I am hopeing the penny has dropped for Warney about playing 433 you could see last night it wasn't working. We desperately need to change things. I know it's very early in the season still time to bring some quality width in. Transfer deadline day tomorrow for the big boys see if we can do a bit of business. Wiles a must start for me against Lincoln but with our manager I am not holding my breathe.
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I think its a bit early to abandon the new system and at half time at Wimbledon i don't think many millers would have been saying that. There is going to be ups and downs and i am sure the management team will be continuously assessing. Vassell has done well in pre season and had an ok game on Saturday. It might be that Morris and Proctor are better coming on late in the game like Saturday where they contributed well.
Imo the back four is about getting the balance right. Still feel we need a right sided central defender and if Jones is out for long a right back. Wood could cover for Robertson and i believe would do a job in this division. It would be a big ask for Cooper to come in but he looks to have the abilities to make a good right sided central defender. I just hope Ihiekwe stays fit and we get another in to give the lad another season at least to develop. Tough game ahead so get behind them and put your faith that the management team will get it right.
Warne couldn't field our youth team because they would have been mullered about 12-0 so he had to play senior players, but he played as near to a reserve team as he could and spread the minutes around. From last night's starting eleven there will be maximum three starting on Saturday - Olosunde, Ladapo and either Barlaser or Wiles. I am reading nothing at all into last night's game. For me it might as well not have existed. We have had one competitive game. It was a league game away from home and we won it. We also played very well in it and with a bit more luck could have won it more comfortably. Gwru you didnt see the one game that we have played that actually meant anything. Anyone with any sense in that situation would reserve judgment but typically you jump in with a half-arsed dissection. Every system has pluses and minuses. Give it time and a chance. So far we have a 100% record with it in real fixtures.
If it wasn't broke I wouldn't say fix it. Smudger & Ladapo are our two 1st choice forwards. I don't see other 3 starting a game. Look at there 1st goal last night they went through unchallenged on our left. I'd have Wiles on the right of midfield Macdonald or Barlaser with Crooks central, get a left wide player in. Wood they were going past him at will most of the time, need a another centre back & bring Cooper along. Sort it out before it goes wrong in a league game. Lincoin will be a test this coming Saturday, they'll be set up right.
It's pretty obvious Gwru you are not going to buy into our 4.3.3. set up. You may well be proven right then you can say i told you so. I am also pretty sure we will start with it Saturday so forget this two strikers up top. It will be Vassell (if fit), Ladapo and Smith.
I certainly didn't think they went past Wood at will last night. In fact i thought he was quite solid. Where Man Utd did have the advantage was in the centre of the park and their ability to play it out from the back with loads of movement and all players comfortable on the ball in tight situations. Lindsay and Barlaser were chasing shadows and found it difficult to get on the ball. Add to this a couple of forwards who had a tough night and just couldn't contribute and lost possession very easily.
You are correct about Lincoln and will set up to keep it tight. We will have much more possession than last night and it will be up to us to create the chances and take them. We still have fast and powerful players going forward. Give them a chance to show us what they can do before condemning them.
4-3-3 We aren't Barcelona! It's a busted flush. We are in this league 4-4-2 at best. Play to our strengths. Smudger & Lapado up front. Wiles he won't be here long. He'll dwarf our record outward transfer fee.
4-3-3 for me. 100% league record so far - would be foolish to change as our entire preparation for this season has been based on that formation. Tuesday's Mickey Mouse cup is irrelevant to anything RUFC is about - I can't imagine any of the players were motivated given the manager's obvious reluctance to participate in the game. For Lincoln, same line-up as the Wimbledon game assuming everyone is fit but wouldn't be fussed between Barlasar or Wiles starting. Lincoln will be a step up from Wimbledon and they've sold their ticket allocation, so it should be a great atmosphere. It will also be the first stern test for this new formation - we'll see!
I don't gamble at all but I bet Wiles dosn't start the weekend. Is obvious our manager is going with 433. I am afraid we will be found out a pasting is comming. One player I thought was poor last night was Lindsey just looked out of his depth. Gone from being an optimistic Miller to down in the dumps fear for us against Lincoln.
