ass.

We have about a 1% chance of going down. We have approximately a 50% chance of getting
to Wembley and picking up something over 1.5 million. of COURSE (now) the Cup is a far, far
bigger deal than the league. Everyone knows it, INCLUDING, Clarke.

He is hardly going to say, "Who gives a Monkey's if we lose 0-2 to Brighton and then lose 5-0 at Watford?
Blackpool, Millwall, Wigan are going down, so we are after the money."

If anybody really believes that Clarke is being honest right now,
they need treatment.

[Snowball]

So you don't see Clarke saying that cup games aren't as important as the league as a change in attitude? Whether legitimate or not, I'd say there's clearly a shift in the way we approach league to cup games if you're taking what Clarke's said into account - which you are.

BTW, I was taking into account, what WBA fans have said, what Clarke says about his mentality, AND the way we play

[kwik-silva]

So you don't see Clarke saying that cup games aren't as important as the league as a change in attitude? Whether legitimate or not, I'd say there's clearly a shift in the way we approach league to cup games if you're taking what Clarke's said into account - which you are.

Seriously? Seriously?

He never said a dickie-bird, clearly "rested six players", team got a walloping,
so he HAS to say, "The league is more important" to cover his ass.

We have about a 1% chance of going down. We have approximately a 50% chance of getting
to Wembley and picking up something over 1.5 million. of COURSE (now) the Cup is a far, far
bigger deal than the league. Everyone knows it, INCLUDING, Clarke.

He is hardly going to say, "Who gives a Monkey's if we lose 0-2 to Brighton and then lose 5-0 at Watford?
Blackpool, Millwall, Wigan are going down, so we are after the money."

If anybody really believes that Clarke is being honest right now,
they need treatment.

And how do you know resting six players wasn't just down to the intense schedule? He's gotta rest players at some point.

Also, you've clearly just shown he approaches cup and league games differently.

Check. And. Mate.

[Snowball]

In your opinion.

ONE away game, he rested players. ONE game.

But the tactics he used were the same.

[Ian Royal]

We've quite clearly played different tactics and strategies in different games. But you'll never see snowball admit he might be wrong.

[kwik-silva]

Yeah but hey, it's always fun to wind 'im up.

In your opinion.

ONE away game, he rested players. ONE game.

But the tactics he used were the same.

Alright, so take that out of your sample then.

Do we normally hoof quite as much as we did at Bradford on Saturday? Because to me that was a total change in approach based on the pitch? I'd take that out of the sample as well mate to be honest. Definite change in approach there.

[Snowball]

You know the difference between strategy and tactics?

Or the difference between overall principles and short-term adjustment?

There was no "different strategy" or principle at Bradford. We played "not to lose" with the hope of maybe nicking it, like just about every away game under SC.

More robust, sure, because the opposition would otherwise bully us.

More ball in the air (wow, really?) because it was a cabbage-patch.




Last night, at home WAS different. No big man up front, better pitch, more quick passing to feet, more pressing high up. We actually looked like we wanted to score and would.

Ie for once, we were less negative, less safety-first. Whether that was a real change in principles or the players were just more up for it, don't know.

[Snowball]

:lol: Yeah but hey, it's always fun to wind 'im up.

In your opinion.

ONE away game, he rested players. ONE game.

But the tactics he used were the same.

Alright, so take that out of your sample then.

Do we normally hoof quite as much as we did at Bradford on Saturday? Because to me that was a total change in approach based on the pitch? I'd take that out of the sample as well mate to be honest. Definite change in approach there.

Yeah, right, that would make our away form even more impressive and reinforce my argument...