[Albion] Is it time for back to basics?

[Dick Knights Mumm]

"Back to Basics" was a slogan used by a conservative administration that also experienced a series of ministerial sex scandals. Some wag renamed it "back to my place".

 

[portlock seagull]

Forget formations, isn’t back to basics stuff like the ability to trap or control a pass without, as Knocky did in the lead up to their first goal, frequently making a mess of things and losing possession? Or being able to shoot accuarately from distance? Take a corner or cross without hitting the first defender? I see these errors all the time, can these not be improved with coaching or is it just in a player’s DNA whether they can or can’t. In which case, why do we have so many players that can’t?

 

[mreprice]

We started very much back to basics. 4411 and last year's team as well with all the new signings on the bench (apart from Montoya for Bruno).

 

[DJ NOBO]

The formation wasnt the problem , at least for most of the game. We generally dominated.
You can’t bargain for Murray missing those chances, he’d usually score them.
Also nine times out of ten knockeart’s first half shot goes in.
If we play to that level for the rest of the season we should just about be ok, with a bit of luck.

 

[GooGull]

We made too many errors last night and were punished by a team built on the ability to break at pace and take their chances when they came along. We, unfortunately had a couple of very clear chances but they were blazed over, you can’t keep doing that.
Just a thought, when do our corners not beat the first man, from what I’ve seen they nearly always go long?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

4-4-1-1
Conceded possession. Sit behind the ball. Minimal chances created, but play to not lose. Not great watch, but seemed effective.

4-3-3
Possession based play, creates a bunch of chances, but leaves us exposed at the back. Enjoyable to watch, but incredibly frustrating at the lack of chances taken.

I vote back to 4-4-1-1 with bissy as our attacking midfielder.

You say 443 exposes us at the back, but we have been shipping goals all season whatever the formation.

We clearly need some upgrades if we are to stay in the Premier League and I’d start by looking at the spine of the team. Too many goals have resulted in both Duffy and/or Dunk on their arses, or out simply manoeuvred by wit and nimbleness. Duffy is good in the air but his limitations are exposed elsewhere. Upgrade. I have never been totally convinced by Stephens at this level, his slowness of thought and execution are there to see. Upgrade. Add a decent striker. I think this would go some way to improving things.

 

[Mo Gosfield]

Forget formations, isn’t back to basics stuff like the ability to trap or control a pass without, as Knocky did in the lead up to their first goal, frequently making a mess of things and losing possession? Or being able to shoot accuarately from distance? Take a corner or cross without hitting the first defender? I see these errors all the time, can these not be improved with coaching or is it just in a player’s DNA whether they can or can’t. In which case, why do we have so many players that can’t?

Exactly.
You can discuss formations until you are blue in the face but if players keep making basic errors and not improving, then you are wasting your breath. Its not the first time this season that Knocky has given the ball away cheaply and it has directly resulted in a goal. Its not the first time that Bong has been caught miles out of position, which has resulted in a goal. Its not the first time that Dunk has been indecisive when faced with a counter attack and has ended up in no-mans land. Its not the first time that Ryan has been beaten by a shot, that you feel he should have done better with. Its not the first time that Duffy has had 3-4 headed chances in a game and not even got one on target. Its not the first time that we have witnessed wide men continually over/underhit balls into the box. Its not the first time that we have witnessed a game full of woeful shooting.
We are what we are. A workmanlike, well organised side, lacking pace ( usual starting line-up ) lacking creativity, prone to critical error and with a lot of players that are fringe PL class. The squad needs constantly upgrading. The management team decided that two out and out strikers was enough. It isn't. We should have invested £20m+ on another striker and swerved the gamble on Locadia and Jahanbaksh ( £30m spent ) both competing in wide areas, where we already had three decent players. The manager needs to reassess his unstinting loyalty to his favoured starting line-up and inject more pace into the side. We are caught on the break and overrun far too many times. Too many established players seem to be below par at present. Ryan, Dunk, Murray to name just three. The away form is just unacceptable. Even worse than last year and that was bad enough. To start slowly against a side like Leicester, devoid of confidence, was giving the game away.
Unless we can tighten up our game, its gonna be tricky to survive. Concentration levels have to be at their peak and basic errors eliminated as much as possible. It is literally back to basics and start grinding out results.

