Romoney Crichlow

You can’t say that!!!! It’s just so 1990’s.

I mean it never worked for Man U with Giggs / Kanchelskis on the wings with Yorke / Cole in the middle did it? They only won the treble and the PL title year after year.

No, Bradford City have to re-invent the wheel and bore their huge fanbase to tears in the process.

 

He wasn’t “ bad” in the sense of the word however he had zero competition, thus looked decent enough as a result. Watching him carefully you could see his limitations especially in the tippy tippy football that MH started playing.

I personally want us to try 352 and do away with the traditional “ full back” in any case.
Even if we kept the full back role , the modern game needs far more “ adventure “ out of them than of old. That’s where his limitations stood out for me. I honestly believe he’s not good enough for the modern position we need .

 

Maybe my memory is wrong but I seem to remember when Foulds first got in the team he made runs into the oppos box. Probably got a bollocking from MH for that. Anyway my post wasn't really about Foulds in person, it was more about how we can better defend set pieces and bigger full backs was one idea

 

We’ve won promotion in the past with tiny full backs where the blueprint has been fast / skillful wingers in front of them who then supply the guys who are paid to score goals.
Sounds simple? It is !

 

The spine of the team is everything to the success.
I like Crichlow, however I’m ok with this news as it gives us (club and supporters) clarity.

We do need a new partner for Stubbs however. Experienced, big in the air (at the back and attacking from corners) to go alongside the recruitment we need in CM to create a solid spine. Add to that width and pace and we’re on track IMO

 

That’s 442 and leaves us wide open , out numbered and overwhelmed in the middle to a 352.

442 is seldom seen these days

 

I’d love to know how many teams got promoted using 442 all season Kev, I’m not going to look it up as I can confidently guess it’s a big fat zero. Football has moved on, Fergies United would get destroyed to City now. Football regularly evolves.

 

I get your point - but how far has it evolved in league 2?

 

Orient, Stevenage, Northampton and Carlisle all played a variation of 3-5-2 / 5-3-2. As did Stockport.

Not all the time, they each dabbled with 4-2-3-1 as well, but 4-4-2 was basically non existent.

 

I have to confess I really enjoy watching Man City. The way they demolished Real Madrid in the first half of the second leg was astonishing football. Who would guess that the “ big lump” Stones would play as a defender and a midfielder player within the space of 20 seconds? Bernardo Silva a left back one minute and wide right the next. Probably the best team in the world right now and that includes every national team going. Incredible.

 

Oh that will get him 20 a season park

 

I could be wrong but wasn’t Doyle banging goals in for us when he went on loan to Swindon ?

 

Every team that got to an EFL play off final this season had a back 3/5 with either 2 up front and a 10 behind or 1 up top and 2 behind.

As you say every L2 promoted side had the wing back systems as their main tactic. In L1, Plymouth and Sheff Weds played the 3/5 wing back system. As did Sheff Utd and Luton in the champ.

Burnley and Ipswich were the only promoted teams to not play wing backs, Ipswich flirted with it but mainly played 4231, Burnley soley playing a 4231.

Even Parkinson, the man who has always been critised for dark age 442 ball has been playing a wing back system at Wrexham for 2 years. Games moved on from 442 hoof.

 

Problem is that's it's no longer 1970.

Fullbacks, even at this level have to offer more than just simply stopping the cross and booting it clear.

 

Look up Denis Irwin's stats.

One of the best attacking full backs of the 90's and a huge part of the team during the generation you just quoted.

 

Exactly the same distance it has in the premier League, just not to the same standard. You have noticed all the teams playing short from dead balls haven't you?

It's nonsense at this level in my mind but it absolutely filtered down from the top flight.

 

You wouldnt think its no longer 1970 given the way modern britain is

 

I think life was better then. So bring it on

 

You're right - I would like them to be able to win headers in our box too

 

I think you'll find they only won the treble once, not year after year.