3 x CB system 23:26 - Jan 5 with 1870 views | 3_5_2 | will we regret not switching earlier? Been so much better since we did it. |  |
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3 x CB system on 23:47 - Jan 5 with 1787 views | NeverSayDie | TBF, McK was never going to change what had served him so well for 2 promotions, until it was painfully clear that it wouldn’t work in the Prem. The thing is, the formation most likely would work at this level, just not with the personnel he has available to him unfortunately. |  | |  |
3 x CB system on 23:49 - Jan 5 with 1767 views | JakeITFC | I’m not sure it’s a particularly different system tbh, we are just playing O’Shea at right back. |  | |  |
3 x CB system on 00:07 - Jan 6 with 1692 views | kizaitfc | I think the system got spoilt with Axels injury then Greaves got injured, then Burgess came into a 4 and we played really well. So don't think it's quite that simple. Getting Cajuste in the midfield has been a plus and Broady at no.10 gives us something different. |  |
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3 x CB system on 08:38 - Jan 6 with 1441 views | bsw72 | I don't think he has changed the formation that much but is more about tweaking how the wide players now work and the fact he now has the personnel to suit the formation. The value of getting players like O'Shea and Greaves on the pitch together and a more settled back 4 has been huge (Davis, Greaves, Woolfenden and O'Shea), plus fit options in the midfield like Broadhead, Burns, Johnson etc cannot be overstated. Yesterday was a good example of how we flex with those 4 at the back, with Johnson starting on the right it allowed us to go to a more defensive 5 when needed, versus the Chelsea starting XI with Burns playing slightly further forward. I would suggest that is because we felt the danger with Fulham came down the flanks versus Chelsea where we expected it more through the middle with Palmer. |  | |  |
3 x CB system on 08:48 - Jan 6 with 1372 views | WeWereZombies |
3 x CB system on 08:38 - Jan 6 by bsw72 | I don't think he has changed the formation that much but is more about tweaking how the wide players now work and the fact he now has the personnel to suit the formation. The value of getting players like O'Shea and Greaves on the pitch together and a more settled back 4 has been huge (Davis, Greaves, Woolfenden and O'Shea), plus fit options in the midfield like Broadhead, Burns, Johnson etc cannot be overstated. Yesterday was a good example of how we flex with those 4 at the back, with Johnson starting on the right it allowed us to go to a more defensive 5 when needed, versus the Chelsea starting XI with Burns playing slightly further forward. I would suggest that is because we felt the danger with Fulham came down the flanks versus Chelsea where we expected it more through the middle with Palmer. |
Whilst I get what you are saying with the formation change having an element of tweak about it (after all, we are only allowed a squad of twenty five and when there are injuries we are limited in what we can do by that) I think the difference in the last three games is that we have become less predictable. So the 4-2-3-1 gave the opposition a tactical advantage as the season wore on and now the 5-2-2-1 is posing problems for them. But other teams will work out how to deal with it, I hope by then we will have some of the injured players back and that will allow McKenna to use 4-2-3-1 in the games where he sees that as more effective. [Post edited 6 Jan 8:50]
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3 x CB system on 08:52 - Jan 6 with 1329 views | bsw72 |
3 x CB system on 08:48 - Jan 6 by WeWereZombies | Whilst I get what you are saying with the formation change having an element of tweak about it (after all, we are only allowed a squad of twenty five and when there are injuries we are limited in what we can do by that) I think the difference in the last three games is that we have become less predictable. So the 4-2-3-1 gave the opposition a tactical advantage as the season wore on and now the 5-2-2-1 is posing problems for them. But other teams will work out how to deal with it, I hope by then we will have some of the injured players back and that will allow McKenna to use 4-2-3-1 in the games where he sees that as more effective. [Post edited 6 Jan 8:50]
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Isn't that my point - we have a settled back 4 with options to flex on the right to switch between a more defensive or attacking setup with Burns / Johnson currently . . . |  | |  |
3 x CB system on 08:59 - Jan 6 with 1290 views | WeWereZombies |
3 x CB system on 08:52 - Jan 6 by bsw72 | Isn't that my point - we have a settled back 4 with options to flex on the right to switch between a more defensive or attacking setup with Burns / Johnson currently . . . |
