Sturrock's style of play

[shrimpereeee]

Let's face it, under PS our success isn't based on free flowing football that is pleasing to the eye, but instead, sticking to a game plan that is based on hard work, clearing our lines, hitting Dickinson or the corner flanks and sending in early crosses. After all the opposition can't hurt us from deep in their own half.

PS said it all after the Plymouth game when he complained that the players were starting to believe that they were capable of playing football! Shame on them.

Even during our unbeaten run I can't really pick too many games where we completely outplayed the opposition. We made our own luck, and plenty of it, through sheer endeavour.

For football purists this is not...but our style of play, as long as we stick to it, is clearly effective and will give us a good chance of promotion.

Let's hope the players listen to the manager who knows what it takes to lead us out of this division. Whether or not it will be enough to succeed in a higher league....I have my doubts. However, as far as I'm concerned it's horses for courses and if it leads to promotion at the end of the season you certainly won't find me complaining.

UTB

 

[leeblue]

we have been top of the league for most of this season i dont give a flying f**k how we play in over a hundred years of being a football club we have been in this position very rarely, i will do nothing but praise mr sturrock for taking a club that had 4/5 players and a year and a half later make the club title contenders, there seems to be this air of entitlement from some supporters, thinking we should be playing dazzling football and enthralling the football loving public, the thing that gets me is why they feel like this, is it our trophy laden history, our many years of top flight football gracing the footballing arenas of europe, our world wide reputation of playing this amazing style that is now gone....oh hang on none of that is actually the case I genuinely believe these people dont deserve the great results we have thus far obtained, do one you miserable c units

 

[easton8]

Yeah I don't remember us playing the 'Barca/Real' style that some fans believe. Other than the odd dire game I've enjoy the vast majority of games, 56 goals from 30 games isn't bad!

 

[Bratislava Blue]

I've just watched my first Blues game this season..... on Sky... I've had to resort to Blues Player for the descriptive manner of our play so far this season..... and to be honest... it was not pretty tonight.... Maybe after our recent run we needed an ugly performance and 3 points... I hope so cos if this is to be replicated in League 1 next season.... I fear us suffering the same fate as last seasons promoted teams... Wycombe, Chesterfield etc

Of course I am happy for the 3 points but there was nothing from tonights performance that excited me and I clearly understand why a player of the class of Harris has struggled to fit in to Sturrocks style of play this season...

I still have to take my hat of to Mr Sturrock though for getting the reaction that he did tonight from the players that performed tonight....

Nothing more to say than "we are top of the league"

 

[WightShrimper]

Luggy has said that he has only achieved 25 percent (i believe) of what he set out to do. Getting us out of this league is the first priority, with whatever football style that requires, and then I believe he will build a team more suited to the playing style of League 1. One step at a time folks.

 

[Jai]

we have been top of the league for most of this season i dont give a flying f**k how we play in over a hundred years of being a football club we have been in this position very rarely, i will do nothing but praise mr sturrock for taking a club that had 4/5 players and a year and a half later make the club title contenders, there seems to be this air of entitlement from some supporters, thinking we should be playing dazzling football and enthralling the football loving public, the thing that gets me is why they feel like this, is it our trophy laden history, our many years of top flight football gracing the footballing arenas of europe, our world wide reputation of playing this amazing style that is now gone....oh hang on none of that is actually the case I genuinely believe these people dont deserve the great results we have thus far obtained, do one you miserable c units

Possibly the best post I have ever read on here

 

[leeblue]

Possibly the best post I have ever read on here

im sure it will get stick for being a hoof post

 

[Tampa Blue]

im sure it will get stick for being a hoof post

not from me, I agree with every word

 

[Col.U. Mad]

Let's face it, fourth division football is never pretty. You've gotta kick your way out of this league. Was pleasantly surprised by the result. BTW Cricko where is the "We are top of the league" banner on the website? :winking::thumbsup:

 

[Swiss Tony]

im sure it will get stick for being a hoof post

No not really,just for calling people *****, who have a different view to you,nice.

