If you were the manager

[Nigel nigle]

what is the best/team formation with the players we have got IF they at the very least they are showing commitment

[dillydilly]

On a Subbuteo board the formation counts, because the players stay in the formation apart from one at a time.  On a real pitch, the only formation that works is the mobility to try to outnumber the opposition in all areas of where the play is at a particular time, so as to give passing options that the opponents struggle to stop. Commitment comes in with the effort to be amongst those doing the outnumbering.  All spotted by the Dillathon by watching with it’s antennae instead of listening to the cliche-ridden views of pundits being paid looadsamoney to make themselves sound in-depth expert analysts!!!!

[Mallard]

Dilly, why when you have all the answers are you not Managing a Club ?  Or maybe you have in the past ?

[dillydilly]

Mall - I agree!  I and others would have an equal chance of winning a match against a name manager!!!  But then I don’t think I have the only answers, as everyone on here has their own equally valid opinions!  It’s the eyes that inform my opinions, not listening to Redknapp and Carragher trying to sound like they know more than those who watch the game!  I’m also entertained by the likes of Pep and Klopp answering pretentious drawn-out questions with virtually one-word answers with an understandable smirk on their faces!  Take a look!

[TonyM]

Mall - I agree!  I and others would have an equal chance of winning a match against a name manager!!!  But then I don’t think I have the only answers, as everyone on here has their own equally valid opinions!  It’s the eyes that inform my opinions, not listening to Redknapp and Carragher trying to sound like they know more than those who watch the game!  I’m also entertained by the likes of Pep and Klopp answering pretentious drawn-out questions with virtually one-word answers with an understandable smirk on their faces!  Take a look!

Dilly, what did your eyes tell you yesterday at the Walks?  My eyes have told me that virtually every game this season we have lost the midfield which has then exposed a pretty fragile back line whilst failing to hold onto the ball long enough to create openings for the forward players, although I would accept that they haven't helped with a real lack of movement which has to come back to how the manger(s) have set their side up to play.

[Mallard]

Have to agree Tony, thought we looked a yard short out of procession in engine room.  Aerial stuff we looked 2nd best.  As for up top the big lad looks as though he has something about him but looked short on fitness, match sharpness.

Just had a watch of AL’s post match interview.  Solid seems to be the word of the day.  That was his positive to take from the game.

Didn’t understand his comments re Josh Barrett. If his attitude isn’t right together with his fitness then what is the point of even including him on the bench when the Manager has no intention of using him ?

In truth I thought Lakeland looked a beaten man, just trotting out the same lines as he has been saying after every inept performance.

[dillydilly]

TonyM - I don’t think players really go on how the manager has set them up to play!  I think players only pretend to listen when the manager screams from the touchline and points in a temper to where they should go!  The manager, imho, before the game,  should merely tell them to try to always outnumber the opposition whether attacking or defending…

[TonyM]

TonyM - I don’t think players really go on how the manager has set them up to play!  I think players only pretend to listen when the manager screams from the touchline and points in a temper to where they should go!  The manager, imho, before the game,  should merely tell them to try to always outnumber the opposition whether attacking or defending…

Are you saying you haven't seen the difference in Hargreaves this season to last year?  Under TW he was continually making runs from midfield beyond the forward line into space and drawing players with him creating space for others, this season he has 'sat' in midfield and hardly ventured away from the middle third of the pitch.  Also last year he was a key ball winner, now under AL you can see so often when the ball is potentially there to be won he stops himself and forces the opposition to play sideways / backwards but they still retain the ball as AL appears not to want his midfield to commit to tackles and risk getting beaten. 

Dilly this obsession with numbers is worrying me, are you sure you are not watching under 8s and the 'honeypot' formation?  There are many ways to set teams up, IC's midfield diamond and TW's dynamic midfield three were very different but both were effective and got the best out of the players available which for me is the key to good management, particularly when you are looking at non-league where clubs can't just go out and buy a ready made player to fit a certain role.

[Linnet465]

  Josh Barrett is an enigma. He has a good football brain and can make incredible passes and score outlandish goals. HOWEVER the cons are he is not fit, doesn’t bother to get back or try to win a  ball, many a time he plays with the ball trying to impress and losing possession when he could play a ball to fellow player. He seems only to play when it suits him or there is the possibility of a scout or tv to. His talent seems to have dried up this season. Warming up on Saturday imho he seemed as though he was n’t that bothered whether he played or not. Is he disenchanted with KL? Has he become an unnecessary cost?
Personally I like to watch a talented player perform but it must benefit the team.
I believe he is out of contract at this season end, sell him now and get some cash back whilst we can

[Mallard]

If Barrett doesn’t want to be at the Club and the Manager can’t get a tune out of it him, then surely it’s best they shake hands and call it a day.

[Blue_and_Gold]

If Barrett doesn’t want to be at the Club and the Manager can’t get a tune out of it him, then surely it’s best they shake hands and call it a day.

Most definitely.

Pointless doing anything other than that, although I would guess that's been tried but there's probably a different between what the two clubs value him at.

[dillydilly]

Appreciate the input, but I believe formations and workrate are usually of secondary importance to ability.  These days, people are rated if they simply quote cliches, and love to see a clattering tackle ( A. mcCoist, for example).  It doesn’t surprise me that Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney, and Neville haven’t been successful because they speak the cliches but not the elusiveness and speed off the mark that wins most games.  All opinions welcome, as opinions make the world go round!  Ps - What’s “that holding role”??!… Or a Number Ten, for that matter!