[Jonno]

It's a familiar feeling, standing at half-time and thinking 'I'd take a draw' – but I couldn't help think yesterday that maybe we're over complicating things in our pursuit of promotion back to the big time.

Time and time again we get turned over by average sides full of average journeyman players. Absolutely no disrespect meant, I've been really impressed by the amount of fight shown by teams against us over the last year, but how many can you honestly say played us off the park in terms of football?

Take Dover yesterday. How many of their players would you have put in our side pre-game? Probably none. In retrospect, how many would improve us? At least 3/4, I'd say. And I bet most of them would walk to the Proact if they were offered a contract.

These sides aren't doing anything revolutionary. Generally they're playing a 4-4-2, big unit up front, two hairy a***d centre halves, and a lot of team spirit – and that seems to be enough at this level.

I'm all for building a footballing side that could play in the league above, but are we over-thinking this? I see Nathan Blissett scored for Solihull again yesterday. He's a 29 year old journeyman, if you looked at his CV you'd dismiss it out of hand – but he caused us problems every time we played them last season, and no doubt will have the beating of Gerrard again this year.

We've started another season having built another team around a failing, tippy tappy football league central midfield pairing, and let's face it, their 'football league quality' isn't enough to carry us through. Weir is now on his third season and watching him feels like he's been drafted in as a last-minute loanee, and for all his running Weston just flatters to deceive.

It's great to try to play progressive football and experimenting with formations 3-5-2, 3-1-4-1-1, young ex-PL academy players like Mackay floating around up front... but is it necessary at this level, and is it time for a change in philosophy? It's clear we're massively short of numbers, but should we be patiently waiting to sign players who 'could be playing in L1 or L2' or should we just sign players who have done it at this level, to get us out of the mire.

[Westbars Spireite]

Does Sheridan struggle with players who lack natural flair? He was never one to hide his frustration before.

[Goku]

Jonno, on 04 August 2019 - 09:11 AM, said:

We've started another season having built another team around a failing, tippy tappy football league central midfield pairing, and let's face it, their 'football league quality' isn't enough to carry us through. Weir is now on his third season and watching him feels like he's been drafted in as a last-minute loanee, and for all his running Weston just flatters to deceive.

Tippy tappy says to me that they can actually pass the ball which our two geniuses in midfield certainly can't do (although Weir lofted a beauty to Mandeville in the first half only to give it away twice with his next two touches).

[Tha Knows...]

Jonno, on 04 August 2019 - 09:11 AM, said:

It's a familiar feeling, standing at half-time and thinking 'I'd take a draw' – but I couldn't help think yesterday that maybe we're over complicating things in our pursuit of promotion back to the big time.

Time and time again we get turned over by average sides full of average journeyman players. Absolutely no disrespect meant, I've been really impressed by the amount of fight shown by teams against us over the last year, but how many can you honestly say played us off the park in terms of football?

Take Dover yesterday. How many of their players would you have put in our side pre-game? Probably none. In retrospect, how many would improve us? At least 3/4, I'd say. And I bet most of them would walk to the Proact if they were offered a contract.

These sides aren't doing anything revolutionary. Generally they're playing a 4-4-2, big unit up front, two hairy a***d centre halves, and a lot of team spirit – and that seems to be enough at this level.

I'm all for building a footballing side that could play in the league above, but are we over-thinking this? I see Nathan Blissett scored for Solihull again yesterday. He's a 29 year old journeyman, if you looked at his CV you'd dismiss it out of hand – but he caused us problems every time we played them last season, and no doubt will have the beating of Gerrard again this year.

We've started another season having built another team around a failing, tippy tappy football league central midfield pairing, and let's face it, their 'football league quality' isn't enough to carry us through. Weir is now on his third season and watching him feels like he's been drafted in as a last-minute loanee, and for all his running Weston just flatters to deceive.

It's great to try to play progressive football and experimenting with formations 3-5-2, 3-1-4-1-1, young ex-PL academy players like Mackay floating around up front... but is it necessary at this level, and is it time for a change in philosophy? It's clear we're massively short of numbers, but should we be patiently waiting to sign players who 'could be playing in L1 or L2' or should we just sign players who have done it at this level, to get us out of the mire.

