We have sold Stephens, who was our creative spark.
I actually think we "traded up" by getting in AA, but therefore you have to play him. Yes he may have a lack of physical pace, but he is quicker of thought than most (if not all) it the others.
We need to start Reza on Wednesday. I'd be tempted to involve Piotr as well, it's all very well saying he's not used to English football, but the only way he'll get acclimatised is by playing, and what's the point of playing 'established' players if they are rubbish, at least Piotr and Reza would have the advantage of being unknown to the opposition.
Yes, you rely on your wing backs to do a hell of a shift but Wiggins and Wilson are capable. You can keep the extra man in the middle. You're not limited to 1 up front You have an extra defender to play a sweeper role and the other 2 cb's can man to man the oppos strikers.
------------Hamer------------ -----Morrison Dervite Wood------ Wilson Cousins Poyet Jackson Wiggins
Not sure who I'd have up top but you get the idea.
Cort to come back would improve the defence. Poyet sitting back would be able to offer cover if Wilson/Wiggins are caught high up the pitch.
Only thing I would question is if Wiggins and Wilson could cope with the high stamina levels required twice a week, every week.
I reckon that would have been a good formation yesterday.
Reminds me of the analogy that if you put 50 monkeys in a room with 50 typewriters and let them randomly bash away at the keys they will eventually - by the laws of chance and probability - write the complete works of Shakespeare.
I'd like to see Polish Pete get a start, he is the same age as Cousins and Poyet and before they started they probably weren't deemed ready enough for Championship football. We'll only know if they are ready by playing them.
why do we seem so pre-occupied with Cousins & Poyet being holding midfielders?
can they not play further up the midfield, give us some legs and who knows, we may see a spark of creativity from the pair.
Andy Hughes played half an hour against Leicester. if he is fit, get him to hold, get a character in that team who can cajole the youngsters and be a positive voice on the pitch in an important area.
Poyet to play the holding role, Cousins to be the legs running box-to-box and jacko making late ghosting runs to support. Use the width, plenty of crosses. When Tudgay has the ball, Astrid to tuck in to support Ghooci and vice versa when ball is on the left. This creates space for full backs to support and attack on the flanks when needed whilst Poyet is ready to drop back to add support to the back line if we're hit on a quick counter move...................
Edit: One other change. Church to play for whichever of Rolands clubs is furthest away from the Valley.
Reminds me of the analogy that if you put 50 monkeys in a room with 50 typewriters and let them randomly bash away at the keys they will eventually - by the laws of chance and probability - write the complete works of Shakespeare.
I like that but one thing... why are so many of the monkeys typing play with a central midfield three of Cousins, Poyet and Ajdarevic (or Jackson) Is that something to do with our best performances coming with these three playing there?
Of that 11 I'd prefer Wood out the team based on recent performances, but Dervite is poor. After that, we've seen all Church has to offer (not a lot). Jackson, I've written elsewhere that I don't think he should be starting games any more. The forwards, I'm going with these two on the basis Sordell and Church have done nothing and they've been with us since day 1. Polish Pete is one for the future I think, so we run with the two that are relatively new and fresh.
There are various arguments being put forward, but the fact of that matter is that the players that have played the most are the reason we are down there, especially in forward positions. We need to change it up, but even that may not be the answer.
Jordan Cousins spent most of his youth football being pretty good at right back, played for England, he's quick strong and intelligent - I'd take the radical step of playing him at right back - he can't be a worse defender than Wilson and then Lawrie can revert to right midfield, his better position. Astrid needs to lose 10 kilos Reintroduce Hughes Holland or Pritchard to centre mid to help out star man Poyet to provide our shaky defense with consistent cover. Reza looks lively and to have a sweet left foot but is too lightweight upfront so might offer more out wide - the winger's job is the simplest on the field and I contend can be fulfilled adequately by any true pro blessed with even moderate pace and a memory capable of recalling instructions no older than 45 minutes. Away from home Jacko can be accommodated 'in the hole' but sadly doesn't have the legs to contribute in an attacking 4-4-2 Because sometimes 'Plan A' comes unstuck through misfortune or doesn't quite work, do stuff in training that develops a plan B or even C, maybe tailoring the plans to who we're playing next not 'one plan suits all eventualities' but we'll really chase it for the last 10 minutes when we're behind and knackered. If a player I've selected isn't cutting it and an encouraging word or 3 from the side line hasn't helped then I'd swap him for someone else, this is allowed at any time in a game, one doesn' t have to wait for an hour or more to elapse.
