Match Thread Sunderland - Coventry City Match Thread - Tuesday 13th May (78 Viewers)

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Pep has said its not as effective any more and Man City need to change.

Well, it is if you have a team stacked with world class players or at least much better players than the opposition (when tactics shouldn’t matter anyway).

The way Nottingham Forest have played this season is close to a refutation of the setup. Allowing the opposition the ball then swarming all over them when possession is turned over. Already happened to us a lot this season.

 

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[Robinshio]

We 100% win. 3-0 or 3-1. They will play the game of their lives. Get ready for the ride

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

It’s a way of playing that’s going out of fashion. Hanging onto possession for possession’s sake, not doing anything with it then getting countered.

It's fine, in terms of trying to control a game, but you do need couple of players who will take players on and commit defenders, plus the obvious goalscorer to ensure the possession is capitalised upon. First half v Sunderland, I said really early on that we weren't looking like scoring. At the moment it only looks like coming via Rudoni getting a head on a Saka type cross. Let's hope FL pulls a masterstroke on Tuesday.

 

[quinn1971]

I agree, I wasn't unhappy with our performance. As Lampard said on another day we win that comfortably. Same again Tuesday but just more urgency

exactly, only worry is it’s worked out perfect for them, can just do the same again, we need to go up a gear, just get at them from the start, always going to be the chance they’ll catch us on the break again but we’ve got to be brave and risk it,

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Think there’s a lot of coping and hoping in this thread.

Theres not, theres just people not being doom mongerers.

 

[David O'Day]

It's fine, in terms of trying to control a game, but you do need couple of players who will take players on and commit defenders, plus the obvious goalscorer to ensure the possession is capitalised upon. First half v Sunderland, I said really early on that we weren't looking like scoring. At the moment it only looks like coming via Rudoni getting a head on a Saka type cross. Let's hope FL pulls a masterstroke on Tuesday.

Possession was never Possession for Possessions sake.

Possession is about moving the ball about to create space and to create overloads. Even Barcelona who everyone raved about after having watching just 2 of their games will when faced with a low block in La Liga will pass the ball about from side to side etc. Their average possession is still 68.9% in La Liga. With the players we have we can't "get it launched" so we have to try and create space via movement and pulling players out of position.

I am not sure why people are mentioning Man City as we have never played Pep style football where the possession is used as defensive tactic as the other team can't score without the ball so if you keep the ball and you have good enough players that they will eventually score.

We are going to need possession on Tuesday as they aren't going to give us any space behind them so we will need to create it.

 

[David O'Day]

exactly, only worry is it’s worked out perfect for them, can just do the same again, we need to go up a gear, just get at them from the start, always going to be the chance they’ll catch us on the break again but we’ve got to be brave and risk it,

Not sure they will though as if they just sit back and we start to dominate the ball the stadium is gonna get twitchy.

 

[clint van damme]

Well, it is if you have a team stacked with world class players or at least much better players than the opposition (when tactics shouldn’t matter anyway).

The way Nottingham Forest have played this season is close to a refutation of the setup. Allowing the opposition the ball then swarming all over them when possession is turned over. Already happened to us a lot this season.

The possesion game has served us well at home but our away record is poor since we reverted to 4 at the back and have dominated the ball.

 

[Tommo1993]

If somehow we get ahead in the tie with 20-30 mins to go, I’d openly hook Sheaf for Latibeaudiere. And I never thought I’d say that.

 

[quinn1971]

Not sure they will though as if they just sit back and we start to dominate the ball the stadium is gonna get twitchy.

they‘d be mad to play any different, they prob won’t sit as deep as Friday but it’s even how they play anyway, just pick you off with the pace up front, we had to go there with a lead and make them play a different way, still confident we’ll do it

 

[pusbccfc]

I've got too many scars from travelling to Derby, Sheffield United, Hull, Plymouth and Luton in the past 8 weeks to have any real confidence for this.

Our away form is turgid and we are really easy to play against as the away side.

 

[CovValleyBoy]

The last thing we should be doing is all out attack. We need to defend properly & then take our chances which will arrive. 0-0 at half time is all good.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

I know our away form hasn’t been good but if last Friday proved nothing, it proved that form means nothing in the playoffs. We aren’t three nil down, it’s only one goal. PUSB

 

[clint van damme]

Possession was never Possession for Possessions sake.

