Red Skin

I don't think this is happening, but it seems to be what they are trying. I think Mehmeti is getting it in the right position at times, but he isn't releasing it quickly enough. Knight gets it right at times too, but isn't really as suited to that role as maybe Sykes. (I actually think Bell is the sort of clever player that can execute this too). When Knight gets in the position to go it alone from inside right, he just doesn't have the finishing/composure to score (as we saw with his chance against West Ham where he dragged it wide). We definitely aren't seeing the one touch quick passing though. Dickie can spot the pass inside and execute. Vyner can see it but his execution isn't great. Looks to me that this is how we are attempting to attack, but the players in those 'inside forward' roles aren't the best at execution and the passes aren't coming. I agree, the opposition are screening too. It's fine margins to make it come off, but I think it will come. When it does, as you say, Conway will have a field day and he will get his rewards for all the work he is doing.

I think we did see passes to break the lines didn't we? Maybe just as many as we'd like. I think this is more of case of having the players cute enough to move inside to receive it and give an option of a pass through the lines. In the League I'd like to see a front 3 of Sykes, Conway and Twine. The way we seem to attack is for two wider players of the front three moving inside to free space for the wingbacks to push up. Then it's all quick one touch triangles. With Sykes and Twine working as inside forwards between the lines, they are capable of running at the defence and finding Conway's runs (or use him as a decoy and take it on themselves). Or releasing Pring/McCrorie down the lines. You then gotta think about who is capable of seeing Sykes and Twine and can finding them with a pass? Certainly Dickie and probably Knight, TGH. I feeling it's building incrementally. We have the defence largely sorted, and team structure in place to snuff out attacks. We are now controlling games for longer periods. Now we need to hone how we attack.

I think it's the overall cohesion of the team and their ability to stay in shape to stifle Forest when Forest did have the ball that impressed me Everyone seems to understand their role and positionally where they need to be when attacking and just importantly when they are defending. Yes, we probably need a different kind of striker to complement what we said that's what we are after. I do think we will see quite a dramatic change to our CM over the summer. Players that can break the lines and beat their man are at a premium, but this is what I feel we will look to replace the likes of Williams and James with. Feels like so much of our defensive strength comes from our shape and discipline that we may not need specialist CMs as much. Yes, midfielders that can defend but also ones that are more attack minded will see use improve our creativity.

That would make sense. He was available pretty much all of last season and still 'only' 35. He hasn't played load in recent years so maybe his legs are a bit younger! From the interviews, it seems he's been a massively positive influence on all the young lads so hopefully he will have a coaching role with us in the future.

This is kinda what I thought will go with. Twine and Syke effectively inside forwards in old money. I don't see playing Twine inside left as playing him 'wide'. (Were Hull playing him left in a 442?) Both Twine and Sykes can finish. McCrorie and Pring pushing up outside them as wide players. Both Dickie and Atkinson comfortable taking the ball out of defence into midfield to present more problems to the opposition. A really attacking team when we have the ball, and strong defensively when we don't. I can understand LM changing the set up for the second game against West Ham just to present different problems. Given it went so well, I can understand him keeping with it, and maybe it was to present Watford with different problems too after playing them so recently. I'm fairly sure LM will be flexible and change things in the way he feels can hurt the opposition most. I've enjoyed watching Anis come in from the cold, but he's probably been presented with plenty of clips about how his final ball is lacking so it can't be a complete surprise to find himself benched in preference to Twine. Imagine the meltdown on here to 'waste' good money on Twine and then start Anis ahead of him?

Yes, Knight is great in the air in both boxes. We seem to have come on lots from lamenting Diedhoiu not being there to clear.

Murphy, quite literally Have we actually signed Stokes?

Bit of a companion piece to the throw-ins thread, but I've been really impressed with how well we have defended corners this season. And it isn't a NP v LM thing either. We have just seemed to have really stepped up. I thought Ward-Prowse and West Ham would be a challenge, but we largely sailed through it. Late on in games I used to be nervous of any opposition corner but not any more. What's been the difference? Dickie? Max more commanding the Bentley? Pring and Tanner improving?

Clearly player recruitment is key, but I've always wondered why there hasn't been more of a focus on recruitment of other aspects of clubs set ups? Head caches/mangers are obvious ones which do get focus, but why isn't there more head hunting at other coaching levels within clubs or is this happening and just not registering on my radar? Similarly player recruitment/analyst teams. It's so crucial to a club's success, you'd think that clubs would invest more in poaching from other successful set ups? For example Peterborough always seem to have an eye for a player. Most of these post are still relatively poorly paid as far I can tell, so wouldn't it be an obvious tactic to raid the clubs lower down the leagues that seem to do this well? Surely, the same principles apply it's just the calibre of player you are looking at is different?

