It's a philosophy thing

[fleckneymike]

Football seems to be moving in one direction and we seem to be headed in the opposite.

The past few years has seen a switch to a more progressive and fluid style of play amongst many of the more successful sides, a Barcelona lite if you will in many cases. We however have remained firmly anchored to what appears to be an anachronistic style of football. A lot of time is spent discussing formations (442, 442 diamond, 451, 433 etc) and who should and should not be in the side yet we seem to overlook the style within the system.

Over the season we have been ineffective in a multitude of formations and equally inept regardless of who plays or doesn't. We've changed everything except our philosophy of football. Until we change our philosophy we'll remained rooted in this division.

[THEFATBASTARD]

Swansea we ain't, sven said they were the best side in the division..but what did he know...

[stourbridgefox]

Sven tried the fluid football thing last season, and with our borrowed players, it looks great! Unfortunately, it had a soft underbelly and we conceded far too many goals.

This season, Sven tried a more solid diamond midfield which effectively killed our creativity. We passed the ball but didn't get anywhere. It was as dull as hoofball.

With Pearson, we have actually played some effective fluid football against sides which have tried to play football too. We have come unstuck against sides which pack the midfield and try to stop us playing. The problem for me, (apart from the leaky defence) is that we do not have the forwards to play hoofball effectively. No player forward of defence has any heading ability of any note so we are always going to be struggling when we are forced to play long balls. This is a problem of personnel and should be easily rectified with a Summer transfer window and cash to spend.

On the subject of formation, it seems to me that fans will cry for 4-4-2 when we are playing 4-5-1 and 4-5-1 when we are playing 4-4-2.

[Happy Fox]

http://www.philosophyfootballfc.org.uk/

Maybe we should get this squad over here to LCFC

[Mark_w]

The past few years has seen a switch to a more progressive and fluid style of play amongst many of the more successful sides, a Barcelona lite if you will in many cases. We however have remained firmly anchored to what appears to be an anachronistic style of football. A lot of time is spent discussing formations (442, 442 diamond, 451, 433 etc) and who should and should not be in the side yet we seem to overlook the style within the system.

We play hoofball under Nigel - 5th place

We play 'incredible' football under Sousa and Sven - Not in the top 6.

I'll take hoofball please.

[Haydos]

Football seems to be moving in one direction and we seem to be headed in the opposite.

The past few years has seen a switch to a more progressive and fluid style of play amongst many of the more successful sides, a Barcelona lite if you will in many cases. We however have remained firmly anchored to what appears to be an anachronistic style of football. A lot of time is spent discussing formations (442, 442 diamond, 451, 433 etc) and who should and should not be in the side yet we seem to overlook the style within the system.

Over the season we have been ineffective in a multitude of formations and equally inept regardless of who plays or doesn't. We've changed everything except our philosophy of football. Until we change our philosophy we'll remained rooted in this division.

Swansea. Swansea. Swansea.

It seems to have been instilled into the over only a few seasons and their squad isn't exactly a group of world beaters (no offence meant) but they have still managed it.

I just look at us sometimes though and think "even if our players played a nicer style, it wouldn't work". So many poor first touches, so many poor passes, not enough good dribblers, nobody looking around before they receive the ball. The last one is a biggy, I see so many players at this level (Richie, I'm looking at you) that call for the ball, they want it into feet, they collect it, turn around then look up, only to realise there's nothing on in that direction and they have to turn around and go back. It's amateur at times.

Movement is another issue altogether. We expect them to be creative when there are no 3rd man runners (Eg. Once a player gives a pass, there should be another player running into the space created by the opposition player who's moved to close down the passer), there are no basic triangles, not even urgency to find space on a fundamental level.

It just seems to be play it by ear football and we don't have good enough players to make that work on a consistent basis, they need to be told how to play.

[5waller5]

We play hoofball under Nigel - 5th place

We play 'incredible' football under Sousa and Sven - Not in the top 6.

I'll take hoofball please.

You must be looking at an old table. We play dire football under NP not hoofball, but dire dross ball .... and we are 10th not 5th.

[Haydos]

Sven tried the fluid football thing last season, and with our borrowed players, it looks great! Unfortunately, it had a soft underbelly and we conceded far too many goals.

This season, Sven tried a more solid diamond midfield which effectively killed our creativity. We passed the ball but didn't get anywhere. It was as dull as hoofball.

With Pearson, we have actually played some effective fluid football against sides which have tried to play football too.

I would put this simply down to more space being available. Our players might be good enough to capitalise when they have time and space but they aren't good enough movement, passing or control wise when it comes down to a tight game.

I really enjoyed some of the stuff we played under Sven and I reckon it needed tweaking. Saying that, I don't think he had a lot of other qualities which we needed as well. There wasn't enough balance.

[5waller5]

Swansea. Swansea. Swansea.

It seems to have been instilled into the over only a few seasons and their squad isn't exactly a group of world beaters (no offence meant) but they have still managed it.

I just look at us sometimes though and think "even if our players played a nicer style, it wouldn't work". So many poor first touches, so many poor passes, not enough good dribblers, nobody looking around before they receive the ball. The last one is a biggy, I see so many players at this level (Richie, I'm looking at you) that call for the ball, they want it into feet, they collect it, turn around then look up, only to realise there's nothing on in that direction and they have to turn around and go back. It's amateur at times.

