5-4-Friday… 5 bench warmers

Scoring goals is a problem for us so something needs to change. Whether it’s a 442 or a 433 we need to play more positive and take the game to the opposition. The games against Birmingham and Forrest showed glimpses of what can be achieved, we just need consistency.
If we are attacking more then this will take the pressure off defence so in theory should concede less?

The way I see it is that most teams we play against in this division play 4-4-2 and the best way to counter that is to play the same way. When you play with just one up top it is easy for a flat back four to defend against you but if you put two up it gives the defending side more to worry about. I get it in the Prem that it is antiquated probably because the majority of players are South American and Latin galactico’s who have been fed on a diet of these formations. In the championship it is still a very British style of play and that’s how we will get success by being British. It is much easier to make the ball stick up top with two old fashioned forwards which takes the pressure off your own defenders. Also with two up it is easier for the midfield to press and hopefully contribute with the goals for. PJ had Roberts and Duke causing havoc and it served him well.Lets worry about playing all these fancy formations if and when we return to the Prem but for now lets get back to being British. Tin hat firmly on head :lol:

It occurs to me that nearly all the sides that have been relegated in recent years really struggle in the Championship. QPR and Norwich up to now are the exception to the rule. What is this down to?. Some will obviously lose the better players but could it be that formations that were employed in the Prem just don’t get the job done in this league?. Coincidence or back to the old 4-4-2 debate?.

Our problem(s) has been adjusting to the mindset that every game in the Championship is winnable.

Look back to the videos of 2004-5. How attacking we were. JR and the Duke up front and plenty of action behind them eg Super Lee, Mahon, Bullard, Cavanagh.

Defence wasn’t bad either…

We scored more goals than any other team and conceded the fewest.

“The game’s changed” we keep hearing. Why? Who changed it?

That 2004-5 squad under PJ would be doing far better today than the current team.[/quote]
With all due respect: bullshit

The game has changed. Who changed it? Foreign managers, foreign coaches, sports scientists, and more importantly Sky TV and sponsors’ money.

Even from ten years ago, the players’ training schedules are improved, as have their diets, knowledge of different styles of play and tactics. They are fitter and quicker. Better players (and many more good standard foreign players) have been drip-fed from the PL and abroad into the Championship.

Jewell’s teams ran on team spirit and a gung-ho approach. Tactically he was medieval, even ten years ago, and he was found out at both Derby and Ipswich.

Jewell’s team was good in its day but would be outrun and outpassed in today’s game.