That's not answering anything about him being tactically outdone by opposition managers changing things midgame though does it?
It's not like it's a new issue.
If the system we start the game with works then it's great, if it doesn't work from the start (Blackpool, Wimbledon, Oxford) then we struggle badly. If it works for a bit and their managers tweak what they are doing to nullify it then we also struggle badly.
A team gelling or taking us to Wembley is nothing to do with the point being made.
He’s a conservative manager.
You either have to back him as that or not.
Backing him requires a great deal of patience, a really great deal!
It was the same for the first 10 to 15 games last season.
The two biggest issues with this style, is as you point out, that it is very hard to adapt mid game as it’s not built around fluidity & that if you play like that and lose games narrowly then patience gets in shorter and shorter supply ... about where we are now!
Personally, I think tactically it will come good against many other managers in this league as the longer MR persist’s with the style, the more the players will get used to it .. 442 maybe our best option in this style though as well as taking our chances of course ...
.. my main view is that we will be hard to beat once we get in front - before you shout at me on this point, as it’s it not what we have done this season at all, I am reasonably confident that the full backs pushing on will make us hard to play against. We do need to get used to this as an approach though, more crosses, less long balls.
I do not think MR is specifically directing the long ball scenario’s, I think this is bi-product of over forcing the conservatism in trying to force the game(s).
Building a team around Andreu though is a no go right now, I agree with you on that.
Either way, I am completely aware that this style, without results will cause frustrating reactions.
I will however, again personally, stick with this style and MR for a little longer yet.
My pre-season expectation was mid-table and I still think we will achieve that under my mate Robins.