As a Notts fan I'm probably a bit biased, but I think if there was one way to guarantee results, we'd all be doing it and this route is as good as any. People like to say that a particular style is the way to be successful in League 2, and conveniently forget that a lot of teams who are unsuccessful are aiming for that same style of play.
I think Ali has nailed a lot of the benefits in the piece, but the other point I'd make is that as top teams are bringing youngsters through to play this style, over time naturally more players will be available who are capable or at least comfortable in the system, so it should be more and more viable as time goes on.
Interesting article. Higher up in L1, Birmingham are introducing a similar system to Chesterfield, primarily with an assymetric 4231 that becomes a 325 in possession with the RB high and wide. Produces a monstrous amount of possession, but much of it in our own half, and chances in open play have so far mostly come via the high press rather than the structured attack. It also leaves our fairly slow CBs exposed and vulnerable to the counter.
The St Andrews faithful are largely lapping it up, having been fed a diet of hoofball for decades, but I fear the shouts of 'gerrit forward' will increase if the narrow victories turn into narrow defeats as it can be a bit dull to watch if the ball is not moved around quickly (as Leicester fans found out last season).
On the broader cultural question, it seems to me that in the EFL there is a cohort of fans (both young and old) that are very 'small c' conservative and reactionary; anything that hints of progressive possession football is termed 'woke' and derided as both unnecessary innovation and also aesthetically undesirable; what is valued is effort, territory (in the sense of the ball being as far away from your own goal as possible), and excitement. For Brum fans this has centred on discussion of Korean international midfielder Paik Seung-Ho, lauded by many fans for his ball retention and technical prowess, whilst damned by a minority for 'not doing anything.'
It's an interesting cultural shift in English football as more and more coaches move to a possession-based style - even as we have seen that low-possession direct football can still bring both goals and excitement, as Wrexham fans can attest to.
Agree about Notts’s defence lacking physicality but I think we’ve really targeted that this summer - Platt, Ness and McDonald all have good aerial duel stats on FotMob (yet to see Ness and Concrete Rod play mind you). Bedeau a much better defender than anyone we had last season.
Have we attempted to address last season’s short falls in the aggregate? Having a back 3 which across the board can do the requisite job rather than each member being able to do it all?
Fantastic read Ali. How much of the league do you think will be playing similar styles to MK & Notts in the next 5-10 years? Is that where lower league is heading?
As a Notts fan I'm probably a bit biased, but I think if there was one way to guarantee results, we'd all be doing it and this route is as good as any. People like to say that a particular style is the way to be successful in League 2, and conveniently forget that a lot of teams who are unsuccessful are aiming for that same style of play.
I think Ali has nailed a lot of the benefits in the piece, but the other point I'd make is that as top teams are bringing youngsters through to play this style, over time naturally more players will be available who are capable or at least comfortable in the system, so it should be more and more viable as time goes on.
Interesting article. Higher up in L1, Birmingham are introducing a similar system to Chesterfield, primarily with an assymetric 4231 that becomes a 325 in possession with the RB high and wide. Produces a monstrous amount of possession, but much of it in our own half, and chances in open play have so far mostly come via the high press rather than the structured attack. It also leaves our fairly slow CBs exposed and vulnerable to the counter.
The St Andrews faithful are largely lapping it up, having been fed a diet of hoofball for decades, but I fear the shouts of 'gerrit forward' will increase if the narrow victories turn into narrow defeats as it can be a bit dull to watch if the ball is not moved around quickly (as Leicester fans found out last season).
On the broader cultural question, it seems to me that in the EFL there is a cohort of fans (both young and old) that are very 'small c' conservative and reactionary; anything that hints of progressive possession football is termed 'woke' and derided as both unnecessary innovation and also aesthetically undesirable; what is valued is effort, territory (in the sense of the ball being as far away from your own goal as possible), and excitement. For Brum fans this has centred on discussion of Korean international midfielder Paik Seung-Ho, lauded by many fans for his ball retention and technical prowess, whilst damned by a minority for 'not doing anything.'
It's an interesting cultural shift in English football as more and more coaches move to a possession-based style - even as we have seen that low-possession direct football can still bring both goals and excitement, as Wrexham fans can attest to.
Agree about Notts’s defence lacking physicality but I think we’ve really targeted that this summer - Platt, Ness and McDonald all have good aerial duel stats on FotMob (yet to see Ness and Concrete Rod play mind you). Bedeau a much better defender than anyone we had last season.
Have we attempted to address last season’s short falls in the aggregate? Having a back 3 which across the board can do the requisite job rather than each member being able to do it all?
Fantastic read Ali. How much of the league do you think will be playing similar styles to MK & Notts in the next 5-10 years? Is that where lower league is heading?
Thanks James! That’s a great question. Might tackle it on DAG if that’s ok with you?
Sounds like a plan, cheers!