Conundrum wrote:
Synbad or any of Ratts detractors please explain to me Ratt's game plan and why it is out of date?
From where I stand the biggest determinant of our success has been our execution. It has been very erratic. When we do not get clean possession out of our the middle we look third rate.
You use this as an excuse to have Rattens gameplan explaiened?
Ok.
Its about possession... must hold possession at all times.
We use half a dizen players as lock down players... then we have 3 midfielders that have to try and create on their own... but they dont chase back that well... so cos they dont chase back defensively very well... we have half locking down and half a midfield thats trying to create...
Also cos half of them are locking down and being reactive to the opposition team... they cant zone.. and cos we do try to zone and lock down alot of our players are out of position...
Our inside fifties are bomb it to Fev... cos were only playing with 3 creative midfielders so our midfileld is playing with less creative numbers.
When we do have the ball across half back we are not supposed to take the game on.. we must slow it down at all costs and make sure we dont turn the ball over... "if we have the ball they dont have the ball and if they dont have the ball they cant score".(Adelaide Crows circa 1995/1996).. now what this means is the organised teams have time to organise defensively....
Also means with all the chipping around and attempting to share the ball with little backwards/sidewards chips our players arent running too hard.. they are looking for the cheap handball/chip receives).. its just bad conditioning.
The other bit of the ganeplan is "give it to the champ" the champ is Chris Judd.. and its the name Ratts nicknames him...
Of course the opposition teams are aware of the "Give it to the champ " gameplan.. and are ready for it... so they have 3 guys hanging of "the champ" at all times....so you often see players give the ball to Juddy no matter whats going on around him and how many opp players are dagging off Juddy(Usually results in a 4 man tackle on Judd and Juddy miraculously slipping a handball away beore being smashed)
Thats most of the gameplan.. in a nutshell...
Its remarkably complex and adventurous.
It promotes positive football... and a positive mindset..!!!
Probably a decent explanation, too complex for a young side. Although Ratten did complain they didn't move it quickly enough out of defence. Maybe a part of of why they're confused hence hesitant. I can see why when it's changed up after half time alot of weeks to a more simple, attacking one (because we're in trouble and have nothing to lose) we play alot better. We play with alot more freedom, fighting back with good footy coming out on top, albeit against lesser opposition recently. It has led to patches of outstanding footy. St.Kilda was a great example.
Love to see us go into this week with a nothing to lose attitude and attack from the start. Could get an interesting result.