Tactics

[Vegas Claret]

give it to Westwood who hoofs it to Wood (who other than two good touches couldn't control anything beyond the level of a drunk Sunday league player)

That will never work unless we have runners from midfield to pick up the pieces and Brownhill who is clearly capable of doing that looks to have been instructed to stay in his own half.

Any time we actually bothered to play football and got it down with our midfielder pushing up we created chances. Massive opportunity missed tonight

[DCWat]

I’ll say it again, we miss Jack Cork.

[Right_winger]

Our tactics have always been the same. After 8 years he can’t blame it all on the board.

[taio]

The tactics are pretty much the same as they've always been under Dyche which have proved successful.

[Rileybobs]

Lacked invention tonight, although we generally do against teams like WBA.

Not the best performance but by no means the worst. We probably should have nicked the 3 points tonight, and along with a clean sheet that would have been a complete away performance.

[ksrclaret]

It was ever thus. The football is often garbage but it has generated good results in previous years. There's very little finesse to anything we do and when we're on a poor run it makes it that much harder to bear.

[jrgbfc]

Jay Rod has to play ahead of Barnes for me. With Barnes upfront we're so one dimensional and predictable. He shouldn't be anymore than a squad player now, someone to bring on late in a game to try and unsettle teams.

[ElectroClaret]

Lacked invention tonight, although we generally do against teams like WBA.

Not the best performance but by no means the worst. We probably should have nicked the 3 points tonight, and along with a clean sheet that would have been a complete away performance.

Yep.
The header from Wood goes in, everybody's happy.

(Well, maybe not everybody.)

[Woodleyclaret]

Spot on tactics any point in the Premier league has to be earned
Particularly praise due to Kev Long.Eric,Tarks Charlie and Nick
Best game in ages for Dwight
A good solid performance at a ground where we often get nothing

[Vegas Claret]

Spot on tactics any point in the Premier league has to be earned
Particularly praise due to Kev Long.Eric,Tarks Charlie and Nick
Best game in ages for Dwight
A good solid performance at a ground where we often get nothing

we played more football away at Liverpool and got a point. Get the ball down at the right time and we always create chances regardless of opponent, we did tonight - just a missed opportunity to pick up 3 points by not doing it enough when we had ample chances to do it.

[diamondpocket]

Dyche knows we aren't good enough to play these teams by playing silky football, there isn't enough space & our players arent good enough. We had a left back at right back, a newish player in Brownhill still getting to know our system, JBG struggling for form and Long. It aint exactly free flowing settled 11 is it? Against better opposition there's more space to be able to play a bit more and counter more. We did enough to nick it, they probably think the same. A hard fought point and something to build from.

[BOYSIE31]

Boring horrible football

[Vegas Claret]

Dyche knows we aren't good enough to play these teams by playing silky football, there isn't enough space & our players arent good enough. We had a left back at right back, a newish player in Brownhill still getting to know our system, JBG struggling for form and Long. It aint exactly free flowing settled 11 is it? Against better opposition there's more space to be able to play a bit more and counter more. We did enough to nick it, they probably think the same. A hard fought point and something to build from.

we drew 1-1 at Liverpool, we played Man Utd off the park - you are seriously underestimating our players imho, they are more than capable of playing more football than we showed tonight against a really really poor team

[boatshed bill]

we drew 1-1 at Liverpool, we played Man Utd off the park - you are seriously underestimating our players imho, they are more than capable of playing more football than we showed tonight against a really really poor team

confidence helps.
after 3 losses any side is likely to be a bit negative, safe, whatever you want to call it.

[Vegas Claret]

confidence helps.
after 3 losses any side is likely to be a bit negative, safe, whatever you want to call it.

yep, very fair point

[warksclaret]

I did not expect anything different and actually played well defensively and could have got 3 points. I have been a critic of Long but he let no one down tonight, and possibly had a better game than Tarks. Special mention for Pieters playing against a tricky winger-fortunate he did not get booked but played him well, with some good covering. We were lucky tonight playing one of the worst teams in the PL-something to build on,

[Dark Cloud]

It was ever thus. The football is often garbage but it has generated good results in previous years. There's very little finesse to anything we do and when we're on a poor run it makes it that much harder to bear.

