He hit a couple of decent passes but spent a fair amount of time apologising for misplaced passes.
Stephens was much better.
Still give Smith mom.
Bover did ok but every time the ball came to him he had to be put on his left. He won't get as much time or space in a Championship game.
yeah, the kid's rubbish & will never amount to anything - lets get rid of him !!!!!!!
jeez - you lot make me laugh. You must have been either behind the goal or in the bar. Stephens played well but a bit like Jan Molby he doesn't like to leave the centre circle !! at least Bover moves forward with the ball & is prepared to take players on.
As I said from the start - you must have been at a different game !!!!!!
Trav i know it was only Welling , but Stephens was back to his best , like how he played v Bournemouth ( probably even better) was well up for it , bit of a surprise.
Trav i know it was only Welling , but Stephens was back to his best , like how he played v Bournemouth ( probably even better) was well up for it , bit of a surprise.
Agreed.. thought he was excellent against Bournemouth aswell.
I really think he wasnt the same player after his injury last season. We could see a different player this year.. Injury free, More settled in the area aswell which could make a big difference.
He hit a couple of decent passes but spent a fair amount of time apologising for misplaced passes.
Stephens was much better.
Still give Smith mom.
Bover did ok but every time the ball came to him he had to be put on his left. He won't get as much time or space in a Championship game.
yeah, the kid's rubbish & will never amount to anything - lets get rid of him !!!!!!!
jeez - you lot make me laugh. You must have been either behind the goal or in the bar. Stephens played well but a bit like Jan Molby he doesn't like to leave the centre circle !! at least Bover moves forward with the ball & is prepared to take players on.
As I said from the start - you must have been at a different game !!!!!!
Jackson is also very one footed, as are most footballers in all honesty. I think he'll be a great player to have on the bench, someone to come on and bring that spark into the side
Jackson is also very one footed, as are most footballers in all honesty. I think he'll be a great player to have on the bench, someone to come on and bring that spark into the side
Thought Bover looked very good tbh, had a lot of time on the ball, always in space and always available for a pass. He was easily the best player on the pitch first half IMO.
Do people feel this 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 formation will be used for the new season? Would you prefer it?
I really hope we do use it, stephens looked a totally different player than the one I saw last season, ( yes I know it was welling) but the freedom he had and support he found around him meant it gave him the freedom to express himself even more without worrying about having to get up and down the pitch like a workhorse, honestly feel stephens will thrive on having two centre mids along side him.
Not sure if sir chris powell would Sacrifice either kermit or bwp to play this formation, just get the feeling he will stay loyal to both of them for the start of the season as reward for the hard work they put in last season
I'm a lot more excited about us using the 433/451 rather than a 442. Kermo down the middle with Cook and Haynes out wide going into a 433 when attacking and a 451 when defending. With Hollands behind JJ and Stephens in the middle of the park and Stephens being the playmaker this looks promising! Complimented by a solid defence which we know we have we could surprise a few come the first game... the link up play between Wiggins and the wide player whether it'll be Haynes or Cook on that side, will be something to look out for IMO.
The system in the second half was very similar to the way the French play, with Benezema as the pivot & the likes of Nasri, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Malouda & Ribery rotating positions around him. Smith operated as the CF and pivot, with Haynes, Cook, Wagstaff & Jackson rotating around him, while Stephens played as the holding CM/Playmaker.
This may be a legacy of the Euro Champs. Major tournaments are often the watershed for new tactics, which filter down into domestic leagues. It will be interesting to see if CP uses it again against stronger opponents. The movement and ease with which the front players rotated and swopped positions, suggests that they have worked on the flexible system in training. Haynes looked difficult to mark as he switched from left to right, Jacko effected the game well from both the central areas and from the left, Wagstaff popped up in every position across the front line, and Cook did a good job on either flank. Smith was v. good in the CF role, pulling defenders away to create space for Waggy & Haynes to run into, as well as showing good ability on the ground when linking up during build-up play.
For any Welling fans on here - was that a full reserve team in the second half or a mixed team?
got a lot of time for tactical analysis like this, cheers tut tut.
be interesting to see when a system like this is used, how we defend. Very difficult to pick up players when they are drifting, however if we lose the ball we leave ourselves open for the counter attack, which in this standard of football could be dangerous.
Was dicussing the defending side of the formation with No1 in South London at the game. Needs central players Jackson to cover on left and Waggy on the right (assuming same personnel) which both can do.
I agree with a lot that has been said on here already, Bover and Pritchard was easily the stand out players in the first half. Kermorgant looks like he does needs to lose weight but nothing too major, Wright-Phillips needs to put away more one on ones this season or we will definitely need another striker, yes Baldock would be perfect but who knows if that will happen?
Second half, again agree with most that has been said, Smith, Cook, Haynes and Stephens all played very well. Smith led the line brilliantly, I hope he can push on. Cook impressed like he did when we played up at Carlise. Haynes I think will be a big player for us this season and Stephens ran the show, again I agree he looked comfortable and back to his best with two other centre midfielders.
