Maccy D ?

[Ian Royal]

Coppell's sides were direct wing based attacking sides. They didn't hang around or play possession tippy tappy football, but they weren't hoof merchants. Up until things started going wrong and the players started to panic with no plan b.

McDermott's side is very similar, but without much in the way of fullback support and a slightly greater tendency to play the percentage hoof into the channels. It also has the hoof when things aren't working weakness.

[Friday's Legacy]

Coppell's sides were direct wing based attacking sides. They didn't hang around or play possession tippy tappy football, but they weren't hoof merchants.

that's what we should be now. we have two of the best wingers in this division and we just lump the ball up field half the time. they have one good game in five for a reason and it's our style of play.

it needs to change.

[Cookie]

So, Long and Mills? But we didn't get promotion last year, what guarantees this year? I now see a more than adequate replacement for Mills and someone who is a far more proven goalscorer than Long was for most of his time with us, although obviously I'm not saying he's better than Long.

Obviously.

[SCIAG]

I do question though his signings, majority over 30

I'm struggling with this "majority over 30" comment.........

I'm struggling with the "majority slow" bit too.

Harte is over 30 and slow. Griffin too. Morrison is slow, but not over 30. Gorkss is supposed to be slow, but isn't over 30. Le Fondre is neither, nor is Mills, nor is Manset, nor is Marcus Williams, nor is Khumalo, nor is Legs, nor is Zurab. Brett Williams isn't over 30, I've never seen him play though so won't comment on his pace.

So, of the 12 signings Heston has made who aren't Brett Williams, four are slow, and two are over thirty.

[Friday's Legacy]

I do question though his signings, majority over 30

when mcdermott first took over, this side was very inexperienced and was crying out for experienced players to help the kids along. last seasons play-off final would not have been possible without the likes of griffin, harte and kishnivilli.

our problem this season is that our older players (griffin & harte), like over used Pirelli's, have 'fallen off the cliff' and look done and dusted at this level. however, i would argue this side still needs some older heads in there. gorkks is a terrific signing, one that will bring calm to the defence.

[RoyalBlue]

We hardly got "found out" in the premier. We played old fashioned 4-4-2

That's the second post you've just done tonight (first was on the Smee v Madejski thread) that I've liked.

Coppell liked to utilise the wings with pace. I get tired of the "hoofball" description, how else do you get the balls to the wings quickly and cross into the danger space to create panic in the opposition?

Your keeper rolls/throws the ball out to his full backs who push forward (exchanging quick passes with other players if necessary) and feed your wingers that way. Your wingers then attack down the wings with pace and/or trickery and get decent crosses over, preferably pulling them back rather than swinging them forward. That is very different from your keeper hoofing it straight onto the heads of the opposing centre backs or knocking long balls into the channels in the hope that your forwards can get onto them.

We are now doing the latter far too often and that is deservedly referred to as 'hoofball'. It's crap, it's boring and it is (for us) spectacularly ineffective.