Meh Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 When I think of yesterday the most obvious flaw comes down to the space in midfield. A lot has been said, rightly, about Tomlin still coming too deep, lack of width, Joe Bryan not getting in crosses etc. But the fact is we played 5-3-2 all the time and not 3-5-2 because every time the ball was lost in their area the whole defence and midfield retreated to our 18 yard box!! Why? The wing backs and defensive midfielders should be on half way line if not slightly in their half and defend from the front. Fleetwood were allowed to bring the ball into our half without a challenge except from strikers trying to chase back - tiring them out for when we turn over the ball and it gets lumped forward as everybody else is by then on our 18 yard line !! Push up as a unit and narrow the gap and they keep it narrow - this way when we turn it over, Little and Bryan are already in their half within a few steps, Tomlin can still be collecting the ball from defence if necessary but is 30 yards further forward with width available. Yes you are prone to a ball over the top but we have a flat line of 3 big guys to deal with that. No point dominating possession when the territory stat is not also in your favour !! LJ said on the radio Tomlin did not pass side to side enough - but to who? The wing backs still trying to get up the pitch from a starting point 20 yards from our goal line? Close the gap and give them a chance. We could have Danny Rose and Karl Walker and even they would fade by half time covering a couple of km's more than a wing back should !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiale Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 18 minutes ago, Neo said: When I think of yesterday the most obvious flaw comes down to the space in midfield. A lot has been said, rightly, about Tomlin still coming too deep, lack of width, Joe Bryan not getting in crosses etc. But the fact is we played 5-3-2 all the time and not 3-5-2 because every time the ball was lost in their area the whole defence and midfield retreated to our 18 yard box!! Why? The wing backs and defensive midfielders should be on half way line if not slightly in their half and defend from the front. Fleetwood were allowed to bring the ball into our half without a challenge except from strikers trying to chase back - tiring them out for when we turn over the ball and it gets lumped forward as everybody else is by then on our 18 yard line !! Push up as a unit and narrow the gap and they keep it narrow - this way when we turn it over, Little and Bryan are already in their half within a few steps, Tomlin can still be collecting the ball from defence if necessary but is 30 yards further forward with width available. Yes you are prone to a ball over the top but we have a flat line of 3 big guys to deal with that. No point dominating possession when the territory stat is not also in your favour !! LJ said on the radio Tomlin did not pass side to side enough - but to who? The wing backs still trying to get up the pitch from a starting point 20 yards from our goal line? Close the gap and give them a chance. We could have Danny Rose and Karl Walker and even they would fade by half time covering a couple of km's more than a wing back should !! I would love to see that, because I think your right, so much possession but nearly all of it is across the back around our box. Reading showed how to do this, they had their CB's wide almost on the goal line sometimes making themselves available, there was room in front of them, but if anyone pressed then a huge gap appears and they played it into that gap where a midfielder or another defender had moved to take possession, they passed it across their defence but every time they received the ball they had all moved forward 10 - 15 yards creeping up the field as a unit, probing looking for a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin_unreliant Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 It is down to coaching. Something Reading's top man obviously understands and ours doesn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonM88 Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 18 minutes ago, robin_unreliant said: It is down to coaching. Something Reading's top man obviously understands and ours doesn't. Readings manager has played under some of the best coaches to grace the game, ours has played for his dad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin_unreliant Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 Didn't Stam coach at Ajax? Compared to Oldham/Barnsley you can see the difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddoh Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 Sorry we have had this problem for many years, I have always assumed it's the city way too play Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davefevs Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 5 hours ago, Neo said: When I think of yesterday the most obvious flaw comes down to the space in midfield. A lot has been said, rightly, about Tomlin still coming too deep, lack of width, Joe Bryan not getting in crosses etc. But the fact is we played 5-3-2 all the time and not 3-5-2 because every time the ball was lost in their area the whole defence and midfield retreated to our 18 yard box!! Why? The wing backs and defensive midfielders should be on half way line if not slightly in their half and defend from the front. Fleetwood were allowed to bring the ball into our half without a challenge except from strikers trying to chase back - tiring them out for when we turn over the ball and it gets lumped forward as everybody else is by then on our 18 yard line !! Push up as a unit and narrow the gap and they keep it narrow - this way when we turn it over, Little and Bryan are already in their half within a few steps, Tomlin can still be collecting the ball from defence if necessary but is 30 yards further forward with width available. Yes you are prone to a ball over the top but we have a flat line of 3 big guys to deal with that. No point dominating possession when the territory stat is not also in your favour !! LJ said on the radio Tomlin did not pass side to side enough - but to who? The wing backs still trying to get up the pitch from a starting point 20 yards from our goal line? Close the gap and give them a chance. We could have Danny Rose and Karl Walker and even they would fade by half time covering a couple of km's more than a wing back should !! Spot on. We were better at stopping them playing out from their keeper second half. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelts Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 Alex Ferguson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engvall's Splinter Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 8 hours ago, Neo said: When I think of yesterday the most obvious flaw comes down to the space in midfield. A lot has been said, rightly, about Tomlin still coming too deep, lack of width, Joe Bryan not getting in crosses etc. But the fact is we played 5-3-2 all the time and not 3-5-2 because every time the ball was lost in their area the whole defence and midfield retreated to our 18 yard box!! Why? The wing backs and defensive midfielders should be on half way line if not slightly in their half and defend from the front. Fleetwood were allowed to bring the ball into our half without a challenge except from strikers trying to chase back - tiring them out for when we turn over the ball and it gets lumped forward as everybody else is by then on our 18 yard line !! Push up as a unit and narrow the gap and they keep it narrow - this way when we turn it over, Little and Bryan are already in their half within a few steps, Tomlin can still be collecting the ball from defence if necessary but is 30 yards further forward with width available. Yes you are prone to a ball over the top but we have a flat line of 3 big guys to deal with that. No point dominating possession when the territory stat is not also in your favour !! LJ said on the radio Tomlin did not pass side to side enough - but to who? The wing backs still trying to get up the pitch from a starting point 20 yards from our goal line? Close the gap and give them a chance. We could have Danny Rose and Karl Walker and even they would fade by half time covering a couple of km's more than a wing back should !! Superb post. Spoke about this on Saturday at half time with numerous fans who could all see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meh Posted January 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 29 minutes ago, Port Pete said: Superb post. Spoke about this on Saturday at half time with numerous fans who could all see it. Shame the coaching team don't appear too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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