Tactics V Bolton

[Canary Poirot 1]

Like everyone else, I was left wondering what the hell our tactics were against Bolton. But after reading the articles from the player interviews after the match, it is clear we did have a plan against Bolton, and we were training all week to implement it. And it would''ve worked, had Stelios not scored an unstoppable goal. Yes there may have been poor decision making by Edworthy to head not boot and Stuart not to close down quicker before Stelois shot, but that has nothing to do with managment or tactics.

Reading the articles, it is clear we went there to defend solidly, and to try and nick a goal. They had been training all week to deal with Bolton''s airial threat. The fact we prevented them scoring a goal from their usual methods , and were beaten by a wonder goal, no wonder Worthington was left with nothing more to say than "we gave it everything", because they did. That everything wasn''t enough is plain to see. But it is true, we had a great chance to score, and maybe that was part of the game plan, to nick a goal on the break. When you lose to a goal like that, and you miss your chances, there isn''t really a lot more you can do is there? It has been the story of our season. I presonally think we will go to Arsenal with a game plan, try and play it but invariably lose, simply because we do not have enough good players.

[Salopian 1]

Excellent post, Poirot. I think that you are quite right. We had numbers back, - the penalty area was awash with green shirts. If Stuart was slow to close down the scorer, at least he was back.And we did have chances to win the match, but for weak finishing. In the past I have questioned Worthy''s team selection, - Shackle was brought in too late, and too many are picked irrespective of their contributions every week. There were times when tactics seemed strange too, but at least things were tried - the diamond, Hux striker/wide, Brennan to provide cover for the fullback, etc.Saturday''s tactics, to counter the Bolton high ball attack, I thought were good, and we could have nicked it. Sadly, defensive frailties were evident again, - defending too deep, allowing opponents too much space and unintelligent clearance. One goal conceded is much better than we have done of late, so the tactic very nearly worked. I have had doubts about Worthy, but he and his assistants got it right within the limitation of avaliable and selected players.

[rich 0]

if we only had stam, nesta, maldini, if only we had an invisible wall in front of the goal. a lot of ifs going on.

we lost the game 1-0, got outplayed, and sat back far too much.  salopian you talk about how defensive frailties were evident again, - defending too deep, allowing opponents too much space and unintelligent clearance.

aren''t these very things tactical issues.

the tactics were wrong and as such the result was wrong.

 

[ZEMAS TENDON 0]

We sat back and defended to deep.. at one stage fleming pushed francis away cause he was standing on his toes.. francis only looks intereseted when in a scoring postion.. if its true that BRUMS/ADDICKS are willing to pay £3 million then i will personally drive him there.. wot is the point of bringing the DOC on with about 2mins left.. surely in a must win game he should have gambled and stuck him upfront with at least 10/15 mins left..

"Norfolk through and through one of the remaing few"