Match Thread Bristol City (A) 24th August 12:30 KO (11 Viewers)

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Don’t really disagree with that in regards to wide. But from the match Bristol dominated the match from just breaking out high press due to the low line the defence held.

One of my big points of advocacy for the 4-4-2 is how compact it’ll make our team in defence where as a 4-2-3-1 is always a bit too heavy.

Also the beauty of modern football is how fluid it can be. So playing a 4-4-2 with inverted wingers doesn’t mean that if we’re struggling through the middle we can’t push out wide when needed.

I actually think how we attack at the moment is a big problem because we’re so predictable. We either passed it out wide and looked for the overlapped or tried to use the Channels for simms. We’ve got to be able to mix it up to disrupt teams defence gameplay.

For the players we have, a 4-3-3 would make more sense

He has said consistently that the players are not being brave on the ball and doing what's asked of them

I think he wants to play attacking football now

We will get there

We will see over time if this is the case I suppose. Still seems to me he is trying to Southgate his way through away games.

 

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[GIMOC]

I think it's a but disingenuous to tag on games from the end of last season, especially as I'm convinced the cup run had a huge affect on league form.
However, there are clearly issues from the 3 league games so far this season that need ironing out.

not really sure I agree when the vast majority of the starting 11 were here last season.

This is not a new team anymore

 

[PUSB-We_are_going_up]

Robins clearly wants to play a new brand of football, as shown by the Oxford game and also pre-season and an interview with Eccles where he literally says we are implementing a new style and when the fans see it they’re gonna be buzzing or something like that.
It takes time to adapt, we dont just have the new signings to gel in but the eest of the squad to gel as well as changing systems takes time, we saw what it can do at home, but it seems away from home we’re not implementing it properly yet.
Give the boys time we know what they can do

 

[clint van damme]

not really sure I agree when the vast majority of the starting 11 were here last season.

This is not a new team anymore

I mean, either way, we've got stuff that needs sorting.
We've got a soft underbelly, particularly in midfield, and that's my biggest concern.

 

[Winny the Bish]

Robins clearly wants to play a new brand of football, as shown by the Oxford game and also pre-season and an interview with Eccles where he literally says we are implementing a new style and when the fans see it they’re gonna be buzzing or something like that.
It takes time to adapt, we dont just have the new signings to gel in but the eest of the squad to gel as well as changing systems takes time, we saw what it can do at home, but it seems away from home we’re not implementing it properly yet.
Give the boys time we know what they can do

Has anyone worked out what this new style is? Because I'm not seeing anything different.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I mean, either way, we've got stuff that needs sorting.
We've got a soft underbelly, particularly in midfield, and that's my biggest concern.

It’s our weakest part of the pitch with Eccles and Torp at the moment, which causes problems at both ends.

 

[SeaSeeEffCee]

Robins clearly wants to play a new brand of football, as shown by the Oxford game and also pre-season and an interview with Eccles where he literally says we are implementing a new style and when the fans see it they’re gonna be buzzing or something like that.
It takes time to adapt, we dont just have the new signings to gel in but the eest of the squad to gel as well as changing systems takes time, we saw what it can do at home, but it seems away from home we’re not implementing it properly yet.
Give the boys time we know what they can do

We haven’t really shown any signs of a new style in either away game so far. If we’re trying to do that they either the players aren’t listening to Robins or Robins is struggling to get his idea across.

 

[Alan Dugdales Moustache]

9 of the 10 starting outfield players were with us last season

the gelling excuse is rubbish

We’ve won 2 of our last 11 league games

This isn't a disastrous start. Sheaf is out. Rudoni didn't play last season and Sakamoto isn't going to be firing yet. There have been under par performances without question, but this isn't as bad a start as some are making it out to be. We don't have an automatic right to be top six and it isn't about being up there now it's about being there after 46 matches. It's the same for all clubs in that division. We're not favourites to go up and why should we be ?

 

[PUSB-We_are_going_up]

Has anyone worked out what this new style is? Because I'm not seeing anything different.

It seems to be quicker attacks with wingbacks advancing, and diagonal balls out, I noticed a few times at Oxford where instead of passing 1 by 1 in the defence at the halfway line we seemed to sometimes skip that and just ping a pass out wide. There are elements of the old style as well such as the control of possession, but we seem to want to get forward more. In easier terms transition from a control possession wing play into a vertical Robins Taka

 

[Winny the Bish]

It seems to be quicker attacks with wingbacks advancing, and diagonal balls out, I noticed a few times at Oxford where instead of passing 1 by 1 in the defence at the halfway line we seemed to sometimes skip that and just ping a pass out wide. There are elements of the old style as well such as the control of possession, but we seem to want to get forward more. In easier terms transition from a control possession wing play into a vertical Robins Taka

I remember Robins saying in preseason that he wanted to get more players forward and more goals from midfield, but the double pivot is still miles away from the attack.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Just stating a fact Pete. MR is adopting safety first tactics yet we concede in essentially every game.

