Who is responsible for our playing style

[Chelmofox]

Sorry for such a basic question as I’m a complete novice with football tactics. 
 

Our style is obviously possession based but like many on the forum say, seems to be possession for possession sake, recycling possession with sideways passes if there are no opportunities available.  Because of this we are passing around the back a lot which you can clearly see puts a lot of pressure on the defence and keeper.  It’s been horrible to watch and appears ponderous (my son frequently shouting ‘why aren’t they doing anything’). Although they try and slow the game down, the team looks like it just knackers them out. Looking at other teams this year, many appear to be more direct, playing faster more exciting football.  On the few times I’ve seen our youth teams play, they operate in a similar fashion to the first team. Reading forums it seemed the last U21 defeat was very much the same. 
 

When we beat Watford in the FA cup last year, Rodger’s said one of the reasons it worked was because we get the youth teams to play a similar system to the first team, so when they are called upon it’s easier to bring them in. 
 

So my question is, is this decision and style of play something the club have decided to do as an identity, or is it purely a Brendan Rodger’s strategy. If we sack Brendan will we still try and operate under the same identity, or will the shackles be released across the first team and youth teams as well? 

[Nalis]

7 minutes ago, Chelmofox said:

Sorry for such a basic question as I’m a complete novice with football tactics. 
 

Our style is obviously possession based but like many on the forum say, seems to be possession for possession sake, recycling possession with sideways passes if there are no opportunities available.  Because of this we are passing around the back a lot which you can clearly see puts a lot of pressure on the defence and keeper.  It’s been horrible to watch and appears ponderous (my son frequently shouting ‘why aren’t they doing anything’). Although they try and slow the game down, the team looks like it just knackers them out. Looking at other teams this year, many appear to be more direct, playing faster more exciting football.  On the few times I’ve seen our youth teams play, they operate in a similar fashion to the first team. Reading forums it seemed the last U21 defeat was very much the same. 
 

When we beat Watford in the FA cup last year, Rodger’s said one of the reasons it worked was because we get the youth teams to play a similar system to the first team, so when they are called upon it’s easier to bring them in. 
 

So my question is, is this decision and style of play something the club have decided to do as an identity, or is it purely a Brendan Rodger’s strategy. If we sack Brendan will we still try and operate under the same identity, or will the shackles be released across the first team and youth teams as well? 

Possibly a bit of both, though the board knew what they were getting.

 

His Swansea team were the classic example of possession football but doing nothing with it, same with Puel who BR too over from.

 

You raise a good point though. If the board really want a possession based team then we'll see a Puel or BR type in as the next manager.

Edited 4 September 2022 by Nalis

[st albans fox]

There is nothing wrong with passing it around and often sideways IF its done with a purpose 

that can be to recycle and spread out to the other flank and open passing lanes to get those players who have made space  in between the lines on the ball. 
ot it can simply wear out the opponent chasing the ball back and forth - again, that will eventually lead to spaces opening up for players to then make 2 v 1 face ups.

 

we used to do this and we used to win games in the second half because of it - either by building on a narrow lead in the final quarter of the game or simply by finally easing ahead against a tiring opposition. 

 

but over the past eighteen months we are so lethargic at it - the opposition can simply jog between our players and still cover. Or worse still, they don’t believe we can do it effectively and just sit off us, laying traps to overturn possession. 

[STUHILL]

I think everyone wants to play like a Man City, or a Barcelona of old. Get the ball, keep it, and dominate games with possession. 

The problem for teams like Leicester, we simply don't have the players or the finances to buy the players good enough to play that style. 

Rodgers obviously thinks he can coach any team to play it. All he ever talks about is having control of the ball. 

However, when you have players like Amartey, N'didi, Barnes, Vardy and so on, they are simply not able to make this style successful over long periods, hence our inconsistency. Rodgers seems incapable of recognising that fact, but I hope our owners have learned from this experience and will select a Manager who is able to play to the squad's strengths and not force a certain style on the players, even if it is clearly not working. 

[Chelmofox]

So do you think when we sack Brendan the club will try and persist with this style and identity, or do you think the will see that other mid tier clubs have adapted and look for a change of style? Appreciate nobody has crystal balls.  Just concerned we are going to end up with the same again if we are not careful. 