Absolutely. There's only a whole thread here devoted to tactics because we've been struggling with one point from 4 games, but our tactics haven't changed over 7 seasons and those seasons have been largely extremely successful, so clearly our tactics usually pay off, even if they aren't pretty to watch. Having said that, if you're a Clarets fan and you're winning I ALWAYS find our tactics pretty to watch. It's largely fans of the teams we beat who don't like them! Dyche ain't going to change his tactics now. They got him and us where we are and they've sustained it up until now. What may be an issue is getting our best 11 players out there putting those tactics into action.

[ClaretTony]

Yep.
The header from Wood goes in, everybody's happy.

(Well, maybe not everybody.)

And that's all it needed

[buzzclarets79]

When we first arrived in the prem I don’t think one claret fan thought we would play a fast paced flowing style of football. We had to be hard to beat, compact, smash and grab when we can.
However I don’t think there’s many that would think we’d be doing the same 5 years later, I know I was hoping it would of evolved slightly with the millions of pounds brought into the club. I’m not expecting us to play like Man City or Barca but better than hit it high and long for 5yrs it’s not been pretty for a long time.

[jrgbfc]

When we first arrived in the prem I don’t think one claret fan thought we would play a fast paced flowing style of football. We had to be hard to beat, compact, smash and grab when we can.
However I don’t think there’s many that would think we’d be doing the same 5 years later, I know I was hoping it would of evolved slightly with the millions of pounds brought into the club. I’m not expecting us to play like Man City or Barca but better than hit it high and long for 5yrs it’s not been pretty for a long time.

Exactly, I think most of us thought if we stayed up for a few years we'd look to sign better players and gradually improve our style of play. But if anything it's getting even worse to watch, and I think Dyche's refusal and lack of interest in attempting anything remotely different has cost him the chance of ever getting a bigger job.

[diamondpocket]

why change something that's clearly worked over the years. Stoke tried to improve their style and eventually went down after spending loads and havent returned since. It's still a risk and is style over substance. It brings the same reault, survival or mid-table. We are never gonna break into the top 10 consistently under the way we work as a club. It's worked for us for years so why the same management team should change when still working under the same framework financially and the same board is beyond me.

[diamondpocket]

Exactly, I think most of us thought if we stayed up for a few years we'd look to sign better players and gradually improve our style of play. But if anything it's getting even worse to watch, and I think Dyche's refusal and lack of interest in attempting anything remotely different has cost him the chance of ever getting a bigger job.

Good for us then. He's brought us miracles for the sake of his own career. He should never ever hear a bad word against him from us. Done everything for us fans we could have asked for. Making us an established Prem team, no mean feat with the resources he's had. Get him a statue!

[Vegas Claret]

Exactly, I think most of us thought if we stayed up for a few years we'd look to sign better players and gradually improve our style of play. But if anything it's getting even worse to watch, and I think Dyche's refusal and lack of interest in attempting anything remotely different has cost him the chance of ever getting a bigger job.

I disagree with this, we've played some superb footy in patches over the last few seasons - that's what my initial post was about, I don't understand our lack of consistency in attempting (note attempting) to do so. Launching a ball up to a striker who is having an off night in terms of control and then not allowing a midfielder to push on to collect the loose ball was never going to work. Every time we got the ball down and played to Dwight we looked to create chances and did so - we didn't do that enough

[CBT]

give it to Westwood who hoofs it to Wood (who other than two good touches couldn't control anything beyond the level of a drunk Sunday league player)

That will never work unless we have runners from midfield to pick up the pieces and Brownhill who is clearly capable of doing that looks to have been instructed to stay in his own half.

Any time we actually bothered to play football and got it down with our midfielder pushing up we created chances. Massive opportunity missed tonight

Because west broms tactics were so much better
Give it to their left winger and put a ball in

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

I said at HT on the match thread it was what we have done away for years.We up our game second half, I expected us to pinch it and with better finishing we could have.
It won’t change, I don’t mind. Any away point is a good point.

