It is a really good post.Originally Posted by Observerpie
I agree on the Maynard sections but maybe not on the substitutions
The coaches bread and butter is the main game plan and the team selection and set up. He gets a chance to prepare for all that as much as he wants all week. He then picks his best XI available, and non-preferred players get to be subs, and if things work out Ok that holds for 75% of the match
Substitutions are more about replacing tired and ineffective players with fresher players who can execute the original game plan and position better than the players who are tired or having a bad game. You don't often see them coming on with a load of new instructions - that's all been done in advance. I think in-game adjustments and mythical 'Plan B's are overrated in the minds of fans. I don't think modern coaches are willing to throw out their game plans too much for something reactive that they haven't really prepared the team for.
If IPie is saying he's a bit slow to act on replacing tired or failing players he might have a point, but I think fans should drop this idea of the master tactician changing a game with his sheer tactical genius and focus more on the game plan and first team selection. For example, that dreadful first 10mins against Barrow or sticking with players that don't deliver for too long.
Outfoxing the opposite coach by suddenly going 4-4-2 just ain't going to happen, but tweaks to improve the main game plan and set up will.
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