[Fox92]

The manager.

[Ste]

We still have something we can consider a style? It's been like 11 disparate individuals playing entirely different games to each other at points recently 

[sacreblueits442]

9 hours ago, Chelmofox said:

Sorry for such a basic question as I’m a complete novice with football tactics. 
 

Our style is obviously possession based but like many on the forum say, seems to be possession for possession sake, recycling possession with sideways passes if there are no opportunities available.  Because of this we are passing around the back a lot which you can clearly see puts a lot of pressure on the defence and keeper.  It’s been horrible to watch and appears ponderous (my son frequently shouting ‘why aren’t they doing anything’). Although they try and slow the game down, the team looks like it just knackers them out. Looking at other teams this year, many appear to be more direct, playing faster more exciting football.  On the few times I’ve seen our youth teams play, they operate in a similar fashion to the first team. Reading forums it seemed the last U21 defeat was very much the same. 
 

When we beat Watford in the FA cup last year, Rodger’s said one of the reasons it worked was because we get the youth teams to play a similar system to the first team, so when they are called upon it’s easier to bring them in. 
 

So my question is, is this decision and style of play something the club have decided to do as an identity, or is it purely a Brendan Rodger’s strategy. If we sack Brendan will we still try and operate under the same identity, or will the shackles be released across the first team and youth teams as well? 

...it was part of his remit to set up the club where the style of football  by the first team was replicated through out the club!!!

  He was given a mandate to set us up and changes were made which gave us a more appropriate age related approach with many U23s going out on loan or finding new clubs.

 There is a lot of trust being given to Rodgers and I  feel he has far too much control within the club.

[Bptiger]

I think if we keep playing pass the ball always backwards I think we could go the whole season without winning a single game , might see what odds the bookies are offering 

[taupe]

I suspect a number of the board know little about style of football, and perhaps care less, and that's understandable. It's not a subject they'll have a great interest in. What interests them primarily is results, staying in the Prem and being a going concern. I suspect Top is different.

 

Reading of how and why Top came to follow Leicester (the 96 play-off final against Palace was pivotal I believe) I suspect he does have an opinion on, maybe even preference for, styles of play.

[Matt]

I’m genuinely surprised passes in our defensive third aren’t higher, a lot higher, we’re amongst the worst but its very much of a muchness. (9th highest/worst - but we’re talking 3% difference in most cases).

 

It doesn’t surprise me we rank amongst the lowest in the final third however. (4th worst).

 

I’d like to see this broke down even further in terms of either side of the half way line because the moment we cross the half way line we get nose bleeds.

 

Edited 28 September 2022 by Matt

[Dusty]

10 minutes ago, Matt said:

I’m genuinely surprised passes in our defensive third aren’t higher, a lot higher, we’re amongst the worst but its very much of a muchness. (9th highest/worst - but we’re talking 3% difference in most cases).

 

It doesn’t surprise me we rank amongst the lowest in the final third however. (4th worst).

 

I’d like to see this broke down even further in terms of either side of the half way line because the moment we cross the half way line we get nose bleeds.

 

We spend a lot of time with the ball in the opponents half tbf. We just lack the confidence and conviction to do anything with it. 

[Heskey2011]

Talk sport 

[Stadt]

Top and the board 

[Lambert09]

40 minutes ago, Matt said:

I’m genuinely surprised passes in our defensive third aren’t higher, a lot higher, we’re amongst the worst but its very much of a muchness. (9th highest/worst - but we’re talking 3% difference in most cases).

 

It doesn’t surprise me we rank amongst the lowest in the final third however. (4th worst).

 

I’d like to see this broke down even further in terms of either side of the half way line because the moment we cross the half way line we get nose bleeds.

 

it’s because teams know we are harmless against a low block. They are happy to let us have it in their half as they all know they can break and score at any time 

 

even sides like man u let us do it. The only team that pushed us back this season have been arsenal 

Edited 28 September 2022 by Lambert09

[Mr Mister]

The manager

[ousefox]

We've been shite ever since Brendan decided to go to 433. It accommodates KDH but that's the only reason to use it. 

 

Had so much success with 4231 and 4141 but no let's use a formation we stink at.