 

[portlock seagull]

Exactly.
You can discuss formations until you are blue in the face but if players keep making basic errors and not improving, then you are wasting your breath. Its not the first time this season that Knocky has given the ball away cheaply and it has directly resulted in a goal. Its not the first time that Bong has been caught miles out of position, which has resulted in a goal. Its not the first time that Dunk has been indecisive when faced with a counter attack and has ended up in no-mans land. Its not the first time that Ryan has been beaten by a shot, that you feel he should have done better with. Its not the first time that Duffy has had 3-4 headed chances in a game and not even got one on target. Its not the first time that we have witnessed wide men continually over/underhit balls into the box. Its not the first time that we have witnessed a game full of woeful shooting.
We are what we are. A workmanlike, well organised side, lacking pace ( usual starting line-up ) lacking creativity, prone to critical error and with a lot of players that are fringe PL class. The squad needs constantly upgrading. The management team decided that two out and out strikers was enough. It isn't. We should have invested £20m+ on another striker and swerved the gamble on Locadia and Jahanbaksh ( £30m spent ) both competing in wide areas, where we already had three decent players. The manager needs to reassess his unstinting loyalty to his favoured starting line-up and inject more pace into the side. We are caught on the break and overrun far too many times. Too many established players seem to be below par at present. Ryan, Dunk, Murray to name just three. The away form is just unacceptable. Even worse than last year and that was bad enough. To start slowly against a side like Leicester, devoid of confidence, was giving the game away.
Unless we can tighten up our game, its gonna be tricky to survive. Concentration levels have to be at their peak and basic errors eliminated as much as possible. It is literally back to basics and start grinding out results.

Excellent summary and brilliantly articulated. Not seen a better line of argument as to our current plight. This all day long basically!

 

[Saladpack Seagull]

Exactly.
You can discuss formations until you are blue in the face but if players keep making basic errors and not improving, then you are wasting your breath. Its not the first time this season that Knocky has given the ball away cheaply and it has directly resulted in a goal. Its not the first time that Bong has been caught miles out of position, which has resulted in a goal. Its not the first time that Dunk has been indecisive when faced with a counter attack and has ended up in no-mans land. Its not the first time that Ryan has been beaten by a shot, that you feel he should have done better with. Its not the first time that Duffy has had 3-4 headed chances in a game and not even got one on target. Its not the first time that we have witnessed wide men continually over/underhit balls into the box. Its not the first time that we have witnessed a game full of woeful shooting.
We are what we are. A workmanlike, well organised side, lacking pace ( usual starting line-up ) lacking creativity, prone to critical error and with a lot of players that are fringe PL class. The squad needs constantly upgrading. The management team decided that two out and out strikers was enough. It isn't. We should have invested £20m+ on another striker and swerved the gamble on Locadia and Jahanbaksh ( £30m spent ) both competing in wide areas, where we already had three decent players. The manager needs to reassess his unstinting loyalty to his favoured starting line-up and inject more pace into the side. We are caught on the break and overrun far too many times. Too many established players seem to be below par at present. Ryan, Dunk, Murray to name just three. The away form is just unacceptable. Even worse than last year and that was bad enough. To start slowly against a side like Leicester, devoid of confidence, was giving the game away.
Unless we can tighten up our game, its gonna be tricky to survive. Concentration levels have to be at their peak and basic errors eliminated as much as possible. It is literally back to basics and start grinding out results.

That pretty much sums it up for me. The same mistakes game after game have to be eliminated and very soon.

 

[blue-shifted]

Hey Sussex Nomad. It was a 4-4-1-1. Hope this helps

 

[BLOCK F]

"Back to Basics" was a slogan used by a conservative administration that also experienced a series of ministerial sex scandals. Some wag renamed it "back to my place".

Trouble is, our lot can't 'play away'!

 

[Justice]

You say 443 exposes us at the back, but we have been shipping goals all season whatever the formation.

We clearly need some upgrades if we are to stay in the Premier League and I’d start by looking at the spine of the team. Too many goals have resulted in both Duffy and/or Dunk on their arses, or out simply manoeuvred by wit and nimbleness. Duffy is good in the air but his limitations are exposed elsewhere. Upgrade. I have never been totally convinced by Stephens at this level, his slowness of thought and execution are there to see. Upgrade. Add a decent striker. I think this would go some way to improving things.

Sense at last in football your only really as good as your last game, Dunk to me is playing like he’s off in the summer. Duffy is hot and cold with the ball at his feet at least he’s committed every game. Watched Stephens last night he’s incapable of a forward pass. Kayal has been much better IMO this season, the squad keeps coming up short, we lose anyway why not shake things up CH.

 

[BLOCK F]

Sense at last in football your only really as good as your last game, Dunk to me is playing like he’s off in the summer. Duffy is hot and cold with the ball at his feet at least he’s committed every game. Watched Stephens last night he’s incapable of a forward pass. Kayal has been much better IMO this season, the squad keeps coming up short, we lose anyway why not shake things up CH.

Adam Webster of Bristol City......skillful ball playing Centre Half.

 

[Weststander]

You say 443 exposes us at the back, but we have been shipping goals all season whatever the formation.

