Pretty Football - Can our squad adapt?

[SPARTA]

I read somewhere on here recently that someone (many) doubted the current crop would suit a passing style if Adkins or Poyet came in. I disagree.

Leigertwood actually looked a lot more composed when he was encouraged to play short tidy passes. The stats proved (on the OS) that most passes were forwards and sideways, not backwards. Yes United sat back a bit, but that was partly down to how organised we were, so much so they were playing the ball into corners to keep us quiet in the dying minutes. United, at home, keeping the ball in the corners!

We have the bright young Akpan, who has already shown his eye for a cutting pass. Karacan is a bit of a headless chicken, but he too is a talented young lad who can be coached to keep it, play it simple, and not hit it into the channels, or as he often does, over hit his pass. Some of his passes resemble a shot, he hits them so hard! There is also Danny Guthrie, who I suspect will be first out the door this summer, but if that were to change, we have some creativity in the side, and he already has it in him to slow the pace down and dictate play - or certainly the early signs were there until he was 'dropped' / 'injured' for questioning Brian's direct approach.

You look at the wingers here, and from a Championship perspective, we have some bloody good players there. These would thrive on a passing game, where we create space and look to open sides up with a killer ball. We have pace in abundance, and pace hurts teams at every level.

We will see many ins and outs this summer, and hopefully a top end budget to support the new manager, but the basis of a decent side is very much here in my opinion. I certainly feel we're better equipped for a passing game now than we were when Brendan Rodgers came in.

Agree/Disagree?

If this has been discussed already, please merge/delete.

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

Good post Sparta. I think it will be a lot easier this time around to adapt then when Brendan tried it.

[Millsy]

It's quite possible.

Treat a bunch of players like hoofers and that's what will happen. Treat them like passers and you'll see the gems coming through.

Good post.

[parky]

Good post Sparta. I think it will be a lot easier this time around to adapt then when Brendan tried it.

This ^ and it will have more patience with the fans this time around. Coppell hadn't been seen to have failed with his style of football, BMcD has.

[tomrfcurz]

Ironically, for me Guthrie is probably the player who would fit this style the most out of the current crop. If he starts playing week in week out, it will be interesting to see if he stays for next season

[Z175]

Ironically, for me Guthrie is probably the player who would fit this style the most out of the current crop. If he starts playing week in week out, it will be interesting to see if he stays for next season

I'm not so sure he would. His best asset is 35-40 yard passes, sweeping diagonals or probing through balls. We haven't seen a lot of this this season, but in pre-season and the first few games, this is what Guthrie did best.

Hes quite ponderous with his touch, I don't think he'd fit into a Swansea-style system at all. But who knows exactly what the football will be like yet...

[Tommy Youlden's Ears]

I think Jem would struggle, I'm only a 6-10 games a season man, but I haven't seen much evidence that he's in touch with his inner Iniesta.

Pearce is not exactly the natural heir to Alan Hansen and Rio.

Jimmy might do what he wants, but I'm not sure the ball always does what he wants it to. And with his hamstrings, if we could find an aspirant Champ team with deep pockets (QPR, Leicester etc) I'd be sad but happy to see him go.

Pog would quite probably flourish - not that he'll be here. Need a new striker whatever.

Would be a big test for the rest. I agree that Guthrie has yet to show the required temperament. But you'd hope that two from Jobi, Guthrie and Akpan would settle and flourish. We need a new left back anyway. Kelly would fit in whatever system.

[Isaac Hunt]

Coppell hadn't been seen to have failed with his style of football, BMcD has.

I've got to disagree with that. Go back and remind yourself of the final 3 months of Coppell's last season. Same story as BMcD...outpassed by sides with more players in the middle...resorted to hoof ball. It was ugly and painful to watch us see the automatic promotion spots slip away.

Back to the orignal post. I think we'd be starting from a better position this time. Hopefully the new manager won't be having to cut the playing staff and wage bill anywhere near to the extent that Rodgers had to whilst trying to teach the players how to pass and keep the ball.

[blueroyals]

Rodgers tried and failed with a similar squad (players who hooooooof). There are a few players who could adapt but certainly a fair amount that won't - that's why a Poyet would need a large transfer budget to sort the squad out. Else it's hard to see how this would turn out any different to when Rodgers was in charge.....

[Mr.T10]

Rodgers was too much forward thinking and often forgot he still has a job to do currently, you see that with the current Liverpool team inconsistent.

We do have a capable squad, just need a manager who will instil that belief that they can do it. I do think we need to carry on with the 4-5-1 system and when we get used to the passing system then this will allow us to move to a 4-4-2 passing system. You need to learn to walk before you can run which was McDermott biggest flaw.

Adkins will be my man to do this.

Problem with Poyet (Opinion from Brighton fans as well) they lack intensity to kill teams off.

[parky]

Coppell hadn't been seen to have failed with his style of football, BMcD has.

I've got to disagree with that. Go back and remind yourself of the final 3 months of Coppell's last season. Same story as BMcD...outpassed by sides with more players in the middle...resorted to hoof ball. It was ugly and painful to watch us see the automatic promotion spots slip away.

I'm talking more about that final season in the Premier League. There wasn't the intensity against Coppell that we saw after the Wigan and Villa games towards BMcD. It was more that the players themselves couldn't be bothered anymore and weren't fighting.

[Isaac Hunt]

Coppell hadn't been seen to have failed with his style of football, BMcD has.

I've got to disagree with that. Go back and remind yourself of the final 3 months of Coppell's last season. Same story as BMcD...outpassed by sides with more players in the middle...resorted to hoof ball. It was ugly and painful to watch us see the automatic promotion spots slip away.

