Plan B

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He needs to be more willing to adapt rather than have a second system. Peeters and Luzon had the same problem, so set on their own style. It got so ridiculous with Luzon that we played 3 left backs in a 4-4-2, 2 out of position on each wing in midfield.

As laughable an appointment Fraeye was at least he'd try different systems.

I like the idea of high tempo, high pressing, passing out from the back etc but results have to be the priority. That doesn't mean we need to play a direct 4-4-2 but I've said before I think trying to play this way at this level and get results is difficult to do.

Although Curbs and Powell didn't always play the best football both used different formations and styles of play to get results. That's got to be more important over playing your ideal way. Teams know exactly what to expect and we're not always good enough to deal with it.

If he had his ideal squad in terms of options, quality and cover he might do things a bit differently. Never going to happen with RD owning the club, instead it's about hoping youth make the step up and offer what's needed.

Scoham said:

He needs to be more willing to adapt rather than have a second system. Peeters and Luzon had the same problem, so set on their own style. It got so ridiculous with Luzon that we played 3 left backs in a 4-4-2, 2 out of position on each wing in midfield.

As laughable an appointment Fraeye was at least he'd try different systems.

I like the idea of high tempo, high pressing, passing out from the back etc but results have to be the priority. That doesn't mean we need to play a direct 4-4-2 but I've said before I think trying to play this way at this level and get results is difficult to do.

Although Curbs and Powell didn't always play the best football both used different formations and styles of play to get results. That's got to be more important over playing your ideal way. Teams know exactly what to expect and we're not always good enough to deal with it.

If he had his ideal squad in terms of options, quality and cover he might do things a bit differently. Never going to happen with RD owning the club, instead it's about hoping youth make the step up and offer what's needed.

Don't forget, Luzon also had 3 more left backs on the bench, just in case Plan C was needed....always thinking that guy, always thinking and crouching....

The question, more importantly, is do we have the players currently to play to Plan A ??

Aribo is a good player, but was wasted yesterday playing a role that he isn't suited to. Square pegs & round holes again. If you don't have the players to suit your system, and you can't change the players, then change the system.

Seeing as KAG has finally been able to find the net & (in his words) he has bags of confidence, then the first player on the team sheet yesterday should have been his. Then seeing as Magennis is off form & missed a sitter last Saturday, Best should have played instead as part of a front 2. In midfield there could have been Holmes, Clarke, JFC and Aribo, with the back 4 staying as it was. No wholesale changes, just a couple of personnel & instructions to get the ball forward quicker.

Not rocket science - FIFA coaching badges my arse !!

sillav nitram said:

We always talk about a managers stubbornness but I find it incredible, if all you lot can see what needs changing, why can’t he?

Or is it about being undermined or losing face?

He has coached at some of the big clubs in this country, and he used this formation to be so successful at MK???, so why should he take any notice of fans of Charlton, who really know nothing about tactics, we should just stop thinking we are watching shi, sorry boring, tactically thinking football and be excited by the football we are watching

Plan B is bring in a new manager and buy more strikers so we have the personnel to change formation to make a difference.

killerandflash said:

I think all managers have certain set principles and ways of playing. One thing I've noted under KR is that we are more flexible in terms of who takes throw ins, whereas for example under Curbs and Powell I don't think a short thrown in was ever taken by someone other than the full back, even if the winger had the ball. To them, keeping the shape was key

Agree with most of this. KR wants us to play a fast game and keep the ball moving, whereas as you say shape was all important to Curbs and Powell.
The one odd thing about dead balls, is that possibly our best kicker, Aribo, didn't take any Saturday. I seem to remember him last season being very accurate with corners and free kicks.

I think both KR and the players struggle to adapt to a different style/formation. They only work on one formation pretty much all week AFAIK. But it shouldn't be beyond their ability. Even if it isn't a substitution then push a Clarke or similar into a front two.

Portsmouth just nullified our style and formation, wasn't difficult. The full backs had the better of Holmes and Marshall almost all day, if they were about to get the better they just hit them with a foul knowing full well their defence could easily cope with our aerial attack from crosses (or free kicks) into the box.

The only way we were going to get a goal was a striker running the line and splitting the defence and getting through on goal, that was never going to happen with just Bic Mac up front. If Clarke was tiring I'd have put KHG on with 25 minutes to go and played 442.

But we are all armchair experts, Karl knows best

Not playing at home with only one up front would help!