Bruce out.
Rowett in. A modern, young, forward thinking manager who would never send a team out to defend with 10 men behind the ball and play totally on the counter managing an impressive 28 % possession while in a key league game. And of course above all he is a villa fan.
BB - spot on. It's a worry. Having a style enables a team to play almost without thinking. Sometimes I think we spend too long working it out, unless somebody produces that moment of inspiration.
Wasn't referring to your postnot sure how commenting on the statistics of our style of play is being "anti bruce"
Sorry to disagree but all this stuff about us not having a style of play does my head in. We are set up with three very attacking players (usually Albert, Jack and Snoddy) playing behind a striker and a second midfielder with freedom to get forward (usually Hourihane). Our full backs are encouraged to get forward and create space while the two centre backs and a holding player cover the space behind.
“We rely too much on individual moments from players” is football for goodness sake! That’s what creative players do! They are unpredictable and come up with moments that help win games! Do you think Pep’s “style of play” would work if he had predictable individuals? Maybe, just maybe, the individual brilliance of DeBruyne, Silva, Sterling etc has got them a few goals this year....
When a team goes forward, what makes them effective is the ability of the players to find space, elude opponents and create.
Against some teams we play a pressing style, whereas in other games we stay in our shape and look to counter attack. Obviously it doesn’t always work the way we want it to, and sometimes it bores the daylights out of us. But 90% of the time that comes down to under-performing players or good defending by the opposition....