Only December but surely this is a must win? I saw the extended highlights of their game with the Blades & they were sh y te. Millers fans forget Christmas shopping, the Royals probably won't bring any more than about 300 so get off your collective arses & get to NYS & make it a fortress not a library.
Watched Reading live on sky against Sheff U. They were shocking. Got to beat them. This is one game at home we could play 4-4-2. Williams Vaulks Towell Newell, Smith Proctor. Hopefully Robertson back in defence. Agree a bigger than usual home support would be like a twelve man.
I listened to the commentary of the Reading v Blades game and the co-commentator said Reading were woeful and disconsolate. In which case I think PW should go for broke on Saturday. If Raggett(who was on the bench at Hillsborough) and Robertson are both fit, I'd start with;
Rodak,
Vyner, Raggett, Robertson, Mattock,
Ajayi
Williams, Vaulks, Towell,
Smith Proctor
Doubt he'll do it but it has to be worth a shot to try and get that elusive 3 points?
-- Edited by GlennMiller on Monday 10th of December 2018 08:51:18 PM
Totally agree I know Warne and others think a point is better than no point
But Warne has to be brave and go for the jugular earlier
Also is it me but we play deeper with woody in defence not knocking our Wembley hero
I agree with you Hillsborough Miller. We did play deeper when we went 2-1 up and it might be that Wood lacks the pace. I said on another post that we should have put Proctor on at 2-1 up last Saturday. Wednesday went three at the back and got more forward allowing Bannan to have more of the ball like Smiler said. We stayed as we were and let them take the game to us. I think we should have matched wednesday up with three at the back (centre of the three has to be Ajayi because of his pace). Move Mattock up on the left of five and push them back. We were on top at the time and 2-1 up but lost the initiative for twenty minutes.
On Saturday Reading come, and look a poorish side. Does Warne Play two up front ? If ever there is a time to play two up top its Saturday. I would go 3:5:2 after coaching the team this week to play that style.
Rodak
Vyner Ajayi Robertson
Williams Vaulks Towell Manning Mattock
Smith Proctor.
I do not think for a minute he will go for that team and system. I think he will play a 4:4:1:1 with Williams in the hole and two of Forde, Taylor or Newell as the wide men. Proctor, Manning and Wiles coming on as subs in second half. This appears to be his preferred system.
Reading look a poor side but never count your chickens. Play basically the formation that's kept us out of the bottom 3. We are at home so given the opposition I'd go for once 4-4-2. Regular keeper/defence incl' Robertson. Williams Vaulks Towell Newell; Smudger Proctor as I've already said.
I don't see any reason to change what we have been doing. It has got us into a competitive situation and above the bottom three. We have been playing well and scoring goals. Cut out the defensive errors and we are well capable of beating Reading at home. Why risk experimenting in such an important game? Keep calm and carry on. A change of formation won't add the bit of composure that we need to turn these draws into wins. The players have to do that bit themselves with our support.
I agree with that Smiler and have said previously we lack quality to turn draws into wins. However, we have won once in our last fourteen games. During that period there has been good performances against much stronger/classier teams. I am a fully paid up member of having five in midfield and against the top half teams i think we have to go 4:5:1 to have any chance of getting anything.
On Saturday we play a team who are struggling,have no manager and looked devoid of ideas against the Blades. I think it might be a time to play two up top and get them on the back foot early. Whether we go 4:4:2 or 3:5:2 i am not sure but there is a clamour for two strikers and i believe Saturday is the best opportunity to go for it.
Undoubtedly it is a result of 3 points a win, 1 point a draw that even after an incredible run of matches with so few defeats we still find ourselves perilously just above the drop zone. That doesn’t seem just reward for the battling performances we have put in of late but it is what it is.
Our focus has very much been on playing a formation that is hard to beat and hoping to pick up the odd goal either on the break or from a set play. If we doggedly continue with that policy we may avoid the drop but it will be a close run thing. Considering my anxieties pre season we are performing much, much better than I feared we would at this level. I would agree our main failing is certainly not due to a lack of effort but the occasional loss of concentration in defence and lack of composure in attack. Ironically our successful, defensive minded formation may unwittingly contribute to both.
Ideally, obviously we want 3 points against Reading. The rub is do we risk changing the formation to achieve that. Personally, up to now I think we have been sensibly respectful of the opposition. Occasionally too respectful. But I do think now is the time to be more bold and set up to attack. Go for it lads!
Tend to agree with playing 2 up front against Reading but we do not have a sharp enough striker to play alongside Smith. Sadly Proctor's serious injury robbed him of what little pace he had and i think he can only be effective coming on very late against tired legs. I'm certain Warne has someone lined up in January (snouts tell me he could be shopping in Milton Keynes -not Agard!) as well as a quick attacking central midfielder.
