There are many interesting things about Vals management.... his total commitment to rigidly stick to the long ball, moving it quickly out of defencethe high press, subs after 60 minutes, aggressive wing back play etc and absolutely no sign of playing anything other than 343. No plan B. Last night that changed in the last 10 mins or so. He actually went to a Plan B. He went 442. Mads up front with Cauley, with Morris and Frieser wide. I know it was a final throw of the dice but what pleased me was that he recognised that sometimes in a game, a change of tactics isnt necessarily a bad thing. Also good to see us playing a lot more football during the game rather than the incessant hoof ball. I do agree with many on here....losing is not a nice feeling but losing in the way we have done to the top 3 is no disgrace.
losing is losing imho, he should have parked the bus and gone for the draw, last night no shots on target, not one, may as well have parked bus
If you park the bus, you end up with a game of attack vs defence, and at some point the attack will get through, or pick out your right back's arm inside the box. Would just be the same result really.
Nah. Disagree. Not many teams capable of parking the bus and not losing. The old inter Milan team with catenaccio .....yes, and may be a Mourinho team if he adopted that tactic. But not us.
Being disappointed with how we've lost the last few games is a sign of how much the expectation has shifted in the short time Val has been here. Losing close games to the top teams in the division, typically including players with 8-figure transfer fees, shows the gap we need to bridge to become a genuine play-off challenging team, but overlooks the massive step that we've already taken (hopefully) in being a competitive team within the division that isn't looking over their shoulder at the relegation places. Achieving that with our budget and squad is a massive leap forward from where we've operated in the Championship. VI is still learning about the division, but from a position where he's exceeded expectations in the early stages, so has to do less coaching from a crisis management perspective. I expect his tactics will evolve further along the lines you've outlined, particularly as he becomes increasingly able to influence who he has to work with within the squad, and he obviously seems comfortable with allowing some fringe players to go out on loan whilst making limited investments in the transfer window this month. As a supporter, I'd prefer to see some more incoming business, but the activity within the window this time around looks like it's that that had been planned and agreed between club and coach ahead of the window opening - limited incoming business, but done early, and a few fringe players being moved on. Mowatt's future is the big unknown remaining within this, as VI has been very open about wanting him to stay and seems to be expecting that to be the case. Much as I hate losing games, the last 3 are not the ones that will ultimately define our season, and the results have generally come down to isolated errors being punished, refereeing decisions, and the quality of the opposition (directly correlated to the investment made in them).
Good points I often have a drunken kneejerk reaction after matches and then calm down later. Your post sums up how I feel about the last three games. Matches I'd said prior to them that I classed as freebies. That said I think any defeat hurts deep down.
Well summarised Curt. Always knew you should be in charge! Seriously, good post. In particular I take your point re Mowatt (who, incidentally, was superb last night - the fact that VI changed the approach meant that he was involved a lot more; ie not by passing midfield) - really hope we can hold onto him. Seems to me that if we do lose him, it won't be for the want of trying to get him to stay.
I don't understand putting Sibbick on in the 89th minute though. Late substitutions are great when you're winning, and trying to waste time, but if you're chasing a game, at least give someone a minimum of 10 minutes. It makes no sense to me.
Sounds like the bus we took with the Wath and West Melton supporters club to Bramall Lane for the 5th round FA Cup tie in 1990. It had something wrong with the door (or at least the hydraulic mechanism controlling it), as it had a life of its own, opening and closing at random points during the journey. When trundling round the narrow streets of West Melton and Brampton it was just a touch disconcerting. However, it wasn't until it suddenly sprang open on the M1 that we got a real sense of things being slightly hazardous.
The lack of pragmatism may well cost us. The defence looked a bit short of confidence, no protection from midfield which was being overrun by slick passing. I don't understand why persist with 2 wide forward players when there are wing backs. Change to 352 and become harder to beat.
There isnt a plan b, Val makes us a competitive championship team not a promotion or relegation side, which is ok.
