Last season, we all know that eventually teams sussed our fairly one-dimensional tactics and learned how to limit Chris Wood's effectiveness.
As a result we saw a dramatic tail off in form during the last quarter of the season.
Thomas Christiansen needs to be careful that we don't see a repeat.
As a team performance, we were excellent, but we need to be in no doubt that as the season progresses, and our most effective tactics are sussed out, TC will need to keep some tactical tricks up his sleeve.
I feel it is imperative that we do have a tall target man in the squad. Some have mentioned Matt Smith; personally I wouldn't be averse to his signing from QPR.
Either way, if we continue with our successful start, it won't be long before teams will come set up to counter the way Saiz and Alioski operate, and TC will need to have his own surprise alternatives which he can switch to during the course of a game.
Last season, this was where Monk fell down; quite simply there was no plan B.
I'm feeling very positive so far, and am actually looking forward to seeing how TC sets out the teams when he needs an alternative formation.
I wonder whether he might test it out against Newport. It would be an ideal time, even if the personnel he chooses are different.
Looking further into the season....
posted on 21/8/17
I also believe the lack of a plan B cost us dearly in the final few weeks of the season.
Playing Wood up front as the sole striker was a high risk strategy.
I've not been a Wood fan but he did well last year. I don't know the stats but from what I saw we created more than in previous recent seasons. It would be natural to see more goals.....
He's gone, he's history and we move on. Slight bitter taste at his behaviour on Saturday, seems modern day footballers are being a little too precious and given those circumstances, I'm pleased he's moved on.
Interesting to see what TC does in terms of formations but also which last minute.com signings we bring in.
Encouraging thus far.....
posted on 22/8/17
Said this the other day. Certain teams have players who can mark Saiz etc out of games. So it's essential we have a plan b.
Imo a plan b would be an embellishment of the target man tactic. However instead of a lump up top, we have pace out wide and up top and do what lesta did.
Win possession and thread it through to a pacy target man or Win the ball thread it to your wingers who feed your pacy striker.
posted on 22/8/17
Agree on rhe plan B but Pablo was such a cog for us last season, it felt like when he tailed off, we lost our way.
posted on 22/8/17
We wasn't one dimensional with Chris wood. He hardly touched the ball ans there was not much long ball to him.
We played through Pablo, the who season !!!!!!!
posted on 22/8/17
One dimensional doesn't mean we played hoofball it means that when Wood was marked out of a game we rarely looked like having other options.
posted on 22/8/17
My take on it is that the defence never really moved up a lot apart from set pieces due to Monks rigid policy. This left Pablo and a mediocre midfield to do a hell of a lot of work between boxes so come game 35 plus, they, particularly Pablo, were done for. To me that was one dimensional. It could have been better but the general deliveries from the sides weren't consistently good enough- probably Dallas on his day was ok.
posted on 22/8/17
.....and credit to Wood the amount of goals he scored in the circumstances was commendable
posted on 22/8/17
Marked out of the game, yet scored 30 goals
Come on
We played through Pablo all season