The Gus style of football...

[Zamoracomehome]

I'm not sure this is even a criticism, as when the football we play works, it really works, and it's glorious to watch.

However, as many have stated, it has all become to easy to suss out. Teams push up and we pass it amongst our defensive players. When it's moved out into attack, the ball is too slow, and we lack any clinical final ball.

We know, that if the likes of Vicente and Buckley are fit, we are a better team that can create more chances. Vicente 'the playmaker' will come into his own in time, hopefully he'll overcome these niggles, which he obviously has due to no full pre-season.

The problem though, is that our players are not of a technically high enough ability to play the style Gus wants to play at this level. If we play this way, we HAVE to dominate the game whilst creating chances, or it falls apart like it has recently.

Either we need new players (which looks unlikely after Gus' post match comments) or we need a seriously effective Plan B.

Finally, what annoys me most is the fact that we had the assistant manager on the pitch for a large proportion of the game. If anyone was to gee up the players and kick them into shape to get them playing the way the management want them to, he should have been able to. Is that a failure of the players to respond, or a lack of management skill from Tano?

Still, roll on Sunday. A good, convincing win over Barnsley should be do-able. Keep the faith!

 

[jackcgull]

i think tano had enough on his plate looking after their left winger. it's not right that he has to play - it shows that we really don't have a full squad of reliable players just yet. but it is definitely heading in the right direction.

i can't fault the likes of harley, sparrow and vincelot for effort - they really tried their best today, but the three of them don't have the quality required to run the midfield on their own in this league. there really are a lot of strong fast players in all the teams and we just need that bit of extra quality and confidence to play keep-ball when they are bearing down on them.

 

[Rich Suvner]

patient passing football can be clinical when a team is able to move a defence around through clever use of the ball, and then quickly exploit the gaps this ball movement creates. currently our play is slow and telegraphed. and where gaps do exist, there seems little movement or ability to pick the pass.

we are being closed out by teams quite easily.

 

[trueblue]

Even though we were crap tonight, we were still on top in the second half. It's the quality of the final delivery that's letting us down. Don't think people should go overboard - it'll turn round, especially when we have a bit more luck with injuries. As for people saying we can't play the Gus way, the whole point tonight was that we didn't try - we played the Barry Lloyd way, often lumping hopeful balls into the channels. No wonder he was peed off.

 

[Mutts Nuts]

I'm not sure this is even a criticism, as when the football we play works, it really works, and it's glorious to watch.

However, as many have stated, it has all become to easy to suss out. Teams push up and we pass it amongst our defensive players. When it's moved out into attack, the ball is too slow, and we lack any clinical final ball.

We know, that if the likes of Vicente and Buckley are fit, we are a better team that can create more chances. Vicente 'the playmaker' will come into his own in time, hopefully he'll overcome these niggles, which he obviously has due to no full pre-season.

The problem though, is that our players are not of a technically high enough ability to play the style Gus wants to play at this level. If we play this way, we HAVE to dominate the game whilst creating chances, or it falls apart like it has recently.

Either we need new players (which looks unlikely after Gus' post match comments) or we need a seriously effective Plan B.

Finally, what annoys me most is the fact that we had the assistant manager on the pitch for a large proportion of the game. If anyone was to gee up the players and kick them into shape to get them playing the way the management want them to, he should have been able to. Is that a failure of the players to respond, or a lack of management skill from Tano?

Still, roll on Sunday. A good, convincing win over Barnsley should be do-able. Keep the faith!

The sick notes need to come off of the bench

 

[Notters]

Even though we were crap tonight, we were still on top in the second half. It's the quality of the final delivery that's letting us down. Don't think people should go overboard - it'll turn round, especially when we have a bit more luck with injuries. As for people saying we can't play the Gus way, the whole point tonight was that we didn't try - we played the Barry Lloyd way, often lumping hopeful balls into the channels. No wonder he was peed off.

This! We literally just need to score a few goals!

 

[Barnham Seagull]

We don't have 11 players who can play the passing game at the tempo required for the championship.

We also need to have players that are able to win the physical battle in the first 20 minutes or so to alow us to play the game Gus wants.

We are in for a tough season, we have to hope that the new signings get fit and come good and that we will sign some good players in January. Gus wont change his style and T.Bloom has given himself little room for manouva after giving Gus a 5 year contract.

We have to hope that Gus will get the right players in, if he does'nt and we continue tryingto play the way we do with the players we have we could end right down at the foot fighting it out to stay up.

 

[Richard Reynold's Haircut]

Last year, plan B was Murray.

With no plan B, we look woeful.

