Taming of the shrews?

[gazan]

I see Bell has put out a side with only one recognised midfielder. Has he lost the plot or is this a tactical masterstroke. Only one midfielder on the bench too!
Disaster calls.

[gazan]

Sorry, my mistake! Holicek and Powell on the bench. No sign of Thomas after going off at half-time on Tuesday. So Alex lining up as 4-1-5. I know someone that would please!😆

[gazan]

Okay, masterstroke, then. Ah if only we'd had this attacking line up for most of the season! But will the same team turn up for the next game?

[Timmy58]

Okay, masterstroke, then. Ah if only we'd had this attacking line up for most of the season! But will the same team turn up for the next game?

Well, 2 or 3 of those players haven't been available for a significant part of the season. So, who knows. We have been saying for a while that had all our players been fit and available all seas on we would have been better placed. I think, considering we haven't, Lee Bell has done a pretty decent job keeping us there or thereabouts for as long as he has. I will now go and see if I can find my tin hat!

[MikeSB]

Sorry, my mistake! Holicek and Powell on the bench. No sign of Thomas after going off at half-time on Tuesday. So Alex lining up as 4-1-5. I know someone that would please!😆

Thanks...

Thing is, clubs are conditioned to play defensively because some idiots in the past thought that was the way to play and in my mind it ruined the whole purpose of football which is to score goals, invigorate the players and fans...

Shrewsbury manager said we outplayed them all over the pitch and that is because attack is the best form of defence.

I hope LB persists with this old technique and lets have more and more clubs coming back to how football should be played.

[gazan]

Well, 2 or 3 of those players haven't been available for a significant part of the season. So, who knows. We have been saying for a while that had all our players been fit and available all seas on we would have been better placed. I think, considering we haven't, Lee Bell has done a pretty decent job keeping us there or thereabouts for as long as he has. I will now go and see if I can find my tin hat!

I appreciate your tin hat reference and duly respond!🙂 From my point of view we are where we are despite not because of Bell. Things would have been better if we'd had key players for more of the season, agreed. However, numerous tactical decisions, some mystifying substitutions and the loyalty to one or two players despite their ineptitude added to the fact that we've talented players available at all times in the season but haven't been among the front-runners in a poor league is the reason I have to disagree.

[Timmy58]

I appreciate your tin hat reference and duly respond!🙂 From my point of view we are where we are despite not because of Bell. Things would have been better if we'd had key players for more of the season, agreed. However, numerous tactical decisions, some mystifying substitutions and the loyalty to one or two players despite their ineptitude added to the fact that we've talented players available at all times in the season but haven't been among the front-runners in a poor league is the reason I have to disagree.

I have no issue with you disagreeing, that is the whole point of debate. I agree there have been one or two odd substitutions but I guess we could say that of any football manager. Bell is a relatively inexperienced manager and learning all the time. I would rather he learned with us than someone else but I accept I may be something of a lone voice in this matter. That doesn't worry me. There are many better managers than LB out there but I suspect we can't afford them, and much less afford the pay out when it doesn't work out. It would not surprise me in the slightest that when Bell's time is up (whether his choice or the boards) our next manager will be another rookie.
The idea, to address another point made earlier on this thread, of coaches and managers going all out attack in order to score more goals is great in theory. However, it will kind of balance out if everyone does it and may well result in what might be considered "slapstick" football. Defending is as much a part of the game as attacking is and when it is done well there is much to be admired about defensive play.
I have now returned my tin hat to the cupboard.