| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? 13:37 - May 31 with 1731 views | RIPbobby |
The double pivot served us very well during the final third of our League One campaign and throughout our season in the Championship. Given the poor last season, does anyone think we’ll be making significant tactical changes this term?
One area of curiosity is the role of Jack Taylor. He’s been in and out of the team, and his profile as a box-to-box midfielder doesn’t quite fit the pivot-based system we've used. It raises the question—are we preparing for a complete overhaul in midfield?
During our time in League One and the Championship, we constantly heard the phrase “trust the process.” That sentiment seemed notably absent last season. Perhaps this signals a shift, possibly toward a system with five at the back and a more dynamic, all-action central midfielder.
I do feel for Jack Taylor. His skill set doesn’t quite suit our current setup, and I believe he’s a better player than we’ve seen so far.
It’s also interesting that several central midfielders we’ve been linked with recently have been of the box-to-box variety. Of course, transfer links should always be taken with a grain of salt. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these rumours are planted to throw off rival clubs.
One thing I’ve learned from Kieran McKenna and Ashton’s approach to transfers: expect the unexpected.
Apologies if this post feels a bit like thinking out loud—it sort of is. |  | | |  |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 14:23 - May 31 with 1587 views | muccletonjoe |
If we change manager. Until then . No chance |  | | |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 18:27 - May 31 with 1372 views | ghostofescobar |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 14:23 - May 31 by muccletonjoe |
If we change manager. Until then . No chance |
To challenge this, I would say that our defence during the promotion seasons was built on a back 4, albeit a back 4 very much with licence for the full backs to get forward, especially leif. Unless there were injuries, we regularly turned out with Davis, burgess, Woolfy and Clarke/Tuenzebe across the back. Last season was very much a back 3 (or 5 depending on how you want to look at it). Will he revert to the four next season? |  |
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| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 18:36 - May 31 with 1349 views | RIPbobby |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 18:27 - May 31 by ghostofescobar |
To challenge this, I would say that our defence during the promotion seasons was built on a back 4, albeit a back 4 very much with licence for the full backs to get forward, especially leif. Unless there were injuries, we regularly turned out with Davis, burgess, Woolfy and Clarke/Tuenzebe across the back. Last season was very much a back 3 (or 5 depending on how you want to look at it). Will he revert to the four next season? |
It will be interesting to see how the 2 who went up via the autos get on this year as they conceded very few goals last term. Is that the way to build your team these days by building an ultra tight defence or are they just going to struggle like we did last year? | | | |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 21:00 - May 31 with 1180 views | Axeldalai_lama |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 18:36 - May 31 by RIPbobby |
It will be interesting to see how the 2 who went up via the autos get on this year as they conceded very few goals last term. Is that the way to build your team these days by building an ultra tight defence or are they just going to struggle like we did last year? |
Maybe there's a way of doing it, but my instinct after this season is that they'll be blown away trying to defend and keep it tight the whole time. The pace, power and skill will eventually find a way through or wear them down similar to us after 65 minutes or so.
I suppose the way to do it would somehow hold them at bay whilst not sapping all the teams energy, but I'm not sure how. They'd surely need to press and man mark etc, so can't see how it can be done, let alone the class difference. |  | | |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 23:51 - May 31 with 1026 views | itfctilidie |
Tactics simply have to evolve next season. Can't keep playing the same one dimensional way - In any business you need to adapt and evolve or else your competitors will take the advantage. This has been my one red mark against McKenna, there doesnt seem to be any sort of plan B at the moment. Hopefully in the summer we get a B and C. |  | | |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 03:04 - Jun 1 with 935 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
Probably more a question if we get promoted again, we got overrun a lot this year but can’t really see that being the case next season. We’ve got an abundance of players behind the striker than can do some serious damage in the championship. I’d imagine style will be similar and it will be back to very impactful subs like on 23/24.
