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Subject: National Team
From what I remember the same tactic made you fail against Slovensko in official game, so I'd put that win on account of Turkiye's tactic in that particular game...
Slight correction there - was standing at 1:1, it didn't give us a 1:1 because there was still 20min to go and we were lucky to be at 1:1 and then you hashed the order (it wasn't system generated)
of course it wasn't, you know better - even though greg wrote that it was a bug
It's rubbish because these things usually don't work twice in a row for multiple reasons.
1) We didn't have as good a form winger as before
2) We didn't have as you say our only NT class striker (I tend to disagree about only but that's another thing again).
3) We were lucky last time, it takes a lot to be lucky again.
4) The opposition would not have been surprised 2nd time around and could have done something about it.
5) There is almost no point watching the game as it's really going to be a game played in 1 half.
a. my aim is not to play interesting offensive footie, but to qualify for WC, therefore I don't care whether the way we play is nice or boring - it must be effective
b. no striker power, no winger power - so how on earth was I supposed to play offensively?
c. they used the same tactic, with slight tweaks - as did we. would've/could've - what matters is what happened...
I didn't say we had to play offensively, I just said I'd prefer to have lost playing offensively then parking the bus and losing.
I prefer to have a chance by playing defensively than to throw away the chance by playing open football...
we've had far worse to select from then what you've got at your disposal and we'll have worse to come in the next few seasons.
I don't think that in nearest 4 seasons there will be a weaker team. Defence is 25-27yo, strikers are 25-27yo, wingers are 25-27yo, gks are 22-25yo. central mids = Stathakis, O'Donoghue, Bowyer - still 3-5 seasons before they get old.
If you have 1 striker you consider that cuts it, when they're not available why persist with a lone striker (who you say isn't world class). Many a time if you're down on strikers using a 2nd option to help gather rebounds etc can negate that if you're willing to try.
look, do you really think that Drum would suddenly start dribbling through defenders if Leijer was on the field?
the main difference before this game and the last game against Turkiye was that this time Drum and Erdogan were in most cases unable to go past the defenders, even when they got a good ball. Drum is obviously weaker than Barnes and Erdogan lost his form. We were very limited in the offence and lining in another, even weaker striker wouldn't help much...
A player can be out on form and still play and create chances. I've yet to see a game where they can't. At club level most deal with this every match, NT level is the same. If you don't have a better option you stick to what you have. The fact you didn't play Puca meant you had a decent enough substitute.
I tried players without form in this season and I saw difference. If you don't see any, it's your issue. Just compare the way Erdogan was running and dribbling in 2 weeks ago and in last game.
(edited)
Slight correction there - was standing at 1:1, it didn't give us a 1:1 because there was still 20min to go and we were lucky to be at 1:1 and then you hashed the order (it wasn't system generated)
of course it wasn't, you know better - even though greg wrote that it was a bug
It's rubbish because these things usually don't work twice in a row for multiple reasons.
1) We didn't have as good a form winger as before
2) We didn't have as you say our only NT class striker (I tend to disagree about only but that's another thing again).
3) We were lucky last time, it takes a lot to be lucky again.
4) The opposition would not have been surprised 2nd time around and could have done something about it.
5) There is almost no point watching the game as it's really going to be a game played in 1 half.
a. my aim is not to play interesting offensive footie, but to qualify for WC, therefore I don't care whether the way we play is nice or boring - it must be effective
b. no striker power, no winger power - so how on earth was I supposed to play offensively?
c. they used the same tactic, with slight tweaks - as did we. would've/could've - what matters is what happened...
I didn't say we had to play offensively, I just said I'd prefer to have lost playing offensively then parking the bus and losing.
I prefer to have a chance by playing defensively than to throw away the chance by playing open football...
we've had far worse to select from then what you've got at your disposal and we'll have worse to come in the next few seasons.
