BOROCHAT
Newest article: Re: Lewis Hamilton by HITCHIN CALLINGToday 19:00Today at 19:00:05view thread
Oldest article: FAO Amdin by Balders28/1 18:16Wed Jan 28 18:16:40 2026view thread
Next thread: Red cards by RockyBottom6/4 09:19Mon Apr 6 09:19:21 2026view thread
Goalscoring
Views: 898
Starting to become a real issue. Even Exeter in the relegation zone have scored nore than us....
reply to this article | return to the front page
1 person
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 550
From a tactical perspective I think the way to add goals while staying as solid at the back as we are is to be quicker in our transitions. When the ball turns over to us it needs to hit fast wide players quickly and from there we need to be creating an opportunity at goal within a few passes maximum. Much easier said than done though, and I’m sure all the actual football coaches at the club have considered this too.
I back Revs to recognise the areas we need improvement in or a different profile of player to make the system more profitable going forward but that’s something for the summer. As I said elsewhere, it’s not the time to make big changes to what has got us into our current excellent league position.
reply to this article | return to the front page
1 person
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 522
For the second week running M Phillips came short and played a simple link with another player who released him down the right, where he crossed and Reid should’ve scored. He came short and linked once in the whole second half (I didn’t watch the first half, life is too short).
Last week he came short ONCE in the entire game, dropped his shoulder and released Roberts with a lovely ball inside the full back.
Twice in two games I’ve seen us play to his undoubted strength. He played both full 90 minutes. The fact is they are coached to be massively conservative even in the opposition’s half. This has to be a choice - the modern obsession with keeping possession even if it means Pidge and Marschall have the ball way too much. Either that or the players simply aren’t footballers with any nouse. Either way, this is the reason for me were so frustrating to watch. I’m not asking for shit or bust football, far from it. If M Phillips is playing at 10, or Kemp, FFS use them.
reply to this article | return to the front page
7 people
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 400
It's 100% a choice and tactic. It's why we are so slow, as not to lose the structure of the team.
Unfortunately it's painful to watch and won't get you many goals.
It does however, have us on the edge of the playoffs.
reply to this article | return to the front page
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 376
We are also currently tied with our most ever wins after 39 matches in League One in our history.
Yet most people seem so downbeat with everything. It is all so very odd.
Edited by Chuds at 19:30:19 on 4th April 2026
reply to this article | return to the front page
1 person
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 386
Keeping structure is more important out of possession than in possession. To be quick in transition doesn’t require much in the way of changing shape anyway. You can also change gears when in possession at any time, it doesn’t have to be pedestrian, one tempo football.
Win the ball, head up, hit a winger or the striker and go. If we lose the ball in that scenario we’re also not caught short at the back. It’s what we were doing at times earlier on in the season, the change to five at the back has perhaps hindered it somewhat, it has undeniably been a change that has kept us where we are though. All easier to write down than to implement of course.
There’s massive jeopardy if we change things now and it doesn’t work. You don’t mess with a winning formula this late on in the campaign. I’d be interested in seeing what Matt Phillips through the middle with Campbell and Phoenix either side of him looks like. Phillips being the fulcrum with the goal threat from the wingers (think Benzema, Bale, Ronaldo at Real Madrid or Firmino, Mane and Salah at Liverpool). I’d wager we won’t see anything like that until next season though (if all three are retained) if at all.
reply to this article | return to the front page
2 people
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 386
You’re right re structure. Our defensive shape is great. I rarely complain because it’s all so good in context. But for me our lack of nous in the final third is my major gripe with Revs. We were freer in this regard in the first 10 games, but have reverted to type. The hyper structured approach might get us to the play offs, which will be a superb achievement
reply to this article | return to the front page
1 person
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 316
We had more options in terms of personnel early in the season. Injuries have largely dictated the formation since Christmas.
reply to this article | return to the front page
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 332
I agree. I think the handbrake went on a little when we realised just how well we were doing. More from a psychological perspective than anything Revs and the coaching team have done.
We’ve done really well to arrest the little blip we had and still be in the play-off conversation. Perhaps if we sneak in to the play-offs late on anything else will be seen as a bonus and that psychological handbrake will come off naturally. Then maybe we’ll see a return to some of the better attacking play from the start of the season.
reply to this article | return to the front page
1 person
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 376
When you say 'structured' are you saying we always look to play the same attacking patterns, which means sometimes waiting until all.the pieces are in the right position.
That's very much how Westley used to set us up IMO when he won promotion. Not pretty and formulaic.
reply to this article | return to the front page
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 249
Westley possibly freed them up a bit more, but similar. You can obviously coach like Graham Taylor with massive emphasis on offense, but still very structured. Part of me thinks Revs is definitely winning in this regard anyway, which slightly contradicts my previous statements! But if Kemp is out of form or injured we are really short of options, so KEEP IT TIGHT. I get that.
reply to this article | return to the front page
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 330
Can see why we play that way to especially with the injuries etc.But can appreciate how it is frustrating and we get the "just have a shot" comments
reply to this article | return to the front page
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 350
Oh yes. Matt P in the middle with Chem and Phoenix in support from the sides? Sounds very nice indeed. Kemp in the 10 too? Lovely stuff.
reply to this article | return to the front page
1 person
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 343
I think in my mind I’d struggle to get Kemp into the 11 with that front three. It would be more of a 4-3-3 with three centre midfielders. But that’s not to say Kemp as a 10 couldn’t work with that front line. A 4-2-3-1 could be interesting but the two in the centre of the park would have to be very disciplined to keep our current defensive stability.
reply to this article | return to the front page
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 666
Starting to become an issue? Where have you been all season? We don't set up for an open game...no 3-3 draws.
Instead we play to our strengths, which is why we are still in with a decent shout for the play-offs. Injuries meant very few attacking options on the bench today. Ultimately an away draw against a team scrapping at the bottom might not be the worst result, with Wycombe and Plymouth losing. If we can beat Blackpool on Monday I would certainly take it.
reply to this article | return to the front page
7 people
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 519
Re the injuries we need Phoenix or Campbell available even if they can only come of bench for a bit of creativity.
reply to this article | return to the front page
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 634
We have to beat Blackpool now....
reply to this article | return to the front page
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 771
Luckily for us we dont concede many eh.
Edited by BALDOCKBORO at 18:33:18 on 3rd April 2026
reply to this article | return to the front page
2 people
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 695
True, but can't rely on 0-0's to get you to the top end of the table!
reply to this article | return to the front page
Re: Goalscoring
Views: 676
We are at the top end of the table so have not been drawing nil nil much. Plus we’ve had more than our share of 1-0 wins and defeats - just the way we are . And I’d have to say the management and players have done fantastic to put us in with a decent chance of play offs with 7 games to go .
reply to this article | return to the front page
7 people
Previous thread: Frank Norris by HITCHIN CALLING4/4 15:47Sat Apr 4 15:47:21 2026view thread