Mr Bligh, Cousins is already playing in his wrong position. He is unquestionably more experienced and I would guess more adept at right back than right midfield. Poyet would be better on the right than Cousins in my opinion.
I'm not convinced about Astrit on the left. He was drifting everywhere on Saturday I don't think he really suits out wide, he should be in the middle.
The answer to all of this is - we need at least one wide midfielder.
I have seen him play at right back many times and he is very good there. When they converted him to Centre Half he was very good there. When they played him in centre midfield, guess what, he was very good there. He is a very good all round footballer.
yeah let's put our best player in his wrong position to accomodate Lawrie Wilson,
that'll save us
But then Lawrie Wilson is played in the wrong position to accomodate someone else, which is also foolish. Whatever his merits/faults as a defender, Wilson remains our best wide midfield/winger by far to me, as I think the few games he's played there have proved.
I have seen him play at right back many times and he is very good there. When they converted him to Centre Half he was very good there. When they played him in centre midfield, guess what, he was very good there. He is a very good all round footballer.
Not seen him as much as you but I agree (apart from when it comes to shooting!). First watched him play for the England youth teams on TV, he was comfortable in all three positions.
I thought at the time he looked best as a defensive midfielder, but over the next few years he seemed to mainly play at right back.
I'd rather he played RB and Wilson RM than the other way around, but ideally Solly/Nego RB, Wilson RM and Cousins CM.
One of the things I was wondering was what happens if we get a winger and a central midfielder in. Lets say jackson is dropped that leaves AA, Cousins, Poyet. Presumably two of three are dropped for the loanees, assuming RD will not sanction loans to sit on the bench. Be interesting if both youth players are benched what the reaction on here will be.
Clone Cousins and play him at RB, centre-mid and in goal.
Problem solved.
We'd probably pick his only "robin cousins" gene for cloning.
(Google him you young f@&kers)
Robin Cousins might be a strong bet in goal particularly in those icey Yorkshire conditions. And he lives in Antwerp now so that would tie in nicely. Get Roland on the phone.
Torville and Dean might also make a more imposing centre-midfield duo but no Belgian connections there so little chance of that dream coming true.
One of the things I was wondering was what happens if we get a winger and a central midfielder in. Lets say jackson is dropped that leaves AA, Cousins, Poyet. Presumably two of three are dropped for the loanees, assuming RD will not sanction loans to sit on the bench. Be interesting if both youth players are benched what the reaction on here will be.
Not sure he should play right back, he's one of our best midfielders.
We have no decent wingers and neither Poyet or Cousins are creative at all so i'm thinking Powell should perhaps try a 4231 formation. Ajdarevic is wasted on the wing so needs to be more central playing off the striker. Harriott can drift left but also come inside. We then need a right sided attacker (not necessarily a winger, but hopefully someone creative) on loan to play on the other side.
A good idea Toddy .. Cousins is very versatile but right now he is wasted wide right midfield ... As Powell has this Jackson obsession along with new boy wonder Poyet in the centre .. a midfield of Wilson, Poyet, Jackson and Ajdarevic would not be my choice, but could work
Not sure he should play right back, he's one of our best midfielders.
We have no decent wingers and neither Poyet or Cousins are creative at all so i'm thinking Powell should perhaps try a 4231 formation. Ajdarevic is wasted on the wing so needs to be more central playing off the striker. Harriott can drift left but also come inside. We then need a right sided attacker (not necessarily a winger, but hopefully someone creative) on loan to play on the other side.
I would also like to see Cousins and Poyet together at the base of the midfield this would help the defence and allow us to play more attacking midfielders in front if them with a lot if freedom with these two covering.
I've always thought Cousins best position would be at CB. Imagine having a Centre Half that was comfortable on the ball and who could pass it out of defense.
I've always thought Cousins best position would be at CB. Imagine having a Centre Half that was comfortable on the ball and who could pass it out of defense.
a central defence containing cousins and gomez has me drooling tbh, but that's going to be when we're a prem team in a few years and have better players!
Is Wilson creative enough though? I'd prefer a natural attacking player there
Wilson IS a natural attacking player though, his best performances at Charlton or in fact at his other clubs have all come when he is on the wing or at a pinch behind the striker (though AA must have that role nailed down right now.) - when we played Stevenage he tore our defence a new rectum. If he had been allowed to make the RM position his own from the beginning we would be much stronger I am sure. His versatility counts against him.
Would play Cousins at RB on Sat. Would hopefully allow Wilson to play further forward and he would certainly be useful when dealing with the Massive's aerial ability.
Unfortunately I cannot see Cousins and Poyet working well together in a 4-4-2 (they may work as two holding midfielders in a 3 or a 5). Playing Cousins at RB would mean they are both playing in positions they are used to and Cousins is not used as a RM.
Not sure he should play right back, he's one of our best midfielders.
We have no decent wingers and neither Poyet or Cousins are creative at all so i'm thinking Powell should perhaps try a 4231 formation. Ajdarevic is wasted on the wing so needs to be more central playing off the striker. Harriott can drift left but also come inside. We then need a right sided attacker (not necessarily a winger, but hopefully someone creative) on loan to play on the other side.
--------Thuram/Hamer----------
Nego/Wilson Morrison Wood Wiggins
------- Poyet Cousins ----------
New signing Ajdarevic Harriott
--------Reza/Polish Pete--------
Texas on the left instead of hariott. Who plays right wing for the development teams
The challenge I have with all of this, is our midfield as an meaningful attacking force has to all intents and purposes vanished. Who provides - the goal threat - the box to box running - the creative passing (short and long) - the wide attacking threat (on either flank) - the cohesion and links across the field and in support - 1st & 2nd ball support (i.e. available for the ball again, again and again).
