Fans' Forum [September 2021]

[LaxtonLad]

In the context of this discussion, I don’t understand the point your now trying to make. Your original point, in your previous post was with reference to having more possession but made suggested it was mainly in our own half? Your top comment now refers to little possession. I understand that Leicester were successful with less possession.

Leicester’s success goes against the trend. Majority of successful teams have majority of possession. You need the ball to score, so from an attacking and defensive perspective, the more possession you have the more likely you are to win.

Genuinely interested in the point you are trying to make in terms of Notts.

I did say "if", made to illustrate a point, the scenario was not made seriously. But the point I'm trying to make is just because you have more possession than the other team it doesn't necessarily mean you are the better team. Notts are often pushed into their own half by the other team's higher press but a breakaway goal from us could win us the game, it often happens. On the other hand, keeping possession in your own half and having no ideas of how to develop an attack rarely wins you a game but the stats may show how well you held on to the ball. When I said the bit about "most of the football etc..." I meant football played by the opposition in our half. When and if we then gain the ball we hold on to it too long, we may have control thereby giving us the stats, but then are slow in taking the game into the opposition half.

[the_anticlough]

Listening to IB at the forum I loved his answer to the first question regarding passing out from the back, informative for all in attendance.

I also liked the fact that he confirmed that the passing at the back hasn't resulted directly in many (or any) goals against this season. Even though this regularly gets quoted on here how dangerous it is and how likely we are going to concede as a result of this style of play. In reality , to date , it just doesn't happen.

Perhaps we just need to mix it up a little more with our patterns of play, and occasionally surprise all by going direct early with purposeful runners of big Kyle.

Yes, it was a good answer.
He's said himself a number of times that the team has to play those passes and patterns faster (or just better).

We can expect tweaks, mixing in longer passes and better execution in general.
What we won't see is any major departure from this style - and rightly so, they're obviously his football principles. Those fans who don't get this are flogging a dead horse. Give your opinion and preference by all means, but it's going to fall on deaf ears, so save your breath I say.

[Killerkline]

I did say "if", made to illustrate a point, the scenario was not made seriously. But the point I'm trying to make is just because you have more possession than the other team it doesn't necessarily mean you are the better team. Notts are often pushed into their own half by the other team's higher press but a breakaway goal from us could win us the game, it often happens. On the other hand, keeping possession in your own half and having no ideas of how to develop an attack rarely wins you a game but the stats may show how well you held on to the ball. When I said the bit about "most of the football etc..." I meant football played by the opposition in our half. When and if we then gain the ball we hold on to it too long, we may have control thereby giving us the stats, but then are slow in taking the game into the opposition half.

Yes, if you have more possession it doesn’t necessarily mean you are the better side. However, bringing it back to Notts, I would suggest that in majority of our games we have been the better side and created more chances than the opposition. The one exception to this would be Wrexham away and I can’t comment on Altrincham as I wasn’t there or watched the highlights.

Anyway, I could go into a long winded response. Ultimately, I’m happy with the football we’re trying to play. It’s by no means perfect, it’s work in progress.

What I would add. Just because you don’t splash the cash doesn’t mean you’re happy to stay in the NL.

[Elite_Pie]

What we won't see is any major departure from this style - and rightly so, they're obviously his football principles. Those fans who don't get this are flogging a dead horse. Give your opinion and preference by all means, but it's going to fall on deaf ears, so save your breath I say.

I'm not sure it's a case of "fans not getting it". I know this is the style that the owners and Head Coach want to play, and I know they're not going to abandon it. I'm not asking Burchnall to change, just offering my opinion that this style of play won't get us out of the National League. Obviously I hope I'm wrong, we'll have to wait and see.

[BanjoPie]

I'm not sure it's a case of "fans not getting it". I know this is the style that the owners and Head Coach want to play, and I know they're not going to abandon it. I'm not asking Burchnall to change, just offering my opinion that this style of play won't get us out of the National League. Obviously I hope I'm wrong, we'll have to wait and see.

I actually think that the players will only get more familiar with the style of play IB wants and as the season progresses and it will pay dividends - hopefully ending with promotion.

[keldsyke]

I'm not sure it's a case of "fans not getting it". I know this is the style that the owners and Head Coach want to play, and I know they're not going to abandon it. I'm not asking Burchnall to change, just offering my opinion that this style of play won't get us out of the National League. Obviously I hope I'm wrong, we'll have to wait and see.

Agree the system is only good as the players at your disposal to implement it, and personally I don’t think it will get us out of this league, for me the emphasis is on converting chances made and that means getting someone proven in to play alongside KW who knows where the back of the net is.

You can have much possession as you want but if you don’t convert chances you are going nowhere.

[Glad2BeAPie]

I actually think that the players will only get more familiar with the style of play IB wants and as the season progresses and it will pay dividends - hopefully ending with promotion.

Yes of course it will��

[the_anticlough]

I'm not sure it's a case of "fans not getting it". I know this is the style that the owners and Head Coach want to play, and I know they're not going to abandon it. I'm not asking Burchnall to change, just offering my opinion that this style of play won't get us out of the National League. Obviously I hope I'm wrong, we'll have to wait and see.

Well sure, that's a valid opinion.
I don't think the style is what might stop us going up. I can imagine a superior football team with superior footballers getting 1st place with that style of play.
But do we have anything close to that? 2 or 3 weak links/areas in the team will be enough to scupper our chances. And that would apply to any style or approach, can you do it well enough with the personnel you have? And I doubt IB would be sacked. He'd get another crack at putting a side together.
For me, I won't bother criticising the style, I think it's fine, just the execution of it. Are the players good enough?

[laddo]

Yes, it was a good answer.
He's said himself a number of times that the team has to play those passes and patterns faster (or just better).

We can expect tweaks, mixing in longer passes and better execution in general.
What we won't see is any major departure from this style - and rightly so, they're obviously his football principles. Those fans who don't get this are flogging a dead horse. Give your opinion and preference by all means, but it's going to fall on deaf ears, so save your breath I say.

Well that last sentence sure ain't gonna go down well on here AC lol.

I believe it may very well be the hardest style to get promoted from Tier 5 for a variety of reasons.

If we did change under IB (very very unlikely as AC points out) or with the next manager then it would take a large turnover over players and retraining to suddenly go direct. Although probably easier to master as there are few less components it isn't just a case of buying a big man up top to partner Wootton, a limited but stamina packed competitive midfielder or two and instructing the full backs and centre halves to hit it long and bypass midfield and often.

[the_anticlough]

Correct, it'd have to be a different squad.
This one's been put together with this possession-based style in mind. Asking for something radically different would mean a very long 'released list' and a short 'retained list' and almost certainly another manager