| Looking at the last two games 08:12 - Aug 16 with 2244 views | muccletonjoe |
Both friendlies i know, but its all we have to go on atm. It doesn't look to me like we are a world away from Kieron McKenna's preferred style of play and tactics. If anything , the fundamental difference is the brakes have been taken off and certain players from last season are feeling less restricted in the roles they have been given . We certainly look more fluid as a team in the final third and seem to have far more bodies in the penalty area when an early ball comes through. I noticed yesterday that it occasionally leads to a back foot scramble when we are turned on the counter attack , which will undoubtedly need working on as the season progresses. But our ability to control midfield and regain possession has been vastly improved from last season and most certainly from 2 years ago. |  | | |  |
| Looking at the last two games on 08:53 - Aug 16 with 1956 views | Blue_Heath |
I would agree, I feel that we look better up front now even though we probably still need a no9 and that Enciso wasn't even on the pitch. Get those two done and we have a chance. Also centre mid much better with Lukic and Nunez although again we have Florentino to come in. |  |
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| Looking at the last two games on 09:03 - Aug 16 with 1913 views | WolfieAtTheBack |
If you add Fatawa and Florentino to that side then there is more pace and a bit more quality in the centre.
Lukic looks the part, he was good yesterday and calm as a cucumber. |  | | |
| Looking at the last two games on 09:33 - Aug 16 with 1725 views | Bluemike31 |
We definitely look far less predictable and boring, I've enjoyed what I've seen but the real test starts now. | | | |
| Looking at the last two games on 09:52 - Aug 16 with 1646 views | Guthrum |
A lot of that is down to the fact that both McKenna and O'Neil use modern tactics and styles of play. As would anybody hoping to succeed in the top levels of the game - who does not have the advantage of an utterly superior squad.
What let us down in 2024-25 was less our system than the strength of its components (as much the likes of Phillips failing to reach his potential as those promoted from L1 playing at or beyond their natural ceiling). Now the survivors of that season are more experienced and better integrated, while the new arrivals have come from backgrounds of a significantly higher level. With a manger who has specific experience as head man in the precise job at hand.
McKenna was trying last season to model something different to 2022-24. More defensively tight, less swashbiuckling. Fans interpreted it as slow and boring, but it was intended to give a firm base to develop a squad and way of operating more suitable for the Prem. The brakes are, to some extent, off because the extra injection of boost has happened. We have dropped a gear, increased the revs and are approaching the back of the queue with a view to doing some overtaking. |  |
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| Looking at the last two games on 10:32 - Aug 16 with 1457 views | Blue_Heath |
| Looking at the last two games on 09:52 - Aug 16 by Guthrum |
A lot of that is down to the fact that both McKenna and O'Neil use modern tactics and styles of play. As would anybody hoping to succeed in the top levels of the game - who does not have the advantage of an utterly superior squad.
What let us down in 2024-25 was less our system than the strength of its components (as much the likes of Phillips failing to reach his potential as those promoted from L1 playing at or beyond their natural ceiling). Now the survivors of that season are more experienced and better integrated, while the new arrivals have come from backgrounds of a significantly higher level. With a manger who has specific experience as head man in the precise job at hand.
McKenna was trying last season to model something different to 2022-24. More defensively tight, less swashbiuckling. Fans interpreted it as slow and boring, but it was intended to give a firm base to develop a squad and way of operating more suitable for the Prem. The brakes are, to some extent, off because the extra injection of boost has happened. We have dropped a gear, increased the revs and are approaching the back of the queue with a view to doing some overtaking. |
I don't disagree with your last paragraph although it wasn't great to watch at times but it does beg the question why did KM walk away again having implemented a new style of play and also a few months before 'his' training ground would open? [Post edited 16 Aug 10:32]
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| Looking at the last two games on 10:47 - Aug 16 with 1365 views | muccletonjoe |
| Looking at the last two games on 10:32 - Aug 16 by Blue_Heath |
I don't disagree with your last paragraph although it wasn't great to watch at times but it does beg the question why did KM walk away again having implemented a new style of play and also a few months before 'his' training ground would open? [Post edited 16 Aug 10:32]
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That may well have not been football related. | | | |
| Looking at the last two games on 10:51 - Aug 16 with 1352 views | Guthrum |
| Looking at the last two games on 10:32 - Aug 16 by Blue_Heath |
I don't disagree with your last paragraph although it wasn't great to watch at times but it does beg the question why did KM walk away again having implemented a new style of play and also a few months before 'his' training ground would open? [Post edited 16 Aug 10:32]
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I think he was genuinely burnt out. He'd been on the go for the last four-and-a-half years non-stop and the prospect of yet another full-on summer and stressful season was simply a step too far.
