Hindsight: Always 20/20

By: Daryl | March 11th, 2009

Managing: Newcastle
Date: April 18th, 2011
Progress: 6th in Prem after 32 games, still in Europa League, Carling Cup collecting dust in trophy cabinet.

One of the most frustrating things about this game, is that as you learn more (especially after reading the TT&Fs) it becomes easier to see what you did wrong in each match. But only after the final whistle. Seems the key is noticing where you’ve gone wrong before it’s too late, which is an art I’m yet to master.

Three games played recently, here’s how they went…

vs Bolton (away)

- – - – - – - – - -Given – - – - – - – - –
Jiranek – Rusol – Coloccini – Insomnia
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
- – - – - Mascio – - – Skjelbred – - – - – - – - -
Jonas – - – - Diego- – - Marquinhos
- – - – - – - – Lewandowski – - – - – -

4-2-3-1 attacking, normal defensive line, playing offside, bit of width, reasonably short, reasonably slow passing

(Arshavin picked up an injury, Camacho needs a rest)

A pretty attacking lineup, that I thought was enough to beat 12th placed Bolton. However, The Ginger Mourinho sent his men out in the world’s most boring formation: 4-1-4-1. And I couldn’t get through. Despite dominating possession 60/40 and having 11 goes at goal, we didn’t get one effort on target. Here are the match stats (click to enlarge)

In fact, John Fleck came on towards the end and had the most off target shot I’ve ever seen. The damn thing very nearly went out for a throw in.

Result: 0-0

In hindsight, I should have pulled my men back a bit and tried to draw Bolton out of their 9 men behind the ball formation. But I didn’t realize that til afterwards, so stuck to the attack-attack-attack mentality expecting it to pay off eventually. Two points dropped. Had a pint with TGM after the game and took every ounce of restraint not to punch him in the nose.

vs Udinese (home)

Europa League QF 1st leg

- – - – - – - – - -Given – - – - – - – - –
Jiranek – Rusol – Coloccini – Insomnia
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
- – - – - Mascio – - – Camacho – - – - – - – - -
Jonas – - – - – Marq- – - Lewandowski
- – - – - – - Bendtner – - – - – -

4-2-3-1 attacking, normal defensive line, playing offside, bit of width, reasonably short, reasonably slow passing

(now Diego’s injured, juts as he was getting his groove on)

Udinese had a very similar formation with a lot of pace and talent in attack (trident of Alexis Sanchez, Frederico Laurito, Antonio Di Natale) but my boys controlled the game.

Loving my new solid formation with Mascio and Camacho holding and lots and lots of short passing. Like Arsenal, but in a good way. OK, I failed to score again, but with a few shots on target this time.

Plus, no away goals conceded.

Result: 0-0

vs Wolves (home)

- – - – - – - – - -Given – - – - – - – - –
Jiranek – Rusol – Coloccini – Insomnia
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
- – - – - Mascio – - – Skjelbred – - – - – - – - -
Jonas – - – - – Marq- – - Lewandowski
- – - – - – - Bendtner – - – - – -

4-2-3-1 attacking, normal defensive line, playing offside, bit of width, reasonably short, reasonably slow passing

Wolves are 17th, so this was a must win. Bendtner sidefooted home in the first minute, Lewandowski the same in the 20th.

Foolishly, I switched things up at H/T to rest a few key players (Jonas, Skjelbred, Marquinhos) and see how we’d look in a 4-4-2. The answer was: not very good.

Result: 2-0

And in hindsight, I should have kept going and smashed a few more past Wolves. Because look at the goal difference in this table:

So, six games to go and it’s far from impossible for me to make the Champions League.

But going to have a good go at the Europa League too. Second leg of that quarterfinal against Udinese is next.

Elsewhere on FM Offside:

We have two new blogs to introduce…

On FM Arsenal, Tom is going to play with a self-imposed minimum number of English players.
We have our first MLS blog, with Yad managing Toronto in the land of drafts and DPs.
Dhaw’s unbeaten run at Roma continues, and a new signing debuts with a hat-trick
Thommo has got Lee Naylor singled out as his weak link at Celtic.
Corey has been offered a few players at Lyon, should he sign them? Go vote.