Being able to adapt
Talking Point 🗣️
It seems like a lifetime ago that we played Birmingham, but still the afterglow remains. Now the trick is to take that forward.
We saw a very different style of play from Nathan Jones, possibly forced by the absence of Ahadme, but clearly architected by him as well to press City into submission and completely throw them out of their patterns.
Jones was quick to point out afterwards that no other team had gone at the Blues like we had. It was great to watch and we should have won by more than a goal.
Despite Jones’ self-pitying outburst fans were right to be critical of the previous three games. He was critical himself.
They were abysmal and even for people like me that was extolling Jones’ style when he was appointed that it would be both effective and exciting, Stevenage for example, which I was at, had no endearing features to cling onto.
Yet, the Birmingham game was not only a masterclass in tactics, it also proved that he can change it up, and importantly the style of play can get us off our seats.
I don’t need to be entertained by tippy-tappy football, especially when 3rd Division players think they are Virgil van Dijk, but the energetic swarm of the high press, when done properly does get me on my feet.
More please, Nathan.
Stockport County play like a Nathan Jones team. Aggressive out of possession, they like to regain the ball higher up the pitch and they have a very well drilled defence.
They have the third best goals against record in the division, continuing where they off from last season. One word of caution is that they take a lot of shots from outside of the box.
The key now is for us to adapt to all styles of play, and to create chances against teams that allow us to have the ball, as opposed to forcing errors to score. We lack a creative player, but playing decisively through the thirds, and pulling opponents out of position will offer us chances.
Let’s see.
Hi CA
glad that no injuries or serious damage to you home in Sarasota.
Agree with your comments regarding team formation. NJ should keep using the one that was successful against Birmingham, and only make minor changes when necessary. Frequent formation changes can confuse players, as recently seen in England games. Richard
In hindsight the defeat to Bristol Rovers where our three man midfield was bypassed was probably a good thing, although it didn’t feel like it the time. It said to me that our 3-5-2 strategy had been well and truly sussed and needed to evolve. After a couple of poor results prior to that match maybe it finally persuaded NJ that he needed to change things against Birmingham or else.
We have though shown the rest of L1 how to play against Birmingham, as an aside I wonder if they are going to see a 4-5-1/packed midfield formation with the high press a bit more from now on? If so how will they react?
We will be without the suspended Conor Coventry (five yellows) so there will be at least one change and Miles Leaburn should be that much fitter and possibly ready to start. If so I’d like to see him rather than Gassan Ahadme get the nod, he’s a bit more mobile and has a bit more to his game. Part of Ahadme’s problem is that he doesn’t seem to link with the midfield or his fellow forwards, I don’t see that as a problem that Leaburn has.
Ahadme’s illness and/or broken nose, I forget the precise excuse, was better spin than admitting he was dropped.
If Miles is nearing a starting berth it is weird he didn’t get at least 45 minutes in one of the U21s many recent games
Straight into men’s football after just 37 minutes against Brizzle 3 weeks ago would be a stupid risk
If he’s going to be involved it shouldn’t be more than to replace Godden when he is inevitably substituted after about an hour
Berry steps in for Coventry in an otherwise unchanged lineup and tactics the same as for Brum