Many aspects of our attacking game appear all too rarely. We appear one dimensional. Who is controlling and driving the pattern of play providing the platform for the creative talent in the front 6 (8 inc FBs) to play?
I am talking a Kinsella, or a Jones.
No matter the configuration and its defensive attributes it is about balance. It is not exactly rocket science to suggest you will not win if you do not threaten the opposition yet we seem consistently unable to do so. Even with defensive quality you simply cannot rely on maintaining defensive shape game after game.
Last year in midfield we danced through Razak, Frimpong, Dervite, Jonnsen, Jackson, Stephens, Gower and eventually Hughes before we found a balance.
I am delighted Cousins has settled in at central midfield. Individually he and Poyet have both performed commendably well but for two emerging talents to try and consistently control the game plan on the field of play is a huge ask.
Cousins aside only Stephens and Stewart had been the two pluses this season.
Why has Harriott gone backwards? Why has Green become more of a risk? Why has Pritchard who had been a real nuisance fallen apart? There is no point keep complaining they are s*** - we need them to perform. They desperately need a platform to play from capable of covering any defensively frailties & inexperience and encouraging their offensive value.
Why has Gower, a possible candidate for such role been unable to contribute. With Jackson suffering intermittent injuries switching Wilson to FB almost wantonly further reduces your midfield options.
Why has Hollands disappeared? I do not suggest Hollands is outstanding but in L1 by accident or design he was the glue allowing others to play while also able to offer a presence in the opposing box. With our reduced circumstances could we really afford for him to be totally excluded?
I find the use of Wilson particularly frustrating because it mirrors the situation with Jackson under Parkinson when he kept switching him to left back when at the time he was one of our primary attacking threats. That didn't work out too well either.
Comments
that'll save us
I'm not convinced about Astrit on the left. He was drifting everywhere on Saturday I don't think he really suits out wide, he should be in the middle.
The answer to all of this is - we need at least one wide midfielder.
All this "accommodating" hasn't got us very far,
play your best players in their best positions and fill in the gaps.
Don't stick your best midfielder on the wing, your best striker "in the hole," a left back on the wing, it's kind of getting stupid now
I thought at the time he looked best as a defensive midfielder, but over the next few years he seemed to mainly play at right back.
I'd rather he played RB and Wilson RM than the other way around, but ideally Solly/Nego RB, Wilson RM and Cousins CM.
Torville and Dean might also make a more imposing centre-midfield duo but no Belgian connections there so little chance of that dream coming true.
We have no decent wingers and neither Poyet or Cousins are creative at all so i'm thinking Powell should perhaps try a 4231 formation. Ajdarevic is wasted on the wing so needs to be more central playing off the striker. Harriott can drift left but also come inside. We then need a right sided attacker (not necessarily a winger, but hopefully someone creative) on loan to play on the other side.
--------Thuram/Hamer----------
Nego/Wilson Morrison Wood Wiggins
------- Poyet Cousins ----------
New signing Ajdarevic Harriott
--------Reza/Polish Pete--------
Solly/Nego, Morrison, Wood, Wiggins
Wilson, Poyet, Cousins, AA, New LM
Reza
Should be the 11 IMO.
Bench:
Hamer
Nego/Evina
Dervite
Jackson
New winger
Church
Polish Pete
Unfortunately I cannot see Cousins and Poyet working well together in a 4-4-2 (they may work as two holding midfielders in a 3 or a 5). Playing Cousins at RB would mean they are both playing in positions they are used to and Cousins is not used as a RM.
- the goal threat
- the box to box running
- the creative passing (short and long)
- the wide attacking threat (on either flank)
- the cohesion and links across the field and in support
- 1st & 2nd ball support (i.e. available for the ball again, again and again).
Many aspects of our attacking game appear all too rarely. We appear one dimensional. Who is controlling and driving the pattern of play providing the platform for the creative talent in the front 6 (8 inc FBs) to play?
I am talking a Kinsella, or a Jones.
No matter the configuration and its defensive attributes it is about balance. It is not exactly rocket science to suggest you will not win if you do not threaten the opposition yet we seem consistently unable to do so. Even with defensive quality you simply cannot rely on maintaining defensive shape game after game.
Last year in midfield we danced through Razak, Frimpong, Dervite, Jonnsen, Jackson, Stephens, Gower and eventually Hughes before we found a balance.
I am delighted Cousins has settled in at central midfield. Individually he and Poyet have both performed commendably well but for two emerging talents to try and consistently control the game plan on the field of play is a huge ask.
Cousins aside only Stephens and Stewart had been the two pluses this season.
Why has Harriott gone backwards? Why has Green become more of a risk? Why has Pritchard who had been a real nuisance fallen apart? There is no point keep complaining they are s*** - we need them to perform. They desperately need a platform to play from capable of covering any defensively frailties & inexperience and encouraging their offensive value.
Why has Gower, a possible candidate for such role been unable to contribute. With Jackson suffering intermittent injuries switching Wilson to FB almost wantonly further reduces your midfield options.
Why has Hollands disappeared? I do not suggest Hollands is outstanding but in L1 by accident or design he was the glue allowing others to play while also able to offer a presence in the opposing box. With our reduced circumstances could we really afford for him to be totally excluded?
I find the use of Wilson particularly frustrating because it mirrors the situation with Jackson under Parkinson when he kept switching him to left back when at the time he was one of our primary attacking threats. That didn't work out too well either.