Shape of the squad

I think we should fuck off all these new eurothrash players. They're all shit. Let's get Hayden and Nahki, or bring back Hugill and Hendrick. Management knows fuck all, but I do because I've watched them in 5 games.

Lol.

But not sure anyone is saying they all shit?

Varane and Santos both improving.

Goalkeeper been impressive.

Stand by my criticisms of Madsen.

Celar I cut a bit more slack to than many posters because I think its as much about the way we play as the striker himself and I really don't want fans to treat him like the new Lyndon.

To me its about getting the right blend. We looked far more competitive when we had Field and Dunne on, who were getting stuck in, and giving a platform to the more skilful players.

John Inman would have offered more bite in midfield than our team first half.

As for Hayden, watching our players stand off Eze and giving him the freedom of Loftus Road, yes I do miss him personally.

think DK is being sarcastic lol. gotta bare in mind that he's from denmark, madsen and andersen are the best players in the squad to him and the one major red flag about our signings is that we didn't bring more danish players in 😉

very subjective that mate not sure I agree myself.

Comparing Apples and Bananas. Totally different types of players with different roles in team.

Nardi occasionally does it, but MC generally does not like to go long. So it's basically a high press, and playing it out from the back, hoping to draw them on to you then playing it into the space created behind them. Essentially counter-attacking football. The problem with that however is teams like Millwall for example don't fall into that trap and they don't play the press, allowing you as much space as you like up until the halfway line. Marti is no mug and must surely realise this, though.

A few observations:

1. I honestly don't understand this playing it around at the back approach when it more often than not ends with us conceding possession.

2. Throw ins and passing: why are these invariably going either sideways or backwards? Why are the players ahead not pulling the makers out of position, making decoy or normal runs and creating space for themselves so they can receive a forward pass?

These seem pretty elementary and obvious weaknesses in our game but I'm not a professional football manager, so what would I know?

Answers on a postcard please.

Your second question in 2 is the answer to 1. How long does Marti take to coach them before he decides they can’t do it and he has to play to our strengths (whatever they are?) rather than his preferred style?

Is it not the case that the players we’ve brought in are to suit his preferred style, that’s how the club is being run isn’t it?
In which case I can’t see him changing his tactics much any time soon.

So if the club finds it can’t play the way it wants to - and can’t afford to change the players, which we can’t - does it blindly carry on to the bottom or change the style of play? At least for a while. No brainer isn’t it?

No idea mate, you’re asking the wrong person.
I was simply making the point that Marti clearly favours playing out from the back. He said last season that mistakes will be made in the process of implementing that strategy. The only point I was making was I doubt he’s going to change it anytime soon, given he’s seemingly brought in players who he feels can ultimately do what he’s asking.

Personally I think Colback is a big miss as he’s the one player who can inject a bit of physicality into midfield. He also has bundles of experience playing in the championship.
And I think we miss Chair and dare I say it Willock. Willock was hot and cold obviously but even the 60% Willock we saw the latter part of last season could receive the ball facing our goal and spin his oppo, quickly turning a ball out from defence into an attack.

Others have said we’re not Barcelona but the fact is, a lot of managers want to play the way Marti does. I went to see AFC Wimbledon a couple of weeks ago v MK Dons and both of them were trying to play out from the back more often than not. That’s league 2. Imo our problem isn’t playing out from the back per se, it’s what’s happening a bit further up the pitch, or not happening to be more accurate. In all the games I’ve seen this season the build up has been painfully slow a lot of the time which surely indicates the players more advanced up the pitch aren’t finding the pockets that in theory get created when the oppo press.
Or they receive the ball then return it straight back to where it came from because they’re not able to do what Chair and Willock did. Willocks obviously gone but hopefully Chair coming back, a fit Colback and the overall team becoming more accustomed to Marti’s approach will see our fortunes change.

Fair comments. 

A fit Chair will surely make a big difference.

Willock? We did pretty well second half of last season when Jimmy Dunne scored/ assisted more goals than Willock did, but take your point about his hold up play.

Colback? Agree he gets into this team on current showing in a heartbeat. However, as fans we tend to invest a lot of hope in whoever isn't playing. Also seen plenty of very average games from Colback. Plus as soon as he gets booked - which is v regularly - you have to sub him immediately because he will probably be sent off. 

I personally dont think we look to bad playing out from the back I think we’re pretty good at it.

From Warburton we’ve been on a journey of playing passing football aside from brief period of Ainsworth. I think we’re as good as others problem is we have shit players out wide which is where the next phase kicks in.

Plan B is probably going more direct and based on percentages losing the ball doing so.

i love teams that pass out from the back and retain possession but it hasn't worked out for us so far imo. full agree with the players out wide but also think that the 2 anchor men haven't shone either. field is a great destroyer but he's not very good with the ball at his feet, competent yes but not good enough to link up play. conversely madsen is the opposite, good with the ball but so lightweight that he will need to wear lead boots once the autumn winds hit.