Plan B - Proper Wingers

[ALG91]

5-3-2 or 3-5-2 whatever you want to call it has worked a treat for so long. I believe we should still continue to use this formation from the off. However, we really need some proper wingers in this team. Our players, Brooks aside, lack the ability to run at a man and take him on. Hence the reason we keep having to pass back.

We square their man up and instead of trying a trick or two and driving into the box, we pass back.

Fulham used skilful, pacey wingers against us and they scored all 5 of their goals, Villa have Snodgrass and Adomah, Snodgrass obviously scoring.

We do really need to switch things up, Hutton is an awful defender and if we had someone who could have run at him all night he would've struggled.

UTB!!

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

Can Holmes do this? I know he seemed to play quite central yesterday but I heard he can play as a winger?

 

[Trafford]

Would be great to see Freeman and Jack delivering quality balls into the box again. Stevens is getting in Jack’s way at the moment and doesn’t deliver himself; Baldock promises a lot but doesn’t often beat his man and deliver a good cross.

 

[Slim Man]

We’re sending one out on loan.

Whenever I see Thomas I’m always impressed, he’s got that bit of a spark to make something happen and to be honest I’m really disappointed Chris hasn’t given him more of a chance. If it wasn’t for him we’d have had to take Ipswich to a replay and piled more games on.

He deserved more of a chance especially with the fact we can’t hit a barn door at the minute.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I suppose what you are saying is keep using the attacking full back formation
But use wingers instead of fullbacks as they will be better than Baldock and Stevens offensively.

However wouldn’t that mean that using wingers in a 5-3-2 means we are WEAKER defensively?
Remember David Cotterill? Great gong forward, great crossing but he had little desire to defend, he was terrible at defending.

 

[Willie Carlin]

Thomas could play a Snodgrass type role and can finish!!

 

[Slim Man]

I suppose what you are saying is keep using the attacking full back formation
But use wingers instead of fullbacks as they will be better than Baldock and Stevens offensively.

However wouldn’t that mean that using wingers in a 5-3-2 means we are WEAKER defensively?
Remember David Cotterill? Great gong forward, great crossing but he had little desire to defend, he was terrible at defending.

I get what you're saying but on balance you can look at it two ways.

Chelsea's 5-3-2 is Moses and Alonso as full backs. Now Alonso had played both left wing and left back so obviously LWB makes perfect sense.
Moses had never played right back in his life. An out an out right winger if ever I'd see one.

And they became champions in their first season using that system.

I'd have loved to see Thomas given a chance on the left in the past few weeks.

 

[Baaaaaaa Blades]

Villa's defence is nothing special at all IMO and i completely agree we should be running at them and going for it more - if we had put pressue on that defence i feel we could have found a way in

if you lump the ball forward to Terry etc or take 5 mins to pass the ball around in the final 3rd, teams like Villa ( and pigs /bolton etc in fact any organised defence ) will defend that with ease -


also the constant harrassing of there CB's was missing last night, earlier this season sharp/Leon were constantly on the move and bugging the CB's often into mistakes / kicking the ball out etc

Leon looks knackered and Wilson for me is ok but not up to speed with our way of playing as yet

 

[Chali 2na]

Can Holmes do this? I know he seemed to play quite central yesterday but I heard he can play as a winger?

He doesn't have the pace for this role, at this level.
He'll be playing in the number 10 role, exclusively, I believe.

 

[Baaaaaaa Blades]

IMO stevens needs a rest and when Freeman is back , would it be worth Baldock and Freeman as the WB's ( i dont think CW will change the system which has got us so far)
- i know its putting one on the wrong side but IMO these are the best two wing backs we have at the club and should both be playing -when both fit- which has never happened (apart from 2-3 weeks if that ?)
, also George was on the left a bit last night at times and did ok- certainly our brightest attacking force imo , also if he links with JOC you have the naturally left footed JOC there anyway so shouldnt be to unbalanced

 

[ALG91]

I suppose what you are saying is keep using the attacking full back formation
But use wingers instead of fullbacks as they will be better than Baldock and Stevens offensively.

However wouldn’t that mean that using wingers in a 5-3-2 means we are WEAKER defensively?
Remember David Cotterill? Great gong forward, great crossing but he had little desire to defend, he was terrible at defending.

Not really. I'm saying we could keep it at 5-3-2 until 60-65mins and see how the game is going.

We could then switch to either a 4-2-3-1 with one of the sitting midfielders dropping into the back 4 making it a 5 (Basham/Leonard) when defending. The Attacking Mid could then drop too and it's more like a 5-2-2-1 formation then with these pacey, tricky wingers on the counter-attack.

Alternatively just switch the 5-3-2 to a 4-4-2.

Stevens would probably have to be sacrificed in both of these formation changes so we are more solid/disciplined at the back. Either O'Connell moving out there or Lafferty coming on.

 

[ALG91]

We’re sending one out on loan.

Whenever I see Thomas I’m always impressed, he’s got that bit of a spark to make something happen and to be honest I’m really disappointed Chris hasn’t given him more of a chance. If it wasn’t for him we’d have had to take Ipswich to a replay and piled more games on.

