Am I Wrong........I Normally Am

killer kish

Riga has kept the same back four and keeper for his first three games so he is obviously happy with these foundations to build on but as regards the midfield and forwards its been all change.During these three games Pritchard,Cousins,Green,AA,Sordell and Church have all started and then been left out or back on the bench.So does the fact these changes are being made make the results of these games even more impressive?Im not saying we are now world beaters but we certainly look more balanced and attack minded even though the goals haven't come....................yet?!

Granpa

Fair summary, Jose is obviously probing to find his favoured options. Hopefully the arrival of Obika will improve things, and I am happy to leave things to the coach.

Weegie Addick

Don't think it makes the results more impressive - think it just highlights the thinness of the squad, and proves that this wasn't in Powell's imagination. I find it hilarious (well, one word I have chosen to use) that Powell got so much grief for putting Cousins on the right - Riga so far has used Pritchard, Green, Reza and Sordell there, I believe - which just only goes to show that we do not have a decent right-sided midfielder!

Rizzo

Weegie Addick said:

which just only goes to show that we do not have a decent right-sided midfielder!

We do though. He's playing at right back.

ValleyGary

Weegie Addick said:

Don't think it makes the results more impressive - think it just highlights the thinness of the squad, and proves that this wasn't in Powell's imagination. I find it hilarious (well, one word I have chosen to use) that Powell got so much grief for putting Cousins on the right - Riga so far has used Pritchard, Green, Reza and Sordell there, I believe - which just only goes to show that we do not have a decent right-sided midfielder!

My problem with CP playing Cousins RM was that it was a complete waste of talent using him there.

Would rather have had any of the players mentioned out there if it meant Cousins was playing in a position that he looked most comfortable and effective in.

pettgra

I was really hoping that the RB on loan would be up to it; therefore being able to push Wilson up. Oh well.

Chris_from_Sidcup

Weegie Addick said:

Don't think it makes the results more impressive - think it just highlights the thinness of the squad, and proves that this wasn't in Powell's imagination. I find it hilarious (well, one word I have chosen to use) that Powell got so much grief for putting Cousins on the right - Riga so far has used Pritchard, Green, Reza and Sordell there, I believe - which just only goes to show that we do not have a decent right-sided midfielder!

I'd much rather have any of those on the right side of midfield than Cousins

ForeverAddickted

As Riga said after the game on Tuesday... You have to start by building a team from the back and then you can work forwards.

Obviously with us having the seventh best Defence in the League the back five pretty much pick themselves at the moment (Which is also the one area where the players really have to be used to each other and work together)... Because of that I think it gives Riga a bit of leeway to tinker with the Midfield / Attack

LargeAddick

Weegie Addick said:

Don't think it makes the results more impressive - think it just highlights the thinness of the squad, and proves that this wasn't in Powell's imagination. I find it hilarious (well, one word I have chosen to use) that Powell got so much grief for putting Cousins on the right - Riga so far has used Pritchard, Green, Reza and Sordell there, I believe - which just only goes to show that we do not have a decent right-sided midfielder!

glad you said used Pritchard, Reza and Green there as none have them have really played. I thought Sordell was on the right of a front three so not really RM. Anyway for me it shows he is willing to try things. However, Cousins at RB and Wilson RM is the way to go.

Lincsaddick

I haven't seen any of the home games .. but, from the comfort of my armchair it seems that it is not so much the personnel as the pattern, the shape of the team .. Powell never set upon a set way of playing for more than a game or two at a time, he was always tinkering with positions and formations, would change styles according to how he perceived the opposition would play. Riga knows what shape he wants and is now looking for the best eleven to play his way

LenGlover

ValleyGary said:

Weegie Addick said:

Don't think it makes the results more impressive - think it just highlights the thinness of the squad, and proves that this wasn't in Powell's imagination. I find it hilarious (well, one word I have chosen to use) that Powell got so much grief for putting Cousins on the right - Riga so far has used Pritchard, Green, Reza and Sordell there, I believe - which just only goes to show that we do not have a decent right-sided midfielder!

My problem with CP playing Cousins RM was that it was a complete waste of talent using him there.

Would rather have had any of the players mentioned out there if it meant Cousins was playing in a position that he looked most comfortable and effective in.

Did I really see Gary write talent and Wilson in the same sentence?

