Pop Quiz

[Alain Perrin]

Please if you feel the urge to turn this into a Lowe Out / JP to go thread then go elsewhere...

 

You're Jan P, you've just been embarrassed at home 0-2 by (former European Champions ) Nottingham Forest. The next game looms, what do you change and how?

 

You can't resign, bring in new players, magically fix injured ones or get rid of Rupert. You are where JP is now.

 

I ask because, having watched today's debacle, there was so much wrong I'm not sure what can be done to fix it (and having seen him interviewed post match I'm not sure he knows either).

[Mr X]

I think he should go to a different dealer and get some stronger erb......... that should do the trick :smt033

[Mr X]

Disclaimer: Mr X does not promote or condone the use of hallucinogenics, just say no

[Loyal Saint]

The formation, the half-time team talks, the lack of a plan B (in fact an A as well) I'm not totally sure about his hair cut and the accent needs working on. Other then that, with all the restrictions taken into account, I'm looking forward to a goal fest in the new year and I hope we can score the odd one or two as well. TOTAL FOOTBALL

Edited 21 December, 2008 by Loyal Saint

[Alain Perrin]

Personally I'd:

 

- Drop Lallana, because he typifies our too pretty, no product style.

- Tell whoever plays on the right to stay on the right (that Ryan Smith, if he's fit, would be a viable choice, even James who I don't rate at RB).

- Play a defense of Skacel, Perry, Pearce, Cork

- Play a midfield of Holmes, Surman, Euell, James/Smith

- Play McGoldrick in behind BWP.

 

This would be played 4-5-1, as now. I think the 4-4-2 argument is ********.

 

I'd also have them practice shooting for 3 days solid, not 35 yard shooting as we see in the warm up (woeful by the way 19 shots today, 5 on target, 3 goals), but 15 / 20 yd shooting.

Make them realise that every shot counts.

 

After that I don't know.

[offix]

Buy the complete Reading team?

No, that won't work because he would still manage to screw the tactics and team selection up.

Dang! I guess his only option is to start hinting at relegation in his talks, just to try and soften the blow and reduce expectations?

[Alain Perrin]

Glad to see this forum is a hot bed of ideas on how to improve things....

[stuey]

Personally I'd:

 

- Drop Lallana, because he typifies our too pretty, no product style.

- Tell whoever plays on the right to stay on the right (that Ryan Smith, if he's fit, would be a viable choice, even James who I don't rate at RB).

- Play a defense of Skacel, Perry, Pearce, Cork

- Play a midfield of Holmes, Surman, Euell, James/Smith

- Play McGoldrick in behind BWP.

 

This would be played 4-5-1, as now. I think the 4-4-2 argument is ********.

 

I'd also have them practice shooting for 3 days solid, not 35 yard shooting as we see in the warm up (woeful by the way 19 shots today, 5 on target, 3 goals), but 15 / 20 yd shooting.

Make them realise that every shot counts.

 

After that I don't know.

 

 

Well thats a good start! Its realistic, feasible and nobody can say 'we haven't got the finances,,, blah blah blah..'

 

Good post

[qwertySFC]

What I'd change if I was Jan,

 

Reduce the capacity of SMS to 4 or 5000

Remove all TV cameras

Make the players sign part time contracts

Make the Championship into a league of 15 teams

 

 

I'd do this as I am used to this level of football and did manage to win more than one game at home....My boys are not used to playing in front of cameras, I can only motivate players to perform in front of at a max 5000 fans, this business where they players have a higher profile than me is not the way to play total football ..and lets play less games cos the Boys get tired playing twice a week..

 

Problem solved.

[Andy_Porter]

I'd drop Lallana he's too much of a luxury in our current position, we don't need back heels and running around in circles we need balls into the box and people getting on the end of them. Same with the likes of Gasmi, he's just a luxury we don't need.

 

I'd drop McGoldrick to the bench, he's not the special player he likes to think he is.

 

I'd drop Perry, he's too old to be playing every week and needs a rest. I also think Cork and Pearce could develop a decent understanding together.

 

I'd make every player spend an extra 1-2 hours in training every day practising corners, I don't give a toss if it's Christmas time they get paid enough and we need to work on set pieces. I would put a great emphasis on set pieces, when ever we get a free kick in the attacking half I would make sure the ball goes into the box every time, not sideways and back to the keeper but direct into the box. Both defending and scoring from corners has been terrible recently and needs fixing.

 

Get rid of the passing game and just make sure we get balls in the box, into the channels etc and do it quickly. It's so annoying watching the side **** about with the ball while the opposition get 11 men behind the ball. I'd also play a nice deep defensive line and just knock the ball over the top.

 

Davis

James Cork Pearce Skacel

Surman Gillett Wotton © Holmes

Euell Robertson

 

Bart, Perry, Lallana, BWP and McGoldrick.

 

Gillett and Wotton in middle so we have some presence there, not much creativity but they will both kick players and make tackles, we won't be such a soft touch. Holmes supplying some width and Surman coming inside so we don't get steam rolled through the middle by teams playing 4-5-1. I'd basically tell everyone to by pass the midfield and just play direct to Holmes, Euell and Robertson. The main aim would be to keep it tight and get a goal from nothing.

 

I'd do anything possible to get Stern back up front, even if it means not renewing some of the loans or selling a few players. He could be vital for us, he got us out this **** once and if we're going to do it again we need him here, I don't give a toss about money getting relegated will cost a lot more than 10-15k p/w that he's on, anyone can see this apart from our coaches and chairman.

 

Basically we need to get rid of this stupid idea that we can pass our way out of trouble with some very poor players and a few loans. It isn't working, it was a nice idea and might have worked 2 years ago with Bale, Jones etc but not now with DMG, BWP, Lancashire, Perry etc. We need to go direct and just pump balls in to the box or into the channels, quick break aways and some presence in the side. The side won't magically start scoring goals if we carry on as we are with the tip toe football and we need a drastic change.