Is it a case of fear or tactical awareness? Its an interesting question for Warne and his team to sort out. The run of good form was clear to see before it happened, but I think we have peaked- and the Form hasnt brought the points. I agree its a great effort thus far, and we do sit just above the relegation places. However, surely its blind faith at this point to assume that Gap will continue or even increase if we carry on with the same formation. Warne is very talented, and Im sure he is pondering the dilemma too. I think our stats need shaking up a little- scary I know. 4 wins in 21 may be good enough to date, but 8 wins from 42 ( 9 from 46) is highly unlikely to be.
So, we continue and hope the team find the net more or we get a better defence? The third option is scoring more goals; vis-a-vis 2 strikers or an improved defence to improve our goals for Vs against?
If we are not going to give Proctor more game time then it seems the only way we can improve is through the January window. If we don't need to improve then its ok to leave things as they are.
Maybe there is a mathematician on the board who could tell us how much a draw is worth compared to a win.
In the season of 2015-16 we won 13 and drew 10 to finish on 49 points (9 points above relegation) in the season of 2016-17 we won 5 and drew 8, but the 4th from bottom team won 14 and drew 9 to finish on 51 points. last season bolton won 10 and drew 13 to finish on 43 points and safe.
so, quick extrapolation ...we can expect to win 8 games and draw 18 leaving us on 42 points, but I will add another 3 points on for the last 4 games= 46 points.
Now, I know Im being somewhat ridiculous and straining to make the point (and of course there are huge variables), but the optimism of sticking with our current form seems a little strained too.
-- Edited by ian on Tuesday 11th of December 2018 09:29:19 PM
Proctor sure he hasn't started a league game so not sure if he's lost what pace he had that's if he had much to start with.
So play safe 4-5-1. Perfect game to start Wiles would have thought but I can't work Warney's train of thought out. Think he's trying to keep players happy. Do we need Raggett & Wood both on the bench? Sure Warney has made his mind up players who are surplus. I'd like to see Hinds on the bench in front of them. Could do with cover for Mattock.
Proctor started at Nottm Forest. He was pretty anonymous and was replaced by Smith at half time. I don't think him and Smith have started a league game together this season. Proctor and Moore started together at the start of last season and caused havoc in a couple of games. I think they could be effective as a front two given the supply. I just doubt how much of the ball they would see and wonder how many we would have to score to even get a point if we allow a Championship team to dominate midfield. Throwing Proctor on as a second striker to chase a goal near the end is one thing. Playing like that for 90 minutes is another. We have scored twice in three of our last four games. Same again on Saturday and we should win provided we don't give daft goals away (Duffy for United, Wells for QPR and Jaio (? spelling) first for Wednesday were all schoolboy errors on our part. Its all about opinions. As long as we win I couldn't care less what formation we play. Whatever formation we play, we have to put chances away at one end and not make basic mistakes at the other.
warne will not move away from his system and approach for this game. He is doing a great job but he is not a brave and bold manager, he is very cautious and more of a reactive manager than a proactive manager. If we are 1-0 up with 20 mins to go, we will go deep and try and defend, it is his style.
I think this is one of the home games you have to win across a season to stand a chance of staying up, hull was another. We have had a great run but we are very close to the bottom three and a bad run of form would drop us in there, so yes it is a must win game for me. However I think Paul starts every game with a don't lose mentality.
With what he has been provided in terms of financial backing he is doing amazing my only ask is be a bit bolder at times,
I do think that Warne has become a bit focused on the point is better than no point
If all are fit I would change formation to throw reading off their plans and.go 4 4 2
Rodak
Vyner ragged Robertson mattock
Williams vaulks towell/ manning Newell
Proctor Smith
No room for Ajayi in your team Hillsborough? Choosing the team and formation for this Saturday's game appears to be more difficult than choosing the right option for leaving Europe!! I think I'll leave it to Teresa - sorry, Warnie!
I'm wondering whether 'ragged' is Hillsboroughs pet name for Ajayi, Glenn? If so its a bit harsh! He makes the occasional error but overall he has had a good season. I would go with: Rodak, Vyner, Raggett (if fit), Robertson, Mattock: Ajayi: Williams, Vaulks, Towell, Newell: Smith. Giving Towell licence to really push on in support of Smith, knowing that he has good cover. Plenty of attacking threat in that line up for me, without sacrificing the shape that has served us pretty well.
Smiler that would be a good side for the West Brom game but I wouldn't be disappointed if I saw a side without Taylor & Forde in it + Williams on the right.