That’s said central midfielders will be a key component of our recruitment strategy and we may need a Plan B there for the future as much as anything else. [Post edited 1 Jun 3:07]
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| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 05:12 - Jun 1 with 867 views | Chrisd |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 18:36 - May 31 by RIPbobby |
It will be interesting to see how the 2 who went up via the autos get on this year as they conceded very few goals last term. Is that the way to build your team these days by building an ultra tight defence or are they just going to struggle like we did last year? |
Yes, both had very good defensive records, but if you can’t score goals, you won’t win games. That was a real struggle for us this season, we really didn’t create that many chances to score goals. You can be water-tight all you like at the back, but as we found out with that step up in quality you can only keep teams out for so long, but once you concede it’s a hard road back in games. |  |
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| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 07:21 - Jun 1 with 745 views | JackNorthStand |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 18:27 - May 31 by ghostofescobar |
To challenge this, I would say that our defence during the promotion seasons was built on a back 4, albeit a back 4 very much with licence for the full backs to get forward, especially leif. Unless there were injuries, we regularly turned out with Davis, burgess, Woolfy and Clarke/Tuenzebe across the back. Last season was very much a back 3 (or 5 depending on how you want to look at it). Will he revert to the four next season? |
Well said.
This is something many people including media overlooked. We play a back 4 predominantly not the back 5 that is usually touted. | | | |
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| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 07:54 - Jun 1 with 631 views | Churchman |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 05:12 - Jun 1 by Chrisd |
Yes, both had very good defensive records, but if you can’t score goals, you won’t win games. That was a real struggle for us this season, we really didn’t create that many chances to score goals. You can be water-tight all you like at the back, but as we found out with that step up in quality you can only keep teams out for so long, but once you concede it’s a hard road back in games. |
This is key. A good defence is your starting point but without a functioning midfield you are not going to win too many games. Last season:
Cajuste: 1 goal 0 assists
Morsy: 1 goal 1 assists
Taylor: 1 goal 0 assists
Phillips: 1 goal 3 assists
Burns: 0 goals 1 assist
82 goals conceded tells you that the midfield support of the defence was hardly comprehensive either.
Basically, McKenna needs to play a settled defence, including keeper. Find a midfielder or three, a replacement for Delap (I heard a rumour he might be leaving - anyone else hear that?) plus one and play the way we did in the Championship/L1. Done right, it’s devastating and hard to live with at those levels.
It’s what McKenna believes in and you should always go with your way of doing things and find the players to fit it. [Post edited 1 Jun 8:19]
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| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 08:22 - Jun 1 with 569 views | Herbivore |
I do find it amusing when our fans call McKenna predictable and one dimensional while simultaneously not being able to agree whether we primarily play a back 3 or a back 4. We have always been quite fluid and adaptable under McKenna, just we've come up against other sides this season who can also adapt and who have much stronger squads than us.
The midfield issue is an interesting one though. We did things a bit differently pre-Luongo, with one CM sitting more and the other being given licence to get forward a bit more. When Mass came in, it very much became that double pivot with him and Morsy primarily covering one side of the pitch each. Whether we'll keep it that way or change things will be interesting to see. Personally I'm not convinced we need to switch to a three in there but we need to do some work with our 10s so they better understand how to drop in and help us to dominate the midfield area. Chappers and Broadhead were excellent at that, the newbies haven't nailed that part of the game yet. |  |
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| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 08:42 - Jun 1 with 493 views | Axeldalai_lama |
I think McKenna is a victim of being fairly fluid in how we play and only playing one up front. It can be over simplified that we are playing the same when we are playing four or five at the back and when we are playing more defensive fullbacks Vs full on winger types.
I suppose I defeat my own argument in that he is wedded to the double pivot one up front style. But within that there is variation and changes.
Would be interesting to see what McKenna would do with a 4-4-2 in a way though.
So in conclusion, yes, no, don't know, we already do and maybe. Clear?! | | | |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 08:42 - Jun 1 with 492 views | BondiBlue |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 08:22 - Jun 1 by Herbivore |
I do find it amusing when our fans call McKenna predictable and one dimensional while simultaneously not being able to agree whether we primarily play a back 3 or a back 4. We have always been quite fluid and adaptable under McKenna, just we've come up against other sides this season who can also adapt and who have much stronger squads than us.