You'd think being able to use your hands would be an advantage, but all too often it isn't. Throw-ins can't be too much better than a 50/50 chance at retaining possession these days.

Hmmm, yes it seems that way. I've always played the long game on medicine too. Lifestyle changes to affect the long-term wellbeing rather than running to the docs for a quick fix to cure the latest ailment before lurching on to next crisis!

Maybe so, but it all depends what you want from football. I want to see decent football over getting promotion. Be nice to get promotion playing decent football though. To perfectly honest I was more annoyed with the amount of Watford fans in the Tobacco Factory making it harder for me to get a pint in than anything I seen during the game! Bloody liberty! I guess the point I was making is we can't compete to sign 'star' players. We will also struggle to keep our 'star' player so we have to develop a team that better collectively that the individuals that make it up. Easy to say, but not easy to do.

I'm one of those too. Gotta be a factor.

I think as a fan base, rather than OTIB, we are a pretty patient bunch. I think Pearson was quite surprised at times how much fans appreciated the difficult circumstances under which he was expecting to operate.

I think it's fair to say that any style will work better with better players. The quality of player is always going to put a ceiling on the level of success you will have. I do think the style we are moving to under Manning has a better chance of getting more from the players. Given our level of finances compared to teams with parachute payments, we need to find a way of playing that elevates the team over the individual. When the emphasis is on the system they play to is elevated, you do not rely on star performers to get success. (You still need intelligent, coachable decent players though). The upshot being that when someone does come in to buy your better performers the team isn't overly reliant on them because the strength is the system. You also know what you need to replace them because you know what the system needs. You aren't looking to replace an 'Alex Scott', you are looking to replace the role he does in the system. Succession planning for the here and now (and if we are looking to upgrade because we get promoted) becomes easier at least in terms of being clear about what's needed. Same goes for academy recruitment and coaching. No guarantee you'll find those players with your finances within any given window though. Maybe that's why Scott Twine hasn't reached the heights he did under Manning? Because he needs some structure within which to play his best football. Maybe that's why Oxford aren't fairing so well without Manning now. Because the same players aren't able to perform as well collectively without the system and patterns of play he was coaching? I am not a fan of this threads. I appreciate that results and points on the board is ultimately to only objective measure of success, but sneaking an extra couple of points here and there isn't a real measure of a team's development for me. We all know promotion challenging football when we see it - as we did under Cotts - without needing to check the points tally per game. I don't know if Manning is the answer, but I am happy to give him the rest of the season, a couple of transfer windows, and a full preseason to really make an full assessment. For me, I have seen enough to be encouraged so far.

I'm surprised that haven't got smaller cameras operated remotely these days, rather than have some hulking big bloke still stuck behind one. A camera in the Dolman is a good shout. Usually teams have the camera on their poorer stand to show off the better one. Maybe the limited access in the Dolman is a consideration.

Yes, I always thought he was bang average. Fair play to him, he's had a decent career.

Can I interrupt the Jobi love fest to big up Mark Chapman. Excellent presenter. Very insightful. He is always confident to let the conversation flow and take it to more interesting places.

And the Polish Church

Loved the interview from the first West Ham game too, when he says '9,000 of us' rather than '9,000 city fans'. That's a feeling, not media training.

Whoosh! The reason for the laughter was you cannot miss something you've never had. It's like me saying I've missed sleeping with Natalie Portman. No one was doubting the impact McCrorie would have when he eventually played, but you carry on with the self congratulations. I had a great evening. Thanks.

Yes, and some real options to change things in game which we have struggled with.

Working on his notes for the game apparently. Desperately trimming 200 Bristol City references down to a paltry 50. I'm not sure about him doing tonight's game. I get more enjoyment when he manages to drop a Bristol City reference into a commentary on a France v USA women's international. Much more of a challenge.

I'm not sure I agree with your analysis, but I applaud your gender fluidity Nancy/Karen. ST will hopefully provide us with some goals and assists and fun until the end of the season. He will offer more than Weimann. He isn't blocking anyone in the academy because we don't have a ready made replacement coming through. (I am not sure how far away Benerous is or what the future holds for him). Right now Burnley want too much money, so we are better waiting until the summer to get more value in the market or seeing which division Burnley are in and maybe doing a more favourable deal. It'll help us see how LM's philosophy and style of play measures up when he has more players that fit with it.

100%. It's getting really bizarre on here.