Plan with the ball whether that’s from the back or winning the ball high up is a massive worry. Calvert-Lewin wants crosses and we seldom look to cross. Probably more of an issue with the full backs being played in that sense.
As for being shouted down, I’m not sure that’s true. Most are expressing concern at the lack of a style of play in possession. The style of possession is pretty obvious if largely ineffective sadly. The players are better than the play and results suggest for me and not playing your best players in their best positions is also a concern that lives long with Dyche. He is a very rigid manager (like many that’s also true) but does not change even when he has albeit limited options. Branthwaite massively impacts the team when he plays and I hope he’s not playing purely as he is not fully fit and not because if the incumbent players doing ok when he is clearly an improvement on them.
....was to let them try to play out, and then win the ball off them in the attacking third. Remember Arteta ditched Ramsdale because he didn't think he could do this. They looked shaky, and it was an obvious tactic to use.
Obviously that results in a lot of passes for them in their own half, but on a fair few occasions our hunting in packs did create turnovers, which obviously we wasted.
But the idea that it was a negative approach is something I fundamentally disagree with.
Sadly I think any attempt to look at the situation with nuance is just shouted down right now.
So he's toast sooner or later. Barring an unexpected transfer window we'll be back here in a few months having the same debates, if he is replaced soon. Moyes or anyone else will set these players up in largely the same way.
Responses