The midfield issue is an interesting one though. We did things a bit differently pre-Luongo, with one CM sitting more and the other being given licence to get forward a bit more. When Mass came in, it very much became that double pivot with him and Morsy primarily covering one side of the pitch each. Whether we'll keep it that way or change things will be interesting to see. Personally I'm not convinced we need to switch to a three in there but we need to do some work with our 10s so they better understand how to drop in and help us to dominate the midfield area. Chappers and Broadhead were excellent at that, the newbies haven't nailed that part of the game yet. |
That first paragraph 1000%
I think we will continue evolving our style of play next season but probably won't go straight back to trying to dominate the ball. We changed massively during the course of last season into a team focused on counter-attacking. I'd imagine that we will continue with that to an extent with half an eye on using that style again if we get promoted. A bit like burnley have clearly done but maybe not quite to the same extent. Burnley obviously changed manager so i wouldn't imagine we'd change anywhere near as dramatically but i think mckenna's smart enough to know he needs to be more solid next time he's in the premier league, and he'll need to get the players who can do that for him in place before we get there. No more buying 15 players in the summer after promotion. | |
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| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 09:18 - Jun 1 with 425 views | mellowblue |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 08:22 - Jun 1 by Herbivore |
I do find it amusing when our fans call McKenna predictable and one dimensional while simultaneously not being able to agree whether we primarily play a back 3 or a back 4. We have always been quite fluid and adaptable under McKenna, just we've come up against other sides this season who can also adapt and who have much stronger squads than us.
The midfield issue is an interesting one though. We did things a bit differently pre-Luongo, with one CM sitting more and the other being given licence to get forward a bit more. When Mass came in, it very much became that double pivot with him and Morsy primarily covering one side of the pitch each. Whether we'll keep it that way or change things will be interesting to see. Personally I'm not convinced we need to switch to a three in there but we need to do some work with our 10s so they better understand how to drop in and help us to dominate the midfield area. Chappers and Broadhead were excellent at that, the newbies haven't nailed that part of the game yet. |
Yes many do not get the fluidity of our back line, (I will not commit to back 3 or 4 or 5). It is a hybrid shape and can be any of them given what is going on on the pitch at any point of time. Though even with the fluidity there is a structural shape. But it is not the formations and shapes that did for us, it was just never winning the individual battles that end up giving you domination on the pitch. McCarthy was always clear on that. | | | |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 09:35 - Jun 1 with 391 views | BloomBlue |
I do wonder if there will be more of a tweak. PSG last night targeted the marauding left back approach of Inter by letting them come forward and then moving the ball quickly into that gap.
That approach has also been adopted by a few teams in Europe and the PL to counter that overlapping fullback model. Even Pep had to change that model as clubs were finding gaps in City's fullback positions.
To fill those gaps a midfielder has move back and cover even if a CH moves over, the midfielder still has to help cover the gap that creates in the CH position.
This season none of our midfielders has been able to help cover that. Then when they did, they couldn't back up field to support the strikers.
You need a Kante type player, a midfielder who can naturally stop a counterattack with perfect positional play but still has the engine to immediately join the attack. Easier said than done, I know. |  | | |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 10:21 - Jun 1 with 316 views | Nutkins_Return |
| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 08:42 - Jun 1 by BondiBlue |
That first paragraph 1000%
I think we will continue evolving our style of play next season but probably won't go straight back to trying to dominate the ball. We changed massively during the course of last season into a team focused on counter-attacking. I'd imagine that we will continue with that to an extent with half an eye on using that style again if we get promoted. A bit like burnley have clearly done but maybe not quite to the same extent. Burnley obviously changed manager so i wouldn't imagine we'd change anywhere near as dramatically but i think mckenna's smart enough to know he needs to be more solid next time he's in the premier league, and he'll need to get the players who can do that for him in place before we get there. No more buying 15 players in the summer after promotion. |
We'll have to change style by default next season in certain games as whilst I fully appreciate the champ is a very good standard still there will be teams that will sit back with a low block against us next season trying to nick a draw or 1-0 win against us. We will need to be able to unpick this which hasn't been something we've had to do much all season. There will be a bit more variation in the types of style we need. | |
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| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 10:23 - Jun 1 with 311 views | TheBlueGnu |
We need a mobile attacking central midfield duo - can I suggest a Havers / Eshley partnership ? | |
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| Anybody think our style of play will be changed for next season? on 10:29 - Jun 1 with 299 views | Tractor_Boy333 |
Before the season started I was hoping McKenna would go with 3 in midfield for some games especially away from home. I thought we got overrun in midfield in the Championship on occasions so knew it would happen in the Premiership.
Whilst we made a lot of silly mistakes in defence we were just too easy to play/break through in the middle of the park which put our defence under even more pressure.
Perhaps if Phillips could have stayed fit and found some form perhaps that how we would have played and perhaps our formation was dictated by injuries. But whatever reason I see the midfield as the big area for investment depending on who leaves. I think Taylor could be sold he’s really struggled since he joined us and I’ve not seen anything to think that will change. He certainly doesn’t suit the 2 in midfield formation. | | | |
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