What type of football do people want to watch?

[moore_94]

5 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

This is what everyone wants, but in reality not one single team in the world can press like madmen for 90 minutes for a 46 game season. Barcelona under Hansi Flick are electric to watch, but they lost to Inter because they were knackered playing against them, giving Inter easy goals when losing the ball. It's a neccessity to be able to keep the ball for long periods of time to tire out the opposition, but to also give your own players a rest.

 

That said, I do agree that the over Pep-ification of the game is boring. Keeping the ball and doing nothing with it is extremely boring and it's losing it's effectiveness, see my essay above!

 

Under Enzo I would say that the one team that really came out to play against us and had massive holes at the back was Southampton, which is why we battered them twice. It's hard to create transitions against teams that have no intention of ever playing football. That's why Enzo and Martin pass the ball around the back, they are trying to provoke the other team to come out to leave gaps in behind. It's just that the problem is smart teams will not fall for it and let the CBs pass between themselves because it achieves nothing!

 

If all else fails, we can try this approach from the Bundesliga. Sounds like fun!
https://www.soccerodd.com/news/paderborn-goalkeeper-plays-as-right-winger-in-frantic-final-push

I know it can't happen for every minute of every game but we could absolutely make it an important part to the way we play

 

They definitely dropped off quite a bit in the second half of the season but Bournemouth have still ended up having a very good record breaking season playing exactly that kind of football, and if they improve their squad depth it might help them to keep going further

 

I mentioned in one of the manager threads that we should see if we can have a go at getting Inigo Perez from Rayo Vallecano, he was Iraola's assitant there and took over as manager after he left and has continued with the same style of football which has also lead to a brilliant season for them

[SK3Blue]

High press, aggressive out of possession, some identity back. 

[Larry_LCFC]

I want to see some creativity and urgency in our play. We have become utterly terrified of taking on the man and instead play a clear as day safe pass. Even then they don't play the pass until it's 110% certain by which time the opposition have already read it. We need players like Fatawu back in the squad desperately. 

[bovril]

24 minutes ago, Larry_LCFC said:

I want to see some creativity and urgency in our play. We have become utterly terrified of taking on the man and instead play a clear as day safe pass. Even then they don't play the pass until it's 110% certain by which time the opposition have already read it. We need players like Fatawu back in the squad desperately. 

Exactly. A bit of spontaneity to get people off their seat 

[CosbehFox]

Wingers are the most brilliant players to watch. Give them a structure which allows them to run at people and get the fans going. 
 

Win second ball. Strong in the tackle. Use the ball well. Take advantage of other teams weaknesses (I see so many teams stay in their same pattern every time despite opposition having weakness)

[Dan]

Fast and direct is what will resonate with the majority of this fanbase.

[kingfox]

1 hour ago, moore_94 said:

I know it can't happen for every minute of every game but we could absolutely make it an important part to the way we play

 

They definitely dropped off quite a bit in the second half of the season but Bournemouth have still ended up having a very good record breaking season playing exactly that kind of football, and if they improve their squad depth it might help them to keep going further

 

I mentioned in one of the manager threads that we should see if we can have a go at getting Inigo Perez from Rayo Vallecano, he was Iraola's assitant there and took over as manager after he left and has continued with the same style of football which has also lead to a brilliant season for them

As much as we don’t want Russell, this is one positive that he will probably bring tbf.

 

Southampton were the most aggressive pressers in the Championship under him. He also referred to it on Lineker’s podcast just how important pressing is to his philosophy. 
 

Out of possession, Russell Martin may actually come with some actual positives. 
 

It’s just a bloody shame his in possession philosophy is so pedestrian.

[Deeg67]

The problem is the style that I want in the C is not the style I’d want in the PL.

 

We can’t be a counterattacking side in the Championship, where teams will sit back and give us 65% of the ball. I’d like a vigorous high press, decisive and ambitious attacking, and a solid back four good enough on the ball to start building from the back. Possession football doesn’t have to be boring.

[Gravel]

Table football.

[lcfc sheff]

Football that helps us win.

 

With this squad we should’ve have had an exact Enzo replacement, not the polar opposite in cooper 

[l444ry]

Play in the opponents half, get the ball into the wide creating areas, put as many crosses into their penalty box as possible and into the six yard scoring zone. Always was statistically the method for scoring goals and, despite Pep and his Pound Shop Simulators, it still is. 

Edited 26 May 2025 by l444ry

[dobbylcfc]

As others have said I don’t want this tippy tappy crap pep guardiola football. Go back to how we used to play 2 centre backs that head everything wingbacks that’ll join in the attack as well as defend wingers that’ll whip the ball in and a big man or little speedster that’ll chase the ball down. In the words of Mike basset play 4-4-Fuching 2.

[ThorpeAstleyFox]

In priority order:

1. Winning, entertaining football

2. Winning football

3. Entertaining football

 

Pressing in key areas; fast in transition; moving quickly up the pitch; wide players who are prepared to take on their man; player's who create chances; a striker with good movement and pace.

[Mickyblueeyes]

I don’t believe KP have a set style despite what they say/do. 
 