He deserved more of a chance especially with the fact we can’t hit a barn door at the minute.

Thomas could play a Snodgrass type role and can finish!!

Only seen Thomas play once and he was very direct, quick and looked to get the ball in the box. He also scored that beauty against Ipswich. He would do well on the right-hand side cutting inside like Snodgrass. Also coming inside would leave room for Baldock/Freeman to go on the overlap

 

[Richard Haythorne]

He doesn't have the pace for this role, at this level.
He'll be playing in the number 10 role, exclusively, I believe.

I agree he didn't have the pace to go passed their rb when he had the opportunity last night .
For a small guy I thought he would be quicker

 

[Carlton Blade]

Are we talking Rick Holden/David White types who offer nothing except being able to grab a yard of space and get a cross in? I dont think we can carry players like that. We need 11 working hard across the pitch

The players who can beat players one on one and still do defensive work are waaaaaaaaay out of our price range

 

[derfblade.3]

I agree he didn't have the pace to go passed their rb when he had the opportunity last night .
For a small guy I thought he would be quicker

I was surprised when i saw Holmes. Looks a reight titch!

 

[John Street West Terrace]

5-3-2 or 3-5-2 whatever you want to call it has worked a treat for so long. I believe we should still continue to use this formation from the off. However, we really need some proper wingers in this team. Our players, Brooks aside, lack the ability to run at a man and take him on. Hence the reason we keep having to pass back.

We square their man up and instead of trying a trick or two and driving into the box, we pass back.

Fulham used skilful, pacey wingers against us and they scored all 5 of their goals, Villa have Snodgrass and Adomah, Snodgrass obviously scoring.

We do really need to switch things up, Hutton is an awful defender and if we had someone who could have run at him all night he would've struggled.

UTB!!

Agree , I’m surprised we’ve let Thomas go out on loan only trouble is with when playing two wing backs the manager worries about their defensive responsibilities as opposed to there attacking assets.

A we know CW is an advocate of 352 and most teams who play with out & out winger go 442 so there’s the defensive cover with the full back also I think CW likes the extra protection of 3 centre halves ( 2 with sweeper ) at 5e back .

I like 352 but certainly think there’s a case when we’ve been chasing a game to switch to 442 with wingers & overlaps . My only concern would be if we’ve got 2 CH’s who are good enough for top end of championship in 5hat formation.
I think Stearman could do it , maybe O’Connell but I’ve never like Basham at CH in a 2 .

I think next season to build on where we are now we prob need another quality CH & left back and def some pace up top as Fulham showed us at the Lane .
‘

 

[Chali 2na]

I agree he didn't have the pace to go passed their rb when he had the opportunity last night .
For a small guy I thought he would be quicker

Well to be fair, he is 30 and speed has never really been part of his game. He relies more on his technical ability and creativity from what I've seen of him.

 

[Lawrence]

5-3-2 or 3-5-2 whatever you want to call it has worked a treat for so long. I believe we should still continue to use this formation from the off. However, we really need some proper wingers in this team. Our players, Brooks aside, lack the ability to run at a man and take him on. Hence the reason we keep having to pass back.

We square their man up and instead of trying a trick or two and driving into the box, we pass back.

Fulham used skilful, pacey wingers against us and they scored all 5 of their goals, Villa have Snodgrass and Adomah, Snodgrass obviously scoring.

We do really need to switch things up, Hutton is an awful defender and if we had someone who could have run at him all night he would've struggled.

UTB!!

OK! We don’t have any wingers? CW has 3 hrs to go out and get one! See if you can also get a Striker!

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

5-3-2 or 3-5-2 whatever you want to call it has worked a treat for so long. I believe we should still continue to use this formation from the off. However, we really need some proper wingers in this team. Our players, Brooks aside, lack the ability to run at a man and take him on. Hence the reason we keep having to pass back.

We square their man up and instead of trying a trick or two and driving into the box, we pass back.

Fulham used skilful, pacey wingers against us and they scored all 5 of their goals, Villa have Snodgrass and Adomah, Snodgrass obviously scoring.

We do really need to switch things up, Hutton is an awful defender and if we had someone who could have run at him all night he would've struggled.

UTB!!

Been thinking we've needed proper wingers for weeks, especially at the Lane when we've been up against blanket defences. Yeah, keep 5-3-2 from the off, but if that isn't working bring a winger on each flank, either 3-5-2 or 4-4-2. I think we've become a bit too predictable at home, whereas we had the element of surprise at the start of the season, I think a few oppo managers have now got their game plan worked out when they come to the Lane. Of the current squad Brookes is an obvious when he's fit, another could be Duffy. Pace in the centre up top would be another way of breaking down blanket defences, but other than Brookes, we're a bit limited with pacey forwards. The other option, which would be a massive bonus, would be if Ched could get back to his 11-12 season form, with his ability to conjure a goal out of nothing.

We need to start getting our noses in front at the Lane, that changes the whole set up of the game when the away team is parking the bus for a clean sheet.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Plenty of whingers on here..

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Can Holmes do this? I know he seemed to play quite central yesterday but I heard he can play as a winger?

First impressions are he aint got any pace. Back up for Duffy.