I hope Wood is fit. Ipswich are a typical McCarthy team. They turn defences and get the ball in the box. They are pretty direct and physical. In a way it might be a style we can handle. Assuming Wood is fit and Richardson isn't I would go with : Camp; Kelly, Broadfoot, Wood, Mattock; G Ward, Smallwood, Halford, Frecklington, Newell; D Ward. Similar set up as at Hillsborough. I wouldn't argue though if he went 442 to match them up. Nice to have the options. Whatever the formation is we need to be big and strong and not roll over like we did against them at the NYS, which was a personal nightmare for Collins and Green unfortunately.
People are saying the same things about Collins that were said about broadfoot 18 months ago (remember his clubfoot nickname) and Hanford 4-5 months ago. I'm sure he will play better with encouragement rather than people on his back pulling him down. I'm not saying I'm a big fan, but I will encourage him if and when he puts the shirt on and I will not have a go as long as he gives it his all, and if warnock picks him that's good enough for me. In warnock I trust.
My team is chosen assuming Wood and Thomas are not fit. N.W. likes to go with an experienced backline, he also likes to spring a couple of surprises and plays his cards close to his chest keeping supporters and opposing managers guessing right up to 1hour before kick-off. Doyley had a decent enough debut at Burnley away despite giving the penalty away. Joe Newell`s flair and attributes need to be used in this game, it may be just the game to introduce them both back into the team. It wont be easy at Ipswich, we don`t do things the easy way and as mentioned elsewhere Ipswich are a physical and direct side, we need to match them in every position.
Ive just finished watching the whole game again and a few points.
-Kelly was by far the worst player on the pitch. -Green did very well. -Smallwood and D. Ward were exceptional.
-Best and Especially Newall made a huge difference but...
In no way can that performance be put down to Green playing badly at all. He did very well indeed first half and Derby simply cut us open in those first 20 minutes. From their first goal onward we pushed up and caused them problems from then on in. Green was as much a part of that anyone as the team moved forward.
Despite their 2 goals to come RUFC were asking real questions for the first time and pushing Derby back.
We made our 2 subs and the game stayed pretty much even and as it was before the subs came on the pitch with Derby strangely giving more and more ground and then they started to get caught even more with Best and Newell coming on for the deeper role of Green and the less physical and skilful Derbyshire. Best also ran the right side well and cut in to link with Newell very well which is something we couldn't do with Green deeper and Derbyshire not as good at ball retention in deeper areas like Newell.
Derby then made the fatal error of bringing on a very static Bent and an off the pace Blackman for the excellent Thorne. Now Derby were instantly in deep trouble, No Thorne to calm things in the middle and all hell breaks lose in their back four.
My conclusions:
Green is really as much a part of the team as any one else and in no way could be said to be a weak link.
Newall is a must if we want to retain ball around the box and link up with the equally dangerous D. Ward, who are our two most incisive players, but we weaken our right side depending on the ability of the team we are up against. That being siad it is our left to attack and our right to defend usually (strengths and weakness) but again the opposition will dictate this with the huge majority of Derby attacks coming down the left.
- Collins was ok and that goal unfortunately scapegoated him, when the team had been run ragged by a brilliant 60 minuted from Derby.
Derbyshire is surplus in the current set up and it is to him that we need to look in terms of cranking up the intensity in games regarding tactical changes when we are pushing for a break thru later on in games.
so much depends on those first 20 minutes and then the period just before half time and that crucial period in the second half. I think rather than look s much at individuals on the pitch and associating them with the score we would do well to look at the phases on games and highlight the opposition too.
I mention this in this thread as we are looking for a winning formula and deciding who is good enough in this and that position.
I dont think there is a man for man solution to this issue and it is rather about managing the game. No way is Best going to be effective for anymore than 45 minutes. Newell tires after 80 and Derbyshire cant leads the line and needs plenty of support running in with him.
Green cant get forward with enough pace but is very effective in the middle and G. Ward gives the ball away more than any other player and his best role is 15 yards inside the oppositions half with plenty of back up close by when he loses the ball.
Collins becomes almost an anomaly. He didnt do much wrong apart from the goal but he also doesnt contribute like Wood and the beautiful and crazy Scott.
-- Edited by ian on Tuesday 15th of March 2016 10:24:27 PM
Ian I still haven't watched the game but thank you for the analysis. Great read. It is usually a different game the second watch especially when you know what s coming so you can analyse it better. I hear sky is on the lookout for an analyst, how are you with lots of buttons and talking rubbish.
Ian, we have very few options at right back, Richardson injured and Buxton never making the team. Doyley can play right back and Kelly does look better at centre-half so maybe NW will pick the side that way. I just don`t get the scapegoating of individual players, it doesn`t do anything for the morale of the team. I also watched the Derby highlights again and when we kicked off from the 2nd goal Mattock could have sent the ball into the Derby half but he chose to make a sideways pass to Collins who wasn`t expecting the pass. The ball came to him on his right foot instead of his favoured left foot, the rest is history. Do like Paul Green but playing Green and Smallwood in the same team just does not work. Make no mistake we were totally outplayed for 80mins against Derby and it wasn`t just down to Kelly, Collins or Green.
There's a fine line between scapegoating a player (unacceptable) and having and expressing reasonable opinions in a reasonable way (normal). If one player is central to two key incidents in a game it will attract attention. To me, if a centre half plays faultlessly for 89 minutes but has two aberrations that both lead to goals then he has had a stinker. The third goal against Derby - Collins was pointing to Mattock to pass back to Camp instead of making himself available. He was asleep. Even then he could easily have knocked it forward left footed but chose to hit a blind back pass with his weaker right foot and then (worst of all) stood there watching instead of running back. Actually Camp then messed it up a bit by trying to beat Martin instead of committing to a full clearance, but Collins' role was the main one. For the first goal, his clearing header was diabolical. Ten year olds are taught how to head a ball clear. You want distance on it and/or height, which buys you time. And you don't head it into the area in front of the goal. He got all three elements wrong. It's no good saying that apart from those errors he played well. Those errors were very, very costly. And he is experienced enough to know and do better. He will know it himself and in case not I suspect NW will have reminded him. If its a one off you shrug it off and move on, but personally I think he has made far too many bad mistakes this season, and on that basis he wouldn't get near any team I was picking. I agree though with the broader point, which is that the team generally was outplayed and he wasn't the only one who struggled on the day. That is why in a perverse way it was such a good point gained.
I'm not so good at buttons but could learn I reckon but naturally gifted as you can see at talking total and utter rubbish. Still, as my best mate says , I do love having a good time on my own.
Not at all Ian old pal. Everyone's opinion is valid. Your analysis if the Derby game was very valid and maybe you took different conclusions from it than I did or than others did. I agree with you that Collins did a lot of good things. I just don't think you can look to that as comfort when he made two howlers. I think your point about Grant Ward was particularly good - we need him operating high up the pitch because he does give it away a lot and is also knocked off the ball at times, but we need the threat of his pace and creativity. Keep calling it as you see it. I certainly reserve my right to talk rubbish.
We're away from home so caution with our most talented players in G Ward & Newell.
This is our chance to go into the break in alot better position than expected with April coming up, then 7 games against sides not at the top end of the table, but please Neil no Kelly, Collins, Green or Thomas.
Camp
Doyley Broadfoot Woood or Belaid or Thorpe Mattock
G Ward Halford Smallwood Frecks Newell
D Ward
I tend to agree. Nothing to fear. But then I thought that before we played them at home and they steam rollered us. I see this as a bonus game - a free hit before our big games begin. Nothing expected but we might just get something.
