Guppys Love Child

100% correct. No way am I glad we are suffering at the moment. And my views are not so I can mock others (I find that sort of playground behaviour childish) From day one I've never hidden the fact I'm not a fan of EnzoBall, I find the "bi product's" of it's implementation, the patient, slow, methodical, passing fest, are definitely not my cup of tea. I understand the mechanics and reasoning behind the style, and until recently it's worked well, but like a few others posters I find the action on the pitch boring for high percentages of match. I guess the flavour of my most recent posts is my frustration that now the system seems to be less affective, Enzo is reluctant to even entertain adapting it or trying something slightly different. His stubbornness baffles me, it's as if he's now 'stuck between a rock and a hard place' by his earlier comments of 'this is how we are going to play', its the identity he wants for us and maybe in his mind (and this is a wild guess) his personal pride is stopping him changing anything as it shows a flaw or weakness in the system he stands by so passionately, even to the point of threatening to leave the next day if the system / approach was "doubted" I'm probably a million miles away from being correct here and it is just as simple as he truly believes in his system and feel it's the best way to play.

There could be things going on behind the scenes, we'll never know. But I just have a feeling we have been found out. Teams are not falling for running about in the first half so much, and fatigue is managed better Areas are being marked and not players so much, so their shape is better Teams know we will definitely set up with EnzoBall and it's a methodical, pragmatic, patient build up style and are training to combat this and not get sucked in. The problem is Enzo religiously sticks to his style and won't entertain even tweaking a bit. So in eccence we are less affective now than we were at the beginning of the season.

I see your point. But it was hailed by quite a few as this wonderful playing style that was so brilliant and clever and if anyone so much as dared question it or Enzo for applying it they were instantly told how wrong they were, that knew nothing about football, lacked the knowledge to understand the intricacies of the setup etc. and now that EnzoBall seems to have hit a bump in the road posters who were singing it's plaudits aren't singing so loud. Yes some may counter with but but we have injuries and suspensions. But the squad are professional footballer for god's sake are they not capable of at least playing in a slightly different role in a similar area of the pitch. It not like we have 8 or 9 players out of position every match It's not the player it's the god awful system.

Is it me or have a large number of the EnzoBall lovers, who all swooned over this modern, progressive, new style, that the top teams play, who were oh so impressed with how technically brilliant and cleaver it was, they seemed to have gone quite now that the early season "dominance" appears to be waining. If going buy the last 10 or so pages of posts the general feeling has changes and more and more posters are questioning EnzoBall and even if he will still be here ( unheard off 2 months into the season)

I think you're correct with regards to the subs, he tends to favour like for like, but formation changes personally I can't recall one if I'm honest. His EnzoBall would suffer, heaven forbid

Yes I think that's a big part of the problem if I'm honest. But. Also his inflexibility to even consider budging from EnzoBall or even slightly adapting it when something is not working (for what is now a few matches in a row,) whether that's due to the loss of preferred players because of injury or suspension or the fact our opposition has adapted to EnzoBall to a degree, its still frustrating, and dare I say it a bit one dimensional and nieve not to look for alternatives to combat hindrances.

If it was the teams doing then Enzo needs to 'read them the riot act' If it's by managerial instruction,.. then Huston we have a problem. Again, the above is another question for a journalist with some " huge berry's" to ask and seek clarity on.

Not a huge amount no. To busy passing around, 'moving the opposition about,' "looking for solutions". At one point we had a free kick on the right about 10 yards in their half, the ball was tapped then it went backwards and then backwards further to Hamza. No intent to press forward, and certainly no urgency. We were also treated to another subbing of Fatawa who did have a better match and was looking to cause them problems, ( the poor lad looked right Pi55ed off.) Then finally we started doing one of my biggest bugbear's of "controlling" so deep it invites needless pressure. But don't worry 'in Enzo we trust'

??? What, I genuinely have no idea what you are saying my friend

I agree. But by the same token Arsenal are 100000 times better then us at the moment, so it's all relative. I guess the point being made is we lack any real killer instinct at the moment.

