As suggested by @Johnnyrotten splitting this off from the transfer chat as a place for formation nerds like me to discuss tactics.

@wanderer1984 I agree 343 is a really weird formation. Off the top of my head I can only think of 2 teams playing it successfully in the last 20ish years - Brazil 2002 and Chelsea under Conte.

Brazil 2002 had Cafu and Roberto Carlos as the wing backs.... And a front 3 that was ridiculous, so don't really work as a comparison to any other team.

However Chelsea under Conte is interesting. The 3 at the back helped to not expose David Luiz when he'd invariably wander. And the wing backs were completely different, Alonso was previously a full back, and Moses previously a winger. And Chelsea would play Azpilicueta at RCB to cover Moses.

So @Rival Son I'm not sure we need 2 primarily attacking wing backs to make it work. Schon as more attacking and Cogley more defensive could be fine.

The bit we are missing is in midfield though. Both those teams had pure enforcers in the centre. Chelsea had Matic and Kanye, and Brazil had Gilberto Silva and Kleberson (more a hard worker but not a ball player definitely). This is where we seem way off it with Thomason and Sheehan. I like both but they're not enforcers.

57 minutes ago, Zog1 said:

During that 2011/12 season part of the reason we went down is because we recruited from the league below. Players like Chris Eagles, Tyrone Mears, Robbie Blake, Darren Pratley just couldn't cut it in the Premier League. It never ends well when a manager starts spending millions on players that are either the same or worse than he's already recruited.

The way Evatt talks about football sounds a lot like how communists talk about the economy. Lots of talk of collective responsibility, a fixed rigid game plan, how changing the manager (Dear Leader) would do nothing.

Individual drive and flair being recruited for but being repressed once signed. No wonder players often get caught in possession they're terrified of the gulag of being forced to play with the kids (Sarcevic hinted this).

 

 

 

 

Fucking hell that's a real stretch

6 minutes ago, perth_white said:

Fucking hell that's a real stretch

What's a stretch? Do you think i called him a communist? if you think that, i can only ask you reread what i said.

4 hours ago, Zog1 said:

What's a stretch? Do you think i called him a communist? if you think that, i can only ask you reread what i said.

Haha no, comparing a football club to communism was the stretch 

He just compared the manager to a communist leader in fairness.

A simple, jocular comment.

Raised a brief smile at the start of another day of hoping FV start the next phase..

5 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

He just compared the manager to a communist leader in fairness.

A simple, jocular comment.

Raised a brief smile at the start of another day of hoping FV start the next phase..

I don't think @Zog1was joking though. It's not like I'm offended or even arsed, it was ludicrous but I guess kinda funny in a way

Some simple analogies.

I don't think he really feels that Evatt is the next Stalin etc.

 

Can you imagine the mood at the training ground today.

Just been battered again, players clearly losing / lost confidence in his way of playing, he’s just publicly questioned whether they’re even trying and we’ve got an away game to prep for tomorrow.

”Right lads, I know I called you all shithouses and the tactics didn’t work again, but don’t worry I’ve got a plan for beating Lincoln. Let’s start with a bit of playing out from the back practice, instead of Rico passing it 5 yards to Nathan, why don’t we try George doing it and see how that goes. Strikers, go and play one bounce”

Bit of an exaggeration but on a serious note, there’s no way they’re going in today enthused and believing in what they’re being told to do any more.

4 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Can you imagine the mood at the training ground today.

Just been battered again, players clearly losing / lost confidence in his way of playing, he’s just publicly questioned whether they’re even trying and we’ve got an away game to prep for tomorrow.

”Right lads, I know I called you all shithouses and the tactics didn’t work again, but don’t worry I’ve got a plan for beating Lincoln. Let’s start with a bit of playing out from the back practice, instead of Rico passing it 5 yards to Nathan, why don’t we try George doing it and see how that goes. Strikers, go and play one bounce”

Bit of an exaggeration but on a serious note, there’s no way they’re going in today enthused and believing in what they’re being told to do any more.

If Evatt has bothered to show up. Probably one of his work from home days. 

Is he still here ?

Reading Evatt's comments today in the BEN shows how limited he is tactically. He thinks there's only one other style of football other than what we are playing.

 

"I don't want to coach it because I don't think that that can get you success long-term.

“It doesn't mean to say I can't. I could easily coach more direct set piece based football"

It's either the possession game he thinks we're playing or long ball according to him. He has no concept that there are ways of playing faster and more direct on the floor, and he's deluded if he thinks we're playing the same style as a couple of years ago. We're currently ambling around the backline and then hoofing it. 

14 minutes ago, Stig said:

Reading Evatt's comments today in the BEN shows how limited he is tactically. He thinks there's only one other style of football other than what we are playing.

 

"I don't want to coach it because I don't think that that can get you success long-term.

“It doesn't mean to say I can't. I could easily coach more direct set piece based football"

It's either the possession game he thinks we're playing or long ball according to him. He has no concept that there are ways of playing faster and more direct on the floor, and he's deluded if he thinks we're playing the same style as a couple of years ago. We're currently ambling around the backline and then hoofing it. 

 

He’s channelling his inner Owen Coyle here:

FAITH is the key to turning around Wanderers’ stuttering season in League One.

That’s the verdict of manager Ian Evatt, who will resist calls to change his side’s style of football to get back into the promotion chase.

Bolton host Cambridge United this afternoon looking to build on a midweek win at Lincoln City in the Vertu Trophy – and Evatt is convinced it can be achieved by ‘doubling down’ on the possession game he has used exclusively in his four-and-a-half years with the club.

Fans have voiced their frustration with the manager’s tactics, most recently in defeat at Rotherham United last weekend, which left the Whites 10th in the table and four points outside the play-offs.

