joey_big_nose

Yes - the last unequivocally good performance in the 433 was Preston away back in at the end of November..... We just ran out of steam to play that way. Too many games to play with the required intensity to make it work, too many injuries, other sides tactically figured us out. How did it take us 3 months to come up with an effective plan B? I'm not having Dack as part of that, Rothwell or Holtby could have played behind the striker in a 4231. We had all the personnel to do it...

He's pulled out a quite a few really decent tackles last two games. Looks like he could be a long term fit to play alongside Travis in the midfield engine room.

Really good performance, should have won easily but didn't. Have said that too many times this season.. I have a nagging suspicion that we caught them - and Millwall - out with our (frankly bizarre) 4231 false nine system. I think they were expecting 433. It really suited everyone I think. Dolan with his energy plays the false nine role very well. Dack was picking up his old positions. Everyone played well really, Swansea couldnt cope. My somewhat skeptical suspicion is that when other teams realise we are playing that way it may get a bit more tricky as they setup to cancel us out. But it underlines that you need some tactical flexibility when other sides figure you out. It would have been handy if we had landed on this new setup after getting well beaten in early Feb rather than waiting 6 games to steady the ship.... Anyway we've got a really promising young team. 6 academy players played today, more coming through, and good quality in the squad. We just need a manager who can build a resilient team out of them. It's totally unacceptable that we are lower mid table.

Is this sarcastic thought he's looked really good. 4231 suiting him.

I'd be really surprised if we went back to 433 after finally winning with 4231, especially against a Swans team that can pass through is for fun. So same personnel but with Trybull and Buckley sitting, Dack more advanced behind Dolan, Gallagher right, Brereton left.

The goals were fluky, but we were completely and utterly the better team. Should have won by more. Can't really shake the feeling though that we won because Millwall were terrible.

Well everybody who played today had played in those positions previously under Mowbray, but I think Dolan as a 9 only a couple of times as a sub (and he had looked decent when he did it). So from Mowbrays perspective it would have been pretty consistent with how he's approached formations previously (strikers on the wing, wingers at 9, winger at RB). That said outside of Mowbrays own tactical universe it was pretty unusual! But for him not too weird.

Totally dominated the game. Makes you wonder how we lost 6 of the last 7. Could be that Milwall just didnt turn up. Felt that way. Or could be the team was better setup with Dolan, Trybull, Buckley, JRC in the side in a 4231. We'll get to find out on Tuesday as it's likely, at least I hope to God, to be as close to an unchanged team as possible. Thought Dolan was really terrific. Think he will be a top player for us. Buckley was very poor on the ball first half but interestingly put in some crunching tackles... I think he should get a run of games alongside Trybull. Hey ho knowing Mowbray we will now win four of the next six.... Really hard to be enthused about it though as we will then probably lose all the games in April. Need more consistentcy.

I think Brereton is really good at hold up play. Rarely loses it and if he does usually gets a free kick. What he is really rubbish at is heading the ball, which is what makes me wonder if her can really play a 9 role. But given how terrible we are I'd give him a run at 9. If Armstrong's out what other option do we have? A half fit Dack as the so far totally unproductive false 9, and the kid McBride.

@JoeH- do you have any stats on how we've performed against teams with 3 at the back (343, 352, 3412)? Even when we were playing well it seemed a theme that we get turned over by those formations. Basically the oppos wing backs end up dominating our full backs and we can't get any change out of their 3 centrebacks.

We're absolutely all over the place at the moment. No idea what we do formation wise. In Feb we've gone from being decent going forward but weak defensively to rubbish at both. Heads are down too. We've tried 433, 4231 and 343 and not looked much better in any of them. If you were to pin it to one thing the defence just doesnt look stable and that undermines the whole team. That's been a consistent issue under Mowbray but it's probably at its worst ever point currently. I'm sure virtually any new manager would come in, spend whatever money is available on defenders and work on clean sheets as a priority. The whole team would grow in confidence from a more stable focus. Not the Mowbray way though. Surely another loss and he's gone, but the most recent interview makes it sound like he can lose infinite games... Mad.

