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Hitting A Brick Wall


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To while away the time whilst I'm under 12 weeks of coronavirus quarantine I've taken the opportunity to get stuck into a career save I had started a while ago. Anyway, after a few seasons of reasonable success, and working my way up through the English divisions I've hit a brick wall and have spent half of the 2022-23 season struggling in the Championship with Middlesbrough.

Overview

I started out in the National League South with Braintree Town, I thought I'd start the game having to earn my coaching badges and started with a National C licence. The 2019-20 season was gong pretty well with Braintree up in the play off spots, the Yeovil job came available and off I went to a middle of the table Conference National team. Second season we won the Conference National, but Yeovil wouldn't allow myself to progress my coaching ability. Pre season the Crewe job became available so start of the third season and my third team. Crewe allowed me to gain my National B badge, and the 2021-22 season went very well. A second placed finish in League 2 with record number of wins and points haul for Crewe, also, a League 2 Manager of the Year award for myself. Crewe wouldn't allow me to go to the next level coaching wise, so an approach by Middlesbrough was taken up after Big Sam had retired. A successful interview saw myself given the role of Boro's new manager with the expectation of finishing in the play offs.

Things haven't been going great, 28 points from 21 games and mid table has my job as under pressure. The board called me for a meeting and a stay of execution has been granted as we enter a mid season break for the 2022 World Cup. A month or so before hand some of the playing staff had requested a meeting about poor results and I'm struggling to win them round, something I've never had a problem with at my previous clubs.

My coaching attributes and badge aren't great, maybe the players don't believe I'm ready to coach in the Championship!

20200416112637_1.jpg.0d9481de9c2ca9c9ff6486d63afecf47.jpg

20200416112637_2.thumb.jpg.54c93587f56fb501929723a5b60f4f9e.jpg

Tactics

At Braintree and Yeovil I used a 4-4-2, once I arrived at Crewe I changed to the 4-1-4-1, a target man(s) up top, advanced playmaker AMR, inverted winger/inside forward AML, and  a combination of DLP-s (MCL), Mez-a (MCR) and anchor man (DMC). After assessing the players available at Middlesbrough I've gone with the 4-1-4-1 again.

20200416120301_1.thumb.jpg.1d93bea682967cb2e569c65ba34b7561.jpg

In the team report on strengths and weaknesses we are strong in teamwork, work rate, natural fitness, stamina and determination so I'm employing a counter press and prevent short GK distibution. Do you reckon the More Urgent Press under Out of Possession is too much? 

20200416121421_1.thumb.jpg.4f1a169f8590b133ac041ef6626b877f.jpg

I'm keeping my passing and dribbling on balanced as I prefer to deal with those issues in individual player instructions. Also going for Take Long Kicks as my keepers distribution is good, will adapt on a game by game basis if the opposition are playing defensively.

Squad

Keeper SK(d)

20200416122242_1.thumb.jpg.4f0873922adf7c1fddc9a87c0d635026.jpg

Full Back Right FB(s)

20200416122303_1.thumb.jpg.e21df5f36764c6d2080fc2e5dc2b0e40.jpg20200416122309_1.thumb.jpg.ac8bcd40998cd382e5dbc020814d67e3.jpg

Full Back Left FB(a)

 

20200416122330_1.thumb.jpg.c28c2cac814957f239b2e8436a5d6b2c.jpg 20200416122338_1.thumb.jpg.a81004331f5a0aa149b27d3e25e884b2.jpg

Centre Back BPD(d)/DC(d)

Fry can play in either central defensive role and also covers the DM position. Due to his pace and acceleration issues Sonny Bradley is purely back up and has only made one appearance in the Carabao Cup.

20200416122349_1.thumb.jpg.cfd8120caaf441bea39cd16d3594cd79.jpg 20200416122357_1.thumb.jpg.bda0fcb1b678199c5051c88fe88a3a8f.jpg 20200416122406_1.thumb.jpg.3d60e7101b9cd7fea6fac6bffb1e97d6.jpg 20200416122418_1.thumb.jpg.6d24a20fb487fa6a6350cc57abfa64bf.jpg

DM Half Back(d)

Cover is an issue, considering ocassionally changing to DLP(d), APM(s), Mez(s) midfield trio.