Movement is another issue altogether. We expect them to be creative when there are no 3rd man runners (Eg. Once a player gives a pass, there should be another player running into the space created by the opposition player who's moved to close down the passer), there are no basic triangles, not even urgency to find space on a fundamental level.

It just seems to be play it by ear football and we don't have good enough players to make that work on a consistent basis, they need to be told how to play.

good post. especially this bit!

[Mark_w]

You must be looking at an old table. We play dire football under NP not hoofball, but dire dross ball .... and we are 10th not 5th.

I'm looking at the table from that season when Nigel got a full summer transfer window to build his own squad. You probably don't remember, not many of our fans seem to have memories.

[Haydos]

good post. especially this bit!

Is Pearson the right man to do it though? I'm firmly in the 'give him next season' camp but if there's no improvement by this time next year then you can't really argue at that point.

[5waller5]

I'm looking at the table from that season when Nigel got a full summer transfer window to build his own squad. You probably don't remember, not many of our fans seem to have memories.

Seriously?? You are still referring to NP's most successful season as a manager finishing 5th, after watching the last few games, especially tonight?

I'm a little bored of the defending of NP with the "a couple of seasons ago we finished 5th" defense. Tonight was just not acceptable. Nor has recent history.

[Mark_w]

Seriously?? You are still referring to NP's most successful season as a manager finishing 5th, after watching the last few games, especially tonight?

I'm a little bored of the defending of NP with the "a couple of seasons ago we finished 5th" defense. Tonight was just not acceptable. Nor has recent history.

It's not like he became the worst manager in the world after he left. I didn't see many parties in Hull when he came back to Leicester.

[5waller5]

Is Pearson the right man to do it though? I'm firmly in the 'give him next season' camp but if there's no improvement by this time next year then you can't really argue at that point.

Not for me I'm afraid. I think he looks clueless and beaten on the sideline. His team looks the same on the pitch. In 30 odd years of supporting LCFC I've never wanted a change of manager .... but i do now. We'll waste whatever time we give him IMHO he's just not up to it.

[stourbridgefox]

I don't think we have played hoofball regularly with Pearson this season but when we have, the only forward suitable for the change is Steve Howard who is past it.

What I'm saying is that we could do with having the option of playing hoofball but to do so we need to buy a forward who can win the headers. Either Beckford or Nugent would do a good enough job of getting on the end of the flicks.

To all those being snobby about hoofball, where you complaining when Fryatt was scoring for fun from a younger Howard's flicks?

Results are more important than performances.

[Mark_w]

Not for me I'm afraid. I think he looks clueless and beaten on the sideline. His team looks the same on the pitch. In 30 odd years of supporting LCFC I've never wanted a change of manager .... but i do now. We'll waste whatever time we give him IMHO he's just not up to it.

[5waller5]

It's not like he became the worst manager in the world after he left. I didn't see many parties in Hull when he came back to Leicester.

I wasn't in Hull at the time. But if i was i doubt i'd have heard much weeping either.

[MC Prussian]

Not for me I'm afraid. I think he looks clueless and beaten on the sideline. His team looks the same on the pitch. In 30 odd years of supporting LCFC I've never wanted a change of manager .... but i do now. We'll waste whatever time we give him IMHO he's just not up to it.

Did you cheer when Eriksson was sacked and when Pearson was re-appointed manager a few weeks later?

[5waller5]

I don't think we have played hoofball regularly with Pearson this season but when we have, the only forward suitable for the change is Steve Howard who is past it. What I'm saying is that we could do with having the option of playing hoofball but to do so we need to buy a forward who can win the headers. Either Beckford or Nugent would do a good enough job of getting on the end of the flicks. To all those being snobby about hoofball, where you complaining when Fryatt was scoring for fun from a younger Howard's flicks? Results are more important than performances.

Really??? Fryatt scored for fun??? Howard won headers??? It sounds like the "everything was better in the old days" kind of nostalgia that just erodes reality and replaces it with some rose tinted version.

Did you cheer when Eriksson was sacked and when Pearson was re-appointed manager a few weeks later?

NO!!! I was gutted when Sven was sacked and didn't want Pearson back.

[Mark_w]

didn't want Pearson back.

Now that is a surprise. I was sure you'd formulated these opinions based on the time he has been in charge.

[5waller5]

Now that is a surprise. I was sure you'd formulated these opinions based on the time he has been in charge.

Yes I have. Are you actually pleased with what you saw tonight? I'm amazed that anyone can defend such utter dross.

[flowwolf]

My philosophy is that anyone who wears trainers like Nige knows nothing about fashion.

[Mark_w]

Yes I have. Are you actually pleased with what you saw tonight? I'm amazed that anyone can defend such utter dross.

I'm not basing my opinion on one 0-0 draw.

[MC Prussian]

My philosophy is that anyone who wears trainers like Nige knows nothing about fashion.

Forget fashion for a moment (although it is an intriguing subject, I concur) - what about the football?

[stourbridgefox]

Fryatt scored 35 goals in the League One season and was well into double figures the next season before he was injured. I don't think that is nostalgia, just fact.

But on emotional reactions which distort reality, don't you think people are over-reacting to a season which has failed to live up to the hype get them into a negative frame of mind which is making them view things in an overly pessimistic way?

Some things have improved...just not quickly enough to get us into the playoffs.