York City boss Gary Mills rounds on critics of 4-3-3 system

2:10pm Sunday 11th November 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Dave Flett, Sports reporter

GARY MILLS has rounded on any 4-3-3 critics after his York City side were booed off the pitch by certain sections of the Bootham Crescent crowd.

Following Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Monday night’s FA Cup first round replay hosts AFC Wimbledon, an indignant Mills defended his favoured formation.

Citing the system’s role in last season’s double Wembley-winning success, Minstermen boss Mills said: “Why would I change a formation that has won us lots of games and got us promoted?

“I’ve never heard such rubbish if people want us to change because we’ve lost one game of football. Over the last 12 months, the system has seen us play entertaining football and made us hard to beat.

“Saturday was our first defeat in seven games and the first time we haven’t created a lot of chances, but that doesn’t make us a bad team or me a bad manager.

“I got boos because we lost one game. I’m glad I wasn’t here when the team was losing every week before I was manager. It must have been horrendous.”

Mills added that he would shoulder the responsibility for Saturday’s display, saying: “We were second best all game.

“It was the poorest start we have made for a long, long time and didn’t get any better, hence we got what we deserved – nothing. It was a disappointing day but we haven’t had many.

“I believe we could have got something out of every other game this season but Saturday was the first time we didn’t deserve anything. Hopefully, it was a one off but I will sit back and look at my team selection and how we prepared.

“I have to stand up and be counted, take the blame and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Anybody who wants to be critical can criticise me because I am the manager.”

Comments(29)

duffy says...
2:25pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Boos at half time at Man City Gary, it happens.

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tomwillo1 says...
2:58pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Couldnt agree with him anymore, the ones that boo arent proper fans. There the glory boys that only come when were back in the league and dont come every week!

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uhtred says...
3:42pm Sun 11 Nov 12

its not the 4-3-3 system that's the problem its the fact that the lone man, jason, does not hve the height to win the aerial battles agains the better centre backs in league 2. All of what Gary Mills said was true and honest in his interview, it was just that he lost his cool a bit with Barry's last question and could have made his point a bit more tactfully; quite understandable when he must have been as just frustrated and angry with the performance as everyone else and having to respond before he had the luxury of time to compose himself. He honourably took the blame for the performance but I feel the players have to accept the greater portion of the responsibility it was they who were below par and made lementary mistakes to give away the goals..

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lifelong says...
3:51pm Sun 11 Nov 12

My concern as a lifelong supporter was that City lacked any sparkle from the kick off. Was this down to a third game in a week, changes to the team, or a different formation. Certainly the absence of Coulson is having an effect on any penetration down the right wing. Wimbledon pulled 10 men back every time City had a corner or posed any threat from a free kick and this certainly had a demoralising effect on the team. Chances were pretty rare and the general feeling in the Maim Stand was that Manager Mills was going to have a problem in lifting the sides confidence at half time.
But matters got worse and as the game wore on the defence began to look very shaky. It was no surprise then for the visitors to take advantage of some sloppy play to take the lead. I have to say that whilst Carlisle may be dominant with his heading his distribution at times is woeful. I would have Parslow back in that position for Monday. Rodman looked quite ordinary whilst Kearns continues to shine with his mazy stepovers. This time last year City were playing some excellent football on the floor but somehow have fallen back at times with route 1 tactics from Ingham in particular which will not win them games purely because they are physically at a disadvantage almost every game. Some hard games in front of us now and the team requires all the supporters to get behind them and not to show their displeasure as some did on Saturday. We are in the Football League now and regrettably results like this will happen.

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openallhours says...
4:33pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Prior to yesterday, I thought we looked better and I'd predicted a big win for us.

Of course we'll not win every game, but it was the manner in which we lost that hurt. Also, I'm surprised that there's been no apology from Mills because as he rightly points out, he's the manager.

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dangermoose says...
4:42pm Sun 11 Nov 12

The fans frustration at the end is understandable and Gary Mills will know that better than anybody.
Statistics don't lie and despite promotion last season our home form was nothing more than average. This season has started even worse in that respect. Our ability to not be able to break teams down IS partly down to the system and very much down to players who lack ability to deliver the final ball AND a small striker who most weeks is feeding on scraps against two mountains of centre backs. Mills picks the team/formation so has to stand by these statistics. I constantly read the quote "in Mills we trust" and to a degree I go along with that. My issue is his apparent inability to sort out this poor home form, which no matter how well we do away from home will in time deter certain supporters from attending home fixtures. It is no good Mills saying teams come here and put 11 men behind the ball because every away team at any ground across the country do that. It's how we counter that, and these players/this system simply can't. Stats don't lie.

