Re: Pressing from the front
The funny thing is that we completely got away with that tonight. It was the classic 2025-26 Blues second phase hoodoo that did for us again. That and playing shit for the best part of 96 minutes.
I think there is a lot to be said for playing a proper midfield three in games like this too, with someone like a Doyle asked to be a creator and ball-carrier. (Or, dare I say it, Kanya Fujimoto – if there is actually a player there rather than just a haunted mop).
*Apologies for the overuse of bold tonight. I've had two barrel-aged gins to take the edge off the result. Bluecoat. Highly recommend.