Possession is about moving the ball about to create space and to create overloads. Even Barcelona who everyone raved about after having watching just 2 of their games will when faced with a low block in La Liga will pass the ball about from side to side etc. Their average possession is still 68.9% in La Liga. With the players we have we can't "get it launched" so we have to try and create space via movement and pulling players out of position.

I am not sure why people are mentioning Man City as we have never played Pep style football where the possession is used as defensive tactic as the other team can't score without the ball so if you keep the ball and you have good enough players that they will eventually score.

We are going to need possession on Tuesday as they aren't going to give us any space behind them so we will need to create it.

I mentioned Man City because Pep is seen as the guru of possesion football and even he is talking of a different approach, not because I think we are a Man City clone.

But dominating possesion away from home isn't working.

 

[SkyblueTexan]

I think their keepers decent but flaps a bit at crosses. If only Simms and Wright could head a ball like Rudoni

Wright did score an absolute bullet header versus Oxford at home. Wonder where that version of him is.

 

[David O'Day]

I mentioned Man City because Pep is seen as the guru of possesion football and even he is talking of a different approach, not because I think we are a Man City clone.

But dominating possesion away from home isn't working.

It hasn't worked against teams that are very different to Sunderland.

 

[David O'Day]

they‘d be mad to play any different, they prob won’t sit as deep as Friday but it’s even how they play anyway, just pick you off with the pace up front, we had to go there with a lead and make them play a different way, still confident we’ll do it

So they will play differently then, they won't sit as deep as you said which gives us more space

 

[shmmeee]

It’s hard when a team puts 8 players behind the ball but I’d like to see us take more ranged shots because it can force defences to presses potential shooters and or a parried save causes chaos in the box.

That would require us to have a single player who can shoot from range.

 

[SkyblueTexan]

I swear our Texan friend doesn't actually watch the games.

I do watch the games but wonder if you read my entire initial post or my clarification to Mucca later as well.

 

[jas365]

The problem we have is that for the last couple of months, apart from Wright's hat-trick vs Sunderland, the forwards have contributed virtually nothing in terms of goals. The vast majority of our goals have come from midfielders (Rudoni, Torp, Grimes, Patterson) or Bobby Thomas.

You could ask 10 people if we should play 442 or 433, and who should start, and you'll get numerous different combinations, none of the forwards are playing well enough to be a cast iron pick.

Given that FL unquestionably prefers 433, i'd still say Wright is the best finisher we have so would play down the middle, despite his absolute shitness the last few games, and if EMC is fit to start i'd put him on the left.

I'd personally be tempted to go 442 though, with Rudoni and Sakamoto wide, Grimes and Sheaf holding. If that were the case I would bring Simms back in alongside Wright. I don't expect FL to suddeny change formation though, he's almost certainly going to stick to 433.

 

[Sick Boy]

We 100% win. 3-0 or 3-1. They will play the game of their lives. Get ready for the ride

If we go and do that we’re going up, IMO.

 

[WONDERLAMPS]

I've got too many scars from travelling to Derby, Sheffield United, Hull, Plymouth and Luton in the past 8 weeks to have any real confidence for this.

Our away form is turgid and we are really easy to play against as the away side.

This isn’t a standard away league fixture though is it - it’s a game where we absolutely need to win so the examples you’ve listed aren’t really the same.

Personally I actually see us as coming out and scoring early and then the game going incredibly cagey.

Also assume someone else has pointed this out but how hilarious would it be if Sunderland “ended the curse” in the first leg only for us to turn them over on Tuesday and that game to mean nothing.

 

[Sick Boy]

A mate of mine is a Sheff Utd holder and apparently there are no direct trains from Sheffield to London on play-off final day. One of their options is to go down to Euston via Birmingham…imagine the carnage if we’re both in the final.

 

[clint van damme]

It hasn't worked against teams that are very different to Sunderland.

In principle I agree, but we're playing a Sunderland with a 1-0 lead who had success by sitting in against us Friday.

 

[Evo1883]

Pep has said its not as effective any more and Man City need to change.

Liverpool have the best playstyle , press hard attack fast .