20200416124653_1.thumb.jpg.71984cbbfb097956d245910d6c5e9950.jpg

Central Midfield DLP(s)/Mez(s)

20200416125446_1.thumb.jpg.9513479bc8e2170e64c7ea6d2ce3e002.jpg 20200416125452_1.thumb.jpg.2879ab16d22e7d6476dcc2f6ec360421.jpg 20200416125505_1.thumb.jpg.b51ae77180d965621cbc98339a0273b1.jpg

20200416125512_1.thumb.jpg.4ae80e867766bbe1dede7fab9b68d2f4.jpg

AMR Winger(a)

20200416130014_1.thumb.jpg.06a23740f20543379138f6c9d9ef18f3.jpg 20200416130026_1.thumb.jpg.8e7b29532e2a4e688c9dcca1ef75ee7f.jpg

AML Inverted Winger/Inside Forward(s)

20200416130040_1.thumb.jpg.209fe8382d7fe94eca6b7bc3062907d5.jpg 20200416130048_1.thumb.jpg.895ff3b81bebcde1a7317f4b9a211ef7.jpg

Striker PF(a)/CF(a)

Struggling for goals from Roberts and Fletcher. Fletcher plays as the Pressing Forward, if Roberts starts he plays as a Complete Forward. Ellis Wiloughby is already a championship standard player and may get the nod when the season gets back underway.

20200416130856_1.thumb.jpg.8d4b2558a7f4e579e0e64d9e92ca6719.jpg 20200416130903_1.thumb.jpg.296ae6ef22fede87aa6b00e1d273bc01.jpg 20200416130920_1.thumb.jpg.775979a26a8074acc037b4d278494971.jpg

 

Any suggestions on what I could change?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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1 hour ago, DaggerPaul said:

20200416120301_1.thumb.jpg.1d93bea682967cb2e569c65ba34b7561.jpg

 

1 hour ago, DaggerPaul said:

Any suggestions on what I could change?

I would change the HB into a standard DM on defend duty. HB makes more sense when both fullbacks/wing-backs are played in attack-minded roles (FB on attack, (I)WB on support and attack or CWB on either duty). But in your setup, only LB is attack-minded.

Your out-of-possession instructions may turn out to be a bit more aggressive than necessary. You'll know if that's the case when you test the tactic anyway.

I am not sure that the "take long kicks" manner of keeper distribution is the best idea, but I guess you have some special reason for using it. 

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1 hour ago, DaggerPaul said:

Tactics

At Braintree and Yeovil I used a 4-4-2, once I arrived at Crewe I changed to the 4-1-4-1, a target man(s) up top, advanced playmaker AMR, inverted winger/inside forward AML, and  a combination of DLP-s (MCL), Mez-a (MCR) and anchor man (DMC). After assessing the players available at Middlesbrough I've gone with the 4-1-4-1 again.

20200416120301_1.thumb.jpg.1d93bea682967cb2e569c65ba34b7561.jpg

In the team report on strengths and weaknesses we are strong in teamwork, work rate, natural fitness, stamina and determination so I'm employing a counter press and prevent short GK distibution. Do you reckon the More Urgent Press under Out of Possession is too much? 

I think the issue here is the aggressiveness of the defensive instructions, if successful will limit the space for a PF-At and W-At to run into, which is there focus.  Especially as your not being that risky/quick to attack once you have the ball.  Not encouraging Counter attacks, balanced mentality, no extra tempo/directness etc and only the DLP looking to play risky passes often.

If want to be aggressive defensively i'd want more fluid movement by having less focus on running in behind by advanced players so deeper runners can keep up and get past them.

If want to attack quickly i'd want more risks to get the the ball forward early and more of a mid block to give those forwards space to attack.

1 hour ago, DaggerPaul said:

I'm keeping my passing and dribbling on balanced as I prefer to deal with those issues in individual player instructions.

Try to keep your tactic consistent, if instructions are changing all over due to players used it can make the tactic play very differently and makes it harder to analyse the tactic.

1 hour ago, DaggerPaul said:

Also going for Take Long Kicks as my keepers distribution is good, will adapt on a game by game basis if the opposition are playing defensively.

Don't agree with this at all.  Your front players are hardly targetmen and whilst your GK has good range (kicking), his passing vision and accuracy isn't great.  I'd only use this if got a big guy up top to go win the ball for his partner or if really poor playing out from back so just want to get it upfield.

1 hour ago, DaggerPaul said:

Any suggestions on what I could change?

You've said your struggling for points, but whats happening on the pitch?  Are you conceding too much and how?  Are you scoring goals or at least creating chances?  If not how do you typically lose possession?

I mentioned earlier what I assume to be happening, is this what you see?

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1 hour ago, Experienced Defender said:

 

I would change the HB into a standard DM on defend duty. HB makes more sense when both fullbacks/wing-backs are played in attack-minded roles (FB on attack, (I)WB on support and attack or CWB on either duty). But in your setup, only LB is attack-minded.

