BFTG Bournemouth - sponsored by no midfield

[Ian Royal]

And as pointed out already, it's been a feature for much longer than Adkins has been in charge.

Agreed - but it is noticeably slower now

Assuming it's not already happening. I'd really like to see Adkins work on the basics in training and then take that onto the pitch. If we can improve our movement and the desire of players to show for the ball and look to take the initiative, both in play and from throw ins. We should see a big improvement.

There should always be at least two short options open to go forwards, three if the player is more central. Plus a longer option too. They should be thinking two or three passes ahead and when a player releases the ball, should be moving into a new position to receive it again. Particularly once you get into the midfielders.

Play around the opposition. Play the pass into space the team-mate is moving into. But not so far ahead that they're chasing it.

[Haag Royal]

I'd like Nigel Adkins to stop worrying about the opposition, put out our best side (i.e. a winning side = keep it) and stop let us guess what the first 11 is.

All this faffing about trying to double think our opponents is nonsense. as is playing one up front at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Simple.

[maffff]

Indeed, "everybody knows how we are going to play, it's up to them to try to stop us", please.

[Ian Royal]

I'd like Nigel Adkins to stop worrying about the opposition, put out our best side (i.e. a winning side = keep it) and stop let us guess what the first 11 is.

All this faffing about trying to double think our opponents is nonsense. as is playing one up front at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Simple.

It was more 3 up. But otherwise I agree.

[Cureton's Volley]

I liked having our 3 strikers playing up front at once at the end, but not quite as much as this time:

http://youtu.be/CF5SMIzkbgk

[loyalroyal4life]

Wish our team was good enough defensively to play 3 upfront

[Sanguine]

Christ, I love Nicky Forster. That turn and jink through two players for the equaliser!

Gareth McCleary should watch those two goals on repeat.

[leon]

Christ, I love Nicky Forster. That turn and jink through two players for the equaliser!

Gareth McCleary should watch those two goals on repeat.

spot on

[paddy20]

I liked having our 3 strikers playing up front at once at the end, but not quite as much as this time:

http://youtu.be/CF5SMIzkbgk

Just look at the pace of that game. If only we could inject that into our present sterile possession tactics

[Sanguine]

To think Pardew had his critics, he had us playing great football - and he was using that formation in 2001, long before it became prevalent across Europe.

[genome]

I liked having our 3 strikers playing up front at once at the end, but not quite as much as this time:

http://youtu.be/CF5SMIzkbgk

Roberto Martinez spotted there. Think he was the player that gave away the penalty too. Cheers Roberto.

[WestRoyal]

Christ, I love Nicky Forster. That turn and jink through two players for the equaliser!

Gareth McCleary should watch those two goals on repeat.

I'm sure there are other attacking players who should be watching that. He's been one of our better performers so far this season

[Terminal Boardom]

I find the comparisons between Adkins and Rodgers laughable.

I would have expected to see some improvement in they style of football being played but there is nothing I have seen to suggest that this is any better, or worse than what was experienced in McD's championship season. Perhaps it is time to dig out the old tenacity, spirit, flair t shirts as it all seems a little bit flat. TBH, I would have expected more from 3 of the new signings considering their pedigree. Is it all doom and gloom? Of course not. 6th place on a side that was garbage in the PL last season is not bad at all. Lots of clubs could have continued to suffer eg WoLOLves. Many clubs would envy us our position - ask any Bolton or Wigan supporter. Get the level of expectation to a realistic level then you just might enjoy this season a little bit more. Changing manager now would be a waste of money and set us back at least 18 months. If after 3 full seasons the quality has not improved then that is the time to change.

[Sanguine]

Christ, I love Nicky Forster. That turn and jink through two players for the equaliser!

Gareth McCleary should watch those two goals on repeat.

I'm sure there are other attacking players who should be watching that. He's been one of our better performers so far this season

Says it all really. For a pacey winger, he looks totally paralysed most times he gets the ball.

[bcubed]

Christ, I love Nicky Forster. That turn and jink through two players for the equaliser!

Gareth McCleary should watch those two goals on repeat.

I'm sure there are other attacking players who should be watching that. He's been one of our better performers so far this season

Says it all really. For a pacey winger, he looks totally paralysed most times he gets the ball.

God knows what you think about everyone else cos he's been the one shining light for me

[Ian Royal]

I find the comparisons between Adkins and Rodgers laughable.

I would have expected to see some improvement in they style of football being played but there is nothing I have seen to suggest that this is any better, or worse than what was experienced in McD's championship season. Perhaps it is time to dig out the old tenacity, spirit, flair t shirts as it all seems a little bit flat. TBH, I would have expected more from 3 of the new signings considering their pedigree. Is it all doom and gloom? Of course not. 6th place on a side that was garbage in the PL last season is not bad at all. Lots of clubs could have continued to suffer eg WoLOLves. Many clubs would envy us our position - ask any Bolton or Wigan supporter. Get the level of expectation to a realistic level then you just might enjoy this season a little bit more. Changing manager now would be a waste of money and set us back at least 18 months. If after 3 full seasons the quality has not improved then that is the time to change.

But presumably you can see that the way we are playing now is different to the way we were playing under McDermott in our previous Championship season?

It's obviously not working yet, just like the way we were playing under McDermott last time didn't start to work until November and arguably didn't really become properly successful until about this stage of the season. Early on it was working very badly. We lost 4 league matches in a row in the first six games!

By comparison:
2013: P19, W8, D7, L4, Pts31, F28, A22, Wins in a row 3, Winless 4(once).
2011: P19, W7, D6, L7, Pts27, F23, A22, Wins in a row 2, Winless 4(twice).

Now we can't really expect the sort of exceptional form we had in the second half of that season again. But we're fairly well placed, which following the transfer window was what Adkins said we should aim at. Hopefully we can improve the squad, get people fit and start playing a bit more as a team and with a little more quality. If we do that we've got an outside chance of autos and a reasonable shot at the Play Offs.