By pragmatism I don't mean playing the same dull defensive game week in week out, but playing to your strenghths and the opponents weaknesses, and that's surely what all good teams do strategically? Doesn't have to be dull, but not lunacy either...

Agreed we need a stronger defence (RB/CB) and then we can build confidently, but midfield also looks unbalanced or overrun - maybe part of the same problem.

Cannot agree Allardyce was a backward step. I was surprised haw good the team looked after a couple of months' work - both defence AND attack. And surely he was a good price to pay for keeping us in the premiership? relegation would have set us back years.

btw I'm also feeling very positive now having heard him speaking, and I'm sure he'll build us into a consistently good team based on a solid defence!

Edited by weaselpop (27 Jun 2017 10.24am)

If we do get majority possession it will be interesting to see if Wilf can wriggle his way through against well set defences. Actually it'll be interesting to see if he can help a team to play keep ball. I believe he will be a great success this coming season but he'll have to adapt and add some strings to his bow.

If you want to live in a world full of kindness, respect and love, try to show these qualities.

My friend from Ajax has explained his style of football to me as follows (all spelling mistakes etc are hers):

"He is 5x champion, so you can't go wrong. Although he did that with 'dutch football' old style.. Not putting allot of pressure on the opossing team and in no particular hurry to get the ball in front of the goal.
Individual qualities did come through but it was a skeep fest to watch . aspecially in the end. Im interested to see. What he can do out of the Ajax mold and if fysical and fast paced football inspires him.. He at least said so in dutch interviews. If his play style is the one used at Ajax then I wonder if it will fit the PL. Bit if he coyld get better players the at Ajax at that time, why not.. Core of his game is possesion and movement in front with three players."

When I made a joke about the words "movement" and "Benteke" not being a good fit, her reply was:

"Haha.. He uses the forward to get midfielders in scoring position, his forwards hardly scored more then 15 goals in a winning team."

Against a well marshalled defense, a game-breaker like Wilf is exactly what you need. Just think back to England's recent fixtures, where the wide players did nothing except recycle the ball via the supporting full back. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

We don't do possession; we do defense and attack. Everything else is just wa**ing with a football.

Ok, you now getting me really excited! Going to be a great season!

The Red and Blue never leaves our Palace empire,!

He thinks 'Jordan Mutch could be a big winner under de Boer.' Pfffft.

Jonny Williams as well. And Puncheon, who I think is going to be out as soon as other priorities are addressed so we can buy a number 10.

He also thinks Ward could be moved into central midfield. Maybe as a stand in with a bad injury list but I can't see who he'd nudge out of the team.

Good summary piece on play. Not as good as the one at the start of this de Boer philosophy thread though. But when it gets to possible players promoted it gets a little difficult to believe. Frank is going to quickly realise he has 15 prem level players, a handful of whom are uncomfortable on the ball when the opposition wants it off you. I'll be amazed if he starts finding hidden qualities or turns Jordan Mutch into a confident playmaker in this league. On the other hand if Burnley let us have the ball to look pretty at home and just wait to pounce then he might look good for 2 months with no end product.

It's pretty obvious. Frank is going to have to find a handful of players, probably 10 over 3 windows that can evolve us into his vision. To begin with they're going to need to cost ideally under £10mil. Not easy and I'd be moving people on the periphery out to afford more, not hanging onto them for longer.

Edited by Rudi Hedman (28 Jun 2017 9.28am)

COYP