You watched different game to me then, it's hard to get simpler than lumping long balls forward (also known as taking care of the ball in Sheridan speak)

[SpireiteFitzy]

Jonno, on 04 August 2019 - 09:11 AM, said:

It's a familiar feeling, standing at half-time and thinking 'I'd take a draw' – but I couldn't help think yesterday that maybe we're over complicating things in our pursuit of promotion back to the big time.

Time and time again we get turned over by average sides full of average journeyman players. Absolutely no disrespect meant, I've been really impressed by the amount of fight shown by teams against us over the last year, but how many can you honestly say played us off the park in terms of football?

Take Dover yesterday. How many of their players would you have put in our side pre-game? Probably none. In retrospect, how many would improve us? At least 3/4, I'd say. And I bet most of them would walk to the Proact if they were offered a contract.

These sides aren't doing anything revolutionary. Generally they're playing a 4-4-2, big unit up front, two hairy a***d centre halves, and a lot of team spirit – and that seems to be enough at this level.

I'm all for building a footballing side that could play in the league above, but are we over-thinking this? I see Nathan Blissett scored for Solihull again yesterday. He's a 29 year old journeyman, if you looked at his CV you'd dismiss it out of hand – but he caused us problems every time we played them last season, and no doubt will have the beating of Gerrard again this year.

We've started another season having built another team around a failing, tippy tappy football league central midfield pairing, and let's face it, their 'football league quality' isn't enough to carry us through. Weir is now on his third season and watching him feels like he's been drafted in as a last-minute loanee, and for all his running Weston just flatters to deceive.

It's great to try to play progressive football and experimenting with formations 3-5-2, 3-1-4-1-1, young ex-PL academy players like Mackay floating around up front... but is it necessary at this level, and is it time for a change in philosophy? It's clear we're massively short of numbers, but should we be patiently waiting to sign players who 'could be playing in L1 or L2' or should we just sign players who have done it at this level, to get us out of the mire.

We keep getting turned over by teams full of average players because we are a team full of average players. We are not a big club with superior players and are getting stopped from playing good football by teams who can't keep up and so resort to old school tactics to stop us playing.

What these teams have that we don't is balance, we are so bare in certain areas it's painful to watch. Width is so crucial at this level because teams panic when they've got wingers bearing down on them and good crosses are getting put in. They had a lad who could put in a decent cross and a lad who could finish them, hey presto!

[Goku]

SpireiteFitzy, on 04 August 2019 - 09:57 AM, said:

We keep getting turned over by teams full of average players because we are a team full of average players. We are not a big club with superior players and are getting stopped from playing good football by teams who can't keep up and so resort to old school tactics to stop us playing.

What these teams have that we don't is balance, we are so bare in certain areas it's painful to watch. Width is so crucial at this level because teams panic when they've got wingers bearing down on them and good crosses are getting put in. They had a lad who could put in a decent cross and a lad who could finish them, hey presto!

The more I can think about it, the more I don't understand why we haven't gone hell for leather to sign two decent wingers and just played good old 4-4-2. We've got Denton and Boden who were deadly last season when paired together and both thrive off balls into the box so get two wingers running at their full backs putting balls in and surely we'd get goals. You don't need an amazing gallivanting central midfield slipping through balls through to the forwards in the lower leagues (it'd be nice but it's rare) if you've got width and summat to aim for in the box.

[jack bauer]

Goku, on 04 August 2019 - 10:14 AM, said:

The more I can think about it, the more I don't understand why we haven't gone hell for leather to sign two decent wingers and just played good old 4-4-2. We've got Denton and Boden who were deadly last season when paired together and both thrive off balls into the box so get two wingers running at their full backs putting balls in and surely we'd get goals. You don't need an amazing gallivanting central midfield slipping through balls through to the forwards in the lower leagues (it'd be nice but it's rare) if you've got width and summat to aim for in the box.

totally agree, it is baffling, there were times galore yesterday when buchanan had the ball in the full back position, no one ahead of him down the left wing so his only option was to try and float one to boden or mackay, generally we lost that battle.

[dim view]

SpireiteFitzy, on 04 August 2019 - 09:57 AM, said:

We keep getting turned over by teams full of average players because we are a team full of average players. We are not a big club with superior players and are getting stopped from playing good football by teams who can't keep up and so resort to old school tactics to stop us playing.

