Ian Holloway's five-step guide to winning the play-offs

[:J)]

Oddly enough - Turdgate doesn't feature. But he manages a couple of digs at CH (Brum) and Gus.

 

[Don Tmatter]

Seems fair enough to me, CH not picking the right players and GP being arrogant cant be denied.

 

[Sweeney Todd]

Having one of your own empty their bowels in your dressing-room and then blaming it on the opposition…that always helps.

 

[BensGrandad]

Seems like a fully jusified and accurate summing up.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Can't go against anything he's said there.

 

[perseus]

I think possession of the ball is the key. This, according to percentage football, is purely a defensive tactic. If the other side haven't got he ball, and the defence does their job (not making errors), the opposition will be restricted to long shots and set pieces.

I was impressed by how Arsenal set out at the Amex last season. Not so much goals early on (it helps) but they barely allowed as a touch from the start. Keeping up the pressing game for 90 minutes is hard to do though.

I thought we did OK at Boro. Too many errors, but I thought we looked in for a very good chance until Dale Stephens got sent off. We had the ball a lot and it would have counted if the game went on with 11 men.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Seems fair enough to me, CH not picking the right players and GP being arrogant cant be denied.

It is funny because as you read it, you can see Holloway's arrogance coming through.

 

[perseus]

Matches can change on one error. Upson v Derby was the turning point.

I think it is good to be innovative. Who would have expected Forsyth to turn up in our penalty area?

I would like to see CH spring a surprise one in a while. He seems very conservative.

Having a full back in the opposing penalty area is a big risk (if we lose the ball). Come on Bruno!

 

[MF'84]

Here's my 2 step guide:

Win Semi-final
Win Final

 

[perseus]

If the opposition does not make an error, the game needs to be won by a piece of individual skill or a set peice.

If we have most of the possession (like we have recently) we will get more opportunities.

 

[NooBHA]

Would that be the unemployed Ian Holloway who is giving out this advice and who currently freelances on TV to scrape out a living at the moment

 

[West Upper Seagull]

Personally I thought that was a decent read and insight. Putting his past allegiances to one side I can't help but like the guy and his enthusiasm for the game. I have found that he has been very complementary about us and CH this season and he clearly rates Kayal highly. I'd hate him to get another managers job in the Championship or Prem any time soon as I reckon Kayal would be first on his shopping list !

 

[Gwylan]

Here's my 2 step guide:

Win Semi-final
Win Final

Here's my one-step guide

1) Don't tell players you're off as soon as the play-offs are done

 

[yxee]

Would that be the unemployed Ian Holloway who is giving out this advice and who currently freelances on TV to scrape out a living at the moment

Very harsh. I have a lot of respect for the guy. I'm sure he'd find a managerial job if he wanted (unlike many pundits...).

 

[B-right-on]

Interesting read. Mind games and all that. Don't think CH is into that, but then again I dont think he lets those things affect him. Holloway has got to be one of the more experianced p[lay off managers around.

 

[NooBHA]

Very harsh. I have a lot of respect for the guy. I'm sure he'd find a managerial job if he wanted (unlike many pundits...).

The bloke is NUTZ

Yes he will get jobs if he can see past his own ego to drop to League 1 or lower.

He spends most of his time courting the Press and Sponsors. Even when managing teams he is often in Hospitality Suites up to and past 2.45pm sometimes before matches with the Sponsors and Press telling them what he is going to do and how his team are going to play. That's when he should be with his own players telling them what to do, and most other Managers are but not Olly

 

[sparkie]

At least we have Point 1 already covered by Saturday !