Managers, Tactics and formations.
On paper his team looked like this..
In reality though, the team looked like this
The style of play was to let the opposition have the ball unmolested up until the centre circle in our half, only then when the other team had committed there team high up the pitch we would start to close down, attempt to win the ball then break quickly in an attempt to exploit the open space. If/when we lost the ball we would get 10 men back behind the ball, in our own half and regain shape.
The down side to this was that we would always concede the majority of possession, there was never any real attempt to hold on to the ball and although we got results we rarely looked like we dominated a game.
The upside was that it got results, through not running the length of the pitch after the ball we conserved energy and injuries to the team were rare.
The protests of the minority were rewarded, Rowett went and Zola came in.
Zola was charged with maintaining or improving results while producing a more entertaining style of play.
His team set up like this...
Zola did get more possession out of the team but results did not go his way, not a lot did. He started off unlucky to an extent, especially against Brighton at home when we hit the post a few times and missed sitters.
The passing and extra possession pleased fans for a while, however the team lacked any real width, Neither Grounds or NSue got forward on a regular basis and no crosses were put into the box. In order to score, Juke needs to be in the 18 yard box and the ball needs to be planted on his head. Our build up play was so slow that we became very easy to defend against and were reduced to speculative shots.
We do not have the creative players to carve out a chance through the middle, so the goals dried up and as the team was playing further up the pitch we started to find that we couldn't keep a clean sheet either as the opposition started to attack the space we left behind.
Wins over Fulham and Wolves papered over the cracks but disastrous results and pathetic displays particularly against Leeds, Wigan and Derby where we were reduced to playing a flat back 5 in an unsuccessful attempt to stop the rot.
Zola went and Harry was inn.
Harry called Gary and we won 2 of the final 3. (What a day at Brizol)
This season started with a Rowett type formation but no distinguishable style of play. It appeared as though Redknapp would tell the players to "work hard" and "pass the ball" but there was actual attempt at tactics or style of play.
Things seemed to be getting worst not better and Harry was sacked for his previous assistant Steve Cotterill.
After 9 games results have been poor and goals extremely hard to come by, question are already been asked about his management.
On Monday we played a lopsided 3421...
Although we were playing the best team in the division, we ultimately didn't have a shot on goal, kept it at 0-1 due to some heroics from Stockdale and slightly lost the plot with Dean sent off and Roberts lucky to escape a red card too. (Incidentally Wolves should have had a player sent off too)
I dont see results turning if we carry on like this.
How do you see the sides formation and tactics moving forward?
KRO