Your out-of-possession instructions may turn out to be a bit more aggressive than necessary. You'll know if that's the case when you test the tactic anyway.

I am not sure that the "take long kicks" manner of keeper distribution is the best idea, but I guess you have some special reason for using it. 

Advice taken on board arounf the DM.

 

43 minutes ago, summatsupeer said:

If want to be aggressive defensively i'd want more fluid movement by having less focus on running in behind by advanced players so deeper runners can keep up and get past them.

If want to attack quickly i'd want more risks to get the the ball forward early and more of a mid block to give those forwards space to attack.

Going to try the tactics below. 

20200416160047_1.thumb.jpg.f9c56d517ef5a017a24caaeb74859aed.jpg 20200416161109_1.thumb.jpg.dbbaf9ae33bb815d99f20ca9f40e0190.jpg

Lets see how results go, I've been given a month by the board.
 

 

 

Edited by DaggerPaul
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I've definatly been over complicating things and looking at what my players best roles are rather than what suits the system.

Had a think back to the tactics I used in my season at Crewe.

20200416174952_1.thumb.jpg.3932aaeb8551e6322b8e5b68dfb35392.jpg

The target man scored over 20 goals in that season. The advanced playmaker and mezzala weighed in with goals as well.

 

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Errrrr, didn't go to plan.

Got in four friendlies against decent opposition, all wins, the change in the set up was looking like it was going to work.

The World Cup finished and the league season resumed on Boxing Day 2022 away at second bottom Preston. Went 1-0 down against the run of play, equalised from a corner, then 3-1 down by 55 minutes. We pulled a late goal back but fell to defeat.

With Middlesbrough sitting 14th and 10 points off the play offs enough was enough for the board.

Anyway on to pastures new. A position is available at League 2 Salford, think I might hold out for a League 1 job and try to work my way back up.

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I think arguably the biggest problem was attempting to play such a high intensity game off the ball (high and hard pressing with a counter-press) with a team that aren't collectively very quick relative to the level you're playing at. As a result, when your players come charging out of position to press if they aren't successful in winning the ball back they are less likely to be able to recover defensively, creating gaps in your defensive shape for the opposition to exploit.

Thought I'd add that even though you are moving on to a new club as something to consider for future.

Best Regards

Edited by pheelf
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On 16/04/2020 at 13:13, DaggerPaul said:

To while away the time whilst I'm under 12 weeks of coronavirus quarantine I've taken the opportunity to get stuck into a career save I had started a while ago. Anyway, after a few seasons of reasonable success, and working my way up through the English divisions I've hit a brick wall and have spent half of the 2022-23 season struggling in the Championship with Middlesbrough.

Overview

I started out in the National League South with Braintree Town, I thought I'd start the game having to earn my coaching badges and started with a National C licence. The 2019-20 season was gong pretty well with Braintree up in the play off spots, the Yeovil job came available and off I went to a middle of the table Conference National team. Second season we won the Conference National, but Yeovil wouldn't allow myself to progress my coaching ability. Pre season the Crewe job became available so start of the third season and my third team. Crewe allowed me to gain my National B badge, and the 2021-22 season went very well. A second placed finish in League 2 with record number of wins and points haul for Crewe, also, a League 2 Manager of the Year award for myself. Crewe wouldn't allow me to go to the next level coaching wise, so an approach by Middlesbrough was taken up after Big Sam had retired. A successful interview saw myself given the role of Boro's new manager with the expectation of finishing in the play offs.

Things haven't been going great, 28 points from 21 games and mid table has my job as under pressure. The board called me for a meeting and a stay of execution has been granted as we enter a mid season break for the 2022 World Cup. A month or so before hand some of the playing staff had requested a meeting about poor results and I'm struggling to win them round, something I've never had a problem with at my previous clubs.

My coaching attributes and badge aren't great, maybe the players don't believe I'm ready to coach in the Championship!

20200416112637_1.jpg.0d9481de9c2ca9c9ff6486d63afecf47.jpg

20200416112637_2.thumb.jpg.54c93587f56fb501929723a5b60f4f9e.jpg

Tactics

At Braintree and Yeovil I used a 4-4-2, once I arrived at Crewe I changed to the 4-1-4-1, a target man(s) up top, advanced playmaker AMR, inverted winger/inside forward AML, and  a combination of DLP-s (MCL), Mez-a (MCR) and anchor man (DMC). After assessing the players available at Middlesbrough I've gone with the 4-1-4-1 again.