What these teams have that we don't is balance, we are so bare in certain areas it's painful to watch. Width is so crucial at this level because teams panic when they've got wingers bearing down on them and good crosses are getting put in. They had a lad who could put in a decent cross and a lad who could finish them, hey presto!

Er, under Sheridan we do not keep getting turned over.

We have lost none of the players who did well last season except through injury. We played crap yesterday not because we have bad players but because good players at this standard played badly. and we had a weakened team.
The question is, why did we play badly? My two pennant would be that we had no leadership on the field and that our lack of ability to hold the ball up up front stopped any creative ideas. Joe Rowley will always look inadequate if there is no movement ahead of him.

[Goku]

dim view, on 04 August 2019 - 05:41 PM, said:

Er, under Sheridan we do not keep getting turned over.

We have lost none of the players who did well last season except through injury. We played crap yesterday not because we have bad players but because good players at this standard played badly. and we had a weakened team.
The question is, why did we play badly? My two pennant would be that we had no leadership on the field and that our lack of ability to hold the ball up up front stopped any creative ideas. Joe Rowley will always look inadequate if there is no movement ahead of him.

thought you'd have mentioned the lack of width. the only times we looked dangerous was when we put the ball into the box from out wide (despite not having any big 'uns in the box). this personnel + this formation = no movement, no width and a lack of clear cut chances.

[DIFH]

SpireiteFitzy, on 04 August 2019 - 09:57 AM, said:

<br />We keep getting turned over by teams full of average players because we are a team full of average players. We are not a big club with superior players and are getting stopped from playing good football by teams who can't keep up and so resort to old school tactics to stop us playing. <br /><br />What these teams have that we don't is balance, we are so bare in certain areas it's painful to watch. Width is so crucial at this level because teams panic when they've got wingers bearing down on them and good crosses are getting put in. They had a lad who could put in a decent cross and a lad who could finish them, hey presto!<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Frustrating tactics hoofing the ball to Boden who on the day did well enough, second half we tried to step up the pace of the game and play on the floor. Question - how many on the park were playing their natural position.

[Goku]

DIFH, on 04 August 2019 - 05:48 PM, said:

<br /><br /><br />

Frustrating tactics hoofing the ball to Boden who on the day did well enough, second half we tried to step up the pace of the game and play on the floor. Question - how many on the park were playing their natural position.

Everyone apart from Rowley I think. Dunno what Yarney's natural position is, his physique is that of a CB.

[Lincs Spireite]

Goku, on 04 August 2019 - 05:49 PM, said:

Everyone apart from Rowley I think. Dunno what Yarney's natural position is, his physique is that of a CB.

Yeh, I think Yarney is basically a centre back but these positions are already catered for so Sheridan has at times tried to convert him to a right back which he clearly is not.

For donald duck's sake Shez please get us a proper right back and wingers.

[Tha Knows...]

Bowzer spirey, on 04 August 2019 - 06:11 PM, said:

Yeh, I think Yarney is basically a centre back but these positions are already catered for so Sheridan has at times tried to convert him to a right back which he clearly is not.

For donald duck's sake Shez please get us a proper right back and wingers.

central midfield ok then?

[Lincs Spireite]

Spire-Power, on 04 August 2019 - 06:29 PM, said:

central midfield ok then?

No central mid is far from ok but at least with wingers we can by-pass midfield in a desperate situation like we're in and whip balls in to the forwards.

[lindave]

Goku, on 04 August 2019 - 09:36 AM, said:

Tippy tappy says to me that they can actually pass the ball which our two geniuses in midfield certainly can't do (although Weir lofted a beauty to Mandeville in the first half only to give it away twice with his next two touches).

agreed, the hoof ball was horrible to watch.

Bowzer spirey, on 04 August 2019 - 06:40 PM, said:

No central mid is far from ok but at least with wingers we can by-pass midfield in a desperate situation like we're in and whip balls in to the forwards.

What forwards? we've only got Boden.

[h again]

Jonno, on 04 August 2019 - 09:11 AM, said:

It's a familiar feeling, standing at half-time and thinking 'I'd take a draw' – but I couldn't help think yesterday that maybe we're over complicating things in our pursuit of promotion back to the big time.

Time and time again we get turned over by average sides full of average journeyman players. Absolutely no disrespect meant, I've been really impressed by the amount of fight shown by teams against us over the last year, but how many can you honestly say played us off the park in terms of football?

