[Football] Tinkering stats

[Kalimantan Gull]

Before you jump all over it, Stasi like, just have a think about the meaning of that stat. It certainly tells us some of the story, but does not capture the tinkering of players being used in multiple positions. A good example would be Ben White. A fair bit of the tinkering criticism has been about playing him in three different positions.

It also means we have a relatively new manager developing an inexperienced squad most of whom are also relatively new to the Albion first team and working out the best formation and partnerships

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I suspect the plan is to have 25 players capable of contributing on a game-by game basis throughout the season.

The idea of a best 11, with backups for injury and suspension, isn't a particularly inspiring model.

Jack-of-all-trades squad seems a far worse model IMHO

 

[vagabond]

It’s profoundly simplistic to declare that ‘Potter does not know his best 11’.

If some people don’t understand the tactics, rather than listen to Potter’s justifications, they revert to ancient football cliches such as ‘you must have a best 11’. In reality, Potter has a best 11 for each of the 38 EPL games, the fact that this 11 differs depending on opposition feeds into another mainstay and frequently debunked cliche of the Potter Out Campaign: “Don’t set your team up to counter the opposition, let the opposition worry about you”.

[emoji122][emoji122][emoji122]

 

[rogersix]

Potter clearly IS over-tinkering. Just check out the Predict Potter's Picks thread. No two successive sides the same, often with seemingly perverse selection of players relegated to the bench. How does ANY club begin to build something meaningful from such a scattergun approach?

You are an old clogger tho Tommy

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Jack-of-all-trades squad seems a far worse model IMHO

11 specialist players with defined roles means as long as the game plan is working - then all good.
If not, then you have to have the right subs on the bench

11 "Jack of all trades" players gives you the option to change the game-plan without using subs
Or using subs to cover multiple scenarios.

In the Premier League we are more likely to need to adapt mid-game than in the Championship, where we can afford to have one of the top squads.

It makes sense to me

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

You are an old clogger tho Tommy

Maybe you should go back to stalking [MENTION=1483]London Irish[/MENTION] matey. Or indeed anyone who gives a shit

 

[rogersix]

Jack-of-all-trades squad seems a far worse model IMHO

How about rebranding it, "totalfootball", 1970's Holland?

 

[rogersix]

Maybe you should go back to stalking [MENTION=1483]London Irish[/MENTION] matey. Or indeed anyone who gives a shit

I was merely pointing out said poster's xenophobia

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I was merely pointing out said poster's xenophobia

You do realise that said poster's username is just something to do with egg-chasing right?

 

[Brok]

Potter clearly IS over-tinkering. Just check out the Predict Potter's Picks thread. No two successive sides the same, often with seemingly perverse selection of players relegated to the bench. How does ANY club begin to build something meaningful from such a scattergun approach?

Yes, but no two successive opposition sides the same, either.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

I don't agree.

I think he'd include Veltman and push White into midfield

I think that’s only because he thinks White is good option in midfield. If he had a central midfield option who he rated better than White, I’m sure he’d play Ben regularly at centre back.

(I don’t think there’s a lot between Veltman and White, but it makes more sense to develop White at cb in a ‘best’ XI.)

 

[Billy the Fish]

The idea of a best 11, with backups for injury and suspension, isn't a particularly inspiring model.

It's a romantic idea but I don't think history backs it up.

Look at the appearance and minutes played stats for the last 3 title winning side, they're absolutely dominated by 10 players.

All of the Albion promotion sides I've watched had a settled side.

Someone further up the there's points out that the top 3 settled sides in that list are all doing better than expected.

 

[Birdie Boy]

Yes, but no two successive opposition sides the same, either.

Man utd... [emoji6][emoji41]

 

[blue-shifted]

It's a romantic idea but I don't think history backs it up.

Look at the appearance and minutes played stats for the last 3 title winning side, they're absolutely dominated by 10 players.

All of the Albion promotion sides I've watched had a settled side.

Someone further up the there's points out that the top 3 settled sides in that list are all doing better than expected.

But do teams win because they have a settled side, or do they have a settled side because they win?

 

[rogersix]

You do realise that said poster's username is just something to do with egg-chasing right?

Oh, it's not so much the puntastic wordplay, I read his posts as well

 

[Uh_huh_him]

It's a romantic idea but I don't think history backs it up.

Look at the appearance and minutes played stats for the last 3 title winning side, they're absolutely dominated by 10 players.

All of the Albion promotion sides I've watched had a settled side.

Someone further up the there's points out that the top 3 settled sides in that list are all doing better than expected.

But surely if your logic is correct. the tinkering table should more closely follow the actual table?

Which it absolutely doesn't. Villa and West Ham have spent fairly big figures over the past 2 seasons. So it isn't a surprise now they are getting results,they are sticking with a similar lineup.

The point I was trying to make is when you can afford to have 11 of the best players in the division, then playing a settled side is the best way forward.
When you have a Premier League wage-bill in the bottom 4, being dependent on a "first 11" is a risk. Injuries and suspensions can totally **** up your season.

We have some very decent players. Dunk - Webster - Lamptey - Bissouma - Lallana.
But other than that, the rest of the squad are of a very similar level.
But increasingly most of them can play multiple positions/formations.

Potter has developed all the players to play like this.
It has transformed the way we play.
It's a strength.