Pressley Interview (3 Viewers)

oldskyblue58

CCFC Finance Director
Why does Pressley insist on playing players in their "wrong" positions. It seems to happen on a regular basis.

Why do we set up so that the defence is so deep when we are playing a high pressing game..... is it because there is next to no pace in the back four especially the two in the middle and that one full back is really a centre back and the other not a defender at all so there is an inability and reluctance to push out?

Who is supposed to be in charge of the back four? I don't mean berating other players - who leads it and organises it. Why is our line so deep on free kicks, why indeed is it not a line but a band of players? Who pulls the fullbacks in when really they need to cover the wide runners? Who gives the keeper any confidence that he has some protection. Who covers the fullbacks. Where is the solid base to build from. How much of the recent defensive good run was down to getting lucky?

So the defence plays deep and we have a lone striker against the opponents back line. How do we expect our light weight midfield to cover the big space left? Its just not possible. Why does Pressley insist on two defensive midfielders that are basically not defenders in ability. Fleck needs to be set free to make use of his passing range, if playing Thomas then the Conor needs to be allowed to run beyond - he has a decent engine, not a natural finisher (but who is in the team) but those deep runs are hard to pick if used right. But the initial premise is wrong isn't it - we set up not to lose we don't set up to win. Fleck said the other day that the"boss doesn't like the defensive midfielders to get ahead of the ball" so that sets us up (even if it is just in the players heads) to defend even when we should be attacking

Where is the bite?

Where is the pace? Who is quick thinking in the team because the passing is ponderous, turgid and unthreatening. But where is the real physical pace in the team. Those players that do have it seem to lose the confidence to use it after a few minutes

Where are the players busting a gut to get up in support of the forwards? Who is looking for the knock downs the lay offs the little nicks? Who is putting the opposition defence under pressure? Yes that can be done by players running at the defenders but we don't win enough good ball and use it quickly enough to make it a consistent threat. The attacking midfield sit on the defending midfield and after a run or two are basically out of the game. We don't win the ball in midfield consistently, we don't play through a team we play in front of a team

This is not down to budgets available - do the maths and the 2014/15 budget for CCFC should be at least competitive in L1 and probably should see us pushing 8th or higher..... not looking over our shoulders at 20th

I think it is clear that the players are not performing well and that the recent run flattered to deceive. But worryingly I see signs of confusion, that players do not buy in to how things are set up, are frustrated, are playing in positions that do not get the best from them, that the concerns of manager are not being listened to but also nor are those of the players. I do not see a clear "Coventry Way" nor do I see a plan B.

Who in the team on the pitch is going to take some responsibility and lead? When is Pressley going to stop the guff take some advice and take responsibility?

25 games in to the season we should know what we are about shouldn't we?

not declaring on national TV we are CCFC we are a shambles as we did last night
 

Last edited:

oldskyblue58

CCFC Finance Director
last point because I have work to do......

Decision making. Poor all over the pitch. The players seem to react slowly but more than that you get a sense that they are scared to get it wrong. Now you could say usually it is because the crowd is on their backs but that really hasn't been the case. I get the impression that it is the environment established by the management team. To me it comes over as dictatorial. There is nothing wrong in creating the direction but you need the players to buy in to it. Players will make better decisions and quicker if they are played in their right positions and it is a positive environment. If they are scared of being berated by the manager or coach then it might work initially but sooner or later they do not perform to their potential, they take the safe option rather than the right option.

Could be wrong but everything about CCFC on the pitch seems to be negative focussed...... that comes from the manager first and foremost
 

Ashdown

Well-Known Member
Last night confirmed to anyone watching:

1, Coventry City have collapsed as a top 40 football club in England
2, The manager is tactically clueless
3, The players didn't look happy with each other or the manager
4, The two centre backs that Pressley insists on starting are woeful as is the goalkeeper and morale looked low all round.
5, The fans continue to protest in vain against owners who couldn't give a shit
6, The clubs fans are deserting in droves
7, The stadium very much belongs to 'Wasps' rugby club
 

Nick

Administrator
That is the thing about the safe option. We see it with players scared to shoot which is why Nouble seems a bit better because he doesn't seem scared and will try a shot rather than trying to pass it on the 18 yard line with a clear line at goal.

The players are constantly being swapped and changed, there is no consistency in the squad and formation for players to get used to something either.

It is also as if he watches a different game to others, he is so slow to react to things too.
 

Ashdown

Well-Known Member
That is the thing about the safe option. We see it with players scared to shoot which is why Nouble seems a bit better because he doesn't seem scared and will try a shot rather than trying to pass it on the 18 yard line with a clear line at goal.

The players are constantly being swapped and changed, there is no consistency in the squad and formation for players to get used to something either.

It is also as if he watches a different game to others, he is so slow to react to things too.

Agreed, sorry to bring up CoventryRFC again but their whole successful season so far has been founded largely on having a decent settled side. Spirit is excellent because of it and they all know what each other are capable of !
 

Nick

Administrator
I know people think they are corney and pointless but whatever happened to those huddles before the games?
 

Nick

Administrator
They was fucked off and rightly so

Least it showed the players were one unit, the Swindon player on Sky made a point about all the players being good mates as well.

At that JSB party all the players seemed to get on, I guess it is all the swapping and changing of the first 11.
 

stupot07

Well-Known Member
Last night confirmed to anyone watching:

1, Coventry City have collapsed as a top 40 football club in England
2, The manager is tactically clueless
3, The players didn't look happy with each other or the manager
4, The two centre backs that Pressley insists on starting are woeful as is the goalkeeper and morale looked low all round.
5, The fans continue to protest in vain against owners who couldn't give a shit
6, The clubs fans are deserting in droves
7, The stadium very much belongs to 'Wasps' rugby club

8. We have the weakest bunch of "powderpuff" midfielders in the league.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors :)
 

Chez78

New Member
Try to keep some perspective on all this folks.
After all as shown on MOTD last night - the very same fans & media that were baying for David Moyes's blood this time last year are oh so much more upbeat this season with LVG in charge...even though his record has delivered nothing more.
We may yet be flying high again by the season's end...or not.

PUSB

If Pressley stays we're down
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top