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Post by iot on Nov 18, 2024 13:29:42 GMT
I’m more than happy with the way it’s gone in the first five games. The results have been great imo. The performances have been more mixed, but far more positives than negatives. I think there is a clear identity. Even yesterday despite not being able to dominate like we wanted, we still tried to press with aggression and we tried to play it out, it’s just that Turkey were too good for us and we didn’t implement the gameplan as effectively on this occasion. I’m sure that won’t be the last time it happens, but the difference with Page is the intent. Page set up with a low block in games like this. Bellamy wants us to dominate and that was the intent yesterday, but we just weren’t quite able to do it. I don’t think Bellamy at any point yesterday decided to settle for a draw and drop back - that was evident with the attacking substitutions in the 75th minute (Cullen for James for example). It’s just that Turkey pushed us back with their quality. Hopefully the time we play in this system, and with the likes of Ampadu back, we can implement better we’re in such a difficult game. I don't mean to bash Page with this either. I was often accused of being overly defensive of Page, even some suggesting that I was the man himself! There's nothing wrong with playing a more conservative, low-block gameplan. I was only referring back to make a distinction between what we saw under Bellamy on Saturday and what we used to see with Page's at times more conservative style, and that distinction is one of intent. I do find it funny that the vast majority seemed to think that Page was a buffoon who couldn't get the most out of our players, and only now the narrative has shifted to 'actually, our players perhaps aren't that good after all'. I think Page did a decent job overall, but looking back I suppose there did seem to be a bit of muddled thinking lacking a clear identity. It's refreshing that, whether you like this way of playing or not, there is at least a clear identiy being formed under Bellamy. |
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Post by quetzal on Nov 19, 2024 23:16:05 GMT
Premier League teams will be sniffing!
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Post by hooky on Nov 19, 2024 23:27:39 GMT
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Post by njdragon on Nov 20, 2024 9:46:41 GMT
love the guy and brilliant job for this campaign - what ive really liked is he's got the whole squad working with the rotations. I wouldn't have expected ward to start over darlow last night never mind cullen and harris again, plus drop connor and playing Cabango. You have to say though he's tested out the whole squad and got us promoted. That is genius!
What i dislike about the fanbase at the moment and ill probably get slated for this but it's the constant comparisons to page. The first caller last night on call rob was 'would page have got those results' in all honestly we were one result away from being third in the group - close margins.
Nathan responded by saying different managers, comparisons and page took us to the euros and a world cup. Bellamy still has that to live up to.
Felt like i has to say that because every comment i see is well page wouldn't have got that result or we would never have played like that under him. In reality he did well for us, and bellamys success now is seemingly used as a stick to beat page even more...
He's gone lets concentrate on bellamy and remember we've had fantastic success over the last 8 years - something i'd never thought id ever see in my lifetime. Coleman, giggs, page and now bellers. What a night last night was!
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Post by jimexotic on Nov 20, 2024 11:29:22 GMT
It feels like they're waiting for him to do something to fill column inches, something they can attach negativity too. He's not and never has been a Joey Barton type and he's held his hands up in the past and admitted he's been out of line and seeked to improve himself. www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cdrdpxp25l4o |
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Post by surge on Nov 20, 2024 11:33:55 GMT
I agree that we need to stop making comparisons to Page. It's beneath us and we should probably take leaf out of Bellamy's book by not discussing previous manager unless we're offering praise.
Page was right for his time, Bellamy so far has shown it was also right to move on. Nothing more needs to be said about that.
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Post by winsumluzsum on Nov 20, 2024 11:41:50 GMT
love the guy and brilliant job for this campaign - what ive really liked is he's got the whole squad working with the rotations. I wouldn't have expected ward to start over darlow last night never mind cullen and harris again, plus drop connor and playing Cabango. You have to say though he's tested out the whole squad and got us promoted. That is genius! What i dislike about the fanbase at the moment and ill probably get slated for this but it's the constant comparisons to page. The first caller last night on call rob was 'would page have got those results' in all honestly we were one result away from being third in the group - close margins. Nathan responded by saying different managers, comparisons and page took us to the euros and a world cup. Bellamy still has that to live up to. Felt like i has to say that because every comment i see is well page wouldn't have got that result or we would never have played like that under him. In reality he did well for us, and bellamys success now is seemingly used as a stick to beat page even more... He's gone lets concentrate on bellamy and remember we've had fantastic success over the last 8 years - something i'd never thought id ever see in my lifetime. Coleman, giggs, page and now bellers. What a night last night was! I agree very much with this. Page isn't given the credit he deserved, particularly that win against Croatia which is probably the best or second best result and performance combo that we've ever seen from Cymru in qualifying matches. Bellamy is next level, but not just in comparison with Page but in comparison to all previous Cymru managers. Let's enjoy him while it lasts. |
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Post by winsumluzsum on Nov 21, 2024 13:42:47 GMT
'This is the worst we're going to be'
This isn't a dig at Bellamy, because he clarified how the comment he made after our first game against Turkiye should be understood: something along the lines of - with a greater understanding of my methods and philosophy and with feedback available from previous games you are bound to improve. However, with that caveat in mind, it struck me that looking back on the 6 games to date it would be more accurate to say that that first game is the best we've been. Assuming that's a valid perspective, why could that be?