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OLD - HEAD says...
4:51pm Sun 11 Nov 12

The crowd booing has obviously touched a nerve, hence the Managers reaction. I have to agree that Saturday was a dire performance by the City team. But we have not been playing as well as we can, so it was just a matter of time before some team punished us. Usually we are solid at the back, yet we struggle to score goals. But in the last few games our defence has also started to struggle. Michael Ingham does not look as confident as he usually does. I was at Luton and Mansfield (last season) where he was impecable in front of their hostile crowds, yet in the last few games he has looked unsure and slow to react. I refer to Akinfenwas goal for Northampton and Wimbledons second goal yesterday. Of course its not all down to the goalkeeper, all the defenders need to improve to get our standards back. We desperately need to turn this around quickly because a run of bad results will see us tumble down the league table. I have aready told the Mrs that Coronation Street and Eastenders are cancelled on Monday night. I shall be hoping to watch a much improved York City on EPSN.

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Even AndyD says...
5:22pm Sun 11 Nov 12

I'm not a 'boo' kind of fan, so just trudged off home, but come on Gary, is there any ground anywhere where you wouldn't hear the odd bit of crowd dissent following a 0-3 reverse to one of the worst teams in the league? Especially after one of the worst performances I've seen at BC.

A simple - 'that was pitiful - I can understand fans' frustration' was all he needed to say. But no, we got some dummy spitting about what things were like before he came (play offs and more Wembley - Gary, I don't recall any 'could hardly win a game'). GM is a fine manager and we've watched some fab football, but that doesn't mean he's immune to criticism when things go badly wrong. Its part of the job. Especially when this sort of thing had been coming, especially at home - two wins in nine is it now?

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Even AndyD says...
5:24pm Sun 11 Nov 12

All that said, I'm sure he'll put things right - good managers don't become bad ones after one game. But come on - lets not get a few boos out of proportion. More important things to consider, Gary.

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thirsky says...
8:06pm Sun 11 Nov 12

It may well be the first defeat in 7 games but at home, all season, we have never looked good enough to win. Yes, excellent football in two thirds of the pitch but nothing in the other third where it counts. I saw us against Oxford and the result flattered us, I saw us against Chesterfield and lucky to get an equaliser in, what was beyond, injury time. I havent seen us win other than the Oxford game and certainly I am not in a position to travel to away games to see results we should be enjoying at home. I saw the Northampton game and it is plain to see the lack of results by playing 433 is now affecting the players and the Wimbledon game proved it. We cannot go on living in the past, these are different times in a higher league. We now have to adapt to what is needed when we are confronted with different problems, sadly we cant at the moment. Finally, fans reactions are the same the world over not just at York City.

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21york says...
9:33pm Sun 11 Nov 12

I have only recently started to visit B.C. as a result of all the rave reviews - but what a disappointment it all is. Where is the much vaunted 4-3-3 formation? The team plays 4-5-1, home and away, so,
predictably enough, goals are hard to come by. Furthermore the chief attacking ploy is to pump high balls to Walker (5' 8") who is outnumbered 4 to 1 by 6' plus centre halves and as a result he has to find space in wide and/or deep positions from which it is impossible to score.
Mid table at best come April, surely?

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chalkytalky says...
7:55am Mon 12 Nov 12

Mills got very VERY defensive over questions about going to 442 from his favoured 433 system.
I think he is being a bit too stubborn at times. It's not a case of the 433 system being bad, nor that it doesn't work. HOWEVER teams are onto us and when they come to BC they know what we will try do and can blunt us out. It works well away from home where teams come out to attack us but when they are visiting us they can sit back more and deny us space.
Surely with the players he has and someone like Reedy with a point to prove he could start with the option of moving the system round 'in-play' between 433 and 442. Reedy could play out of position on the right of a 433 with Blair in midfield before a switch moving him up top with Blair to wing along with Chambers?
We just seem inflexible and continue to sign the same old style of players thus denying us many options for change.
Saturday was the worst i've seen in a while and i'm sure its a one off but some players are making the same mistakes.
Ashley Chambers either looks a million dollars or just drifts in games and doesn't get into them. I don't think there would be an issue with 'resting' him some games to keep him fresh and hungry.
I'm not a Chris Smith fan and on Saturday he was attrocious. I'd love to see TY get a chance. If Mills says he isnt match fit cos he hasn't been playing... then why do all the loan signings always walk straight into the team when they haven't been playing at their respective clubs? Rodman, Kearns, et al.
I just hope Jamie Reed gets a chance before he moves on. I can imagine him scoring plenty elsewhere.