No, there is more to it than that. The central defence three are making more headed clearances and, now that Walton is in goal, long balls from the keeper are a critical change from playing it out from the back (something we still do but much less.) |  |
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3 x CB system on 09:00 - Jan 6 with 1281 views | Chris_ITFC | It’s not system, it’s personnel. O’Shea is just playing the Axel role better than Clarke or Johnson did. |  |
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3 x CB system on 09:40 - Jan 6 with 1114 views | FrimleyBlue |
3 x CB system on 09:00 - Jan 6 by Chris_ITFC | It’s not system, it’s personnel. O’Shea is just playing the Axel role better than Clarke or Johnson did. |
Lol. I do love the desperation of those who want to claim nothing has changed other than selection. It's alot lot more compact off the ball with a flat 5 with 3 cbs being the key and not keeping a wes up high or In yesterday's case johnson. It's clear as day off the ball we finally returned to the spurs set up which many of us were desperate to see retired and was told oshea and wolfy weren't good enough for it. Yet here we are. To try and say it's the same system played in all games is actually a disservice to KM who acknowledged what he was trying wasn't working as well as he could have done and hes taken action with it. |  |
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3 x CB system on 09:52 - Jan 6 with 1055 views | MVBlue |
3 x CB system on 09:40 - Jan 6 by FrimleyBlue | Lol. I do love the desperation of those who want to claim nothing has changed other than selection. It's alot lot more compact off the ball with a flat 5 with 3 cbs being the key and not keeping a wes up high or In yesterday's case johnson. It's clear as day off the ball we finally returned to the spurs set up which many of us were desperate to see retired and was told oshea and wolfy weren't good enough for it. Yet here we are. To try and say it's the same system played in all games is actually a disservice to KM who acknowledged what he was trying wasn't working as well as he could have done and hes taken action with it. |
Its testament to Kierans development and skill as a manager. Analysis of the Chelsea game showed the team was setup to frustrate, but also we can still threaten well. Nice balance. |  |
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3 x CB system on 10:42 - Jan 6 with 930 views | HighgateBlue |
3 x CB system on 23:49 - Jan 5 by JakeITFC | I’m not sure it’s a particularly different system tbh, we are just playing O’Shea at right back. |
Yes I think it's a similar idea to playing Axel in that same role. So bringing in a 3rd CB is more a reversion to what we were doing when Axel was fit. When he got injured, we've tried various solutions on the right, but I think having O'Shea there instead of HClarke is a bit more of a like for like with how we were with Axel playing. When Leif bombs forward it allows the 3 CBs to slide across such that the left-most of them can fill in behind Leif. I really like it. I thought we were really missing Axel, but I think KM has found the answer. What we do seem to be doing a bit more is consciously sitting and soaking up pressure and then hitting teams on the break. It puts a lot of onus on Delap, especially given (a) his age, (b) his physical style, (c) the fact that he has to play every game given that Hirst is out. But so far, Delap is rising to the challenge and raising his own value! When Axel is back, does O'Shea shift back across and Woolfy drop to the bench, or does Axel struggle to get back in? I suppose we'll see how the next few games pan out, but the three games Woolfy has played in have been very promising. 4 points in the games against Arsenal, Chelsea and Fulham, with a positive goal difference, is a decent return and constitutes some good momentum building. |  | |  |
3 x CB system on 10:53 - Jan 6 with 858 views | JakeITFC |
3 x CB system on 09:40 - Jan 6 by FrimleyBlue | Lol. I do love the desperation of those who want to claim nothing has changed other than selection. It's alot lot more compact off the ball with a flat 5 with 3 cbs being the key and not keeping a wes up high or In yesterday's case johnson. It's clear as day off the ball we finally returned to the spurs set up which many of us were desperate to see retired and was told oshea and wolfy weren't good enough for it. Yet here we are. To try and say it's the same system played in all games is actually a disservice to KM who acknowledged what he was trying wasn't working as well as he could have done and hes taken action with it. |
We played a back four against Spurs too. |  | |  |
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