realistic expectations

[zouch]

But, if as I suspect, its a mixed bag of results with us hovering around upper mid table then I'll be a lot more accepting if we at least try to play some decent football.[/QUOTE]

I think if we lose smith and Crookes we will have to play differently. I do recall him trying a different style before and when results got bad (i remember Burton away even though we eventually won) he was getting pelters for not playing to Smith's strengths.

The dilemma he has is that this style works in league one and doesn't work in the Championship.

[MillersTime]

It is all about balance and variety for me. Let's not become one dimensional. No to just complete hoofball and no to passing with no penetration whatsoever. It would be good to have many strings to our bow with how we can hurt teams. Being able to play football enough through the lines to open up teams and have us running at them whilst having the option to occasionally hit the big man and play off of him with pace. Having a multitude of ways to hurt a team will keep them honest and in doubt as to how to approach us. Press and we can play around them or turn them around with pace off of the big man or let us have the ball and we can keep it and dominate, develop, and sustain attacks through us being higher up the pitch for longer. Making it harder for teams to get out. Playing this way, with variety, will help us develop going forward and if we are good enough to be promoted again we should have players and a style in place where we have confidence to play different ways. Different ways to hurt the opposition. That is what I would like to see, if that takes a year or two to develop then fine but, lets develop a long term playing plan that we believe can bring us success in both this league and the one above. Doing so will help our players develop (for us and potential suitors, meaning more £££), will help in getting in better loans as teams will like how we play and see how it can develop their players and it will help with general interest with attendances. Exciting football, swashbuckling but with a calmness and incision. Be energetic, be super charged, but always remember the football with move faster than any player. Like I said at the beginning, balance and variety.