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nomadic85 says...
8:35am Mon 12 Nov 12

tomwillo1 wrote:
Couldnt agree with him anymore, the ones that boo arent proper fans. There the glory boys that only come when were back in the league and dont come every week!
I boo'd a little, I've not missed a game this season. I generally miss 3 or 4 games a season. I'll be there tonight too, am I a glory boy? Its not glory hunting fans that boo, by the very definition they don't really care that much if we lose, they can go back to supporting their Sky Sports team of choice.

Why don't you come tell me I'm a glory boy on the terrace tonight, and I can prove to you otherwise?

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Sir Alex says...
8:36am Mon 12 Nov 12

Its not the 433 system its the aparent abandonment of our tip tap style thats the problem. Lets get back to it.

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Phil, Leeds says...
9:12am Mon 12 Nov 12

The thing is it's not just that we lost 1 game. It's the overall home results that's frustrating the fans. Our away form is promotion form - home results are relegation form. It's not unreasonable for supporters to ask the manager whether something different needs to be deployed in home matches because, clearly, his 451 system isn't delivering. For the record it's now 2 wins from 11 home games.

There was only very minimal booing on Saturday and if Gary can't take that with a pinch of salt he shouldn't be in football management - it happens up and down the Country every Saturday after home sides have been beaten and played poorly. It's because fans are passionate and are frustrated at losing.

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PhilTopping says...
10:22am Mon 12 Nov 12

It's odd that Mills goes with the "blame me" approach to handling defeat. And then promptly throws a hissy fit when there's a hint of blame at his door (listen to his post match interview for evidence).

I think Mills is an excellent man manager and player motivator. He runs a tight, disciplined ship. However, he's not a great player purchaser. V much a Brian Clough without the Peter Taylor. We've made some shocking signings over the past 18 months and Rodman might well be yet another. He needs help in this area, maybe spending a few quid on a Chief Scout would be best. £25000 a year on such a person might have saved the £100,000s we've wasted on a litany of useless articles picked up in 2012.

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skilly says...
10:28am Mon 12 Nov 12

I think he has every right to be agrieved with booing. Its probably the only game where we deserved nothing for 12 months. I was as disappointed as anyone at the final whistle but will never boo my team, thats just my stance. The players looked distraught at the end and the added booing will not help. I will get behind the team at every game and seeing people cheer when Chambers was subbed was appalling. He was no worse that 6 or 7 other players in Saturday. Will be getting behind the lads tonight

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paintitred says...
10:44am Mon 12 Nov 12

Its really very simple.

Everyone knows were are going to play 4-3-3 .
In fact every manager in the league knows thats the only formation we are going to play.

They have sussed how to stop us ( pressing up on to our defensive line to stop us building from the back with the quick ball from ingy , forcing the long ball and 80% of the time the ball ball is mopped up by our oponents back line because jasons win % is about 20% in the air as well as closing down sharply in midfield. its not rocket science to work it out, Yet millsey sticks to the tried and now unfortuantly failing formation.
4-3-3 was a huge succsess last season against non-league set ups but we need more in our amour than 1 formation.

I will however NEVER boo my team but on the same hand i understand the frustration of those that do.
they boo beacasue they care. We all show our disaproval in different ways, some slope off chuntering a bucket full , some sly away quietly then give the dog a right good kicking ;-). and some let off steam on internet forums and some wont come back. but i will not and have not booed or slated any one on the or off the pitch on match days win ,draw or lose.
Tonight we will see what metal the boys have ,Lets see the reaction of the lads . up the city

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iandwightbenton says...
11:03am Mon 12 Nov 12

I will see for myself tonight but

on 1 side :

Saturday was our first defeat in seven games

but on another side :

We have only won 2 of last 10

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long distance depressive says...
12:21pm Mon 12 Nov 12

Losing isn't a reason for booing but the manner of the loss is, this has been on the cards for a few games now and Mr Mills needs to realise that fans spend good money, week in and week out to expect much better. Doesn't happen that often so maybe it should make him think!

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ian923 says...
12:46pm Mon 12 Nov 12

The fact is that TRUE supporters do not Boo their team no matter what.Yes, the overall performance on Saturday was dire and a few individuals should be looking at their own attitudes, committment and performances but never forget GM not only got us to win the FA TRophy but got us back into the League after 8 years of disappointment.No one gets it right all the time and I for one would have been happy to consolidate a mid table place at the end of this season.The problem is many supporters want further instant glory which is not always possible.GM is the best Manager we've had for many years and deserves support. After last Saturday's display it took guts to be interviewed by Barry Parker shortly after full time and though I didn't hear the interview put yourself in his position.He must have been gutted by the performance and understandably upset.So, give him a break and get behind him and the team and perhaps there is better to come.