 

[TJC]

I recall when Sturrock was manager of Plymouth those years ago. The season they got promoted from League 2 (and the season before) and I thought they played some of the best lower league football I had ever seen. First year was superb to watch, but just had nothing up front. Following year, they kept the silky stuff and could finish too.
My guess is that Sturrock is not a one type of football manager and can play to his resources stengths. I would say we mix it up a bit, but the first sign of a long punt up the field, and we are hoof merchants. If it wins us games, so be it, but I think we use what is effective for a particular game.

 

[shrimperjon]

Last night was all about the win. No at times it wasnt pretty but we earnt the right to play more negative 2nd half with an excellant first half display. Sitting in the stand last night the second half was at times nail biting, squeaky bum time, and when the goal went in there were thoughts of here we go again, but we controlled most of that game and for the best part of 80 mins they didnt have a sniff. Phillips back in the side was brilliant, Moshni appears to have grown up and was disciplined in all aspects of his game, Martin did what we know he can do. Would i criticise the team at all, well maybe they sat too deep second half, but you could see how much they wanted to win and what it meant at the end.

Bottom line is that we are our own worse cirtics, when i got home and watched the game again, the TV guys were very complementary about our style of play and the committment shown by all. Maybe its these outside views that are the ones we should be listening too. Anyway good night for all but we must continue this on Saturday. UTB

 

[CC51DAS]

.

Let's hope the players listen to the manager who knows what it takes to lead us out of this division. Whether or not it will be enough to succeed in a higher league....I have my doubts. However, as far as I'm concerned it's horses for courses and if it leads to promotion at the end of the season you certainly won't find me complaining.

UTB

Good point. How many of these players will still be with us in a year's time if we get promotion ?

 

[Gt Yarmouth Shrimper]

Let's face it, fourth division football is never pretty. You've gotta kick your way out of this league. Was pleasantly surprised by the result. BTW Cricko where is the "We are top of the league" banner on the website? :winking::thumbsup:

If he puts the banner back up, it will mean he will have to do something positive in regard to the club, which is against his nature

 

[South Bank Hank]

[/B]If he puts the banner back up, it will mean he will have to do something positive in regard to the club, which is against his nature

I'd say the hours he puts into running this website are more than positive in regard to the club. Let's keep the discussions relating to the issues, not the personalities, thanks.

 

[southchurch]

Positive was we won. A second positive was all the players really battled for it. Without that spirit we would never have survived that 2nd half.
Negative as usual was the low standard of football on display. First half both teams were hoofing it all over the place. I did think to myself , well its not just us who plays like this. The second half they did knock it around a lot more and scored a great goal. Again praise the Southend team for a fantastic backs to the wall display second half.
It was however not a good advert for 2nd Division football. I think any neautrals watching would have turned over to Corrie long before the end.

 

[GregStarz]

So we got 3 points albeit scrappy, but we're thankfully top of the tree again :)

What have all your work colleagues said about the game and style of play? My lot said they had to turn over, too much longball and very frustrating lol

 

[mattytheshrimper]

We're beginning to sound like West Ham fans now. They've been 1st/2nd all season and still complain about the football saying their not playing 'The West Ham Way' As big sam has rightly said the west ham way means losing and getting relegated every few seasons. We have to learn that we have a style of play that may not be pretty but it will win us games, especially in league 2. Although our style of play is the reason why we lose against the better teams because they can deal with that and still play it on the floor,this is my only concern although I'm not convinced we have a plan B. But as others have said I will watch whatever footy Sturrock chooses to play as long as it gets us out of this horrible league.

 

[southchurch]

So we got 3 points albeit scrappy, but we're thankfully top of the tree again :)

What have all your work colleagues said about the game and style of play? My lot said they had to turn over, too much longball and very frustrating lol

Overheard a few guys saying they watched the game last night and how rubbish the standard was. I did not say any thing but I did think their lucky . I have to watch that every week.

 

[Beefy]

I think too much is made of the playing style - it's not what we had when we last went up from this division but then it's probably better than we had for the five and a half seasons before Tilly took over. It's also not like we're the John Beck's Cambridge of this division. Most sides at this level play a similar style to us. gillingham were no better than we were and Rotherham were pretty hapless on Friday, IMO. League Two is not a pleasing on the eye standard of football.