I don't think that in nearest 4 seasons there will be a weaker team. Defence is 25-27yo, strikers are 25-27yo, wingers are 25-27yo, gks are 22-25yo. central mids = Stathakis, O'Donoghue, Bowyer - still 3-5 seasons before they get old.
If you have 1 striker you consider that cuts it, when they're not available why persist with a lone striker (who you say isn't world class). Many a time if you're down on strikers using a 2nd option to help gather rebounds etc can negate that if you're willing to try.
look, do you really think that Drum would suddenly start dribbling through defenders if Leijer was on the field?
the main difference before this game and the last game against Turkiye was that this time Drum and Erdogan were in most cases unable to go past the defenders, even when they got a good ball. Drum is obviously weaker than Barnes and Erdogan lost his form. We were very limited in the offence and lining in another, even weaker striker wouldn't help much...
A player can be out on form and still play and create chances. I've yet to see a game where they can't. At club level most deal with this every match, NT level is the same. If you don't have a better option you stick to what you have. The fact you didn't play Puca meant you had a decent enough substitute.
I tried players without form in this season and I saw difference. If you don't see any, it's your issue. Just compare the way Erdogan was running and dribbling in 2 weeks ago and in last game.
(edited)
From what I remember the same tactic made you fail against Slovensko in official game, so I'd put that win on account of Turkiye's tactic in that particular game...
It was similar but slightly different but we only lost by 1 goal (could have even won from memory). At the same time I went away for that game and so didn't get the fine tuning of the tactic that I wanted. Tactics obviously play a part and yeah you could put it down to Turkeys tactic or you could put it down to Slovakias tactic as they went on with the same manager to finish runner up in the world cup the next season, of which we only lost by 1 goal over 2 legs. I was basically just saying we didn't need to park the bus as at some point losing those in midfield results in the opposition having more shots (as strange as it may sound) whilst reducing your own.
of course it wasn't, you know better - even though greg wrote that it was a bug
It's an interesting situation. The 'bug' greg mentions only occurs when a 2nd tactic has either been deleted or not selected yet the match order has the switch specified. The user error which results in this so called 'bug' is not a bug, it's user error. That's why there has been no replay.
Originally I thought the switch was made at min70 but I have been rightly corrected and that drop was part of the normal tactic, the difference being you had 1-2 squares out where they dropped right back and that throw happened to occur for that square. This happened throughout the match, particularly early on as well.
In short you must have had an order to execute a 2nd tactic but the tactic was either deleted or not selected (I can't tell as I can't see match orders and you didn't display the match orders either before the next game so it's safe to assume you most likely coughed up :p)
Anyway, despite all this I just believe that 9men behind the ball is wasted and will come off probably 1 time in 100. Defensive is ok, I prefer defensive too but there comes a point where playing too defensively kills you as was the case here and ideally should have last time as well. If you want to play that defensively you'd be better off playing 9 pure defenders then 5 defenders and midfielders with mid range defense.
It was similar but slightly different but we only lost by 1 goal (could have even won from memory). At the same time I went away for that game and so didn't get the fine tuning of the tactic that I wanted. Tactics obviously play a part and yeah you could put it down to Turkeys tactic or you could put it down to Slovakias tactic as they went on with the same manager to finish runner up in the world cup the next season, of which we only lost by 1 goal over 2 legs. I was basically just saying we didn't need to park the bus as at some point losing those in midfield results in the opposition having more shots (as strange as it may sound) whilst reducing your own.
of course it wasn't, you know better - even though greg wrote that it was a bug
It's an interesting situation. The 'bug' greg mentions only occurs when a 2nd tactic has either been deleted or not selected yet the match order has the switch specified. The user error which results in this so called 'bug' is not a bug, it's user error. That's why there has been no replay.
Originally I thought the switch was made at min70 but I have been rightly corrected and that drop was part of the normal tactic, the difference being you had 1-2 squares out where they dropped right back and that throw happened to occur for that square. This happened throughout the match, particularly early on as well.