I echo that my friend. I've never liked EnzoBall from day one due to its boring nature when implemented. We are treated to for 97% of any match, a laborious pass fest. (Yes, yes I know why we do it, but it's still BORING AS FU*K to watch..) I think it's also safe to say unlike Man City who's style Enzo borrows heavily from, we are not anywhere near master's of EnzoBall yet ( it would be interesting if a journalist in the next press conference asked him for a revised evaluation of how close to his idea of 90 to 100% compatencey we actually are?) Enzo's stubborn inflexibility in wanting passing and control regardless of situation or match time is why we are inviting pressure in the final 10mins (especially when the opposition is loosing and chasing for a draw). He's slowly falling in to the '"doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for a different result" trap and it will be his downfall. For an EnzoBall type of system to truly work it needs a better calibre of player than what we have at our disposal or in truth ever being able to obtain, and even with promotion and realistic investment within the means of our club we won't survive in the Premiership and succumb to the same fate as Burnley if we continue to play the same way. (Our current performances against inferior championship opponents is testimony to that) Enzo has to adapt, adjust, and re-evaluate his / the current playing style, as we have slowly been found out by our opposition. At the moment it's not working, and hasn't been working for the last few matches... As the league table now shows this and also the videos of the matches we can all rewatch prove this to be the case as well..

I agree 100%. But I fear your're correct in your assumptions. And your quote (the bold bit) with regards to his stubbornness in only playing his system and only his system every match, IMO is causing more harm than good. ( I understand and I admire to a point, his conviction to stick by his ideals and belief in his system..but), It's as if we have come to the point that, now we are playing the return fixtures, some of the opposition have learnt how to nullify EnzoBall to a varying degree, so now's the perfect time to evolve a bit.( I'm not suggesting a whole raft of changes and certainly not to adopt a hoof ball approach) Then hope that our superior squad compared to most on paper is enough to start winning again after some needed tweaks. Lets keep the opposition guessing, instead of them setting up to play against Enzos "this is the way we play" regardless and therefore predictable style. Let's not make it easier to set up against, but harder with a bit of variety. My turn to use the phrase now. " I hope I'm wrong " but I fear that we'll all be treated to yet another game of patient, methodical, low intensity to get forward EnzoBall tonight.... Zzzzzzzzzzz.

Quite a good article from Blackwell, and he backs up his suggestions with some valid points. What scares me is if he can see it and offer suggestions and also if our very own Strider Hiryu can analyse the offer good options then ....... Oh wait,...stupid me. That would involve Enzo casting of his stubborn mule persona, and differing from his EnzoBall style, (breaks into song ) NOTTTT GOIIINGG TO HAPPENNNN. Even Blackwell has picked up on that, along will the chance of a few style adjustments not being entertained. As the saying goes, "only an idiot does the same then over and ov......."

According to Enzo, It's do Plan A better, by the looks of it. Its his idea and if we don't like it or question it he's going to bugger off..

I agree with most of this (his philosophy/brand of football regardless of it working or not when actually implemented is drab as hell in its nature / as a by product) His stubbornness could be our Achilles heel when a different approach is needed, say when we are chasing a game or we are being put under needless pressure with his insistence of patience build up play when a team is really putting up under the cosh when they in turn are chasing the game (something Enzo ball IMO hinders us doing to a degree) His I'll leave comment does actually pi55 me off. No one is bigger than the club and he's acting a bit arrogant and like a petulant child with his choice of wording So if that's what you really feel mate. Jog on then princess.

Ha ha. You wish. He's to stubborn, and if we dare to question....

I agree with every word you've written my friend. Especially the bit in bold. Anyone looking back at my posts in the old Rodgers themed threads will see my utter contempt for the '"C you Next Tuesday"

The 120mins played for some players did pop into my head. But professional sports'people' with all the sport recovery techniques and equipment should be fine. On average fatigue leaves the body within 48Hr 's or so. Plus true a sports massage ( which I've had in the past and bloody hurts) does work wonders, then chuck in professional sports physio's...arrh they'll be fine.