McKenna strikes me as a bit of an obsessive character. The level of detail he goes into, the arriving very early in the morning and working into the evening. Perhaps finds it hard to switch off. However much you try to look after and protect people like that, they will drive themselves into the ground if circumstances do not ease off. Constantly striving to by sheer determination to drag arguably inferior tools to a level beyond anybody's expectation.
His strength, the level of thought he puts in, is also his weakness in being unable to let go. The success he achieved heaped up extra pressure, with constant changes of division, squad rebuilds, battles to get things over the line, no period in which he could just cruise.
The added situation of his first break as Manager - which he had to make work for his future career - being rapidly in the spotlight of a media storyline and too soon at the highest level.
McKenna didn't walk away, he simply couldn't take another step forward without some rest and recuperation. | |
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| Looking at the last two games on 10:57 - Aug 16 with 1325 views | Smoresy |
A notable change I've observed is one of the defensive midfielders, chiefly Nunez yesterday, often slotting into central defence when building from the back. Davis occupying spaces in left or central midfield, Greaves moving out to LCB and Nunez inserting himself between Greaves and Diop. KM's midfielders didn't become part of the back line like that when in possession unless during set pieces, or unless I was really unobservant. They'd drop deep to show for it of course but not effectively assume the position of CB. | | | |
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| Looking at the last two games on 11:04 - Aug 16 with 1272 views | Bluemike31 |
| Looking at the last two games on 10:47 - Aug 16 by muccletonjoe |
That may well have not been football related. |
Indeed | | | |
| Looking at the last two games on 11:06 - Aug 16 with 1252 views | Bluemike31 |
| Looking at the last two games on 10:57 - Aug 16 by Smoresy |
A notable change I've observed is one of the defensive midfielders, chiefly Nunez yesterday, often slotting into central defence when building from the back. Davis occupying spaces in left or central midfield, Greaves moving out to LCB and Nunez inserting himself between Greaves and Diop. KM's midfielders didn't become part of the back line like that when in possession unless during set pieces, or unless I was really unobservant. They'd drop deep to show for it of course but not effectively assume the position of CB. |
Yep I noticed the same, it's almost as if everyone is given free reign to get into any position if the opportunity arises. | | | |
| Looking at the last two games on 11:09 - Aug 16 with 1231 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
| Looking at the last two games on 10:32 - Aug 16 by Blue_Heath |
I don't disagree with your last paragraph although it wasn't great to watch at times but it does beg the question why did KM walk away again having implemented a new style of play and also a few months before 'his' training ground would open? [Post edited 16 Aug 10:32]
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It was so obvious he was severely burnt out, I just don't understand why people can't accept this.
Just look at him at the end of the season, and how much he'd aged since he joined.
He put his wellbeing before his job. A tough call, but one any sensible person in the same position would do, | | | |
| Looking at the last two games on 11:09 - Aug 16 with 1230 views | NthQldITFC |
| Looking at the last two games on 10:32 - Aug 16 by Blue_Heath |
I don't disagree with your last paragraph although it wasn't great to watch at times but it does beg the question why did KM walk away again having implemented a new style of play and also a few months before 'his' training ground would open? [Post edited 16 Aug 10:32]
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Because he was knackered. As simple as that. Herculean effort to get us so far, possibly a bit unwise from a personal perspective, and maybe needed to be ordered to work fewer hours over the last couple of years? |  |
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| Looking at the last two games on 11:18 - Aug 16 with 1179 views | nrb1985 |
| Looking at the last two games on 11:09 - Aug 16 by NthQldITFC |
Because he was knackered. As simple as that. Herculean effort to get us so far, possibly a bit unwise from a personal perspective, and maybe needed to be ordered to work fewer hours over the last couple of years? |
I think that is no doubt of course one of the primary reasons. That said, while everyone is different, Klopp and Pep, who operate at a similar level of intensity and both walked away, gave Pool and City respectively around 8-9 seasons. We got 4.5 from KM.