I am ashamed to say that I went to the game on Tuesday, against all my principles and better judgment, and if for no other reason than to get some fresh air after a long day.
I thought Wood was embarrassed at times by the quick movement and quick feet of the opposition, but players with that level of technical ability and raw pace are few and far between in League One and I still trust him to do a job in our division if called upon.
I would think it might be a close call whether Barlaser or Wiles start on Saturday. I think that MacDonald and Crooks will get the other two midfield spots. Lindsay looked on Tuesday like he needed more work before he will be ready.
For what it is worth, I know they are only friendlies apart from the fifteen minutes or so he got at Wimbledon but I think Proctor looks like a pale imitation of the rampaging striker that we saw two seasons ago before his injury. I hope he can get back to that level. Maybe it is a question of restoring his match sharpness and confidence.
Gwru has clearly decided that 433 will not work despite a storming first half performance and away win on Saturday (that he didn't see) and as he has made clear many times nothing will ever change his mind, he can make his mind up about all things football based on watching half a friendly, he is more right than wrong etc etc etc. He would rather suggest playing square pegs in round holes to fit his own blinkered narrow-minded assessment than even consider the possibility that there might be other ways to play, or that former professional players who are now qualified professional coaches might know more than he does. Bloody infuriating but there we are.
Lincoln will be a difficult game no matter what formation we play. They have some good players and a winning habit, which goes a long way. They will be looking at us though thinking that we will be hard to play against and hard to beat. It should be a 10,000-ish crowd and a cracking good game.
A leapard can't change its spots. Get back to what we know. Pringle, Newell on the left. Need next one off the assembly line. Playing 3 up front with no wide man is negative. Leaves us open on the left.
Smiler ; i went too despite my hatred for the tournament. However, it was the first home game and i was eager to see the new signings and the return of Proctor.
On Proctor, i understand your comments. I'm a big fan and think he could make a real contribution if he's the same player who started last season as an impressive impact sub. I thought he might be too much for the kids to handle but he struggled. Also noticed him getting frustrated with the non fouls the ref was giving which might have restricted his game a bit. Maybe (hopefully) just needs minutes but unsure how he gets them with so few reserve games.
As for 4-3-3 i'm unsure why those opposed to it see it as a big jump from what we played last year - the main failing of 4-5-1 last year was the failure of the wide men to get in the box and contribute with a few goals. Early last year vassell had a go on the left, before his injury, with mixed results so from that team we've swapped Taylor for Ladapo.. sounds ok to me.
Would like to know what plan B will be and think we have the squad for 3 or 5 at the back with Olosude and Clarke (if hes good enough) as wing backs and notice Warney talked about a diamond in a recent interview so might see that in tough games.
Very impressed with the midfield options we have available this season. Wouldn't like to have to choose who gets left out and they'll all be needed over the season.
Roll on Saturday. Everyone talking about Frecks, but hope M O Connor gets a great reception too, he was one of my favourites.
I don't think its's as simple as swapping Taylor for Ladapo Dkny. There has been major changes, not just in the way we play but the players who we now have. On of our best performances away was late on at W.B.A. Crooks had forced himself into the side at the expense of Towell . This was the team
Rodak
Vyner Ihiekwe Robertson Mattock
Ajayi.
Forde Vaulks Crooks Taylor
Smith.
Six of those players have moved on. The subs were Williams, Towell and Newell. All have moved on. One of the reasons i am asking fans to give the new set up time is this is a massive change. It could well fail and i will say again i feel we are too light at the back and in the midfield. Please give it a chance. Last year a lot of you were saying we needed a more attacking line up and not just one up top. I believe Dkny is right when he said one of last years failings was the wide men didn,t get in the box enough. The new set up will not fail for that if last weeks first half is anything to go on.
Regarding 433 it needs to be given a chance. Ladapo is mobile and for me could play anywhere across the front three but I’m not sure Smith/Morris/Proctor could. If one of those starts they need to be central all the time with Ladapo and Vassell at the side.
Hopefully we can get another centre back in. Think this would allow us to play 3-5-2 which I think is a formation that would probably suit us the most.