Oh. And you were doing so well my friend 🤪 Just not convinced by him as an 8, and he's never a winger/wide player as long as he has a hole in his ar5e. The rest of your choices are near as damn it spot on especially if Daka brings his other shooting boots this match.

Ha ha, poor Celtic. The "Brand Rodgers" protection is starting again. I posted something with regards to this when the odious, shiny toothed, cretinous little dwarf was unfortunately our so called 'Manager'. He's creating the process called 'mental bridging' again, linking hindering factors and things out of his control to the worst thing that can happen to him..his eventual sacking, so when it happens the world with the help of the media will report it's not his fault and it was the X Y X's factors he reiterated time and time again in every interview he conducts are the problem and not him. (carbon copy of what happened to us) Anyhow, Celtic's problem, but the sadist in me thinks it's funny to watch evolve.

Your explanation is spot on and probably one of the better ones I've read with regards to breaking down the tactics of EnzoBall 👏 I'd like to think / hope that the vast majority of posters understand the above and the reason we play that way, and our league position proves it's working, (not the point of this post) and long may that continue and the wins keep coming. However.. The effectiveness of the system or the end result of winning or losing the match by it implementation is not the "argument" between some camps on this thread, but..and I'm sorry to say it is how "entertained" some fans are, and whether people are bored with the patient, methodical build up play (so eloquently explained by Lionator) when sitting on their seats or watching via Foxes Hub. If we are honest it's not the most flamboyant, fast and franetic style of play, and to a percentage of posters here they enjoy that currently missing aspect from our games of football, and when they voice their option that they miss that aspect they are given a hard time. To Enzo, the team and the club it's about results, league position and Money, and to hell with entertainment. I a get and respect that and his viewpoint. To a group of some fans on here the above is also important but so is the entertainment that they feel is currently missing due to the style of play that Enzo is adopting to fulfil his remit of his employment by winning, league positions etc. I think Enzo needs to be a bit careful here and realise some fans viewpoint on this, we are not his players being paid to follow his instructions we are fans 'Paying' to attend matches, and be entertained to differing levels of what the individual deems enjoyment. Likewise some posters need to be mindful of this as well and if someone posts they find a match boring, they shouldn't be lambasted for doing so and countred with the we are top of the league argument. For the record..I've never hidden the fact I dislike our current style of play. To me its like pulling teeth,and it's boring for high percentages of the game. But I'm not a player who needs to win because it's my job, I'm just a paying fan...

Cheers for the explanation

Ok..so why do you hand over your cash and go? I'm intrigued

I fear you are right.. But I also think (and hope) the hierarchy have learnt from the 'odious little cretin Rodgers' tenure and won't allow another free fall to happen. A poor start, with a spell of continuous losses each week and chuck in a few cricket scores and Enzo will be gone. ( I'm in no way wishing this to happen, I like him) But it's a results business and the club can't afford financially or desire another immediate relegation.

Totally agree with you and with ARM1968's original post. We are boring to watch, but as soon as anyone voices that we get the following " but we're top of the table, but we are winning, but it's affective, blah blah blah", quite true, but that not the point of this post to debate that, it's to point out the 'snore fest' dished up for high percentages of every match. And wishing for a mix up in play 'ain't gonna happen' as Enzo is too stubborn to deviate from this / his style of play. IMO because of his reluctance to mix it up and his insistence of slow build up play from the back and the infuriating back passing just when it looks like we have gained a bit of ground too start the whole process again also contributes to our late conceding of goals, especially when we are protecting 1-0 leads and the opposition is 'going for it' in the last 10 mins. It invites additional pressure. So mix it up, forget the possession to a degree and just get the ball up the other end. Then start passing the hell out of it again and sending some of us to sleep, but at least it would be in a safer area than camped outside OUR 18yd box and it would create a buffer zone of the rest of the pitch for when possession is lost.