Bolton 4-0 Blackburn Rovers

Reminds me of the good ol' days under Big Sam.

Whenever we played 4-3-3 it was classed as a brutalist 4-5-1.

When Mourinho came over and played the 4-3-3 with Duff and Robben it was hailed as revolutionary free flowing tactical wizardry.

Triumph wrote:

bwfc1874 wrote:

Triumph wrote:We need to be very very wary, ok 2 outstanding back to back performances but this is the guy who said 4-4-2 is old fashioned, so is it now back 'in fashion'? 

This has been exaggerated by fans in my opinion. I can't remember exactly what the quote said but it was as much about long ball being old fashioned as 442, and considering he played 2 up front last season (and a few times this) I find it seriously unlikely he simply meant that playing that shape was old fashioned.

Bit of a stupid thing to say on his part as it was bound to be taken the wrong way when things are going badly.

Yet he persisted with it even though it obviously does not work for us.

Assuming you mean he persisted with the 4231, not 442? True he did stick with it too long, but it wasn't like Coyle sticking with the same failing players and formation for an entire season even when our problems were obvious. Dougie at least tried 442 a few times and swapped the personnel to try and make it work. 

He's also the one who brought in Juke and Mason to play this system, given more funds who's to say he wouldn't have done it earlier?

He's made mistakes tactically, but he's got some things right. Given time he may just develop into a decent manager and we can save the £7 million (no idea if that's accurate) it would cost to sack him.

Hipster_Nebula wrote:
Whenever we played 4-3-3 it was classed as a brutalist 4-5-1.

When Mourinho came over and played the 4-3-3 with Duff and Robben it was hailed as revolutionary free flowing tactical wizardry.

The difference? How much the midfield push on to support the attack. TBH you can label a system pretty much what you like.
That's why I still don't get the grossly oversimplified assessment of Dougie's tactics that was used to divert attention away from poor individual performances and lack of effort/quality.

He has had to back track as 4-5-1 patently wasnt working.Pratley got injured early against Watford so he was forced to bring on Danns,which transformed the game.The guy isnt suddenly a tactical genius ffs,he still talks utter bollocks,makes very strange substitutions and the laugh out loud moment on saturday was the team sheet reading 4-1-2-1-2 fucking brilliant !!!!!!

A diamond is a 4-1-2-1-2, you really laughed out loud at that?

It's certainly been better for us than a traditional 4-4-2, Baptiste and Ream are almost playing as wing backs to compensate for the lack of width.

Don't think anybody's claiming Dougie's a tactical genius all of a sudden, but you don't have to be to succeed in this league.

bwfc1874 wrote:A diamond is a 4-1-2-1-2, you really laughed out loud at that?

It's certainly been better for us than a traditional 4-4-2, Baptiste and Ream are almost playing as wing backs to compensate for the lack of width.

Don't think anybody's claiming Dougie's a tactical genius all of a sudden, but you don't have to be to succeed in this league.

I have to be honest and say I agree, the diamond has really worked in the last two matches and I think we should keep it for the Leeds match. 

I'd like a pair of out and out wingers but this will be a physical battle and for my money Eagles and Lee aren't the right sort of players for that. In fact with Pratley out I'd leave the same four in the same shape for every game we can. Danns has really impressed me, Mavies clearly thrives on the new setup and even Spearing has looked a better and more intelligent player. Medo has done a pretty good job as well and from where I sat all four looked very comfortable with what they were doing on Saturday and supported each other well.

A diamond,new term for 4-4-2 , priceless !!

I don't think it's a new term in any way.

bwfc1874 wrote:I don't think it's a new term in any way.

It's not, the late Bobby Robson used the term a number of times, SAF has used it for years and so have the media. I guess Tigermin is just in the mood for a dig.

It's been happening all season, despite the huge amount of things fans could have a dig at Dougie for they aren't satisfied so are forced to invent/exaggerate things. Pathetic really.

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