He always does and then finds a way
If you want a different manager then fine but he’s done pretty well so far for us
Doug won’t need to much of an excuse to say he’s had investment and needs to be doing better let’s at least look at 10 games in

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

For the players we have, a 4-3-3 would make more sense

We will see over time if this is the case I suppose. Still seems to me he is trying to Southgate his way through away games.

Wouldn’t mind a 4-3-3 and to be fair that’s what I thought we’d start after the Everton match. Don’t really understand why we’ve gone back to a 4-2-3-1 which doesn’t look like it’s working for us but it’s early days, easy for fans to say what we think but hard for coaches as they have to do the work.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

not really sure I agree when the vast majority of the starting 11 were here last season.

This is not a new team anymore

Course it is and all the other teams are new too
New competition
New season
We go again

 

[GIMOC]

He always does and then finds a way
If you want a different manager then fine but he’s done pretty well so far for us
Doug won’t need to much of an excuse to say he’s had investment and needs to be doing better let’s at least look at 10 games in

what is your obsession with assuming people want robins gone for criticism?

 

[GIMOC]

Course it is and all the other teams are new too
New competition
New season
We go again

apart from rudoni and dovin all the players who started yesterday were with us last season so how is it a new team? the gelling excuse cant be used anymore

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

what is your obsession with assuming people want robins gone for criticism?

Obsession!!!!! Lol
It’s the bloody negativity that gets on my tits
Balance it now and again

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

He always does and then finds a way
If you want a different manager then fine but he’s done pretty well so far for us
Doug won’t need to much of an excuse to say he’s had investment and needs to be doing better let’s at least look at 10 games in

I haven’t said anywhere that I want the manager gone. If anything it’s because I really don’t want to see his time here culminate as Southgate’s did with England

 

[PUSB-We_are_going_up]

I remember Robins saying in preseason that he wanted to get more players forward and more goals from midfield, but the double pivot is still miles away from the attack.

Agreed, I think thats why we are looking for another CM one more dynamic, Sheaf albeit very slow actually gets up and down a lot, so we miss him so much.
Thats why we tried Allen and why he looked good in pre season because he is dynamic however very limited on the ball, but he does pop up with a goal thanks to his movement.
There was definitely hopes that Torp would do a lot of drifting into the box or hovering outside because thats what he used to do at his old club and we saw glimpses of it last season, at Man Utd etc. However he played as a 10 at his old club, so I think he would be better suited in a more advanced role.
Rudoni is the only midfielder for me so far that has showed the dynamism (apart from yesterday) and guile to create opportunities or look to take them, when Sheaf is back we wont look so light in midfield, and especially not if we sign another CM

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

apart from rudoni and dovin all the players who started yesterday were with us last season so how is it a new team? the gelling excuse cant be used anymore

Lol

 

[GIMOC]

Wouldn’t mind a 4-3-3 and to be fair that’s what I thought we’d start after the Everton match. Don’t really understand why we’ve gone back to a 4-2-3-1 which doesn’t look like it’s working for us but it’s early days, easy for fans to say what we think but hard for coaches as they have to do the work.

is too many coaches a factor in this?

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

He always does and then finds a way
If you want a different manager then fine but he’s done pretty well so far for us
Doug won’t need to much of an excuse to say he’s had investment and needs to be doing better let’s at least look at 10 games in

Think for context most fans love Robins and would never want him gone in a million years. But it’s frustrating that he never starts right and takes sometime to work it out from his squad.

Last year we started with a 5-3-2 till we dropped it for a 4-2-3-1. League one we started a bit average until we moved to the 5-2-2-1. League two we struggle until we moved to the 4-2-4.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

I haven’t said anywhere that I want the manager gone. If anything it’s because I really don’t want to see his time here culminate as Southgate’s did

He didn’t do bad

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Think for context most fans love Robins and would never want him gone in a million years. But it’s frustrating that he never starts right and takes sometime to work it out from his squad.

Last year we started with a 5-3-2 till we dropped it for a 4-2-3-1. League one we started a bit average until we moved to the 5-2-2-1. League two we struggle until we moved to the 4-2-4.

I love that about him
He works out a way as it doesn’t come easy
I wonder if other teams are looking at how to counter us and so that’s part of what needs a response

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

He didn’t do bad

Didn’t break through the glass ceiling either

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

is too many coaches a factor in this?

We to be fair don’t have the same amount of coaches as other championship teams even with the four. I think robins just struggles initially to move on from an idea when it’s not working. When we do move shape I think we’ll start to click and be the attacking team we were all talking about pre season.

 

[Sick Boy]

My main concern is that if we don’t go up this season, the following one will be yet another rebuild job.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

I love that about him
He works out a way as it doesn’t come easy
I wonder if other teams are looking at how to counter us and so that’s part of what needs a response

Love that he finds a way. Just wish we could go from pre season.