[Bin Ont Turf]

I blame the Monday 5.30pm kick off.

You just can't get enough beer down yer to forget about the tactics and enjoy the match.

[ClaretAL]

For me where we have been weak at the back, tonight was all about missed chances for the forwards. We had more than enough to put this game to bed, and they didn't take them

[claretgimmer]

No big lads at Palace away and we witnessed some of the best football I think we have played under Dyche, especially in the first half, it can be done, so why don`t we see it more ?

[tim_noone]

give it to Westwood who hoofs it to Wood (who other than two good touches couldn't control anything beyond the level of a drunk Sunday league player)

That will never work unless we have runners from midfield to pick up the pieces and Brownhill who is clearly capable of doing that looks to have been instructed to stay in his own half.

Any time we actually bothered to play football and got it down with our midfielder pushing up we created chances. Massive opportunity missed tonight

Pinpoint pass from Westwood. Picked his man out perfectly. Unfortunately Wood Fluffed his lines.

[Blackburn_Claret]

Pinpoint pass from Westwood. Picked his man out perfectly. Unfortunately Wood Fluffed his lines.

Well said Tim. Reminiscent of his cross that led to J Rods goal in Bournemouth.

[Vegas Claret]

Because west broms tactics were so much better
Give it to their left winger and put a ball in

I'm not interested in WBA

[Vegas Claret]

Pinpoint pass from Westwood. Picked his man out perfectly. Unfortunately Wood Fluffed his lines.

yeah, you just proved my point exactly - Westwood gets the ball 25-30 (ish ?) yards from goal and puts over a great cross - that's what I'm suggesting we missed for the most part of the game, hence why I was asking for the midfield to push on. Most of Westy's passes this evening were from 10-15yrds inside our own half and either went over Woods head or (other than twice) he couldn't control it.

It's basic tactical analysis, about as straightforward as you can get

[diamondpocket]

Think Westy's pass was more from the edge of the box after picking up a second ball/knockdown. Cant remember the build up exactly.

In the end, Dyche will say it worked, all was missing was the goal. And if we had won 1-0 we may well have been complaining a little about the tactics but in the end we wouldn't have given a ****. And analysed it as a classic away performance against a newcomer saying welcome to the Prem against a know-how experienced team. Small margins as the gaffer says.

[jrgbfc]

No big lads at Palace away and we witnessed some of the best football I think we have played under Dyche, especially in the first half, it can be done, so why don`t we see it more ?

We were forced to playing that way cos Barnes and Wood were out. Likewise Bournemouth at home last season, Vydra, Jay and McNeil played some great stuff. But if certain players are fit then they play, the line up and tactics are almost set in stone.

[Vegas Claret]

Think Westy's pass was more from the edge of the box after picking up a second ball/knockdown. Cant remember the build up exactly.

So when I say we didn't get the midfield forward enough to pick up the loose ball, and our best chance is created when we did.............

And I would have started this thread regardless as I have done in the past - it's just talking about tactics on a footy message board

[tim_noone]

Well said Tim. Reminiscent of his cross that led to J Rods goal in Bournemouth.

At Bournemouth....Let's be clear about this or was it "in" Boscombe?

[diamondpocket]

So when I say we didn't get the midfield forward enough to pick up the loose ball, and our best chance is created when we did.............

And I would have started this thread regardless as I have done in the past - it's just talking about tactics on a footy message board

But that may well have left us a bit more open in the middle for possible counter attacks & Dwight is never much help defensively as much as he tries. JBG is alright for keeping shape so with Brownhill left it made sense to not be too gung ho.
Too early in the season to be pushing men forward at all costs. Too much possession and WBA would have just dropped in, given us no space & counter attacked. And we're never good at that style of football especially with no right back & 2 immobile strikers.