20200416120301_1.thumb.jpg.1d93bea682967cb2e569c65ba34b7561.jpg

In the team report on strengths and weaknesses we are strong in teamwork, work rate, natural fitness, stamina and determination so I'm employing a counter press and prevent short GK distibution. Do you reckon the More Urgent Press under Out of Possession is too much? 

20200416121421_1.thumb.jpg.4f1a169f8590b133ac041ef6626b877f.jpg

I'm keeping my passing and dribbling on balanced as I prefer to deal with those issues in individual player instructions. Also going for Take Long Kicks as my keepers distribution is good, will adapt on a game by game basis if the opposition are playing defensively.

Squad

Keeper SK(d)

20200416122242_1.thumb.jpg.4f0873922adf7c1fddc9a87c0d635026.jpg

Full Back Right FB(s)

20200416122303_1.thumb.jpg.e21df5f36764c6d2080fc2e5dc2b0e40.jpg20200416122309_1.thumb.jpg.ac8bcd40998cd382e5dbc020814d67e3.jpg

Full Back Left FB(a)

 

20200416122330_1.thumb.jpg.c28c2cac814957f239b2e8436a5d6b2c.jpg 20200416122338_1.thumb.jpg.a81004331f5a0aa149b27d3e25e884b2.jpg

Centre Back BPD(d)/DC(d)

Fry can play in either central defensive role and also covers the DM position. Due to his pace and acceleration issues Sonny Bradley is purely back up and has only made one appearance in the Carabao Cup.

20200416122349_1.thumb.jpg.cfd8120caaf441bea39cd16d3594cd79.jpg 20200416122357_1.thumb.jpg.bda0fcb1b678199c5051c88fe88a3a8f.jpg 20200416122406_1.thumb.jpg.3d60e7101b9cd7fea6fac6bffb1e97d6.jpg 20200416122418_1.thumb.jpg.6d24a20fb487fa6a6350cc57abfa64bf.jpg

DM Half Back(d)

Cover is an issue, considering ocassionally changing to DLP(d), APM(s), Mez(s) midfield trio.

20200416124653_1.thumb.jpg.71984cbbfb097956d245910d6c5e9950.jpg

Central Midfield DLP(s)/Mez(s)

20200416125446_1.thumb.jpg.9513479bc8e2170e64c7ea6d2ce3e002.jpg 20200416125452_1.thumb.jpg.2879ab16d22e7d6476dcc2f6ec360421.jpg 20200416125505_1.thumb.jpg.b51ae77180d965621cbc98339a0273b1.jpg

20200416125512_1.thumb.jpg.4ae80e867766bbe1dede7fab9b68d2f4.jpg

AMR Winger(a)

20200416130014_1.thumb.jpg.06a23740f20543379138f6c9d9ef18f3.jpg 20200416130026_1.thumb.jpg.8e7b29532e2a4e688c9dcca1ef75ee7f.jpg

AML Inverted Winger/Inside Forward(s)

20200416130040_1.thumb.jpg.209fe8382d7fe94eca6b7bc3062907d5.jpg 20200416130048_1.thumb.jpg.895ff3b81bebcde1a7317f4b9a211ef7.jpg

Striker PF(a)/CF(a)

Struggling for goals from Roberts and Fletcher. Fletcher plays as the Pressing Forward, if Roberts starts he plays as a Complete Forward. Ellis Wiloughby is already a championship standard player and may get the nod when the season gets back underway.

20200416130856_1.thumb.jpg.8d4b2558a7f4e579e0e64d9e92ca6719.jpg 20200416130903_1.thumb.jpg.296ae6ef22fede87aa6b00e1d273bc01.jpg 20200416130920_1.thumb.jpg.775979a26a8074acc037b4d278494971.jpg

 

Any suggestions on what I could change?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change the DLP to AP, set the Mezala to attack. Exploit the right flank.

 

19 hours ago, DaggerPaul said:

Errrrr, didn't go to plan.

Got in four friendlies against decent opposition, all wins, the change in the set up was looking like it was going to work.

The World Cup finished and the league season resumed on Boxing Day 2022 away at second bottom Preston. Went 1-0 down against the run of play, equalised from a corner, then 3-1 down by 55 minutes. We pulled a late goal back but fell to defeat.

With Middlesbrough sitting 14th and 10 points off the play offs enough was enough for the board.

Anyway on to pastures new. A position is available at League 2 Salford, think I might hold out for a League 1 job and try to work my way back up.