Without reading any of the above, the major issue for me after Sunday is that if we play 2 up top, then they need some form of support through the middle. Its absolutely pointless playing 2 slow or holding CM, 2 lightweight widemen and 2 hanging around up top hoping for some service. It just wont happen. So with that in mind:
Id be playing a 4-3-3 with any of Poyet, Jackson and Cousins in the 2 holding mids, and AA in the CAM position, Harriot/Tudgay/Green/Gooch in the wide positions and Church/Gooch/Polish Pete up top.
If 4-4-2 then we need to be a lot more attacking though the middle (which I dont think we're strong enough for) but AA needs to feature in front of a DM: Poyet or Jackson. Dont think Cousins is strong enough on his own in there (yet).
What i'd do for another decent attacking mid or winger with end product.
Dervite has to be centre as cort still out. Put Nego as right back and move Wilson up.Have tudgay just behind Reza. Polish pete on bench, but must get a few mins. Forget sordell and green
why do we seem so pre-occupied with Cousins & Poyet being holding midfielders?
can they not play further up the midfield, give us some legs and who knows, we may see a spark of creativity from the pair.
Andy Hughes played half an hour against Leicester. if he is fit, get him to hold, get a character in that team who can cajole the youngsters and be a positive voice on the pitch in an important area.
Cousins even said in his recent interview he sees himself as a box to box player. I'd like to see him have a chance to do that. Just through the middle and not from the right!
We have no decent wingers so lets rely on the wing backs to create the width for us. Astrit to me seems the most likely of our CM's to pick the ball up and dribble towards goal, so to get the best out of him I think he should be CM rather than CAM. Jackson is probably our most likely to grab us some goals so surely playing behind Reza and Tudgay he's more likely to drift into a dangerous position and score.
I was thinking about something a bit like this, although I'd switch Jacko and Ajdarevic. AA looks dangerous in attack and I think we need to keep him higher up the pitch.
Jacko can sit and support Wiggins down the left. Poyet does the same on the right and Cousins is allowed to get forwards when opportunities arise. Jacko doesn't have the legs anymore but he is still a decent footballer and a leader, I'd like better all round player but don't believe we have it right now. Him and Poyet would hopefully protect the back four and use the ball well to get attacks started, Cousin is the athletic one so lets give him the brief to cover the turf and be more to box to box (as Scoham says).
Reza and Tudgay will need to press the back four and work the channels, we need to minimizes the overlapping runs of their fullbacks and try to create space for AA. AA roams around and tries to get us ticking.
Playing a narrow midfield has exposed us down the flanks a bit at times (Wigan and Hudds) but with the relative deficiencies and strengths in our squad it looks the most balanced team we can put out and one which will best suit our better players. Passing the ball and maintaining possession would be key though - sadly both things which are easier with confidence, which we have very little of right now.
Would give Pritchard another run in the side, think he's been hard done by really. I've not really seen anything good from Reza as yet not sure why many are desperate to see him.
Hamer Wilson, Morro, Cort, Wiggins Pritchard, Poyet, Jackson, Harriott AA Church
Comments
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Poyet
Poyet
Poyet
Poyet
Cousins
Cousins
I actually think we "traded up" by getting in AA, but therefore you have to play him. Yes he may have a lack of physical pace, but he is quicker of thought than most (if not all) it the others.
He must start, and build the team around him.
Nego Wood Dervite Fox
Cousins Poyet
Ajdarević Jackson Harriott
Reza
Thuram, Wiggins, Morrison, Harriott, Wilson, Church, Parszyczek
Show the side that certain performances and efforts shown were unacceptable
Wilson Dervite Morrison Wiggins
Cousins
Harriott Poyet Jackson
Polish Pete Reza
---Dervite--Morrison--Wood----
Wlson-------------------Wiggins
--------Poyet--Cousins-------
-----------Jackson-----------
---------Reza--Sordell--------
3-5-2.
We literally have no wingers good enough, but good attacking full backs, so I think this formation suits us best at the moment,
Yes
can they not play further up the midfield, give us some legs and who knows, we may see a spark of creativity from the pair.
Andy Hughes played half an hour against Leicester. if he is fit, get him to hold, get a character in that team who can cajole the youngsters and be a positive voice on the pitch in an important area.
Wilson.............Morrison............Wood..............Wiggins
.....................................Poyet......................................
............................Cousins.......Jackson............................
