SAFETY ONLY OR TRY TO ATTACK ?

How many would like to go back to tactics of safety only ?

Or do you prefer that we have come away from that negative style to try and be more attack minded ?

What style would serve us best in the final eleven games ?

This is not a thread about the managers but the tactics employed so let's not get bogged down in which manager is the best

Attack because we have no choice but to go and win games

Spot on Ian, was about to say the same thing.

I think if Malky's style was implemented throughout the season then you would have been okay, however now its too late and you have to go looking for wins.

Could work, could get ugly.

my persoanl opinion is that the squad is too lightweight/toothless up-front to worry teams. We should of kept the tactics that won a promotion for this season. Seeing that alot of the same players are in the squad that makes sense doesn't it?

Asking Turner to become a modern day Beckenbauer takes years not weeks. Could happen mind he does play for THE greatest team the world has ever seen (I hope I sprinkled the msg board with love & optimism, Im trying to become a Cardiff City Hippie. Peace & love nothin wrong wit my club)

I think malky is the best

5-3-2
We don't need go out and try to win this game
Defend for our lives , show some passion and commitment and come home with a brilliant point

If playing it safe means we have 2 full backs who can actually defend then I'm all for that

Against the 'bigger teams' Tottenham, Everton, Liverpool keep it tight and hope to score whilst counterattacking/set piece but have a go against the other teams.

By the time we come to Chelsea we will know what awaits us !

Well an obvious answer is we need a happy medium.

Problem is Malkys tactic of defending and hoping for a corner were found out and his last couple of months we were awful and in my personal opinion without a doubt sinking and going down.

I think Ole has tried to change to much to quickly, while I think his attacking play would work he needed a full summer to sort the squad out which in my opinion is a bit of a mess.

In saying that id rather we gave it a go and tried to attack, sadly the end result could be like the Hull game.

If playing it safe means we have 2 full backs who can actually defend then I'm all for that

Spot on!

Need to defend. How many games will we win if we continue to concede an average of 3 goals a game?

I agree that a happy medium is best. I'd be happier to see Super Kev back on the right to give us some stability, and John back on the left.

Going forward we've looked very good at times - our problem lies around the edge of the box - our crosses find nobody and we can't seem to penetrate through the middle, and instead end up going sideways and backwards.

It'll help when Mutch and Medel are back. Bellamy plays well when he's fit and gives us some options, but I sometimes think he's a divisive player in the team.

Ole has tried to change too much too soon and yes, he'll need to have a good look at the squad in the summer - if Tan is patient enough to stick with him by then.

Keep it tight at Spurs for starters

Got and attack we need to score more goals than the other team, it's hard enough to score goals at the moment if we play safe where are they coming then,11 games left lets go out fighting

The majority of this forum wanted Malky sacked so we could bring in a manager to play more attacking football, but now we are having a debate over what style of play is best for us. Interesting.

I have always stuck up for Malky and I always will as however rubbish you think our football was to watch under Malky, Malky's football kept us above the relegation zone all season. We are not good enough to attack teams in this division, only a top 6 team with squads hundreds of millions of pounds richer than us are good enough to attack at this level. That's the reality of the Premiership.

Attacking superior teams with superior players makes so sense, it's absolutely suicidal and we are seeing what happens when these tactics are implemented. We must go back to a safety first approach, even if that allows the opposition to have the ball. Then if we are still in the game and the opposition start running out of ideas, we can be more adventurous towards the end if we think the opposition are there for the taking.

But finally, my main concern is the attitude of the personnel Ole has brought in. Zaha in particular needs a rocket up his backside. I will support players with limited ability who give their all. But if I see Zaha pulling out of yet another fifty fifty tackle, I will boo him. Players who don't have a go and put their bodies on the line for us at this crucial stage of season don't deserve my support.

I would bring back the likes of Gunnarsson this Sunday, a player who has limited footballing ability, but will give his all. We want battlers in the team now, not bottlers.

The majority of this forum wanted Malky sacked so we could bring in a manager to play more attacking football, but now we are having a debate over what style of play is best for us. Interesting.

I have always stuck up for Malky and I always will as however rubbish you think our football was to watch under Malky, Malky's football kept us above the relegation zone all season. We are not good enough to attack teams in this division, only a top 6 team with squads hundreds of millions of pounds richer than us are good enough to attack at this level. That's the reality of the Premiership.