If I’m honest, I do think he thought he’d gone as far as possible with us and didn’t want two relegations on the CV. The £8m release had clearly become an issue as well.
He leaves a legend and with our best wishes but I think there was more to it than just burnout. Strongly suspect he may reappear before the season is out. And I hope wherever that is he does well and is as successful as he was here. [Post edited 16 Aug 11:19]
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| Looking at the last two games on 11:23 - Aug 16 with 1120 views | Garv |
| Looking at the last two games on 10:57 - Aug 16 by Smoresy |
A notable change I've observed is one of the defensive midfielders, chiefly Nunez yesterday, often slotting into central defence when building from the back. Davis occupying spaces in left or central midfield, Greaves moving out to LCB and Nunez inserting himself between Greaves and Diop. KM's midfielders didn't become part of the back line like that when in possession unless during set pieces, or unless I was really unobservant. They'd drop deep to show for it of course but not effectively assume the position of CB. |
Morsy did at times didn't he?
Taylor probably tried at times last season but I don't think he was quite good enough to do it.
Nunez creating from deep could be fun. |  |
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| Looking at the last two games on 11:26 - Aug 16 with 1104 views | Guthrum |
| Looking at the last two games on 11:18 - Aug 16 by nrb1985 |
I think that is no doubt of course one of the primary reasons. That said, while everyone is different, Klopp and Pep, who operate at a similar level of intensity and both walked away, gave Pool and City respectively around 8-9 seasons. We got 4.5 from KM.
If I’m honest, I do think he thought he’d gone as far as possible with us and didn’t want two relegations on the CV. The £8m release had clearly become an issue as well.
He leaves a legend and with our best wishes but I think there was more to it than just burnout. Strongly suspect he may reappear before the season is out. And I hope wherever that is he does well and is as successful as he was here. [Post edited 16 Aug 11:19]
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Klopp and Guardiola were both at clubs which had been at the highest level for much longer. They were not having to put in place systems from a nearly standing start, nor to drastically rebuild their squads every summer, plus were operating with already top-notch facilities.
Expectations were greater for those two, but their staffs were bigger, they had every help to hand and budgets/prestige to do pretty much what they wanted. They also had much more experience behind them, more practice in managing energy, balance and reserves. [Post edited 16 Aug 11:27]
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| Looking at the last two games on 11:27 - Aug 16 with 1091 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
| Looking at the last two games on 10:32 - Aug 16 by Blue_Heath |
I don't disagree with your last paragraph although it wasn't great to watch at times but it does beg the question why did KM walk away again having implemented a new style of play and also a few months before 'his' training ground would open? [Post edited 16 Aug 10:32]
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Duplicate post! [Post edited 16 Aug 11:28]
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| Looking at the last two games on 11:34 - Aug 16 with 1004 views | nrb1985 |
| Looking at the last two games on 11:26 - Aug 16 by Guthrum |
Klopp and Guardiola were both at clubs which had been at the highest level for much longer. They were not having to put in place systems from a nearly standing start, nor to drastically rebuild their squads every summer, plus were operating with already top-notch facilities.
Expectations were greater for those two, but their staffs were bigger, they had every help to hand and budgets/prestige to do pretty much what they wanted. They also had much more experience behind them, more practice in managing energy, balance and reserves. [Post edited 16 Aug 11:27]
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They also weren’t playing morecambe and accrington for 1.5 seasons. | | | |
| Looking at the last two games on 12:23 - Aug 16 with 851 views | Smoresy |
| Looking at the last two games on 11:23 - Aug 16 by Garv |
Morsy did at times didn't he?
