New Way Of Playing

Interesting point. I can't answer that either but I'd be interested to know what they mean. Might be ignorant here but in terms of being a centre half it can only refer to:

Play out v Long ball
High line v Deep
Back 3 v Back 4

What have I missed?

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czr68yr66mvo

The former Wigan and Blackpool man joined City from Salford in the summer, signing a two-year deal and told BBC Radio Leeds: "For us as players, it has been quite easy, (Alexander) will stop and show you clips and we will nail it down.

"From minute one, we knew exactly what the gaffer wanted to do and it's been different from anything I've ever done with the shape. Going into the first game, there were six or seven debutants but we all knew what we wanted to do and where we had to be on the pitch, it's been relentless but enjoyable."

Bradford were 2-0 up in the first 13 minutes on Saturday and Tilt knew the "importance of getting off to a good start".

"It's important collectively and individually, personally I don't change what I do, I know what I'm good at and what my attributes are," he said.

"It's just implementing them on the pitch. Every day is a learning day for me, no matter your age, we can get better as a team and hopefully we can cause some upsets this year."

---

Seems it's the shape for Tilt

 

Well whatever it is the defence are certainly looking solid in the first two games.

 

I'm going for a back three but also when to push up and press onto opposition players and when not to. Something like that.

 

Three at the back?

Salford always played 4 from recollection .

Kilnarnock 2024
This was the root cause of problems when devising what formation to play. As stated, I genuinely believe we look our most comfortable in a 4-4-2 set-up.

 

Was going to post something similar really unsure what they mean. I like GA, but nothing from the players or team last year screams new or innovative.

 

Does anyone play 4-4-2 anymore? Don't even think Parky uses it anymore, hasn't done for ages.

 

I reckon so. The difference seems to be the job of the second striker in that system playing more like a link between midfield and attack with the wide players playing more like wide forwards.

 

It’s a common denominator if both their last two clubs are the benchmark ? It can’t be 442 because we don’t play 442 , rather 343, 532 or 352 . The last three are variations of the same defensive structure, whereby 442 isn’t ? I can’t think of anything else tbh .

 

I suspect what they mean is the way they are asked to press. When Wycombe pushed the ball out wide in their own half, our wing back on that side immediately pushed onto them to add to our forwards' pressing. Our outside centre back then pushed to the full-back position to mark their wingback, as the other two centrebacks moved across to cover the central area.

It happened mulitple times and seemed to work well, stopping Wycombe getting up the flanks. It was kind of like playing a back 4, with one wing back pushed up on whichever side the ball was to overload that area. When Wycombe switched sides, the first wingback dropped as the other pushed forward and three centre backs moved across. It was very noticeable how the outside centre backs were often quickly covering ground right out to the touchline to mark a man as our wingback moved forwards, but then pulling back central again as soon as that side was repulsed. So both wingbacks and outside centre backs were probably having to work a bit harder than in most other teams' back 5s that we see, to supply extra pressing up the wings. Their extra work led to more pressure on the Wycombe defence and midfield in its attempts to distribute the ball and lots of good early turnovers.

This worked very well in the first half but much less so in the second as people tired. Also, I think Wycombe worked out that it left us lightly defended on the other side when the other wingback dropped, and so vulnerable to quick diagonal balls, or similar switching, rather than the slower passing across the centrebacks. It will be interesting to see if our second half defending improves as our wingbacks and outside centre backs get more match fitness under their belts. They did a great job in the first half. If they can extend it to 70 minutes, then subsitutes can be used to relieve anyone getting tired. I just hope Alexander sees any tiredness more quickly. I think earlier subtitutions against Wycombe might have helped avoid their goal. You could see it coming from the stands from soon after half time. The overall performance was a pleasant surprise, though. It's almost a new team and they did well, so one might hope for further improvement to come.

 

This is great information for the away team. Just in case they didn’t see the Wycombe game we have a BCAFC fan’s view of our tactics!