Attractive Football? OR Hoof-Ball?

[gingeki]

Horses for courses but playing the ball on the deck should always be the first thought. A more direct route is required at times but only when really necessary. I really enjoyed Saturday's game too as did my 9 year old daughter who asked when she can go again.

As has been said previously we had become a one trick pony last season and by the second half of the season teams knew not only what to expect but how to deal with it.

[Zak]

EDIT

Customers like value.

Value is when performance exceeds expectation.
Value is not when expectation exceeds performance.

[Jonty]

Not a one trick pony at all, especially when you go on a 26 game unbeaten run. That is consistency and cohesion and a team on top of their game. I think it is very unfair to label what Paul Cox brought to our side as a hoof ball side. Yes it is a direct style, but it was very very effective. He toughened us up and prepared us mentally to become a competitive side at this level for the first time I can remember. Prior to this we were always little plucky Barrow, I also witnessed some of of our best performances and wins under Paul Cox and his style. We played it the right way to get results at this level and at times scored some very good team goals. At around the time of the FA Cup game v Bristol we were on top form and I believe a match for any side in the league. We simply ran out of steam and lost key players at a crucial period.

I have no complaints at all about our style of play under Paul Cox and I shall remember his period in charge as one of the best I have enjoyed in nearly 30 years. The next manager has to match the ethos and continue the development of the playing side. I don't want us to go back to this fluffy side getting spanked.

[glasgow_blue]

Not way or t'other, just a side/manager able to adapt to different sides and conditions. Anyone who thinks playing silky football in some of the weather conditions we have at Holker St don't know what they're talking about but yeah, on a nice still day i wouldn't mind the team getting the ball down and playing a bit as long it gets 3pts that is. The only successful footballing side i can remember seeing at HS is Wycombe under O'Niell who played us off the park the season before they went up and even they had a nasty streak, all successful sides do.

[conquistador]

Burton Albion with Clough in midfield were a stylish and effective team at this level

[Jonty]

A bit of snide, bite and scratch, call it what you want, but I agree to be successful, you need a bit of this. Don't want us to be a nasty team, but never want us to be a soft touch. We need to be the side that no one wants to play and gets other teams losing their discipline and game plan. Whatever style that is.

[Soulboy]

Cox transformed us on and off the pitch. He instilled a hard work ethic and pride. We became a team others feared. We beat the best in Lincoln And Dagenham.....something was working but some folk still not happy. The attendance didn't rise but expectations did.
He almost got us in playoffs and we would have fought through. Right to mention the wind which can get very strong. Like to see any player relish in such circumstances.
We may now see different style but when we lose matches we should have closed on the moaners will still not be happy?
A hard strong disciplined squad with an experienced manager will only get us out of this league imho.