:-)

Weegie Addick

Lincsaddick said:

I haven't seen any of the home games .. but, from the comfort of my armchair it seems that it is not so much the personnel as the pattern, the shape of the team .. Powell never set upon a set way of playing for more than a game or two at a time, he was always tinkering with positions and formations, would change styles according to how he perceived the opposition would play. Riga knows what shape he wants and is now looking for the best eleven to play his way

Lincs, I haven't seen any of Riga's games either yet, so maybe someone who was there can advise - from following on here, I thought he has been changing the formation at least once or twice during the games?

I had no intention of turning this into another Powell v Riga debate - simply want to make the point that there is still a fundamental weakness in the squad which has not been addressed, and which neither manager found an easy solution for. Either we need Solly back fit now or we need to loan in a right mid (leaving LW where he is) or loan in a RB and swap with LW. I don't think Cousins has played RB for at least a couple of years, so doubt that is the answer either. This issue is unbalancing the team and desperately needs sorting.

SilentAddick

Weegie Addick said:

Don't think it makes the results more impressive - think it just highlights the thinness of the squad, and proves that this wasn't in Powell's imagination. I find it hilarious (well, one word I have chosen to use) that Powell got so much grief for putting Cousins on the right - Riga so far has used Pritchard, Green, Reza and Sordell there, I believe - which just only goes to show that we do not have a decent right-sided midfielder!

No, he got grief for breaking up the Poyet-Cousins partnership, pure and simple.

Lincsaddick

Weegie Addick said:

Lincsaddick said:

I haven't seen any of the home games .. but, from the comfort of my armchair it seems that it is not so much the personnel as the pattern, the shape of the team .. Powell never set upon a set way of playing for more than a game or two at a time, he was always tinkering with positions and formations, would change styles according to how he perceived the opposition would play. Riga knows what shape he wants and is now looking for the best eleven to play his way

Lincs, I haven't seen any of Riga's games either yet, so maybe someone who was there can advise - from following on here, I thought he has been changing the formation at least once or twice during the games?

I had no intention of turning this into another Powell v Riga debate - simply want to make the point that there is still a fundamental weakness in the squad which has not been addressed, and which neither manager found an easy solution for. Either we need Solly back fit now or we need to loan in a right mid (leaving LW where he is) or loan in a RB and swap with LW. I don't think Cousins has played RB for at least a couple of years, so doubt that is the answer either. This issue is unbalancing the team and desperately needs sorting.

you could be right Weegie .. As you say, the lack of a proper reserve right back for most of the season has lopsided the team far too often with Wilson not able to play right midfield. I have long advocated putting Morrison at full back and playing Wood alongside Dervite .. It's not going to happen though .. I'll be on the E Midlands 'tour' next week (Notts & Derby) and Leeds the week after .. I am REALLY looking forward to seeing the team play under the new regime .. ((:>)

SexyDave

Big fixture pile up, of course he needs to switch players as to not leave them fatigued. Amongst finding his best 11. Makes perfect sense to me.

charltonbob

you could be right Weegie .. As you say, the lack of a proper reserve right back for most of the season has lopsided the team far too often with Wilson not able to play right midfield. I have long advocated putting Morrison at full back and playing Wood alongside Dervite .. It's not going to happen though .. I'll be on the E Midlands 'tour' next week (Notts & Derby) and Leeds the week after .. I am REALLY looking forward to seeing the team play under the new regime .. ((:>)


1) Morrison is our best centre back.
2) On the 2 or 3 occasions CP played him at RB he looked less than adequate
3) & not that I care what those idiots think ...but wednesdays supporters slated him when he had the misfortune to play for them ........at RB

StigThundercock

My problem with CP playing Cousins RM was that it was a complete waste of talent using him there.

Would rather have had any of the players mentioned out there if it meant Cousins was playing in a position that he looked most comfortable and effective in.

True enough Cousins talent lays elsewhere - chiefly at right back thru most of his youth U18 and U21 football so far. Mystifying why he hasn't been tried there with Wislon in front of him. I don't rate Wilson at all, his passing is miserable but he is by far the least bad option. What also clouds the issue is Cousins's undoubted value as a holding/disruptive midfielder and the way he sticks to his task.

If we're serious about attacking Burnley, Tudgay on the right might be worth a bash, if only cos he hasn't been ruled out yet by being sh!t (sodall, green) or much better elsewhere (cousins, pritch).

thenewbie

Playing Cousins on the right was a bad decision mostly because he and Poyet are much more effective combined than either one is alone - but not only has a strong central position been weakened, we're not even gaining any benefit on the wing anyway. The most logical decision to me would have been Cousins at right back (where he's had plenty of experience) and Wilson further forward, but given that neither Powell nor Riga seem to have attempted this I assume there is more to it than I know.