But Evatt has spent this week reinforcing a message to his players that fortunes will change if they stick to the gameplan.

“We didn’t have questions when we were second in the league, or in the play-off final, the play-offs before that or when we got promotion two years before that – we didn’t have those issues,” he told The Bolton News.

“The style of play isn’t changing, it isn’t going to change, because I fully believe in it.

“Sometimes they players do need reminders. I’m a man with strong faith and belief, I’m a churchgoer, and people always tell you that when you are doubting things and having tough times that they are the moments when you need to increase that faith.

😮 

 

We are being ran and managed by a religious cult.

Some of the stuff he comes out with just amazes me  .

Mr Teflon scores another own goal

Definitely doesn't help himself when every word he utters is scrutinised

Just take the pill, swallow and let the footie do the talking 

Less is more and the last few sentences didn't really need airing as every man, his dog and his dog's pals will be over them like a rash     

His latest comments just smack.of someone believing they're an unappreciated genius.  He's obviously chosen to forget the questions that were thrown at him at the time, which were largely muted because most of us still had faith then too.  

80s minutes at Northampton aside, our form this season hasn't even been close to what it was for large parts of last season.

1 hour ago, desperado said:

He’s channelling his inner Owen Coyle here:

FAITH is the key to turning around Wanderers’ stuttering season in League One.

That’s the verdict of manager Ian Evatt, who will resist calls to change his side’s style of football to get back into the promotion chase.

Bolton host Cambridge United this afternoon looking to build on a midweek win at Lincoln City in the Vertu Trophy – and Evatt is convinced it can be achieved by ‘doubling down’ on the possession game he has used exclusively in his four-and-a-half years with the club.

Fans have voiced their frustration with the manager’s tactics, most recently in defeat at Rotherham United last weekend, which left the Whites 10th in the table and four points outside the play-offs.

But Evatt has spent this week reinforcing a message to his players that fortunes will change if they stick to the gameplan.

“We didn’t have questions when we were second in the league, or in the play-off final, the play-offs before that or when we got promotion two years before that – we didn’t have those issues,” he told The Bolton News.

“The style of play isn’t changing, it isn’t going to change, because I fully believe in it.

“Sometimes they players do need reminders. I’m a man with strong faith and belief, I’m a churchgoer, and people always tell you that when you are doubting things and having tough times that they are the moments when you need to increase that faith.

😮 

 

Obviously those comments are yet more evidence of him losing the plot, as others have said.  To say there were no questions when we were in the play offs, when we were 2nd, that we didn't have those issues, is just plain wrong - either burying his head in the sand yet again, or just lieing. 

The questions on us being inflexible, weak and incapable of turning up for the big games have been there for about 2 years.  Seriously, what planet is he on, every interview he has just makes him look worse, as if the tactics and to a lesser extent signings don't already do that for him.

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

We are being ran and managed by a religious cunt.

Spelling correction..

Too much talk of formations and tatics. If players aren't capable of doing the basics of their role/ position, todays shocking Cambridge goals, then it dosen't matter what formation or tatics are used. Again examples of players not doing the basics.

27 minutes ago, waffer cup 07 said:

Too much talk of formations and tatics. If players aren't capable of doing the basics of their role/ position, todays shocking Cambridge goals, then it dosen't matter what formation or tatics are used. Again examples of players not doing the basics.

I don't agree at all. Tactics and formations are a fundamental part of the game and ours generally make it very easy to play against us.

Our tactics include:

-passing the ball around very deep in defence. Once a mistake is made the opposition are almost in on goal already.

-leaving players unmarked on the edge of the box. Good technical players have a free shot.

-keeping the ball to retain possession rather than getting it in the box early.

And our formation is a mess because we make a massive reliance on wing backs and leave the centre midfield area vacant.

Mentality, effort and ability are obviously important but to dismiss the tactics we use as being part of the issue is madness.

No, your missing my point.

5 hours ago, Stig said:

I don't agree at all. Tactics and formations are a fundamental part of the game and ours generally make it very easy to play against us.

Our tactics include:

-passing the ball around very deep in defence. Once a mistake is made the opposition are almost in on goal already.

-leaving players unmarked on the edge of the box. Good technical players have a free shot.

-keeping the ball to retain possession rather than getting it in the box early.

And our formation is a mess because we make a massive reliance on wing backs and leave the centre midfield area vacant.

Mentality, effort and ability are obviously important but to dismiss the tactics we use as being part of the issue is madness.

Spot on.

I can't see the article in the BEN, but something about possible change in formation and a diamond midfield with a back 4?

12 minutes ago, Blondi said:

I can't see the article in the BEN, but something about possible change in formation and a diamond midfield with a back 4?

Yeah in a nutshell it says that Evatts considering diamond midfield to "cater for his midfield talents" and looking for a more physical striker. But he also needs a more solid LB at Schon isnt that. 

Edited January 20, 20251 yr by bwfc6ix

9 minutes ago, bwfc6ix said:

Yeah in a nutshell it says that Evatts considering diamond midfield to "cater for his midfield talents" and looking for a more physical striker. But he also needs a more solid LB at Schon isnt that. 

Probably end up being a 541 knowing Evatt.

I said it last week but the 442 with a narrow midfield is the only other option we can go to with our squad the way it is, and that still involves bringing in a proper left back. 

If he does change I'm hoping it changes the approach to one where we get the ball into midfield quickly and have possession there rather than defence.

48 minutes ago, bwfc6ix said:

Yeah in a nutshell it says that Evatts considering diamond midfield to "cater for his midfield talents" and looking for a more physical striker. But he also needs a more solid LB at Schon isnt that. 

Rumour is James Collins was set to sign at weekend but Lincoln have come in with a better offer