Tudgay..................................................................Astrid
.....................................Ghooci........................................
Poyet to play the holding role, Cousins to be the legs running box-to-box and jacko making late ghosting runs to support. Use the width, plenty of crosses. When Tudgay has the ball, Astrid to tuck in to support Ghooci and vice versa when ball is on the left. This creates space for full backs to support and attack on the flanks when needed whilst Poyet is ready to drop back to add support to the back line if we're hit on a quick counter move...................
Edit: One other change. Church to play for whichever of Rolands clubs is furthest away from the Valley.
Morrison Wood Dervite
Wilson Cousins Poyet Jackson Wiggins
Ajdarevic
Reza
...............................Hammer........
..........Wilson..... Morrison...... Devitte........Wiggins
.......Tudgay.......Cousins........Poyet............Harriott
.....................Reza...........Polish Pete
Wilson Morrison Dervitte Wiggins
Jackson Poyet
Reza AJ Harriot
Sordell
Hamer
Nego, Morrison, Wood, Wiggins
Wilson, Cousins/Poyet, AA, Harriott
Reza, Tudgay
Of that 11 I'd prefer Wood out the team based on recent performances, but Dervite is poor. After that, we've seen all Church has to offer (not a lot). Jackson, I've written elsewhere that I don't think he should be starting games any more. The forwards, I'm going with these two on the basis Sordell and Church have done nothing and they've been with us since day 1. Polish Pete is one for the future I think, so we run with the two that are relatively new and fresh.
There are various arguments being put forward, but the fact of that matter is that the players that have played the most are the reason we are down there, especially in forward positions. We need to change it up, but even that may not be the answer.
------Morrison - Dervite - Wood
Wilson-------------------------Wiggins
---------Poyet - Cousins - Jacko
----------------Astrtit
----------------Gucci
Astrid needs to lose 10 kilos
Reintroduce Hughes Holland or Pritchard to centre mid to help out star man Poyet to provide our shaky defense with consistent cover.
Reza looks lively and to have a sweet left foot but is too lightweight upfront so might offer more out wide - the winger's job is the simplest on the field and I contend can be fulfilled adequately by any true pro blessed with even moderate pace and a memory capable of recalling instructions no older than 45 minutes.
Away from home Jacko can be accommodated 'in the hole' but sadly doesn't have the legs to contribute in an attacking 4-4-2
Because sometimes 'Plan A' comes unstuck through misfortune or doesn't quite work, do stuff in training that develops a plan B or even C, maybe tailoring the plans to who we're playing next not 'one plan suits all eventualities' but we'll really chase it for the last 10 minutes when we're behind and knackered.
If a player I've selected isn't cutting it and an encouraging word or 3 from the side line hasn't helped then I'd swap him for someone else, this is allowed at any time in a game, one doesn' t have to wait for an hour or more to elapse.
Id be playing a 4-3-3 with any of Poyet, Jackson and Cousins in the 2 holding mids, and AA in the CAM position, Harriot/Tudgay/Green/Gooch in the wide positions and Church/Gooch/Polish Pete up top.
If 4-4-2 then we need to be a lot more attacking though the middle (which I dont think we're strong enough for) but AA needs to feature in front of a DM: Poyet or Jackson. Dont think Cousins is strong enough on his own in there (yet).
What i'd do for another decent attacking mid or winger with end product.
Jacko can sit and support Wiggins down the left. Poyet does the same on the right and Cousins is allowed to get forwards when opportunities arise. Jacko doesn't have the legs anymore but he is still a decent footballer and a leader, I'd like better all round player but don't believe we have it right now. Him and Poyet would hopefully protect the back four and use the ball well to get attacks started, Cousin is the athletic one so lets give him the brief to cover the turf and be more to box to box (as Scoham says).
Reza and Tudgay will need to press the back four and work the channels, we need to minimizes the overlapping runs of their fullbacks and try to create space for AA. AA roams around and tries to get us ticking.
Playing a narrow midfield has exposed us down the flanks a bit at times (Wigan and Hudds) but with the relative deficiencies and strengths in our squad it looks the most balanced team we can put out and one which will best suit our better players. Passing the ball and maintaining possession would be key though - sadly both things which are easier with confidence, which we have very little of right now.
I've not really seen anything good from Reza as yet not sure why many are desperate to see him.
Hamer
Wilson, Morro, Cort, Wiggins
Pritchard, Poyet, Jackson, Harriott
AA
Church