I really liked the fluid 4-3-3 formation which came with plenty of movement. Not only was the quality of player better in the second period, but I thought a key difference was the tempo of the game, quicker passing with the new system, we looked dangerous. I would imagine it will be used quite a bit this season. Swap Hollands for Wagstaff, Kermorgant for Smith, Hamer for Jacobo and sign a left footed centre back, and that would be the team I start away at Birmingham.
After the traditional curtain raiser, I am now fully excited and can't wait for the season to begin!
I wouldn't drop Kermorgant for Smith though. You can't judge it on one performance but I do hope he kicks on and it wasn't just a one of good display.
I didn't say I'd drop him for Smith, more the other way around. Probably should have explained it better, basically this would be my team come Birmingham: -------------Hamer--------------- Solly -- Morrison -- New CB -- Wiggins ------------Hollands-------------- -----Stephens ------ Jackson------- Haynes ---- Kermorgant ----- Cook
Cheers Jake, Just wonder whether we need somone in central midfield with pace. Jacko, Hollands, Stephens, Hughes, all a little on the slowish side. Wilson maybe?
Cheers Jake, Just wonder whether we need somone in central midfield with pace. Jacko, Hollands, Stephens, Hughes, all a little on the slowish side. Wilson maybe?
I agree with you. Although it's hard to take JJ or Hollands out, I think we need someone pacier there. Pritchard does come to mind but I think Powell will draft in another Playmaking CM.
The thing about having Pritchard for example, in for Jackson means it takes away the chance to be as fluid with the formation, meaning we wouldn't necessarily be able to go 4-4-2, moving Jackson to LM linking back up with Wiggins, Cook over to RM and Haynes up front.
I only put up that team because I really like the look of fluidity, movement and enables us to adapt and change to circumstances throughout the game and season. Of course it would be great to have that extra bit of pace in the centre which I hope Powell does add, and of course it's too early to say that team will definitely happen and work. But right now, it looks strong and personally I like it.
I would get henry lansbury onloan. He would suit that cm position brilliantly, not sure if he will come back down to the championship but if we get aluko baldock lansbury and kyle bartley that would just about be perfect bussiness.
I think JJ would be a weak link if he was playing as a winger this season. I think his lack of pace is what will hinder his performances out on the wing. I think his best position is in the middle. That 4-3-3 would suit us nicely. I even think BWP could do a job on the wing. The team Sage would put out is the same as what I'd put out. The strength in depth is good too.
Comments
jeez - you lot make me laugh. You must have been either behind the goal or in the bar. Stephens played well but a bit like Jan Molby he doesn't like to leave the centre circle !! at least Bover moves forward with the ball & is prepared to take players on.
As I said from the start - you must have been at a different game !!!!!!
I really think he wasnt the same player after his injury last season. We could see a different player this year.. Injury free, More settled in the area aswell which could make a big difference.
Exciting times!
I really hope we do use it, stephens looked a totally different player than the one I saw last season, ( yes I know it was welling) but the freedom he had and support he found around him meant it gave him the freedom to express himself even more without worrying about having to get up and down the pitch like a workhorse, honestly feel stephens will thrive on having two centre mids along side him.
Not sure if sir chris powell would Sacrifice either kermit or bwp to play this formation, just get the feeling he will stay loyal to both of them for the start of the season as reward for the hard work they put in last season
the link up play between Wiggins and the wide player whether it'll be Haynes or Cook on that side, will be something to look out for IMO.
be interesting to see when a system like this is used, how we defend. Very difficult to pick up players when they are drifting, however if we lose the ball we leave ourselves open for the counter attack, which in this standard of football could be dangerous.
Second half, again agree with most that has been said, Smith, Cook, Haynes and Stephens all played very well. Smith led the line brilliantly, I hope he can push on. Cook impressed like he did when we played up at Carlise. Haynes I think will be a big player for us this season and Stephens ran the show, again I agree he looked comfortable and back to his best with two other centre midfielders.
I really liked the fluid 4-3-3 formation which came with plenty of movement. Not only was the quality of player better in the second period, but I thought a key difference was the tempo of the game, quicker passing with the new system, we looked dangerous. I would imagine it will be used quite a bit this season. Swap Hollands for Wagstaff, Kermorgant for Smith, Hamer for Jacobo and sign a left footed centre back, and that would be the team I start away at Birmingham.
After the traditional curtain raiser, I am now fully excited and can't wait for the season to begin!
-------------Hamer---------------
Solly -- Morrison -- New CB -- Wiggins
------------Hollands--------------
-----Stephens ------ Jackson-------
Haynes ---- Kermorgant ----- Cook
A lot of pace in there compared to last year which I think we definitely need for this division.
I only put up that team because I really like the look of fluidity, movement and enables us to adapt and change to circumstances throughout the game and season. Of course it would be great to have that extra bit of pace in the centre which I hope Powell does add, and of course it's too early to say that team will definitely happen and work. But right now, it looks strong and personally I like it.
That 4-3-3 would suit us nicely. I even think BWP could do a job on the wing.
The team Sage would put out is the same as what I'd put out. The strength in depth is good too.