Burnley are a good side. In my opinion if we play 442 they will have so much of the ball that with their quality they would inevitably make it count, and we would find it very hard to create much. The brave way for us to play would be to try and get on the ball and pass it, move them around, and try and attack with pace when we go forward. NW went for experience in every position last week. On that basis in the absence of Wood and Mattock I can see him picking Collins either at centre back or left back. If he goes 442 with a defence featuring some combination of Richardson/Buxton, Broadfoot and Collins protected by Smallwood and Green then I fear for us. No disrespect to any of them as individuals but collectively there is no pace at all there. We could score three (unlikely) and still lose. Personally I would go with (right to left and 4231): Camp; Richardson, Broadfoot, Rawson, Belaid; Smallwood, Newell; G Ward, Shinnie, Burke; D Ward. I don't see that as negative. I see it as the best hope we have of causing problems, scoring and getting something out of the game. Who to play up front is the tricky one for me. I am assuming Best and Becchio aren't fit to start and playing that role requires more energy than they have anyway. Not Darbs for me. Either Danny Ward or JCH. No real preference. Whatever NW goes with let's hope for a good performance and a bit of luck. UTM.
-- Edited by smiler on Wednesday 17th of February 2016 06:24:25 AM
4-3-1-2 for me and sod the football. Lump it up to 2 big lads up front for them to lay it off to on-rushing Shinnie. Play G.Ward in front of Buxton for extra protection giving him the freedom to bomb forwards in support of the front 3.
4-3-1-2 for me and sod the football. Lump it up to 2 big lads up front for them to lay it off to on-rushing Shinnie. Play G.Ward in front of Buxton for extra protection giving him the freedom to bomb forwards in support of the front 3.
Would like to see a Right back in for sat', we haven't got one good enough. That side apart from Newell for JCH. Have Shinnie getting up to support D Ward.
4-3-1-2 for me and sod the football. Lump it up to 2 big lads up front for them to lay it off to on-rushing Shinnie. Play G.Ward in front of Buxton for extra protection giving him the freedom to bomb forwards in support of the front 3.
Would like to see a Right back in for sat', we haven't got one good enough. That side apart from Newell for JCH. Have Shinnie getting up to support D Ward.
only chnage i would put newell at left back and put the new boy jerome thomas on the left
That has put a spanner in the works Ax! I don't say he is or was a top defender (yet) but although we have plenty of centre backs in honesty I don't really rate many of them.
I think we need Belaid (if fit) at left back or else we would have to waste our best attacking threat Newell back there.
If Buxton is back in the fold I might pick him at centre back alongside Broadfoot. He played there a lot with Wednesday with some success. Perhaps better him than Collins or Halford.
Centre back and right back have been our glaring weaknesses all season long from Day 1 when we defended like the Keystone Cops against MK Dons. Left back as well until Mattock - who is quite good- got fit and became a regular. I haven't seen enough of Belaid yet although he looks decent. In my humble opinion none of Collins, Halford, Broadfoot, Rawson, Thorpe, Wood, Buxton or Richardson are good enough for the Championship. Rawson and Thorpe are inexperienced and both have looked vulnerable at times, and the others were perhaps good enough once but no more. The lack of pace in that list is alarming. You can carry one slow defender who attacks the ball if the others are quick enough to cover, but not a whole back four that turns like the Queen Mary. A look at our goals against column will tell you that sadly we have paid a heavy price for starting the season with that selection to choose from.
That has put a spanner in the works Ax! I don't say he is or was a top defender (yet) but although we have plenty of centre backs in honesty I don't really rate many of them.
I think we need Belaid (if fit) at left back or else we would have to waste our best attacking threat Newell back there.
If Buxton is back in the fold I might pick him at centre back alongside Broadfoot. He played there a lot with Wednesday with some success. Perhaps better him than Collins or Halford.
Centre back and right back have been our glaring weaknesses all season long from Day 1 when we defended like the Keystone Cops against MK Dons. Left back as well until Mattock - who is quite good- got fit and became a regular. I haven't seen enough of Belaid yet although he looks decent. In my humble opinion none of Collins, Halford, Broadfoot, Rawson, Thorpe, Wood, Buxton or Richardson are good enough for the Championship. Rawson and Thorpe are inexperienced and both have looked vulnerable at times, and the others were perhaps good enough once but no more. The lack of pace in that list is alarming. You can carry one slow defender who attacks the ball if the others are quick enough to cover, but not a whole back four that turns like the Queen Mary. A look at our goals against column will tell you that sadly we have paid a heavy price for starting the season with that selection to choose from.
and that dispite what some think, this is all down to the self publicist poor poor summer recruitment policy that we have always been on catchup.
As no team is going to release a quality defender in january unless we paid silly money and no chance of that
-- Edited by hillsborough miller on Wednesday 17th of February 2016 02:23:06 PM
-- Edited by hillsborough miller on Wednesday 17th of February 2016 02:23:22 PM
-- Edited by hillsborough miller on Wednesday 17th of February 2016 02:23:53 PM
You might think that Hillsborough and I might agree with you. We could have a look at a few midfield and forward signings too if you like. But whilst we might think He was the cause of the problem there are still plenty who think that Him leaving was the mistake we made. I can't say I am not bitter. I am. He can walk away to a new project (just like He left the Boston He loved and then the Crawley he loved - in fact He has a habit of leaving clubs at just the right time) whereas this will be my club for the long run. He won't do the same at Leeds. Cellini will fire Him first. Anyway, onwards and upwards - whoever NW picks on Saturday I am sure he will get 100% commitment from them.
Ronnie's out of contract at moment dont think Tiger's got any thing on tomorrow Sure Big Dave Watson could be coaxed out of retirement , oh well back into my little world .
Experience all the way there Towdlad. I think you have gone for a few who could quite literally ghost past a defender or two. At least I went for a bit of youth, but maybe yours is the better strategy.