Sincerely hope the incoming player is Barlaser for a fee (not loan) and certainly not the disappointing Adelakun who Bristol City are struggling to get rid of.
A McDonald & Hirst were the positives yesterday. Hope Barlaser is here soon. Don't bring Adelakun back that would put further doubts about Warney's credibility as a manager. S McDonald did well but can he keep fit? Lindsay a safer bet. Where's Olosunde? he can cover both full back positions. Going to have to go back to one up front. Staying up formation.
S McDonald appears to be fit. For my money he has been our best player over the two league games. Olosunde is injured. Several people have confirmed that already, including John Beckin 😂 yesterday.
Harding did ok yesterday. Pity we didn't get at least a pt yesterday to make Ihiekwe feel better. He's getting no criticism from me, been one of our better players for a couple of seasons. Got to have a rethink were it's not working. One thing think it's the league cup again next week. Bruce said he needed Barlaser for it so could be available towards end of next week.
-- Edited by gwru on Sunday 20th of September 2020 09:39:42 AM
A functional performance yesterday. We competed, we had a fair bit of possession, just lacked that killer pass or creative forward play.
Frustrating that in 3 games we gifted 2 goals. Deserved a nil nil yesterday but also deserved one at Wycombe so i guess we’re a point up.
Quite encouraged by that performance considering who didn’t start, it suggests a strong squad with competition for places.
Another good performance by s.mcd who is like a bonus signing as i didn’t expect him to get a game, and Lindsay worked hard too but as a midfield 2 they lack creativity. Might be the midfield for tougher opposition when we’re expected to be outplayed but with games coming up that i think we have a chance in, would like to see Crooks or Wiles in there to run the ball forward.
Lets hope we can find the right formula to get the ball in the net as we look ok otherwise.
There was positives in the game
But in my opinion if he reverts to one up front we will struggle for goals smith will get battered by the two central defenders and its not his game
The formation has to incorporate 2 strikers
And why do we just hoof the ball. Many times we just hoofed it and lost possession when we could have passed it first.
I would try playing 4 1 3 2 at back with the defensive midfielder playing in front
With a midfield consisting of 2 I REPEAT 2 WINGERS playing wiles on the wing makes us play narrow. We should be playing as brecks said get the ball out wide and down the tramlines and force a throw in or get the ball into box to the strikers we have the players sadlier miller ogbene and clarke.
Wiles is best in midfield so with the current squad my team
Would be
Blackman
Harding ithiekwe macdonald mattock
Macdonald
Ogbene wiles or crooks sadlier
Hirst smith
I cannot comment on the game yesterday as i was in York getting the granddaughter settled in at uni.
What i would like to comment on is the obsession that playing two up top is the only way. Of the 28 teams that played in the top two tiers of English football only six started with two up front. Only two teams started with the classic 4:4:2 formation, us and Palace. Ten teams started with a 4:2:3:1. formation but many teams had a variation of five in the middle. Quite a few sides played with 4:3:3 which we tried at the start of last season with very little success. Six teams started with three at the back and i do think that might be a way forward for us in home games. What Warne and his team are well aware of, is you have to be very competitive in the middle of the park. McDonald and Lindsay will battle, but i doubt either will be good enough long term to get the ball forward quick enough to create enough to keep us up. I think we need another one in the middle and a creator. This will give our wide players a better opportunity of getting on the ball and getting it into dangerous areas.
Looking at the stats of our first two league games it appears we are creating very little and have hardly had a shot at goal. If we continue to play only four in the middle of the park and two of them are McDonald and Lindsay i don't see that altering anytime soon. Warne will set up to keep it tight at Birmingham with a similar set up i.m.o. and try and nick something or grind out a point. Our next home game is against Huddersfield who i believe gives us a chance of winning and setting the side up with more freedom. Huddersfield like to play 4:3:3. so if we can get on the ball in the middle and play it early to the wide men then we could well see a good return. This could all alter if we sign Barlaser as he gives us more options both defensively and in attack.
Didn’t think there was a lot wrong with the way we played deserved a point in my opinion.
We need much more from our forwards Ladapo and Smith offered absolutely nothing, Hirst looked bright when he came on I think going forward he will be first choice.
Have to agree with c our first choice forwards have been poor in our two games flso far and its not like they havent played together before
I would try hirst and ladapo
We did try 4:3:3. as i said with very little success. Smith and Morris/Vassell mainly played out wide of the front three and it didn't work. However, Warne believes Smith is the best crosser of a ball in the club. I will leave it up to Warne and his men to find the best formation/way of playing. Unlike Gwru and T.H i have faith in them, and know they will be busting a gut to get the best out of the players.
It's too cozy here. Warney knows he's got to * it up good style to be sacked. He's still hasn't got a left wide player. Nothing coming from midfield. Switch Ogbene to the left, Sadlier on the right. Hopefully Barlaser he's here ASAP. I'd sell Vassell & get another front player in. As I've said more or less got to play with 2 up front, can't just play Hirst on his own there. But niether Smith or Ladapo not ideal to partner him. I'm just hoping somebody else signs Adelakun, he's never a championship player. Bristol C can't get rid of him quick enough!
-- Edited by gwru on Monday 21st of September 2020 10:27:37 AM
