DA Master tactician

[redrobo]

I somehow think that the selection of McAlinden was a complete surprise to Cheltenham and that they didn't expect to have to face a front 2 of Cole and McA.

It seemed to disrupt their game plan for the first 20 by which time Mc had opened the scoring and the rest is history.

Yet another tactical masterclass by DA....let's hope he has something in his locker to cope with the goal threat of an ex Shrimp at Cambridge.

[BerlinWaller]

He has 3(injuries permitting) very good league 2 defenders to pick from who should have every faith in their ability to keep Mullin quiet.

Derek said he went with the diamond so we could get players down the sides of their back three and it paid off with the goal which forced a change in formation from them. Our players seem to cope with a formation change.

[Andy D]

I somehow think that the selection of McAlinden was a complete surprise to Cheltenham and that they didn't expect to have to face a front 2 of Cole and McA.

It seemed to disrupt their game plan for the first 20 by which time Mc had opened the scoring and the rest is history.

Yet another tactical masterclass by DA....let's hope he has something in his locker to cope with the goal threat of an ex Shrimp at Cambridge.

Derek just played the same system he used when we beat them at the start of the season, with McAlinden featuring.

I'm surprised Duff made the same mistake twice by playing an high defensive line we just exploited again and pulled his pants down.

[Castaway]

Derek just played the same system he used when we beat them at the start of the season, with McAlinden featuring.

Cheltenham away we played 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 with 3 centre backs, whereas yesterday we played a back 4.

[Little Shrimp]

We've actually had a bit of a history undoing Duff's back three, even before DA was here! I remember when we beat them 4-0 a couple of years ago, Mingoia basically stuck on the half way line ready to break - which was quite unusual for him as he generally tended to work back more. This helped us get in behind their wing backs which caused trouble.

I didn't think the 3-5-2 match up we did at the start of the season worked hugely well, although when we settled into the shape in the second half a bit better we looked solid, and McAlinden picked some gaps in their back three really nicely.

Yesterday's diamond was a really interesting call from DA to exploit Cheltenham. My own view is that 4-3-3 (our usual formation) is best to exploit a 3-5-2 as when your full backs push up, you can really hammer a 3-5-2 out wide (see England vs Croatia in the WC semis). The diamond was an interesting approach, and worked very well in the first half and really caught them out, partially because I think it was so unexpected and there's no way Cheltenham would have prepared for it. We had some good numbers in midfield, two or three (including Carlos) forwards picking the holes in between the centre backs, and we could match up out wide with full backs going man for man with the wing backs.

They got a few more numbers out wide in the second half which is where the diamond can be weak as it's a very narrow formation, and helped them crank up the pressure. Then I thought DA countered well to bring on Cooney and give us a bit more defensive sureness in wide areas.

[Andy D]

Derek just played the same system he used when we beat them at the start of the season, with McAlinden featuring.

Cheltenham away we played 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 with 3 centre backs, whereas yesterday we played a back 4.

we changed shape in the last 30 mins away at theirs, but like yesterday both times we' played 2 upfront, featuring McAlinden.

[BerlinWaller]

We've actually had a bit of a history undoing Duff's back three, even before DA was here! I remember when we beat them 4-0 a couple of years ago, Mingoia basically stuck on the half way line ready to break - which was quite unusual for him as he generally tended to work back more. This helped us get in behind their wing backs which caused trouble.

I didn't think the 3-5-2 match up we did at the start of the season worked hugely well, although when we settled into the shape in the second half a bit better we looked solid, and McAlinden picked some gaps in their back three really nicely.

Yesterday's diamond was a really interesting call from DA to exploit Cheltenham. My own view is that 4-3-3 (our usual formation) is best to exploit a 3-5-2 as when your full backs push up, you can really hammer a 3-5-2 out wide (see England vs Croatia in the WC semis). The diamond was an interesting approach, and worked very well in the first half and really caught them out, partially because I think it was so unexpected and there's no way Cheltenham would have prepared for it. We had some good numbers in midfield, two or three (including Carlos) forwards picking the holes in between the centre backs, and we could match up out wide with full backs going man for man with the wing backs.

They got a few more numbers out wide in the second half which is where the diamond can be weak as it's a very narrow formation, and helped them crank up the pressure. Then I thought DA countered well to bring on Cooney and give us a bit more defensive sureness in wide areas.

I thought the diamond suited us yesterday as the players in each role were well matched. LS is right about the exposed flanks but Gibson and Mellor are very good defensive full backs. It was almost as if we had 4 centre backs across the pitch. Carlos was the 10 but he put in a fantastic defensive performance as well as being an outlet and creative force. Cole saw less of the ball but kept their defenders busy enough to allow Mcalinden the freedom to make runs in behind rather than showing for the ball.

The switch to 3 at the back was seamless and Cooney put them on the back foot. CMG's touch and run in the 93rd minute was brilliant. The game management is winning us games now and is one of the main reasons we are soaring in the league.

[parceldave]

So does he go with Mcalindon again next week .

[Andy D]

So does he go with Mcalindon again next week .

actually prefer CMG along side Stockton in a front two.

[halfwayprawn]

So does he go with Mcalindon again next week .

You never know Dave he might go with Freddy Price