I'm talking more about that final season in the Premier League. There wasn't the intensity against Coppell that we saw after the Wigan and Villa games towards BMcD. It was more that the players themselves couldn't be bothered anymore and weren't fighting.

Similarities between the Bolton and Fulham games that season and this year's Wigan and Villa....and you're quite right, the focus was mainly on players, not Coppell.

[melonhead]

for next year:
sign shorey, keep kelly.
cummings/gunter/harte more than decent back up at championship level
all of them can pass the ball and keep hold of it

pearce isnt that bad when time allows him to venture out of his area with the ball.
marriappa is the nuts.morrison aint bad with it at his feet either

ledge and carrico holding and a new attacking midfielder would be great in the middle i reckon.
kebe and mcanuff are fine on the wings. especially at championship level and mcleary and HRK are more than good enough

ALF and blackman up front



except that will mean only bringing one player in
ok scratch that

[akranes]

Great post.

Get ourselves a new striker (if Pog leaves), a nice skilful poacher. New pacey left back. And an AM.

[Vision]

They can all pass with the requisite ability. It's the movement that's key. Equally though, passing for passing's sake and losing sight of the actual aim, which is to create goalscoring opportunities was the lesson that Rodgers hadn't yet learned at the point of his sacking. He'd certainly realised it by the time he got to Swansea though which is why it makes me laugh that Reading fans think it was such an easy job to take them up.

It's nothing new though. It's still "pass and move". It just seems people tend to overlook the importance of the "move" part of it.

[Pepe the Horseman]

I read somewhere on here recently that someone (many) doubted the current crop would suit a passing style if Adkins or Poyet came in. I disagree.

Leigertwood actually looked a lot more composed when he was encouraged to play short tidy passes. The stats proved (on the OS) that most passes were forwards and sideways, not backwards. Yes United sat back a bit, but that was partly down to how organised we were, so much so they were playing the ball into corners to keep us quiet in the dying minutes. United, at home, keeping the ball in the corners!

We have the bright young Akpan, who has already shown his eye for a cutting pass. Karacan is a bit of a headless chicken, but he too is a talented young lad who can be coached to keep it, play it simple, and not hit it into the channels, or as he often does, over hit his pass. Some of his passes resemble a shot, he hits them so hard! There is also Danny Guthrie, who I suspect will be first out the door this summer, but if that were to change, we have some creativity in the side, and he already has it in him to slow the pace down and dictate play - or certainly the early signs were there until he was 'dropped' / 'injured' for questioning Brian's direct approach.

You look at the wingers here, and from a Championship perspective, we have some bloody good players there. These would thrive on a passing game, where we create space and look to open sides up with a killer ball. We have pace in abundance, and pace hurts teams at every level.

We will see many ins and outs this summer, and hopefully a top end budget to support the new manager, but the basis of a decent side is very much here in my opinion. I certainly feel we're better equipped for a passing game now than we were when Brendan Rodgers came in.

Agree/Disagree?

If this has been discussed already, please merge/delete.

Your thread has made it onto the Brighton board. Congrats.

[MouldyRoyal]

Why? The OP doesn't assume that we are definitely going to get Poyet. Seems a bit sensitive from them lot.

[Hampshire Royal]

If you're a professional footballer, you are a very good player. The biggest difference between successful sides and those who are not successful, is that the manager, who will get his squad to play the way he wants, has the vision and strength of character to be able to get his team to play in a way that will win more often than it loses. Age and fitness comes into it as well, of course. And, of course, players like Ronaldo and Messi don't exactly grow on trees.

In any case, the new manager, whoever it is, will want to develop his own squad with players who will more easily adapt to the way he wants them to play. If the money that has been reported to have been offered to Poyet really is available, I don't think the abilities of the current squad will be too much of an issue.

[Westwood52]

Most of them won't be around !

[Divvy]

I read somewhere on here recently that someone (many) doubted the current crop would suit a passing style if Adkins or Poyet came in. I disagree.

Leigertwood actually looked a lot more composed when he was encouraged to play short tidy passes. The stats proved (on the OS) that most passes were forwards and sideways, not backwards. Yes United sat back a bit, but that was partly down to how organised we were, so much so they were playing the ball into corners to keep us quiet in the dying minutes. United, at home, keeping the ball in the corners!

We have the bright young Akpan, who has already shown his eye for a cutting pass. Karacan is a bit of a headless chicken, but he too is a talented young lad who can be coached to keep it, play it simple, and not hit it into the channels, or as he often does, over hit his pass. Some of his passes resemble a shot, he hits them so hard! There is also Danny Guthrie, who I suspect will be first out the door this summer, but if that were to change, we have some creativity in the side, and he already has it in him to slow the pace down and dictate play - or certainly the early signs were there until he was 'dropped' / 'injured' for questioning Brian's direct approach.

You look at the wingers here, and from a Championship perspective, we have some bloody good players there. These would thrive on a passing game, where we create space and look to open sides up with a killer ball. We have pace in abundance, and pace hurts teams at every level.

We will see many ins and outs this summer, and hopefully a top end budget to support the new manager, but the basis of a decent side is very much here in my opinion. I certainly feel we're better equipped for a passing game now than we were when Brendan Rodgers came in.

Agree/Disagree?

If this has been discussed already, please merge/delete.

Good post, Sparta. If we get Poyet too then with some exciting new signings I think next season could be a very good season for us. If you mix in our hard to beat mentality (Championship level obviously), add add in some calm, patient, creative football, I think that's a recipe for success at that level.

Who's in for a third Championship league trophy in 8 years?