You don’t hire Dean Smith, Cooper and RVN (whatever the **** his style was) if you do.

 

You don’t spunk £20 plus million on Oliver Skipp as your marquee signing if that’s the style you want to implement. 
 

You don’t narrow your search down to known names/experience and ignore (due to laziness) European leagues like competitions like Brighton, Brentford etc. where to implement such a technical requires a certain level of innovation due to financial restraints.

 

What style do I want ? I want us to be competitive, whatever level we are. Being competitive brings me joy. Doing the basics right, which is the most important thing regardless of style. We haven’t done the basics right this season. We didn’t do it right in the last relegation and we have struggled to do so in parts for the last 4 seasons. Even last season when we were leaps and bounds ahead of most competitors on quality alone, when it got tough, our basic professionalism failed. 
 

Defend a corner.

attack a corner. Score from a bastard corner

hold a line. 
mark the box.

have a shot.

avoid constant collapses. 
 

Let’s do that first and then we can think about a style.

 

I am fed with us being easy.

[Harry the Cat]

I want to see fight and determination. I want to see energy and passion. I want to see players working for and supporting each other. I want to see players demonstrating pride in wearing the shirt and representing the foxes. 🦊 I want wingers to take on full backs, midfielders to tackle, track back and wherever possible play progressively. I want defenders to communicate and show aggression. I want forwards to show good movement and be ruthless in front of goal.  In fact, the polar opposite to what I’ve witnessed this season. 

[em9999]

The type of football that gets positive results 

 

Don't care if that's Wimbledon style or barca 

 

Results are the only thing that matters 

[BenTheFox]

Dirty longball football with a bunch of players who look like bricklayers. 

[Chrysalis]

I am not anti possession, but its the way its done.

 

Modern successful teams, will be very direct and quick in transition, getting it out of their area to the oppositions final 3rd quickly.  Even if its a hoof so be it.

Then at that point its a case of do you keep moving the ball around outside the opponents box waiting for a gap, or do you continue the quick play to make it a full on counter type system, the best teams will do both ways, so they are unpredictable.

The problem with Rodgers last 18 months or so, we were just slowly passing it between defenders in front of our keeper, thats nothing to do with breaking a team down, thats a team that has no idea what to do and is frit of losing the ball.

Enzo wasnt quite as bad, but he still had the problem of too much of it happening in our own third, slow and intricate, and he couldnt even make it good in the championship aside from a few games against relegation fodder.

The final issue is this type of slow intricate play requires a higher standard of player, a specific type of player, top quality coaching, this goes against our financial situation, we trying to adopt this way of playing with poundland coaches on the training pitch and without suitable acquisition of players suited for it.   In the Enzo season I think only Mads, Vesty and Winks were comfortable with the system.  The rest it was shoehorning as best as possible.  It definitely didnt suit Vardy either, which made it even more nonsensical.

 

If you are in possession but in your own 3rd, the opposition still has some control, as the ball is in their favoured part of the pitch.  Doing things like forcing a team to pass back to a defender is better for the team without the ball, as its in a better part of the pitch, and a quick poach from a defender can lead to a goal chance.

 

You either build a system for what suits your squad, or build a team for the system you want, what you can do is often forced on scouting and finances.  Top is not understanding this.  Trying to survive with slow and intricate as a promoted team in the EPL is pretty much relegation confirmed day 1 as well.

 

Whenever a manager has allowed us to transition quickly, we have been much better at scoring goals, although fans of the slow intricate stuff claim its luck, it isnt.  You are more likely to score when you dont give the opposition time to shape and organise their defense.

So for me I want to see more dribbling, direct play to get to the opposition's 3rd, and then unpredictability when making the chances for scoring.  If as well there is a weakness discovered, also exploit it ruthlessly, as an example a goalkeeper lacking confidence, just shoot on sight in such a situation.

Edited 26 May 2025 by Chrysalis

[iancognito]

It's not a style, it's a belief. Ricky P referenced it on his socials today.

 

It's first sesson Little, second season O'Neill, promotion season Pearson, 2019 Rodgers......players completely in tune with the managers, playing as underdogs and scrapping for every ball. Realising they're not top players but by executing a gameplan they can beat anyone.

 

A style is what finishes managers. If plan A fails, chuck Ian Marshall on and get some crosses in. Iwan Roberts up top not working ? Get Speedie or Joachim on. Overlapping full backs, a CB getting an actual header on a well delivered, well rehearsed corner routine.

 

I can cope with 80% possession if we have a bloody shot. I can even cope with Dycheball if the full back puts the winger into the front row.

 

What I don't want is pathetic, heads down, beaten in the tunnel, surrender by players who think their gameplan is better than the new manager, pining for the old manager who fcked off and left them behind.

 

 

[Richmondfox]

On 26/05/2025 at 03:55, dillonpanthers87 said:

Fight, passion, on the ground, pressing football, with width and proper wingers. No tippy tappy bollox - unless it has the killer instinct in the moment and can be unpredictable.

This. Solid basics from players, fight,

a press and get the ball to the players with skill quickly, higher up the pitch.

 

 

[Sooper Steve's shin]

WWWWWWWWWW