We clearly need some upgrades if we are to stay in the Premier League and I’d start by looking at the spine of the team. Too many goals have resulted in both Duffy and/or Dunk on their arses, or out simply manoeuvred by wit and nimbleness. Duffy is good in the air but his limitations are exposed elsewhere. Upgrade. I have never been totally convinced by Stephens at this level, his slowness of thought and execution are there to see. Upgrade. Add a decent striker. I think this would go some way to improving things.

Love this post. Gutsy to mention the hitherto unmentionable of our similar centre halves really struggling against pacey/skilled attackers in open play.

Also true about the spine. We never control CM lacking PL quality creators, comfortable on the ball. I so hope the club upgrade in that area.

 

[Weststander]

Exactly.
You can discuss formations until you are blue in the face but if players keep making basic errors and not improving, then you are wasting your breath. Its not the first time this season that Knocky has given the ball away cheaply and it has directly resulted in a goal. Its not the first time that Bong has been caught miles out of position, which has resulted in a goal. Its not the first time that Dunk has been indecisive when faced with a counter attack and has ended up in no-mans land. Its not the first time that Ryan has been beaten by a shot, that you feel he should have done better with. Its not the first time that Duffy has had 3-4 headed chances in a game and not even got one on target. Its not the first time that we have witnessed wide men continually over/underhit balls into the box. Its not the first time that we have witnessed a game full of woeful shooting.
We are what we are. A workmanlike, well organised side, lacking pace ( usual starting line-up ) lacking creativity, prone to critical error and with a lot of players that are fringe PL class. The squad needs constantly upgrading. The management team decided that two out and out strikers was enough. It isn't. We should have invested £20m+ on another striker and swerved the gamble on Locadia and Jahanbaksh ( £30m spent ) both competing in wide areas, where we already had three decent players. The manager needs to reassess his unstinting loyalty to his favoured starting line-up and inject more pace into the side. We are caught on the break and overrun far too many times. Too many established players seem to be below par at present. Ryan, Dunk, Murray to name just three. The away form is just unacceptable. Even worse than last year and that was bad enough. To start slowly against a side like Leicester, devoid of confidence, was giving the game away.
Unless we can tighten up our game, its gonna be tricky to survive. Concentration levels have to be at their peak and basic errors eliminated as much as possible. It is literally back to basics and start grinding out results.

Quality post. Intelligently looks at the big picture of many areas requiring serious attention, rather than it’s the fault of Muzza or referees.

 

[BensGrandad]

Adam Webster of Bristol City......skillful ball playing Centre Half.

Unless Duffy or Dunk leave in the summer why do we need another CB.

 

[BLOCK F]

Unless Duffy or Dunk leave in the summer why do we need another CB.

Hi BG, I was only making a comment re a good young defender in amongst the topic of Dunk and Duffy etc.
Not necessarily suggesting we need another CB at this time!

 

[DJ NOBO]

Exactly.
You can discuss formations until you are blue in the face but if players keep making basic errors and not improving, then you are wasting your breath. Its not the first time this season that Knocky has given the ball away cheaply and it has directly resulted in a goal. Its not the first time that Bong has been caught miles out of position, which has resulted in a goal. Its not the first time that Dunk has been indecisive when faced with a counter attack and has ended up in no-mans land. Its not the first time that Ryan has been beaten by a shot, that you feel he should have done better with. Its not the first time that Duffy has had 3-4 headed chances in a game and not even got one on target. Its not the first time that we have witnessed wide men continually over/underhit balls into the box. Its not the first time that we have witnessed a game full of woeful shooting.
We are what we are. A workmanlike, well organised side, lacking pace ( usual starting line-up ) lacking creativity, prone to critical error and with a lot of players that are fringe PL class. The squad needs constantly upgrading. The management team decided that two out and out strikers was enough. It isn't. We should have invested £20m+ on another striker and swerved the gamble on Locadia and Jahanbaksh ( £30m spent ) both competing in wide areas, where we already had three decent players. The manager needs to reassess his unstinting loyalty to his favoured starting line-up and inject more pace into the side. We are caught on the break and overrun far too many times. Too many established players seem to be below par at present. Ryan, Dunk, Murray to name just three. The away form is just unacceptable. Even worse than last year and that was bad enough. To start slowly against a side like Leicester, devoid of confidence, was giving the game away.
Unless we can tighten up our game, its gonna be tricky to survive. Concentration levels have to be at their peak and basic errors eliminated as much as possible. It is literally back to basics and start grinding out results.

Brutal but brilliant post.

Have you ever dumped a girlfriend ?
I’d love to know what you said when you broke the news to her.

 

[View from the Pier]

More importantly, we are dropping like the proverbial stone, I fully support CH but our confidence must be very low and we are now looking over our shoulder rather than up. As said, lack of pace and creativity and somewhat wasted transfer money, very worrying times indeed