And to be fair to your point that’s a major part of football which Robins has gone on about. In regards to the game being like Chess. Think he’s an amazing manager and bloke and will work it out. Just hope it’s sooner rather than later.

 

[PUSB-We_are_going_up]

Also the fact we’ve reverted back to the 4231 means to me Palmer should be starting in the CAM spot, he is the most creative and flair-style player we have, and he showed it in his cameo.
We didnt play a double pivot in pre-season which is how we implemented the style as we has 2 players right up there allowing options for Simms to layoff to or recieve from (Same for those out wide).
Just a little patience is all thats is needee, the performances have been shite and we still have started the season better than the last 2, we’re notoriously slow starters. Its not starts that win you leagues or promotion its the middle and end. Look at Burnley’s last title win, look at Man City in the PL, at the end of the day I trust in MR to get us ticking PUSB

 

[2024/25 League 1 Champs?]

Don’t really disagree with that in regards to wide. But from the match Bristol dominated the match from just breaking out high press due to the low line the defence held.

One of my big points of advocacy for the 4-4-2 is how compact it’ll make our team in defence where as a 4-2-3-1 is always a bit too heavy.

Also the beauty of modern football is how fluid it can be. So playing a 4-4-2 with inverted wingers doesn’t mean that if we’re struggling through the middle we can’t push out wide when needed.

I actually think how we attack at the moment is a big problem because we’re so predictable. We either passed it out wide and looked for the overlapped or tried to use the Channels for simms. We’ve got to be able to mix it up to disrupt teams defence gameplay.

it’s not that out there a suggestion, particularly given we have players who could play that second striker role, but still drop into a 10 or even wide if necessary to change tactics / formation mid game, eg EMC, BTA, Wright…

and playing Sheaf and Rudoni in midfield should be fairly balanced, shouldn’t it?

I don’t think there’s a one size fits all though, and that’s the biggest query I have over the last half season or so, we don’t generally seem to change anything to counteract who we are playing, it’s the same formation, same players and nothing even changes early enough mid game if it’s not going right. We need to be flexible, and given the players we now have that shouldn’t be a problem

 

[PUSB-We_are_going_up]

My main concern is that if we don’t go up this season, the following one will be yet another rebuild job.

The thing is with this is that we’d probably only need to work on a 1 out then 1 in basis, (other than if it doesnt happen a RB and CM) so it wouldnt be a huge rebuild we’re in control as the players are tied down on deals, we sell when we want not when another club or the player wants

 

[skybluecam]

Also the fact we’ve reverted back to the 4231 means to me Palmer should be starting in the CAM spot, he is the most creative and flair-style player we have, and he showed it in his cameo.
We didnt play a double pivot in pre-season which is how we implemented the style as we has 2 players right up there allowing options for Simms to layoff to or recieve from (Same for those out wide).
Just a little patience is all thats is needee, the performances have been shite and we still have started the season better than the last 2, we’re notoriously slow starters. Its not starts that win you leagues or promotion its the middle and end. Look at Burnley’s last title win, look at Man City in the PL, at the end of the day I trust in MR to get us ticking PUSB

I don't know why we abandoned the new midfield shape so quick - maybe when Sheaf is back it will return.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

it’s not that out there a suggestion, particularly given we have players who could play that second striker role, but still drop into a 10 or even wide if necessary to change tactics / formation mid game, eg EMC, BTA, Wright…

and playing Sheaf and Rudoni in midfield should be fairly balanced, shouldn’t it?

I don’t think there’s a one size fits all though, and that’s the biggest query I have over the last half season or so, we don’t generally seem to change anything to counteract who we are playing, it’s the same formation, same players and nothing even changes early enough mid game if it’s not going right. We need to be flexible, and given the players we now have that shouldn’t be a problem

“It’s not that out there a suggestion”

I’ll take that

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

I don't know why we abandoned the new midfield shape so quick - maybe when Sheaf is back it will return.

I think he’s realising Allen torp and maybe Eccles are just not good enough

 

[PUSB-We_are_going_up]

I don't know why we abandoned the new midfield shape so quick - maybe when Sheaf is back it will return.

That is my hope, and I think people underestimate how much Sheaf helps the organisation, he’s a natural leader and we will see it when he’s back. We take his qualities for granted, I even thought if we let him go fir a lot of money its fine as we have Eccles but boy how much my opinion has changed now

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

That is my hope, and I think people underestimate how much Sheaf helps the organisation, he’s a natural leader and we will see it when he’s back. We take his qualities for granted, I even thought if we let him go fir a lot of money its fine as we have Eccles but boy how much my opinion has changed now

Made me really want an understudy for him as another singing. If he is the only player Robins thinks can play that role that we have to change tactical shape, we need a new player to cover him.