'Hoofball'

[Cypry]

I do think that Adkins has been extremely unlucky this season, and, if we need to strengthen anywhere this window, it's at left back. Bridge managed over 40 appearances for BHA last season, so far he's managed 9 for us.

The team has shown it has the most attacking threat with a midfield diamond - this is what we played late on against Wigan, and was the shape for the last 10 minutes or so against Forest. The problem is, with that approach you really need your full backs to give some width, and for a majority of the games we've had a right footed left back. Take a look at what he did against Wigan - Obita ended up playing left back, one can only assume to give us some width, pace and crossing threat (just not sure Obita himself has the experience or confidence to pull it off) - in the same way did anyone notice how he switched Kelly and Gunter yesterday when Drenthe came on, again to give us the width and pace on the right.

The diamond gives us loads of passing options in midfield, and when we've been playing it we've looked a significantly bigger threat. As it is, we're having to rely on a flatter, wider, 4-4-2, with more traditional wingers providing the width, and we're ending up getting overrun in the middle, with just Williams and Guthrie they simply don't have the time on the ball to pick a pass, and instead it goes back to the centre backs, who whack it long....

Personally I'd like to see us trying the diamond more, with Drenthe in behind the strikers (incidentally, for all those who say he did nothing in yesterday's game, that was a fantastic delivery for the goal, his set pieces are a million times better than those of Guthrie), Leigertwood (or similar) sitting in front of the centre backs, and Guthrie plus one of our multitude of "wingers" as the wider men in the diamond (Guthrie shouldn't sit in front of the defence, he's too lazy and rarely picks up opposition runs from midfield).....

I think this is the shape that Adkins is working towards, and one which could work, but the injury to Bridge has severely hamstrung this approach - expect to see a pacey left back in this window if Adkins gets his way....

[marlowuk]

NA has been very unlucky with injuries. These have meant that we have not had a settled team all season and full-backs and wingers haven't had the chance to develop partnerships in real games. I agree that we also miss Karacan's energy and enthusiasm as this tends to infect the whole team. Drenthe brings this energy when he comes on but not to the same degree nor to the same intensity.

Drenthe also has the ability to deliver a good cross/free kick which is a skill sadly lacking from our other wingers whatever their other abilities.

We miss Bridge. He exudes class and the sooner he comes back the better!

[MmmMonsterMunch]

the football under mcDermott was certainly not exciting on the whole - people seem to be just remembering that 15 game run or whatever it was.

Adkins will not be able to build a passing side until we get rid of the deadwood from the McDermott era - certainly at the back

That is actually a very good point. We were not playing well at all but momentum took hold in the new year and the rest is history. We were probably the most clinical I've ever seen since I've supported Reading. Most games consisted of us not getting a sniff & then bang one chance, get the goal, then backs to the wall defending hoping we could keep them out.

Great stuff & was certainly exciting with away wins against Saints & West Ham but let's not kid ourselves, we were not that good when we won the league. Lady luck absolutely shone on us that season. The team spirit was undeniable & you have to take your hat off to McD for that...

However - We were comprehensively outplayed on a number of occasions, Brighton away springs to mind but there are plenty of others too. Lightning doesn't strike twice.

[Man Friday]

the football under mcDermott was certainly not exciting on the whole - people seem to be just remembering that 15 game run or whatever it was.

Adkins will not be able to build a passing side until we get rid of the deadwood from the McDermott era- certainly at the back

That is actually a very good point. We were not playing well at all but momentum took hold in the new year and the rest is history. We were probably the most clinical I've ever seen since I've supported Reading. Most games consisted of us not getting a sniff & then bang one chance, get the goal, then backs to the wall defending hoping we could keep them out.

Great stuff & was certainly exciting with away wins against Saints & West Ham but let's not kid ourselves, we were not that good when we won the league. Lady luck absolutely shone on us that season. The team spirit was undeniable & you have to take your hat off to McD for that...

However - We were comprehensively outplayed on a number of occasions, Brighton away springs to mind but there are plenty of others too. Lightning doesn't strike twice.

10 out of 10 on the bolloxometer from you two tonight. What did you eat for supper?

[sandman]

First season - FA Cup Quarter Final run including victory at Anfield. Included some great football and a team built around a supremely talented Icelandic Attacking Midfielder by the name of Sigurdsson.

First full season - Another FA Cup Quarter Final run and Play-off Final appearance.

Yeah terrible football.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

I had a broccoli and stilton risotto fritter thing & a couple of veggie burgers.

Dress it up all you like but most on here were quite surprised we ended up winning the league. We were tough as nails, never gave up, great team spirit & all that lovely stuff but the football left a lot to be desired at times.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Yeah watching us win always left a lot to be desired...in fact, it became pretty boring tbf.

Our new-found pretty football really hits the spot.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Yeah watching us win always left a lot to be desired...in fact, it became pretty boring tbf.

