Given that Messrs Murphy and Joyce are doing well but could do with more support in midfield, I wonder if Craig Rodden would fit the bill? But, if so, who would you drop, F19, to make room for the extra midfielder?
Newport Thread
- Thread starter Tom D
- Start date
Given that Messrs Murphy and Joyce are doing well but could do with more support in midfield, I wonder if Craig Rodden would fit the bill? But, if so, who would you drop, F19, to make room for the extra midfielder?
Good question !!,As stated before i am a fan of 4-3-3,so for me it would be kay up top with others joining in (murphs already doing that anyway !!) and a solid defensive midfielder who screens the back four and sees danger early.
JB likes 4-4-2,which is ok as look as a forward drops in to help out when danger arises (Hatfield type player)
Just watched the 'highlights' (Howe's contribution not being considered such, correctly) on Sky's web site, and all three Stanley's goals were great efforts. Also great save to thwart Webber. But their first and last were painful to watch.
I too like the flexibility of 4-3-3 as you have two formations in one, interchangeable depending on whether you have the ball or not.
Michael Liddle did really well when played in front of the back four for a run of games at the end of his initial loan spell. He would be my candidate from our current squad for playing the holding role as he's defensive minded and comfortable enough on the ball. (Also for some unknown reason we have three left wing backs on our books. How did that happen?)
Up top we're spoilt for choice in this scenario as either one of Odejayi or Webber are able to play as centre-forward with Naismith, Mingoia, Bowerman, Gray, Hatfield and McCartan all making credible cases for the two other positions.
It's all a bit academic now of course as JB seems to have found his system for the season and likes to work his players into it. In my opinion our undoing against Newport was our failure to react tactically after they matched our 4-4-2 shape. The system didn't budge, the subs came too late and sloppy mistakes were made.
This is a recurring theme, unfortunately, which has probably cost us very dear this season. Not quite as bad as Coley's old reluctance to change things until too late, but it has often been deeply dispiriting this season having to watch the opposition manager ringing the changes in a proactive manner, while our management seem to just wait for "something to turn up". Agony.
S'funny, Shaker, I had Mr Liddle in mind when I asked the question. One attribute he appears to have when I've seen him play is his willingness and ability to tackle in order to win the ball back.
Given that the squad has options for so many positions, and that, generally, none seem exceptionally better than the others, I'm surprised that JB hasn't rung the changes more frequently. It's going to be a long hard fight to the very last game and I'd hope as many players as possible are match fit. Who'd be a manager?
Given that the squad has options for so many positions, and that, generally, none seem exceptionally better than the others, I'm surprised that JB hasn't rung the changes more frequently. It's going to be a long hard fight to the very last game and I'd hope as many players as possible are match fit. Who'd be a manager?