Football played the right way

 

[torchomatic]

I've got too many scars from travelling to Derby, Sheffield United, Hull, Plymouth and Luton in the past 8 weeks to have any real confidence for this.

Our away form is turgid and we are really easy to play against as the away side.

Me and the lad went to all those too, but so what?

If we couldn't do it then we wouldn't bother would we?

To paraphrase JFK, we don't follow Coventry City all over the country because it's easy, we follow them all over the country because it's hard.

Man up!

 

[Gint11]

Me and the lad went to all those too, but so what?

If we couldn't do it then we wouldn't bother would we?

To paraphrase JFK, we don't follow Coventry City all over the country because it's easy, we follow them all over the country because it's hard.

Man up!

And they hadn’t won at our place since 2007 and then did.

Anything can happen. For what it’s worth, I think they’ll do enough but an early goal from us with 40,000 of them panicking and piling pressure on, against the odds, could all work in our favour

 

[SBT]

Think there’s a lot of coping and hoping in this thread.

If you can’t cope with the challenge, or even hope to make up a one-goal deficit in 90 minutes, then you may as well call Sunderland now and tell them we’ll forfeit, save everyone the journey.

Personally I think we have a fighting chance.

 

[quinn1971]

So they will play differently then, they won't sit as deep as you said which gives us more space

they‘ll have a bit more of the ball so they’ll have to come out a bit, when they do we have to move the ball quicker, we just slow it down and let them get back, love to see simms and wright up front at some point give them an extra body to think about, marked Asante out the game, think maybe even da silva to come back in and start EMC on the left, TBH haven’t got a clue how this plays out nobody predicted that result Friday?

 

[pusbccfc]

Me and the lad went to all those too, but so what?

If we couldn't do it then we wouldn't bother would we?

To paraphrase JFK, we don't follow Coventry City all over the country because it's easy, we follow them all over the country because it's hard.

Man up!

Of course and I'll be there Tuesday loud and proud and will enjoy it regardless. Still not confident in the slightest.

 

[quinn1971]

The problem we have is that for the last couple of months, apart from Wright's hat-trick vs Sunderland, the forwards have contributed virtually nothing in terms of goals. The vast majority of our goals have come from midfielders (Rudoni, Torp, Grimes, Patterson) or Bobby Thomas.

You could ask 10 people if we should play 442 or 433, and who should start, and you'll get numerous different combinations, none of the forwards are playing well enough to be a cast iron pick.

Given that FL unquestionably prefers 433, i'd still say Wright is the best finisher we have so would play down the middle, despite his absolute shitness the last few games, and if EMC is fit to start i'd put him on the left.

I'd personally be tempted to go 442 though, with Rudoni and Sakamoto wide, Grimes and Sheaf holding. If that were the case I would bring Simms back in alongside Wright. I don't expect FL to suddeny change formation though, he's almost certainly going to stick to 433.

I’d go with that, we just seem to play Away the same as we do at home and hope it works, it hasn’t and I can’t see us changing it now, we Need ALL our big players Tuesday, especially wright

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

I assume because BTA looked better than Simms when he came on.

But they needed to acknowledge that was because they needed to score and he had space. That was never going to happen in the first leg of a play off game.

 

[Gint11]

Hard to predict how they will play. They obviously have a lead so no need to push us but the crowd won’t settle for sitting back on a low block strategy either. The longer it stays 0-0, they’ll get nervous or if we get an early goal.

We have to weather the first 20 minutes when their crowd will be up for it. They managed that well at our place.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Just watched Southampton v Man City and they employed the low block and Man City couldn't crack it so what chance we got? We need someone to carry the ball into the box and they will get fouled.

Irony is that a certain CoH would be perfect for that situation. Only other one who could do it IMO is Torp, who can also shoot from range, but is out.

Could Rudoni adapt to being played as a 10 and carrying the ball? Might sound mad but if we're still a goal down with 10 mins to go I'd consider telling Grimes to play there. He's an accurate passer and good in tight spaces.

 

[Gint11]

But they needed to acknowledge that was because they needed to score and he had space. That was never going to happen in the first leg of a play off game.

I understand why Lamps went for BTA. Speed, movement and into the channels but we need to understand our strategy. Do we want more balls pumped into the box in the air from the wings (seeing as we score from headers) or more in the channels inside and narrow. That would help decide on BTA or Simms