I've thought about it, based on the comments above and the managers available, and agree it sounds like it will be Pulis 😞 The key thing with Venkys is low effort simplicity - so if Pulis is represented by people they know, and is available, and has the basic metrics on his CV (ie. a promotion) then that makes sense. Add to that Mowbray's pretty intense discussion of possession football winning promotions post game, and saying to stick to that philosophy, I think it sounds pretty nailed on that Pulis is on the cards. To be more optimistic maybe there are a couple of names in the hat (say Pulis and Hughes) and Mowbray is trying to steer them away from Pulis. But I just can't see Venkys looking beyond someone represented by people they have a relationship with who meets some basic easily understandable criteria.

Ah.... that would tie up with Mowbray banging on about possession football getting teams promoted in that interview, and you should stick with it, and not tear it up and start with a "new idea" - ie. Pullis hoof ball.... Jesus. Pulis would be a real downer.

Oh nothing of any real substance. Think there was a snippet in the Sun or something a week or so back.

I am intrigued about how exactly Venkys are going to find and negotiate with a new manager. The whole setup the club is so mental. As someone on here pointed out we got Mowbray through Paul Senior, who left when we got relegated. Then Mowbray effectively appointed Waggot (lol). So they don't know if they can really trust him to find a new manager. So they've got to go via an agency (but presumably will be wary of that after being rinsed by Kentaro). Or go for something mad like the Shebby Singh thing where thye get someone they trust to do it, even if they know nothing about football. We could be in a bit of weird situation where : Mowbray wants to go (his interview sounded like he does...) The owners want him out But the owners actually don't know how to do it. How mad is that? In that context I reckon maybe the rumours about Hughes could be true as he is well known enough for Venkys to just pick up the phone to him directly. But I imagine Hughes won't be particularly impressed with the level of dysfunction at the club if that is true.

What I found funny about this is the sky pundits were on one hand saying they thought we should be top six but also seemed to think Tony was under no pressure despite losing six in seven. Bizarre.

Think he's going but don't think he's resigning.

Mowbrays interview interesting. Mentioned that he might be replaced several times. Seems like he's going. Sky pundits all pretty shocked and seem to think he's going also.

What season was that?

I would be interested to hear how many managers survive a six loss in seven run. Can't be many.

I can't see the owners taking unlimited number of defeats. It's a popular view to say Venkys are disinterested and will not take action, but they have signed off a lot of checks, so obviously they are making a significant investment. Might take them a while to wake up, but they will wake up eventually. He's going at some point between now and the end of the season. I am sure of it. I guess part of the issue if they decide to move on from Mowbray (potentially already happened) how do they actually execute that? They will know finding the right manager is difficult, and they are open to getting rinsed again by agents etc. So they need to figure out who is to find out the replacement. Do we know who selected Mowbray for Venkys?

Reading play 4231 (not our kryptonite of 343) and are a bit hit and miss so actually think we've got a reasonable chance of scraping a win here. Personally I have reached the point of thinking a loss wouldn't be so bad if it meant we just moved on with our future (ie. remove Mowbray). Obviously want us to win, but if not and Mowbray goes it's not a terrible outcome.

I think that's unfair to Kaminski - looks a top keeper to me, better than Raya imo. Best signing in a long time. Dolan is very young, but like Rothwell you can see as he matures he could turn into a top player. Got all the attributes to routinely beat his marker and scores goals. Otherwise hard to disagree. Branthwaite started really well for us in the first three games but since then he's been all over the place. If we'd got a decent defender who was fit instead of Ayala, and a decent left back with a bit of an engine as opposed to Douglas, we would be in a much better position. Those two poor signings have really really cost us. I imagine a new manager will focus on CB, LB and probably look at how to create some genuine width as unlikely to be keen on Mowbrays "strikers on the wing" philosophy... May also look at the proper striking options and bring in someone who scores goals to support Armstrong (assuming he stays of course), and try and shift out one or both of Brereton and Gallagher. But apart from that he will more than likely be reasonably happy with the players at his disposal. Most decent managers will think they can get more from the players here. A bit like when Allardyce pitched up after Ince - he was pretty emphatic we had a good squad, just it had been used poorly. And so it proved...

Got to be time up for Mowbray surely.

Mowbrays been interesting, actually active on the sidelines, not sitting and sulking like most of Feb.