The Possession Obsession……It’s failing at last ?

The article is about City's demise more than anything. I think their problem is that guys like Walker, De Bruyne, Ake, Kovacic, Bernando etc all needed replacing at least 12 months ago and the squad needed a rebuild. It's been the same faces for 5/6 seasons now and time has caught up and they've been well and truly figured out.

I think slow possession football works if you have the right pieces and they are a hard yards DM, and a disciplined forward. Two things City had at their pomp and don't when they struggle. Same with MK, Notts, Carlisle and the others who try it at our level.

MKs problems were glaring yesterday, Jones pointed it out on commentary. Kelly and Crowley are too similar and if you can't get the ball in and out quickly from your central area, the plan fails every time. They need a breakdown player, a disruptor, who won't want more than 2 touches and presses like a mad-man. Even then, if it gets up top you need someone up there and MK like Carlisle haven't had a set striker all season. Notts worked their best when they knew Langstaff wouldn't leave the box. Short play will work but you need to recruit to it, and be able to afford it.

 

It's boring to watch. Hope it fades out of the English game altogether eventually.

 

I was reading a piece about Russell Martin and his managerial career, pretty much built of possession and pass accuary. People are pulling him up on it after a very poor season but up to this point his managerial style has been successful. Sometimes it's not your style of play that's failing, it's the players you have at your disposal just aren't good enough to implement that style. Personally I've never been a fan of Peps overall style at City, I find it quite dull, but respect how well he implements it. Much prefer a quicker tempo style of attacking football.

 

The modern manager now has a Plan A and if plan A fails you improve Plan A rather than trying run a plan B and these guys are in that boat.

It's not for me either, but different approaches to the game and the best thing for the game. Everyone playing one way regardless of whatever than one way is would be awful to watch.

 

Managers don't really have a plan B, they just make plan A work better. Take Parky, read what Wrexham fans or Bolton fans say. All comment on his style, the exact same style he had here at city, and that it's pretty direct but brings success with the right players. He doesn't have a plan B he makes plan A work. Why Carlisle find themselves playing non league football next season, recruited under one style of manager and expected a player who counts possession over everything else in Williamson to turn them around. Ending with an inevitable sacking. As vin weasel alludes to managers need time, we weren't pulling up tree before Christmas, it's only really now he's got that midfield quartet right that we are seeing this high level of football.

 

I saw an interview with Scott Lindsay earlier this season and I think he was bang on when he said teams have got so obsessed with possession but forgotten what the point of that possession is. Gary Neville mentioned it on commentary today on the Man City vs Liverpool match that teams are accepting they can control a match without having the ball, today's game was a good example as I don't think Liverpool ever looked out of control of the game despite having 34% possession, Forest have the lowest possession in the Premier League yet they are doing well. I don't think any of the top 3 teams in the Premier League are desperate for possession. Walsall are similar, they currently have 2nd lowest possession but they are fine with that as they know they can defend well and when they get the ball they'll create a chance, Wimbledon are 16th