Attacking superior teams with superior players makes so sense, it's absolutely suicidal and we are seeing what happens when these tactics are implemented. We must go back to a safety first approach, even if that allows the opposition to have the ball. Then if we are still in the game and the opposition start running out of ideas, we can be more adventurous towards the end if we think the opposition are there for the taking.

I think the problem a lot of people have with Malky is that he never tried to win games. We defended and defended and hoped for a corner or a free kick, thats not football in my opinion. Please don’t tell me every club except the top 6 do the same because they don’t. Malky didn’t need to go all out attack but just allow the team to attack at all in games other than hoping for a set play. yes we were just above the relegation zone and we had a few decent results at the start but we were soon found out and looked easy to beat for a long time under Malky. 50m later and we still don’t have a decent left back/Right back or striker and we have needed those positions for 2 years now. .

To be honest I got so fed up of Malky’s boring football that I think i’d rather we went down at least trying to win games than stay up playing like we were.

If playing it safe means we have 2 full backs who can actually defend then I'm all for that

Exactly, they are struggling to concentrate for the whole game and we are going to be under pressure Sunday.

How many would like to go back to tactics of safety only ?

Or do you prefer that we have come away from that negative style to try and be more attack minded ?

What style would serve us best in the final eleven games ?

This is not a thread about the managers but the tactics employed so let's not get bogged down in which manager is the best

Attack and lose fans will be on here saying we should have defended.
Defend and lose and fans will say we should have attacked
I say somewhere in between

The majority of this forum wanted Malky sacked so we could bring in a manager to play more attacking football, but now we are having a debate over what style of play is best for us. Interesting.

I have always stuck up for Malky and I always will as however rubbish you think our football was to watch under Malky, Malky's football kept us above the relegation zone all season. We are not good enough to attack teams in this division, only a top 6 team with squads hundreds of millions of pounds richer than us are good enough to attack at this level. That's the reality of the Premiership.

Attacking superior teams with superior players makes so sense, it's absolutely suicidal and we are seeing what happens when these tactics are implemented. We must go back to a safety first approach, even if that allows the opposition to have the ball. Then if we are still in the game and the opposition start running out of ideas, we can be more adventurous towards the end if we think the opposition are there for the taking.

I think the problem a lot of people have with Malky is that he never tried to win games. We defended and defended and hoped for a corner or a free kick, thats not football in my opinion. Please don’t tell me every club except the top 6 do the same because they don’t. Malky didn’t need to go all out attack but just allow the team to attack at all in games other than hoping for a set play. yes we were just above the relegation zone and we had a few decent results at the start but we were soon found out and looked easy to beat for a long time under Malky. 50m later and we still don’t have a decent left back/Right back or striker and we have needed those positions for 2 years now. .

To be honest I got so fed up of Malky’s boring football that I think i’d rather we went down at least trying to win games than stay up playing like we were.

Tan and fans like yourself were the problem. Fed up with Malky's boring football which was enough to just keep us against the relegation zone. Our remaining home games after Malky's sacking would have been against teams in 10th place or lower except Liverpool and Chelsea. Our football would have been more attacking in those games but Malky simply wasn't given a chance. Malky gave Noone a start at home to West Brom for example as it was a rare occasion we could attack a bit more, and we won 1-0.

Nevermind, fans like you wanted more exciting football, and now you're getting it seeing 4 goals scored last Saturday at home to Hull, in our own net. I hope you're enjoying it.

Last edited by Tonteg Bluebird on Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:00 pm, edited 2 times in total.

They have to keep working the same style of play. They need to sort out mistakes, put their chanses and bleed for their shirt.
They need to do that for the whole match, and not 20 minutes. They have to lay asside that no one belive in them and grow a confidense on " il fu&king show you". Its called building, and a BIG f&ck you to any one who didnt belive.
Any more changes will only be a step back, a confidense loss and and rythm is an even longer fetch..

Maybe Ole should Ask Fergie for some advices .

Do we even know how to attack is the problem.