Firstly there's probably that new manager bounce. Players are enthused and excited about new ideas and play at a higher level than normal. Secondly, there's the fact that Turkiye's manager had nothing to study to counter our approach tactically. Thirdly, we probably had our strongest starting eleven to date, with Ampadu and Ramsey available.
I wouldn't say there's been a huge drop off, and we've had spells in all matches where we've done well, especially the opening half away to Iceland. But it does seem to me that we haven't played with the swagger and confidence on the ball that we showed for the first hour or so against Turkiye at home. Perhaps that's down in part to the absence of Ampadu, perhaps also because opposition managers have studied our approach and effectively countered it.
The challenge for us is to get back to the confidence we showed in possession in that first game. Well though Sheehan has played, the return of Ampadu will play a big part in that. I'm greedy I know, but I want us to play with the joy and self-expression we saw in that first game. With Bellamy in charge I'm confident we will see similar performances in due course.
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Post by winsumluzsum on Nov 21, 2024 14:03:08 GMT
I was really looking forward to the return of Dan James, as I expected Bellamy's approach to really suit James' qualities, but he's underwhelmed in both games. Perhaps it's because he's not back to full fitness, but perhaps missing out on the two first camps has left him somewhat out of the loop and not up to speed with the Bellamy philosophy.
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Post by allezlesrouges on Nov 21, 2024 14:07:24 GMT
I actually think our most complete performance was the 1-0 win at home to Montenegro. We controlled them and the only effort of note they had was a speculative effort from way out. Overall we dominated them with a second string side, and whilst we didn't create loads, that was a blueprint performance in terms of dominating a game
Our best isolated period performance-wise was the 1st half against Iceland in my opinion. We identified one of their weaknesses and were ruthless. Converted chances unlike the Turkey game
You could argue Turkey first half was better as we controlled a good side, but equally we didn't convert our chances
Ultimately I think having Ampadu would have made us look much better overall these past few games
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Post by winsumluzsum on Nov 21, 2024 14:14:43 GMT
The xG difference between ourselves and our opponents was best in the home game against Turkiye. Turkiye didn't come close to scoring whilst Montenegro hit the bar and had a decent headed effort on target. True we were very comfortable in possession against Montenegro - but they were inferior opponents to be fair.
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Post by wirralwelsh on Nov 21, 2024 16:54:14 GMT
I was really looking forward to the return of Dan James, as I expected Bellamy's approach to really suit James' qualities, but he's underwhelmed in both games. Perhaps it's because he's not back to full fitness, but perhaps missing out on the two first camps has left him somewhat out of the loop and not up to speed with the Bellamy philosophy. As a Man U fan I can affirm confidently that DJ is not suited at all to playing on the left. We are better off with the likes of Thomas, Broadhead and Matondo who are more suited to that side. Sadly the emergence of Brennan Johnson and superlative form of Wilson mean alternative for Dan is just going to be impact substitute from now on but he can still make an important contribution that way. |
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Post by winsumluzsum on Nov 21, 2024 21:01:16 GMT
I was really looking forward to the return of Dan James, as I expected Bellamy's approach to really suit James' qualities, but he's underwhelmed in both games. Perhaps it's because he's not back to full fitness, but perhaps missing out on the two first camps has left him somewhat out of the loop and not up to speed with the Bellamy philosophy. As a Man U fan I can affirm confidently that DJ is not suited at all to playing on the left. We are better off with the likes of Thomas, Broadhead and Matondo who are more suited to that side. Sadly the emergence of Brennan Johnson and superlative form of Wilson mean alternative for Dan is just going to be impact substitute from now on but he can still make an important contribution that way. James has played mainly on the left for us and has done well. Mind you he has mainly been cutting inside to shoot or put inswingers into the box. It was noticeable against Iceland how he was trying to get to the byeline to cross with his left, although he only delivered one decent cross IIRC. Perhaps that role doesn't suit him as well? |
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Post by allezlesrouges on Nov 21, 2024 21:18:07 GMT
As a Man U fan I can affirm confidently that DJ is not suited at all to playing on the left. We are better off with the likes of Thomas, Broadhead and Matondo who are more suited to that side. Sadly the emergence of Brennan Johnson and superlative form of Wilson mean alternative for Dan is just going to be impact substitute from now on but he can still make an important contribution that way. James has played mainly on the left for us and has done well. Mind you he has mainly been cutting inside to shoot or put inswingers into the box. It was noticeable against Iceland how he was trying to get to the byeline to cross with his left, although he only delivered one decent cross IIRC. Perhaps that role doesn't suit him as well? I would be interested to see us try Brooks in that role, I think he has the dribbling skills to do it and is naturally left footed of course |
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