[Vegas Claret]

But that may well have left us a bit more open in the middle for possible counter attacks & Dwight is never much help defensively as much as he tries. JBG is alright for keeping shape so with Brownhill left it made sense to not be too gung ho.
Too early in the season to be pushing men forward at all costs. Too much possession and WBA would have just dropped in, given us no space & counter attacked. And we're never good at that style of football especially with no right back & 2 immobile strikers.

possibly, I just thought that Westy and Brownhill were too far back for the most part, another 5 yards further up would have allowed one to get closer to the second ball - something we are usually very good at without over exposing us. We've done it before against far better teams than WBA so it was disappointing to see the reluctance to do that although I understand why we did it

[Paddy1882]

Not an expert by any means but the game was crying out for vydra IMO, Ivanovic has made a career out of being physical and strong and the other CB the same, vydra running in behind would have completely taken them out of the game

[boatshed bill]

Vegas Claret,
I'm sure you've seen enough football to know that in order to bring your midfield further up to support the attack the forwards have to hold the ball.

[Scott Arfield's Swag]

Jay Rod has to play ahead of Barnes for me. With Barnes upfront we're so one dimensional and predictable. He shouldn't be anymore than a squad player now, someone to bring on late in a game to try and unsettle teams.

Absolutely agree. I'd even have Vydra ahead of him as well. Tonight, against those WBA centre halves, we should have been trying to craft something and move them around a bit. Jay Rod and Vyds give us those options. With Wood and Barnes up top its just hoof after hoof with the odd one into the channel for Wood to chase and it's so difficult to watch when not executed well. Wood carries our most 'natural' goal threat so has to start but I definitely think one of the more 'intelligent footballing strikers needs to partner him to allow us to mix up a bit and Jay Rod is clearly the managers pick of those two it would seem.

[FactualFrank]

Absolutely agree. I'd even have Vydra ahead of him as well. Tonight, against those WBA centre halves, we should have been trying to craft something and move them around a bit. Jay Rod and Vyds give us those options. With Wood and Barnes up top its just hoof after hoof with the odd one into the channel for Wood to chase and it's so difficult to watch when not executed well. Wood carries our most 'natural' goal threat so has to start but I definitely think one of the more 'intelligent footballing strikers needs to partner him to allow us to mix up a bit and Jay Rod is clearly the managers pick of those two it would seem.

Jay has just come back from injury. Pretty sure that SD has Jay and Wood as the first choice front 2.

[Vegas Claret]

Vegas Claret,
I'm sure you've seen enough football to know that in order to bring your midfield further up to support the attack the forwards have to hold the ball.

works both ways and we've proven that season after season, Wood couldn't (other than twice) trap anything tonight, the ball very often bouncing 5-10 yards away from him, I think given the lack of quality WBA had that we would have been more than capable of pinching a few of those balls without exposing us, we'll never know !

[diamondpocket]

possibly, I just thought that Westy and Brownhill were too far back for the most part, another 5 yards further up would have allowed one to get closer to the second ball - something we are usually very good at without over exposing us. We've done it before against far better teams than WBA so it was disappointing to see the reluctance to do that although I understand why we did it

I agree with you. And I guess Dyche sees it that way too after his post match comments about it being a better performance and heading in the right direction but clearly there's room for improvement.

[Vegas Claret]

I’ll say it again, we miss Jack Cork.

do you think he will get in the team ahead of Brownhill when he is fit ? Can't see Westwood being dropped

[FactualFrank]

works both ways and we've proven that season after season, Wood couldn't (other than twice) trap anything tonight, the ball very often bouncing 5-10 yards away from him, I think given the lack of quality WBA had that we would have been more than capable of pinching a few of those balls without exposing us, we'll never know !

Wood has always been the sort of striker to score from nothing. Give him an easy chance and he'll miss it. He'd have got 15 goals last season had he not missed a few games.

Then if we play Chelsea, he'll score. That's the strange world of football.

[FactualFrank]

do you think he will get in the team ahead of Brownhill when he is fit ? Can't see Westwood being dropped

Westwood partners Cork or Brownhill. And it's Brownhill's place to lose.

[Vegas Claret]

Westwood partners Cork or Brownhill. And it's Brownhill's place to lose.

I agree 100%

[burnleymik]

My concern is how he doesn't change it when it isn't working.

[Vegas Claret]

My concern is how he doesn't change it when it isn't working.

is that down to lack of options on the bench ?