Dont get me wrong - I would love to see us on the counter, playing the ball foward and playing positive attacking football - but I havnt seen any sign that we can do this exept 10 mins against Aston Villa and Norwich

Our goal difference is one of the lowest in the league & to be fair we have nothing to lose so we should go all out and try and grab some goals - but what we dont want is a string of embaressing results similar to last Saturdays...

Maybe Ole should Ask Fergie for some advices .

I think he did when he mentored him through the coaching lisens..

Maybe Ole should Ask Fergie for some advices .

I think he did when he mentored him through the coaching lisens..

Fergie world help Ole today as well if he can

How many would like to go back to tactics of safety only ?

Or do you prefer that we have come away from that negative style to try and be more attack minded ?

What style would serve us best in the final eleven games ?

This is not a thread about the managers but the tactics employed so let's not get bogged down in which manager is the best

Haven't a good enough defence or midfield to defend nor a good enough midfield or strike force to attack.

Might as well go down fighting

I don't think Ole knows how to play safe and the 7 players that he brought in, in my opinion should of been good enough to do what Ole knows best all out attack, but it looks so far like most of them are failing big time. I wish Ole would not keep changing his team week after week. Ole has had 10 games under him now and brought in 7 players, he should now know his best 11 .

I don't think Ole knows how to play safe and the 7 players that he brought in, in my opinion should of been good enough to do what Ole knows best all out attack, but it looks so far like most of them are failing big time. I wish Ole would not keep changing his team week after week. Ole has had 10 games under him now and brought in 7 players, he should now know his best 11 .

Ole needs time and a summer transfer window to get rid of some of the deadwood and add to the squad. You were saying when Malky came here to give him time to bring his own players in ole has had 10 games do you expect him to hit the ground running?
I believe ole his squad and style of play should be judged on next season anything else would seem unfair

I don't think Ole knows how to play safe and the 7 players that he brought in, in my opinion should of been good enough to do what Ole knows best all out attack, but it looks so far like most of them are failing big time. I wish Ole would not keep changing his team week after week. Ole has had 10 games under him now and brought in 7 players, he should now know his best 11 .

To say they are failing big time is a bit harsh when they are only 10 games in, what you got to remember is that Ole is trying to educate players that have played a different style of football for the last 18 months plus, it was never going to be easy

Tonteg mentions Malky again despite the thread having nothing to do with him. Very strange man.

But we need to get a balance. We can't just attack and neglect our defensive responsibilities and vice versa with neglecting our attacking responsibilities.

The balance would probably be more geared to counter attacking football which can produce goals while having a tight defence.

With the pace on the wings and people like Mutch running through the centre would could cause problems and we could use Jones as an outlet for high balls and bringing others into play.

But we do need to protect out weaknesses. Our defence is a shambles so playing 4-4-2 and having no-one defensive minded in the middle of the park (I know Medel is injured but it is Ole's fault for not bringing in back-up) just screams "come and play through the centre of the park" to which Hull did overrun us.

Against Spurs we'd probably have to go back to Malky's style otherwise they'll put 5/6 past us. But that is the thing, going from playing attacking to defending every other week doesn't work. Players won't adapt quick enough. Which is why I think Ole's appointment was too late and it is why I think we're going down

its all about balance, attack in numbers when you can defend for your lives when you have to.

Sadly our three previous managers have failed to find that balance

Tonteg mentions Malky again despite the thread having nothing to do with him. Very strange man.

But we need to get a balance. We can't just attack and neglect our defensive responsibilities and vice versa with neglecting our attacking responsibilities.

The balance would probably be more geared to counter attacking football which can produce goals while having a tight defence.

With the pace on the wings and people like Mutch running through the centre would could cause problems and we could use Jones as an outlet for high balls and bringing others into play.

But we do need to protect out weaknesses. Our defence is a shambles so playing 4-4-2 and having no-one defensive minded in the middle of the park (I know Medel is injured but it is Ole's fault for not bringing in back-up) just screams "come and play through the centre of the park" to which Hull did overrun us.

Against Spurs we'd probably have to go back to Malky's style otherwise they'll put 5/6 past us. But that is the thing, going from playing attacking to defending every other week doesn't work. Players won't adapt quick enough. Which is why I think Ole's appointment was too late and it is why I think we're going down

You mentioned going back to Malky's style despite this thread being nothing to do with Malky. Very strange man.