Taylor probably tried at times last season but I don't think he was quite good enough to do it.
Nunez creating from deep could be fun. |
He dropped deep very often but I don't recall him splitting Woolf and Burge so obviously and for as long; would be quick offerings to receive the ball iirc. Nunez was holding position as a CB in possession regularly, in line with the two CBs who made room for him. Sometimes he and Diop were our furthest back and a casual observer may have confused his chief position I think. Perhaps this was a reflection of the intensity of the game though and not something to become accustomed to. | | | |
| Looking at the last two games on 12:33 - Aug 16 with 796 views | NthQldITFC |
| Looking at the last two games on 11:23 - Aug 16 by Garv |
Morsy did at times didn't he?
Taylor probably tried at times last season but I don't think he was quite good enough to do it.
Nunez creating from deep could be fun. |
Not as deep, I don't think, Morsy that is. | |
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| Looking at the last two games on 12:37 - Aug 16 with 788 views | Yppswyche |
| Looking at the last two games on 09:52 - Aug 16 by Guthrum |
A lot of that is down to the fact that both McKenna and O'Neil use modern tactics and styles of play. As would anybody hoping to succeed in the top levels of the game - who does not have the advantage of an utterly superior squad.
What let us down in 2024-25 was less our system than the strength of its components (as much the likes of Phillips failing to reach his potential as those promoted from L1 playing at or beyond their natural ceiling). Now the survivors of that season are more experienced and better integrated, while the new arrivals have come from backgrounds of a significantly higher level. With a manger who has specific experience as head man in the precise job at hand.
McKenna was trying last season to model something different to 2022-24. More defensively tight, less swashbiuckling. Fans interpreted it as slow and boring, but it was intended to give a firm base to develop a squad and way of operating more suitable for the Prem. The brakes are, to some extent, off because the extra injection of boost has happened. We have dropped a gear, increased the revs and are approaching the back of the queue with a view to doing some overtaking. |
I was of the same feeling in regards to your last paragraph, but that makes zero sense now when we’ve gone out and signed an entirely new first 11 this summer. Could have made it easier on himself and all of us had more fun last season if that was the case. |  | | |
| Looking at the last two games on 14:28 - Aug 16 with 532 views | Guthrum |
| Looking at the last two games on 11:34 - Aug 16 by nrb1985 |
They also weren’t playing morecambe and accrington for 1.5 seasons. |
Is that less stressful for a L1 outfit - even a well-equipped one - than playing Everton, Wolves and the like when you're the very cream of the Prem? | |
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| Looking at the last two games on 14:30 - Aug 16 with 522 views | Guthrum |
| Looking at the last two games on 12:37 - Aug 16 by Yppswyche |
I was of the same feeling in regards to your last paragraph, but that makes zero sense now when we’ve gone out and signed an entirely new first 11 this summer. Could have made it easier on himself and all of us had more fun last season if that was the case. |
I don't think McKenna knew he wouldn't be in the dugout this coming season. | |
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| Looking at the last two games on 14:51 - Aug 16 with 438 views | Swansea_Blue |
I wouldn’t read too much into it. It’s all been good preparation of course, but we won’t get the time and space and opportunity to control games in the PL. As GON acknowledges, the level jumps up now. Mind you, he also said we shouldn’t be scared of the PL and I’m bricking it, so what does he know? lol |  |
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| Looking at the last two games on 15:10 - Aug 16 with 357 views | nrb1985 |
| Looking at the last two games on 14:28 - Aug 16 by Guthrum |
Is that less stressful for a L1 outfit - even a well-equipped one - than playing Everton, Wolves and the like when you're the very cream of the Prem? |
I would say so, yes.
However, nobody will ever know the truth aside from KM himself I suspect. My firm beleif though is that the decision was two fold - both in need of a bit of break and football related as well.
Peronally, I think the £8m release had really become a noose around his neck and this was a sensible way to bow out. | | | |
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