In this episode of The Huddle Breakdown, we react to the chaotic 4-2 victory over Livingston and ask the big question: Is Wilfried Nancy’s “basketball match” style of football sustainable for a title race?
Great show and good to hear my suspicions confirmed that Nancy may welll look for a DM to play CB. I've gotten tired of watching poor CBs with so much possession in the modern game.
That's an intriguing proposition, but do you think that it's possible to scout a player for such a transition ? Or, better to scout and sign a DM and then see what could materialise in training ? If anybody knows how these switches in position came about at CC it'd be interesting to know ? Additionally would it be a difficult sell to pitch to prospective signing ? I think the media generally speaking likes to attach a set position to a player, but we know already that Nancy likes players to be able to function in more that one position, so we should read that flexibility is key :)
Both ways are possible. We've seen Bitton do a similar job in the past. Mascherano went that way towards the end of his career. Most ball playing teams have CDs who could perform the role.
- Maswanhise missing is indeed very bad for Motherwell but Elijah Just is, to me, the best and smartest attacking-focused midfielder in the SPFL.
- The defence has gotten their act together with less stupid turnover passes/mistakes. The keeper, Callum Ward, is in great form… but the central midfielders in my opinion make a lot of careless errors (at least recently).
- If Welsh is not playing, then the defence will suffer a bit. I find him to be the most reliable centre back on the squad.
In terms of playing style, I call back to my earlier analogy to match the pod's "jazz/orchestra/rock and roll" one about Hatate/Rodgers' system/Engels (respectively). To me, Motherwell play sea shanty football; they run around forming triangles or squares to offer simple passing options at almost all times (whether to get out of presses or create attacking opportunities). It looks simple, all the players can do it because it doesn't require incredible vision or technique, and anyone can join in at any time.
The cost I think is the players have to run more (instead of standing there waiting for the centre backs to do something and pointing fingers around like McGregor under Rodgers), but Motherwell don't have any European fixtures and Jens rotates the squad + uses substitutions very regularly.
1. Would you consider WNs system and approach “strategic” in the European context. And by that I mean can it get us to quarter, semi-finals and finals in the Europa which is where we want to benchmark ourselves. My sense is we would need a huge uplift in player quality in quite a number of areas if this is to be achieved playing this way.
2. M’Well have rightly been getting quite a few plaudits this season. Didn’t see any of the game at Ibrox, but despite having more of the ball than Rangers, who have been struggling to create, they managed to give up 28 shots on their goal and an xG of over 4. That’s not good.
That question was answered today.
Great show and good to hear my suspicions confirmed that Nancy may welll look for a DM to play CB. I've gotten tired of watching poor CBs with so much possession in the modern game.
That's an intriguing proposition, but do you think that it's possible to scout a player for such a transition ? Or, better to scout and sign a DM and then see what could materialise in training ? If anybody knows how these switches in position came about at CC it'd be interesting to know ? Additionally would it be a difficult sell to pitch to prospective signing ? I think the media generally speaking likes to attach a set position to a player, but we know already that Nancy likes players to be able to function in more that one position, so we should read that flexibility is key :)
Both ways are possible. We've seen Bitton do a similar job in the past. Mascherano went that way towards the end of his career. Most ball playing teams have CDs who could perform the role.
Great episode!
My thoughts on Motherwell's recent form:
- Maswanhise missing is indeed very bad for Motherwell but Elijah Just is, to me, the best and smartest attacking-focused midfielder in the SPFL.
- The defence has gotten their act together with less stupid turnover passes/mistakes. The keeper, Callum Ward, is in great form… but the central midfielders in my opinion make a lot of careless errors (at least recently).
- If Welsh is not playing, then the defence will suffer a bit. I find him to be the most reliable centre back on the squad.
In terms of playing style, I call back to my earlier analogy to match the pod's "jazz/orchestra/rock and roll" one about Hatate/Rodgers' system/Engels (respectively). To me, Motherwell play sea shanty football; they run around forming triangles or squares to offer simple passing options at almost all times (whether to get out of presses or create attacking opportunities). It looks simple, all the players can do it because it doesn't require incredible vision or technique, and anyone can join in at any time.
The cost I think is the players have to run more (instead of standing there waiting for the centre backs to do something and pointing fingers around like McGregor under Rodgers), but Motherwell don't have any European fixtures and Jens rotates the squad + uses substitutions very regularly.
Another great episode 👍.
Quick question and point :-
1. Would you consider WNs system and approach “strategic” in the European context. And by that I mean can it get us to quarter, semi-finals and finals in the Europa which is where we want to benchmark ourselves. My sense is we would need a huge uplift in player quality in quite a number of areas if this is to be achieved playing this way.
2. M’Well have rightly been getting quite a few plaudits this season. Didn’t see any of the game at Ibrox, but despite having more of the ball than Rangers, who have been struggling to create, they managed to give up 28 shots on their goal and an xG of over 4. That’s not good.
Any thoughts on the two points above.
Thanks
Brian
Fantastic, folks! Hoopy 2026 HH
Great pod, thanks!