 

[mune ni kamome]

You should be passing the ball around with a purpose, not because the player does not have the ball skills or technique to keep hold of it. That's the difference between us and Barcelona. Sometimes your heart is in your mouth hoping we get the pass away before the likes of Nolan can bear down on our lightweight players

 

[the wanderbus]

Our play is too slow and ponderous, especially around the edge of the box. We need a player to put in that killer ball, CMS & Barnes have been in space in the box on numerous occasions recently only to see the midfield fanny around playing the ball sideways or backwards whilst the opposition regroup & cover any option of a sight of goal. Look how slow & cumbersome West Ham were, yet the lack of speed in our play gave them ample opportunity to get back & as a result their back four were rarely if ever left exposed. If we move the ball & move it fast our style is good enough to take most sides apart.

 

[The Large One]

i think tano had enough on his plate looking after their left winger. it's not right that he has to play - it shows that we really don't have a full squad of reliable players just yet. but it is definitely heading in the right direction.

i can't fault the likes of harley, sparrow and vincelot for effort - they really tried their best today, but the three of them don't have the quality required to run the midfield on their own in this league. there really are a lot of strong fast players in all the teams and we just need that bit of extra quality and confidence to play keep-ball when they are bearing down on them.

This.

patient passing football can be clinical when a team is able to move a defence around through clever use of the ball, and then quickly exploit the gaps this ball movement creates. currently our play is slow and telegraphed. and where gaps do exist, there seems little movement or ability to pick the pass.

we are being closed out by teams quite easily.

This.

Even though we were crap tonight, we were still on top in the second half. It's the quality of the final delivery that's letting us down. Don't think people should go overboard - it'll turn round, especially when we have a bit more luck with injuries. As for people saying we can't play the Gus way, the whole point tonight was that we didn't try - we played the Barry Lloyd way, often lumping hopeful balls into the channels. No wonder he was peed off.

And, finally, this.

We need higher quality players who can execute the style effectively.

 

[Seagulls1984]

Were just so predictable at the mo u stop noone and u stop any attacking threat we have!

 

[BLOCK F]

We don't have 11 players who can play the passing game at the tempo required for the championship.

We also need to have players that are able to win the physical battle in the first 20 minutes or so to alow us to play the game Gus wants.

We are in for a tough season, we have to hope that the new signings get fit and come good and that we will sign some good players in January. Gus wont change his style and T.Bloom has given himself little room for manouva after giving Gus a 5 year contract.

We have to hope that Gus will get the right players in, if he does'nt and we continue tryingto play the way we do with the players we have we could end right down at the foot fighting it out to stay up.

Agreed.
Interesting that Steve Claridge was ridiculed earlier on in the season when we were flying,for saying we wouldn't flourish in the Championship playing our type of football!
Not saying he is absolutely right,but he had a point ,didn't he?
Gus won't change his style of play.That is o.k.,but then he must ensure we have the players capable of playing his way........properly!

 

[ees complicated no?]

he must ensure we have the players capable of playing his way........properly!

exactly this ...

I personally also think that english players are not brought up to play the the way like gus knows and likes to play, so im expecting more players from different countries coming in who are more suited to the style of play he likes to use. im also expecting a handful of players to leave who are not good enough

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Agreed.
Interesting that Steve Claridge was ridiculed earlier on in the season when we were flying,for saying we wouldn't flourish in the Championship playing our type of football!
Not saying he is absolutely right,but he had a point ,didn't he?
Gus won't change his style of play.That is o.k.,but then he must ensure we have the players capable of playing his way........properly!

No, Claridge was wrong. He said that our style 'could not work at this level'.

It can.

You are right - we just need the players capable of playing Gus' style, at this level. Their first touch needs to be that bit better, their passing needs to be quicker and that little bit more accurate, etc.

 

[Commander]

Interesting that Steve Claridge was ridiculed earlier on in the season when we were flying,for saying we wouldn't flourish in the Championship playing our type of football!
Not saying he is absolutely right,but he had a point ,didn't he?

I don't think so. The style of football we are playing (last night aside) is still the right way to play. We just aren't doing it well enough for some reason. We took a much better Watford side apart last year with a poorer Albion side. We're just stuck in a rut for some reason, we'll get out of it soon enough.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I don't think so. The style of football we are playing (last night aside) is still the right way to play. We just aren't doing it well enough for some reason. We took a much better Watford side apart last year with a poorer Albion side. We're just stuck in a rut for some reason, we'll get out of it soon enough.

I'd agree, just a bit of a rut really. With a passing game (as Arsenal experienced at the start of the season) if your confidence goes, it's difficult. Even those of us who play(ed) at amateur level, once the confidence goes, that first touch where before you were already looking for the pass, is now looking at ball as it hits your foot. Very small margins between playing very well and very poorly. Going to be tough against Barnsley, but it can all of a sudden click back into place. Important not to lose the faith when things are not going so well.