Take Dover yesterday. How many of their players would you have put in our side pre-game? Probably none. In retrospect, how many would improve us? At least 3/4, I'd say. And I bet most of them would walk to the Proact if they were offered a contract.

These sides aren't doing anything revolutionary. Generally they're playing a 4-4-2, big unit up front, two hairy a***d centre halves, and a lot of team spirit – and that seems to be enough at this level.

I'm all for building a footballing side that could play in the league above, but are we over-thinking this? I see Nathan Blissett scored for Solihull again yesterday. He's a 29 year old journeyman, if you looked at his CV you'd dismiss it out of hand – but he caused us problems every time we played them last season, and no doubt will have the beating of Gerrard again this year.

We've started another season having built another team around a failing, tippy tappy football league central midfield pairing, and let's face it, their 'football league quality' isn't enough to carry us through. Weir is now on his third season and watching him feels like he's been drafted in as a last-minute loanee, and for all his running Weston just flatters to deceive.

It's great to try to play progressive football and experimenting with formations 3-5-2, 3-1-4-1-1, young ex-PL academy players like Mackay floating around up front... but is it necessary at this level, and is it time for a change in philosophy? It's clear we're massively short of numbers, but should we be patiently waiting to sign players who 'could be playing in L1 or L2' or should we just sign players who have done it at this level, to get us out of the mire.

Don't think it's a case of over complicating things - I get the impression from pre-season and yesterday that, despite all the evidence to the contrary, some of the players and management think this league is there for the taking and we can just stroll about and get the results with superior skill. They'd deny it of course, but deep down I'm sure that's the feeling, and the same mind set applies to some of the fans.
Well, this isn't half as bad a league as we keep getting told. Skill levels down a bit, but they can mostly run fast, tackle hard, and cross a ball well, all things we struggle with. Unless CFC realise they're in a dog fight and start to plan and play accordingly we're going nowhere.
I've said it before, but when we were without the Denton/Boden partnership at the end of last season we didn't look like scoring, or even mounting decent attacks from the midfield we had. The writing was on the wall then - I'm very surprised Shez didn't read it.

[Blue5]

h again, on 04 August 2019 - 08:46 PM, said:

Don't think it's a case of over complicating things - I get the impression from pre-season and yesterday that, despite all the evidence to the contrary, some of the players and management think this league is there for the taking and we can just stroll about and get the results with superior skill. They'd deny it of course, but deep down I'm sure that's the feeling, and the same mind set applies to some of the fans.
Well, this isn't half as bad a league as we keep getting told. Skill levels down a bit, but they can mostly run fast, tackle hard, and cross a ball well, all things we struggle with. Unless CFC realise they're in a dog fight and start to plan and play accordingly we're going nowhere.
I've said it before, but when we were without the Denton/Boden partnership at the end of last season we didn't look like scoring, or even mounting decent attacks from the midfield we had. The writing was on the wall then - I'm very surprised Shez didn't read it.

You do not have many fans on here, but that is a very good post. I nearly said something very similar when I predicted where we would finish in the league, I am far from convinced that the club fully understands the national league.

[Westbars Spireite]

h again, on 04 August 2019 - 08:46 PM, said:

Don't think it's a case of over complicating things - I get the impression from pre-season and yesterday that, despite all the evidence to the contrary, some of the players and management think this league is there for the taking and we can just stroll about and get the results with superior skill. They'd deny it of course, but deep down I'm sure that's the feeling, and the same mind set applies to some of the fans.
Well, this isn't half as bad a league as we keep getting told. Skill levels down a bit, but they can mostly run fast, tackle hard, and cross a ball well, all things we struggle with. Unless CFC realise they're in a dog fight and start to plan and play accordingly we're going nowhere.
I've said it before, but when we were without the Denton/Boden partnership at the end of last season we didn't look like scoring, or even mounting decent attacks from the midfield we had. The writing was on the wall then - I'm very surprised Shez didn't read it.

There’s nothing wrong with believing in your ‘superior skill’. Manchester City do. As do Barcelona. The issue comes when it’s a figment of your own imagination.

If that attitude is permeating down through the club then it needs knocking on the head ASAP. This is within Sheridan’s control - he sets the tone, the attitude and the methodology with the players and the buck stops with him own this one (if there’s anything in it of course).