In short you must have had an order to execute a 2nd tactic but the tactic was either deleted or not selected (I can't tell as I can't see match orders and you didn't display the match orders either before the next game so it's safe to assume you most likely coughed up :p)
Anyway, despite all this I just believe that 9men behind the ball is wasted and will come off probably 1 time in 100. Defensive is ok, I prefer defensive too but there comes a point where playing too defensively kills you as was the case here and ideally should have last time as well. If you want to play that defensively you'd be better off playing 9 pure defenders then 5 defenders and midfielders with mid range defense.
Great game by midfielders today, really impressive display.
Villafane's goal is my favourite one in this season, awesome decision and accuracy ;).
Leijer was a bit disappointing in the beginning but all in all played a decent game.
Bowyer was ripping their defence apart with pin-point accuracy passes [that's how you say it? :p]
28:3 in shots, much better than 10:5 in first game...we've won 7:1 and still can say that we should've scored more ;).
Villafane's goal is my favourite one in this season, awesome decision and accuracy ;).
Leijer was a bit disappointing in the beginning but all in all played a decent game.
Bowyer was ripping their defence apart with pin-point accuracy passes [that's how you say it? :p]
28:3 in shots, much better than 10:5 in first game...we've won 7:1 and still can say that we should've scored more ;).
Great results for U21 and seniors this weekend :)
You just have to beat Austria now Borkos
You just have to beat Austria now Borkos
'just' ;)
also if Turkiye manages to win against Austria, then a draw will give us a qualification as well...
if we draw and Osterreich beats Turkiye then we're screwed, unfortunately :/
also if Turkiye manages to win against Austria, then a draw will give us a qualification as well...
if we draw and Osterreich beats Turkiye then we're screwed, unfortunately :/
lucky win against Costa Rica, though we used mostly C team because I didn't want to risk injuries/cards for 1st team players and reserves. still, considering we played most of the time with 10 players and then since '72 with 9 - not bad
some players got their first NT game - Huddleton[nice red card in '24], Wimbridge, Graham, Haliti. Last week Kevin Scott had his debut :)
some players got their first NT game - Huddleton[nice red card in '24], Wimbridge, Graham, Haliti. Last week Kevin Scott had his debut :)
My old U21 guys make the step up. Taught them everything they know ;)
From what I can see the next WC Q should reach the maximum potential of NT in terms of skills. Erdogan, Fihaki and Griffiths will be in their prime; same goes with Barnes, Leijer and Huxley. The current 1st team defenders are 25-27yo, Elrich will be at his best as well.
The only concern I have is about central midfielders, but O'Donoghue, Lozanovski and Haliti should achieve the level of Stewart, Puca, Villafane + Bowyer and Stathakis will still be at their best.
It's looking good :)
The only concern I have is about central midfielders, but O'Donoghue, Lozanovski and Haliti should achieve the level of Stewart, Puca, Villafane + Bowyer and Stathakis will still be at their best.
It's looking good :)
I'll be trying to keep Kohler and Nesic at their best, in case they're called upon.
Shame I don't have any other guns in their prime. It's been a lean period.
Shame I don't have any other guns in their prime. It's been a lean period.
I'm happy to bench my NT players to prevent them from injuries if you want to for the next two NT games.
Club wise, I ain't bothered where I end up in the AL as I head for a qualifier anyway.
Let me know who you want rested if you want them rested.
Club wise, I ain't bothered where I end up in the AL as I head for a qualifier anyway.
Let me know who you want rested if you want them rested.
That's very nice of you, if it's possible please bench Griffiths - since Erdogan lost his form, it would be very bad to lose Griffiths because of an injury. Just one week will be fine though :)
I also don't have much choice and will be forced to use Erdogan for my club due to my league match carnage yesterday :). (I'd still have used him anyway for such an important game though I like making it sound as if I'd have not played him :p).