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Wind Mills says...
1:03pm Mon 12 Nov 12

Ian923 it isnt fact that TRUE supporters dont boo their team. However it is TRUE that your statement is completely WRONG!

As said people react in different ways and thats regardless of whether they are TRUE fan or not.

I can completely understand how some people booed on Saturday especially as home performances having being getting worse game by game and the manner in which we lost.

As paying fans (which we all are), we are contributing to paying the players wages and I for one wasnt happy with several of the players getting their wages on Saturday as they clearly didnt deserve it.
I however didnt boo but know people who did, people who have stood on the terrace home and AWAY for over 30 years and you sir have no right to say they are not TRUE fans!

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redbluelion says...
1:41pm Mon 12 Nov 12

ian923 wrote:
The fact is that TRUE supporters do not Boo their team no matter what.Yes, the overall performance on Saturday was dire and a few individuals should be looking at their own attitudes, committment and performances but never forget GM not only got us to win the FA TRophy but got us back into the League after 8 years of disappointment.No one gets it right all the time and I for one would have been happy to consolidate a mid table place at the end of this season.The problem is many supporters want further instant glory which is not always possible.GM is the best Manager we've had for many years and deserves support. After last Saturday's display it took guts to be interviewed by Barry Parker shortly after full time and though I didn't hear the interview put yourself in his position.He must have been gutted by the performance and understandably upset.So, give him a break and get behind him and the team and perhaps there is better to come.
so you just clap along no matter how bad we play do you..thats the reason nothing gets changed..

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walwynwasgod says...
1:47pm Mon 12 Nov 12

Wind Mills

I think Ian923 is nearer to the point than you are. Booing is for Pantomime villains etc. Those players were doing their job and have had a really bad day. Put yourself in their position. When you have a bad day at work, would you rather be slated for your performance or encouraged by your boss and workmates to get it right next time. True, it was a poor performance, but to boo them off is childish, immature and not constructive. True supporter or not.

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redbluelion says...
1:48pm Mon 12 Nov 12

The fact is yorks home form needs to change..and ive been watching city since 1974..i am a true fan..and on saturday i was one who had a boo at the end..i pay good hard cash to watch city.i have a right to boo..its no good being a happy clapper all the time..

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walwynwasgod says...
1:53pm Mon 12 Nov 12

redbluelion

You're missing the point.

You can be disappointed with the performance in other ways. Booing is not going to help. I think the happy clappers will have been appalled at that performance on Saturday. I'm sure Mills is as ashamed as we are, and its his job to put it right. I'm sure he will be giving it his best shot.

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skilly says...
2:27pm Mon 12 Nov 12

walwynwasgod wrote:
Wind Mills I think Ian923 is nearer to the point than you are. Booing is for Pantomime villains etc. Those players were doing their job and have had a really bad day. Put yourself in their position. When you have a bad day at work, would you rather be slated for your performance or encouraged by your boss and workmates to get it right next time. True, it was a poor performance, but to boo them off is childish, immature and not constructive. True supporter or not.
Good point. If I left work to a chorus of boos after a bad day at work I sure as hell wouldn't look forward to coming back the next day. We all want good results and ideally good performances every week but it won't happen. Mills will expect a positive reaction from his players. The players need to bounce back and put the memory of Saturday behind them.

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openallhours says...
4:22pm Mon 12 Nov 12

In any walk of life, if things go well there's praise and if not there's stick.

If people can't take stick when it's not going well they're in the wrong job.

Although I didn't boo on Saturday, I hold nothing against those that did. At the end of the day we're all fans of the same team and show our support in different ways.

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bartsimmo says...
5:28pm Mon 12 Nov 12

Thank f*** for an away game tonight!

Still Mills surely must have seen it coming as much as everyone else did on Saturday as we have simply been lucky not to lose on most occasions. Last season although we played glitzy performances and a few back to the wall endings we were actually quite fortunate to be as high up the table as we were. Last year were too many draws and defeats (particularly at home) from a 433 formation. Quite often Mills had to try and salvage some sort of a result by switching to 442, instead of just simply starting with 442 and racing ahead in games. With Walker and Reed in the middle and good wing play from Blair and Fyfield / Chambers I believe we can turn this around, would even be tempted to go 352. But Mr Mills look at all the stats and look at how many games we were lucky to get points from over the past twelve months and you will simply see your tactics are falling very short. Does it take bottom two after just picking up draws every other week for the alarm bells to ring in your head. Please get a grip before it is too late!!!

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