Official Match Thread Southend United v Port Vale

[Jam_Man]

We wont get away with that system every week though too narrow:thumbdown:

Indeed, it is narrow.

Nice to have options though.

 

[gpd]

Get in the PIG, he's on form...

That sounds like a Bullingdon Club motto.....

 

[AndyT]

That system was incorrect.

We played 4-4-2 the whole match, with Mooney playing at the top of the diamond.

 

[leeblue]

That system was incorrect.

We played 4-4-2 the whole match, with Mooney playing at the top of the diamond.

Really???? Looked like a 4 33 to me with mooney and pig flanking a central Weston.

 

[AndyT]

Nope, we played a diamond system.

 

[Bearded Shrimper]

Nope, we played a diamond system.

I thought it was 4312 as Deegan was getting forward a lot for the deepest one in the diamond. When Deegan went off Leonard went to the bottom of the diamond
then when Worrall came on it was 433
or at least that was my take on it

 

[cerbera45]

We seemed quite fluid with Piggott, Weston and Mooney all taking turns out wide. In the 1st half I think Pigott did best in the air against their right full-back from their goal kicks which seemed a bit of an outlet.

 

[AndyT]

I thought it was 4312 as Deegan was getting forward a lot for the deepest one in the diamond. When Deegan went off Leonard went to the bottom of the diamond
then when Worrall came on it was 433
or at least that was my take on it

Deegan was definitely the bottom of the diamond, but when he ventured forward, Leonard seemed to drop back slightly to cover him and yep, when he went off, it was a good move to get Leonard into that position. Leonard's defensive play yesterday was good and he got some great blocks in, but lacked something going forward.

When Worrall came on, I think we lost the shape a bit and reverted more to playing a flat three in midfield in front of Leonard to preserve what we had, but Worrall did make some useful ventures forward down the left in the latter stages.

I liked the diamond system at home, particularly as Mooney played so well in the hole and Weston's presence, if not his finishing, troubled Port Vale's rather cumbersome centre half pairing.

It does restrict us on width, but Coker got forward well down the left, as he had more space due to the diamond formation and I'd rather see us playing one-twos through the middle than knocking it out wide and loading crosses in, which hasn't worked in a lot of home games over the last 12 months or so.

 

[cerbera45]

IMO I think against better opposition playing that formation we could well have lost. We were too open when we lost possession. The full-back's didn't seem to have enough protection in front of them with so many men playing in the middle.