Our new-found pretty football really hits the spot.

Have you been to any of the games this season?

Not suggesting for a second we are more entertaining - we all want to see a bit more of the McD fight about this current team & manager that goes without saying but we weren't exactly Barca when we won the league either. There was a lot of dross that season too.

[AthleticoSpizz]

...never been to any game....my first name is Ian btw

Maccy D's tenure may have been full of dross, but unlike now, at least (at this level) it was dross with results. Nige has been dealt a sh1te hand between the injuries and the Russian Weasel's bollox and has failed to deliver anything much-less dross like.

Time to revert to the Maccy D formula meantime maybe?

[Royal91]

Does anyone else share the opinion that, at present, we are playing a style of football that can be described only as hoofball? All we do is pass to Guthrie, who passes back to the defence, and they either whack it upfield, chip it upfield or pass it back to McCarthy to thump it upfield.

Cummings and Pearce are the prime suspects in this - Cummings doesn't seem to be able to see more than 5m ahead of him as every single ball he plays forward is a dreadful chip which either goes out for a goal kick, throw in, or is collected by the 'keeper. Pearce at least tries to aim his balls forward, but they are equally terrible and give Pogrebynak no chance most of the time.

Adkins was supposed to bring a smooth, passing style - after almost 10 months there is NO SIGN of this whatsoever, we haven't improved WHATSOEVER, and if anything we've declined. This is why I, personally, think it's time for him to go.

The football under McDermott was branded hoofball too - yet, in the championship at least, we actually played a very effective, exciting and attractive style which revolved around distributing the ball quickly to the wingers and the midfield and strikers bursting to get into the box. I'd wager we play far more long balls under Adkins (especially the last 10 games) than we did under McDermott in the championship. Whilst that was ineffective in the Premiership (largely down to lack of good players, so those that we had panicked and hoofed it), our current style would be even more useless and would fail miserably. The way we play currently is incredibly dull, ineffective, slow and far worse than what we saw under McDermott.

This isn't meant to be another McDermott vs Adkins thread, but it will be interesting to hear opinions on our 'style' of play.

You cannot polish a turd.

Give Adkins time to build his OWN team.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Nope I think we should persevere & see where we are at after the transfer window closes. Fingers crossed we get some players back to full fitness in that time as well so NA has more options.

As it stands we are not in danger of relegation. We're feeling the pain a bit now but I have absolute faith we will come good in the end be that this season or next season.

And we scored a 95th min equaliser yesterday. That has to be good for morale & did finally show a bit of that fight we've been crying out for.

I'm feeling positive. It's going to be fine. I'm going to cling on to what I saw in that Watford home game.

Yes it was only an hour but with the right personnel, I'm confident we can get back there.

[Simon's Church]

You cannot polish a turd.

Give Adkins time

So which is it?

[Man Friday]

Yeah watching us win always left a lot to be desired...in fact, it became pretty boring tbf.

Our new-found pretty football really hits the spot.

Have you been to any of the games this season?

Not suggesting for a second we are more entertaining (so what are we arguing about?) - we all want to see a bit more of the McD fight about this current team & manager that goes without saying but we weren't exactly Barca when we won the league either. There was a lot of dross that season too.

There's lot of bollox being spoken/written these days about the "need" to be entertaining. It's not ice skating. There's nothing more entertaining than seeing your team win.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Man Friday – you’re the one arguing mate.

A strategy of get a goal & then hang on for dear life camped outside your own box is not a good long term strategy – we saw that in the P&L & we would have seen that this year regardless of the manager.

Stop trying to revise the BM era like it was the best football we’d ever seen as we all know it wasn’t & we had a huge slick of luck / fate / good fortune / momentum – however you wish to cut it.

However, rather than whinge & b1tch about Adkins I am choosing to support the team & see what happens. We will not go down, we are clearly not ready to go up again, so if this is a transition season then so be it. I can deal with it but rabid moaners like you clearly can’t.

[Cureton's Volley]

Heard Rio Ferdinand is going to make a programme about AirRaidSiren's contribution to this thread.

ARS has had a real mare on this thread. I would perhaps go as far to suggest he may have been rattLOLed.

[sandman]

MonsterMunch obviously hasn't seen Barca lately. More long diagonals than Big Sam's Bolton.

[Cureton's Volley]

Yeah watching us win always left a lot to be desired...in fact, it became pretty boring tbf.

Our new-found pretty football really hits the spot.

Have you been to any of the games this season?

Not suggesting for a second we are more entertaining (so what are we arguing about?) - we all want to see a bit more of the McD fight about this current team & manager that goes without saying but we weren't exactly Barca when we won the league either. There was a lot of dross that season too.

There's lot of bollox being spoken/written these days about the "need" to be entertaining. It's not ice skating. There's nothing more entertaining than seeing your team win.

Exactly.

How did Chelsea win the Champions League again?

Do you think any of them cared?