When you discover what's wrong with your tactics, it's usually late in a bad run and player morale is low. The solution is to be encouraging towards your players throughout interactions in press conferences, private chats, team meetings, team talks and touchline shouts, esp the touchline shouts and team talks. The team gradually recovers.

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  • 2 weeks later...

 

 

First up a thanks to @Experienced Defender, @summatsupeer, @pheelf, @TEK1 for the advice.

I ended up taking a couple of days out and played Cricket Captain, if only SI could come up with their own cricket simulation! Anyway after a couple of days I decided to go back to when my save was in the winter break and see if I could give the tactics another chance. 

Started going with a fluid tactic, which was working pretty well, but as results became more consistent and we started getting up there with the play-off contenders I opted to go back to a flexible set up.

20200427151016_1.thumb.jpg.67f27e4a97345acb95d3dd7cf1e5146d.jpg

With the fluid set up I had the IW(L) on support.

Results have eventually become more consistent even though I was back in front of the board persuading them to give me more time at the end of January after the 0-3 defeat at Cardiff, and run of two defeats and a draw in four games.

20200427150953_1.thumb.jpg.ca82012c636ac98d734ab0c87d45d811.jpg

With seven games remaining we're not only up in the expected play-off positions but also in with a shout of winning the league, and my job status is now very secure.

20200427150923_1.thumb.jpg.6801647b9caef87a474c030832a86e54.jpg

On 18/04/2020 at 10:36, TEK1 said:

When you discover what's wrong with your tactics, it's usually late in a bad run and player morale is low. The solution is to be encouraging towards your players throughout interactions in press conferences, private chats, team meetings, team talks and touchline shouts, esp the touchline shouts and team talks. The team gradually recovers.

I always try and interact with my players.

On a monthly basis I will praise their conduct, training performance if over 7.50, and player performance if over 7.00 for the last five appearances. If the training is below 7.00 or performance below 6.50 I'll have a few assertive words with those players. On a game by game basis, again I'll praise a good performance, 7.00+, and a "must do better" chat if the performance was 6.40 or below.

The managerial support is now 'very good' with 15 of the 27 players in the squad supporting myself, but still some work to do on that front.

I do believe only holding a National B licence and coaching attributes that aren't the greatest caused the team in not having much faith in me, but the recent upturn has started to persuade them I'm the man for the job.

Edited by DaggerPaul
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19 minutes ago, Djuicer said:

In the latest version you have a no nonsense center back, maybe not what you want when you dist. to cb and play out from the back? Seems counter productive.

To be honest I mainly use a BPD at DC(L).

Sometimes I use the NCB depending on how the opposition are playing, or when we are 2-0 up with 15-20 minutes left.

Possession doesn't seem to be affected, I'm still having 50%+ per game.

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Just now, DaggerPaul said:

To be honest I mainly use a BPD at DC(L).

Sometimes I use the NCB depending on how the opposition are playing, or when we are 2-0 up with 15-20 minutes left.

Possession doesn't seem to be affected, I'm still having 50%+ per game.

That makes sense :thup:

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The advice and persistence paid off.

20200428192618_1.thumb.jpg.9fbe848272904422932ca56e529bdce0.jpg

Just wondering if I will be kept on though, don't you have to require a continental pro licence to manage in the Premier League?

The heart strings might be pulled though as my beloved Hammers look likely to head the opposite way. 

At the hands of the Strachan clan, Gordon (manager), Gavin (assistant), Craig (chief scout), West Ham suffered 12 defeats in 14 games. A run of 3 wins and 2 draws in the last 5 games has given a slim hope of survival, but still sit second bottom, six points adrift and only three games left.

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4 hours ago, DaggerPaul said:

The advice and persistence paid off.

20200428192618_1.thumb.jpg.9fbe848272904422932ca56e529bdce0.jpg

Just wondering if I will be kept on though, don't you have to require a continental pro licence to manage in the Premier League?

The heart strings might be pulled though as my beloved Hammers look likely to head the opposite way. 

At the hands of the Strachan clan, Gordon (manager), Gavin (assistant), Craig (chief scout), West Ham suffered 12 defeats in 14 games. A run of 3 wins and 2 draws in the last 5 games has given a slim hope of survival, but still sit second bottom, six points adrift and only three games left.

Nah...you should be fine. I would ask the board to do a course anyways just to improve the attributes for training.

 

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6 hours ago, Jean0987654321 said:

Nah...you should be fine. I would ask the board to do a course anyways just to improve the attributes for training.

MIddlesbrough have allowed me to take my national a course, and West Ham miraculously stayed up winning all three of their final games.

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