I tried to get this going last year but it died pretty quickly, trying again though! I think Jones is an interesting tactician and the versatility of a few of our players could lead to some fun things. In particular there's a decent number of defenders in the squad who can play a few positions so I'd expect to see a decent amount of in game fluidity.
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There are three ways to best do this:
- Multiple players press the man who is intending to start a counter
(i.e opposition defender intercepts a ball, the nearest 3-4 players press from different angles to remove the option to pass it out easily and forces a long pass at worst and at best gives multiple options to pass to if the ball is won back)
- Players mark the pass options, whilst one presses the ball, hopefully forcing the player into a rushed pass where other players are already marking his option.
- Players mark the space between passing options, whilst one presses the ball, much like the above, but can lead to more errors if the pass is a good one, really relies on the closest man to the opposition player on the ball rapidly, to minimise his time to look for an option.
If you know how to attack with a gegen press, you then know how to defend it too. It will usually mean you need a keeper with great distribution and a calm head, to receive the ball back and get it forward quickly. The other option being midfielders have to support the defence with more options for the pass, but then you need fit midfielders to constantly be playing box to box.
I would imagine we're hoping to be a bit more physically strong and combative than the tissue paper of previous seasons.
Time will tell but I'm fearing we just dont have enough to win enough games.
Or a more even spread between our 5 strikers of 50+ total?
I think
Ahadme could get 15
Godden could get 10
Kanu could get 10
Aneke could get 8 (If he stays fit)
Leaburn could get another 8 (If he stays fit)
I would obviously prefer one gets 20+ and the rest still chip in with their numbers above, but that's not realistic for us as May had to leave due to circumstances.
Anyway given different circumstances why couldn't Alfie play as a partner to any of the players you've listed as it seems we'll be playing with 2 up front & he could link up with Gas in the same way that Godden hopefully will ?
All of the players you've listed "could" get those goals, but it's not enough is it ?
Just going back on myself I thought that the masterplan was we're not going to rely on an Alfie May who will guarantee you goals but we'll have goals right through the team. Well on my limited viewing so far we're nowhere near having a team/squad that's full of goals & I think we will regret selling Alfie or at least bringing in an equivalent. ( & I don't see Godden being that player as some have suggested) End of the day time will tell & I just hope I'm wrong.
With our goal machine having exited, we're going to need contributions all over the pitch.
It's been a long time since we had a set peice specialist. I know that Greg Docherty can whack one in from distance, but i don't know if he's a free kick kind of guy. We need to maximise threats from corners too, an area where we have been particularly poor of late.
We are short on pace. I think Nathan will start Edwards ahead of Small v Wigan, with Ramsay partnering him on the other side. We don't have a creative talent on the middle who can unlock defence. It could be Berry, but it's an area we need to strengthen.
Conclusion: i don't see heaps of flexibility in the team. I'm hopeful that will change when we move on the obvious deadwood.
As you know, it's not going to work against evey team. Ramsay has looked great in pre-season, but he'll soon be found out and they'll double up on him. Then what? We throw Aneke on to bully defenders. I just hope Jones has a few options up his sleeve.
I'm excited to see Campbell, he struggled to fit into the team last season. Under Jones he's been recycled into a beefy striker and he's still only 20.
A lot of our play in pre season has gone differently, with the wingbacks pushing up and out on the touchlines and looking to play quickly up the channels, and playing balls in behind to runners. This means the midfield 3 are more compact, and will likely look to play more conservatively, waiting for space to open up wide. Instead of playing with 2 box to box midfielders and a number 10, so far we've utilised a deeper central midfielder behind 2 more dynamic players who look to both push forwards and help out defensively.
I think we have the players to play both, time will tell which one is more effective.
I also believe we have the players in place to change to a 41212 diamond midfield if necessary, with fullbacks and a holding midfielder, 2 box to box midfielders and a creative 10 behind 2 strikers. If Dixon joins us and we use TC as a winger, a 433 is possible, however due to the lack of true wingers in the club I expect it's a last resort tactic at best, when trying to chase a game late on
side side back
back side side
back back side
lose-possession run-like-chickens back
side back side
lose-possession run-like-chickens kick-off-again
repeat
I don't think it will be scintillating football however
We will be nasty, niggly and very hard to play against. There is a lot more spirit in the team now and a few more leaders in the squad
In defence we have options. Against Pompey we saw what Edwads is capable of as a wing back but his defensive side has also been surprisingly good in pre season. With that in mind he can play as a LB and LWB or a LCB
The exact same can be said of Kayne Ramsey - trust me this guy is going to surprise people this season. His energy and pace will be an asset but he is also very strong and capable of dropping in to RCB
So in drops Thierry Small on the left flank and to a lesser extent Tennai Watson on the right flank (not perfect but probably a better 2nd choice than many team in our division)
The middle 3 will usually be from Jones / Gillesphey / AMitchell with REG and Zach Mitchell as backup
That midfield of Docherty, Coventry and Anderson looked good and I dare say Berry will slot in there nicely. Anderson (energy) and Doc (organisation) with the energy and Coventry playing as the quarterback but Berry can slot in there in any of those positions and they can be interchangeable.
Up top will be a big man little man combo some games - Gassan/Miles/Chuks with Godden / Kanu / Tyreece
Or two big boys - Gassan / Miles / Chuks
Or two mobile buggers Godden / Kanu / Tyreece
Dixon is a real wild card and will be effective if we switch to a 442 (out wide) or 4-5-1 and he can float around in space behind a big boy
So we have a fair few options for formations, a solid spine and interchangeable players all over the place
I'm sure I've missed a few out but I would like another "Andy Reid" type who can unlock the door and I don't think Edun is that player
So a solid defence, lots of aggression, plenty of long balls and a really strong midfield buzzing around and pissing the opposition off. That's how I see it. Not especially pretty but I saw enough on Saturday to think we can do something this season.
If I were allowed to bet I'd have us finishing 3rd or 4th
Very Excited!
If we lose the resulting 50/50 I imagine there will be a high press to win the ball back in forward areas to create chances quickly.
If it works it'll be lauded. If it doesn't work it'll be seen as pub football.
Either long diagonals to a forward (with the midfield and opposite side wing backs up to support) or when the opportunity arises, balls into a channel for the forward to run onto as we saw twice to good effect against Pompey.
I think that will, with a few other minor details here and there, be the majority of our threat going forward.
I think what’s more critical to the way Jones wants us to play is the out of possession stuff. He talks about being “front footed” a lot. He wants us to be aggressive, horrible to play against and constantly pressuring the ball.
In the past, Jurgen Klopp has said “no creative player is as good as good counter pressing”. I think that might be the way Nathan Jones sees things too.
These days they reckon it's 100 minutes that you have to be at it for each game.
What is a bit encouraging is that there are almost two credible players for each position. Hard to predict who is going to be the one player we can't do without.
Mind you, I do like a talismanic type player. Maybe that guy will be a supersub next season.