Is Pressley a little naive? (1 Viewer)

The Gentleman · Feb 18, 2014

Before people start having a go at me for digging out Pressley, I just wanted to ask the question. In the main he has done a fantastic job especially with the tools he was/is given and the circumstances and constraints he has to work under. I just think that in 2 areas he is being a little naive and blinkered. I think he has been naive in the transfer market when he say's that he will let other teams do their business and then see what is left. If he has a target then go for it and do not wait to see what happens. He seems to want a certain type of player to fit a mould but in this league we have been found out by playing the same type of football all the time. In this league you also need horses for courses, once you get out of this league and into the Championship then I think Pressley's brand of football would be better suited to the higher leagues. The blinkered part is where I have already mentioned that we need to be able to adapt to different teams styles of play and from what I have seen and heard we cannot seem to be able to adjust when teams play a certain way. Maybe it is because he is still learning his trade and if so then one can only hope that he can adapt.

JWC · Feb 18, 2014

I'm always a little confused by the adapting to other teams styles. Why shouldn't that team adapt to our style of play? Why swap a successful game plan and play something you are unfamiliar with just because of the other team? Look at what happened in the first half of the arsenal game, when we reverted to our original tactics we were way better.

I'll admit that sometimes you might need to make personell changes to deal with the long ball etc but changing style sometimes seems too defensive for me. Do what you do and do it well I say

The Gentleman · Feb 18, 2014

JWC said:
I'm always a little confused by the adapting to other teams styles. Why shouldn't that team adapt to our style of play? Why swap a successful game plan and play something you are unfamiliar with just because of the other team? Look at what happened in the first half of the arsenal game, when we reverted to our original tactics we were way better.

I'll admit that sometimes you might need to make personell changes to deal with the long ball etc but changing style sometimes seems too defensive for me. Do what you do and do it well I say

I remember seeing a 2 legged game between Arsenal and Man U in the CL, think it was 2009. Man U changed their style of play at Old Trafford from their usual tactics to defend against Arsenal and stop them playing rather than the usual United way. It was a means to an end and Man U progressed through after playing counter attacking football at the Emirates. Don't get me wrong, I love football played the way Pressley wants his teams to play, I just think that by being able to change things before or during a game may have got us a few more points this season.

JWC · Feb 18, 2014

I hear you. I've taken a pretty idealistic view but I stand by it because I think when we've been at our best this season we're a match for anyone in this league. Plus defence isn't our strong point so going on the attack has been a sensible move on the whole. As the old adage goes, attack is the best form of defence....

The Gentleman · Feb 18, 2014

JWC said:
I hear you. I've taken a pretty idealistic view but I stand by it because I think when we've been at our best this season we're a match for anyone in this league. Plus defence isn't our strong point so going on the attack has been a sensible move on the whole. As the old adage goes, attack is the best form of defence....

But that's the problem for me, you can't always be at your best and why not alter things when your forwards are struggling or midfield isn't supplying the firepower. We aren't going to brush teams aside every week because you can set up against our style of play, especially on shit pitches which we are likely to encounter from now till the end of the season.

shmmeee · Feb 18, 2014

We simply don't have the personnel or it seems the coaching ability in defence to switch to anything other than an in your face, win the ball high up, style though.

And as far as we can tell Pressley is OK with this considering his focus on attacking players in the transfer window.

As for OP, I'm not sure how much it's Pressley and how much it's Sisu as wasn't that our tactic before? Or am I imagining it in a fit of Sisu related rage?

JWC · Feb 18, 2014

The Gentleman said:
But that's the problem for me, you can't always be at your best and why not alter things when your forwards are struggling or midfield isn't supplying the firepower. We aren't going to brush teams aside every week because you can set up against our style of play, especially on shit pitches which we are likely to encounter from now till the end of the season.

But I think Pressley has been reactive when things haven't been going to
plan. Think back to the thorn, or even Coleman days. You could see where we needed to make changes but they would rarely, if ever be made

ccfc92 · Feb 18, 2014

JWC said:
But I think Pressley has been reactive when things haven't been going to
plan. Think back to the thorn, or even Coleman days. You could see where we needed to make changes but they would rarely, if ever be made

Idk tho, there has been numerous times at 60-75 mins where there needed to be a change this season, and it came too late, around 85 mins.

Am a big fan of Pressleys tho before people jump

fernandopartridge · Feb 18, 2014

The Gentleman said:
Before people start having a go at me for digging out Pressley, I just wanted to ask the question. In the main he has done a fantastic job especially with the tools he was/is given and the circumstances and constraints he has to work under. I just think that in 2 areas he is being a little naive and blinkered. I think he has been naive in the transfer market when he say's that he will let other teams do their business and then see what is left. If he has a target then go for it and do not wait to see what happens. He seems to want a certain type of player to fit a mould but in this league we have been found out by playing the same type of football all the time. In this league you also need horses for courses, once you get out of this league and into the Championship then I think Pressley's brand of football would be better suited to the higher leagues. The blinkered part is where I have already mentioned that we need to be able to adapt to different teams styles of play and from what I have seen and heard we cannot seem to be able to adjust when teams play a certain way. Maybe it is because he is still learning his trade and if so then one can only hope that he can adapt.

Perhaps he's native by necessity as much as anything. The players are suited to this system. I think it's a bit of a myth that workmanlike functional sides are more successful. Look at Swansea. They developed their style of play all the way through the leagues.

stupot07 · Feb 18, 2014

fernandopartridge said:
Perhaps he's native by necessity as much as anything. The players are suited to this system. I think it's a bit of a myth that workmanlike functional sides are more successful. Look at Swansea. They developed their style of play all the way through the leagues.

Agree, it takes time to build a system and a squad, if we can keep the nucleus of the squad we'll fare even better next season.

Southampton played decent football, as did Peterborough, and Doncaster and Bournemouth last season.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors

The Gentleman · Feb 18, 2014

fernandopartridge said:
Perhaps he's native by necessity as much as anything. The players are suited to this system. I think it's a bit of a myth that workmanlike functional sides are more successful. Look at Swansea. They developed their style of play all the way through the leagues.

Why bring his nationality into it. Seriously though, when I played which was at a decent level, I could roll the sleeves up, sit back or play the beautiful game and if I can do it then I am sure a professional footballer can. Also, when I look at the players we have I do sometimes think that we should be higher in the league, forget the 10 point deduction because we have the best strikers in league (1 now gone but we still have the best 1), the best attacking midfielder in Moussa, two other midfielders in Fleck and Thomas who would walk into every other team in the league, one of the best keepers in the league, Blair, Christie and Seabourne are all good. But it is our inability to be able to change tactics early enough in a game which has cost us points.

Sky Blue Harry H · Feb 18, 2014

stupot07 said:
Agree, it takes time to build a system and a squad, if we can keep the nucleus of the squad we'll fare even better next season.

Southampton played decent football, as did Peterborough, and Doncaster and Bournemouth last season.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors

Not being mischievous Stu, but we will need a decent quality pitch to play the passing game - and a combination of the worsening British climate and current location may scupper the attempts at the beautiful game. If we carry on in our present location, we may need Plan A(no comments!) for first half of season until pitch disintegrates then a Plan B (I know you won't be able to resist!) for when the pitch is a bog?

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