New season, new system?

[Swannyblade]

It might be time to move on from the 5-3-2 formation that served us so well during our return to our natural position in the football pecking order (frustratingly just outside the playoff positions).
Last season, most teams (bar Walsall ) couldn’t handle it, and during the early part of this season, it continued to be effective against the opposition. However in recent times, the impact seems to have been lost. O’Connell and Bash’s marauding runs forward from the back 3 have become less common, and the opposition teams seem more prepared to exploit our defensive deficiencies when possession is turned over.
Also, we seem overly reliant on attacks down the right, as Baldock seems much better suited to the attacking wing-back role, than Stevens on the left.
If we can recruit some quality for the defence, maybe we can revert to a back 4 (or at least have it as a viable option). It would also be nice to have some bona fide wide men in midfield, getting some quality balls into the box to feed the frontmen.

Man City’s success with a similar system and other teams’ efforts to replicate it, means the 5-3-2 has gone mainstream and no longer has the same impact or element of surprise - even stale old England are looking to have a dabble with it at this summer’s WC under Southgate...might be time to have a viable plan B

 

[Stretch]

We just need to find a system that will allow both Duffy and Brooks [assuming he is still with us] to be on the field from the start of a match.

Build the system around that.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

It might be time to move on from the 5-3-2 formation that served us so well during our return to our natural position in the football pecking order (frustratingly just outside the playoff positions).
Last season, most teams (bar Walsall ) couldn’t handle it, and during the early part of this season, it continued to be effective against the opposition. However in recent times, the impact seems to have been lost. O’Connell and Bash’s marauding runs forward from the back 3 have become less common, and the opposition teams seem more prepared to exploit our defensive deficiencies when possession is turned over.
Also, we seem overly reliant on attacks down the right, as Baldock seems much better suited to the attacking wing-back role, than Stevens on the left.
If we can recruit some quality for the defence, maybe we can revert to a back 4 (or at least have it as a viable option). It would also be nice to have some bona fide wide men in midfield, getting some quality balls into the box to feed the frontmen.

Man City’s success with a similar system and other teams’ efforts to replicate it, means the 5-3-2 has gone mainstream and no longer has the same impact or element of surprise - even stale old England are looking to have a dabble with it at this summer’s WC under Southgate...might be time to have a viable plan B

Sensible post. I fear you may come under attack though.

 

[SwissBlade]

Swannyblade so a system which has played its part in getting us top 10 in this division should be abandoned?

I think what we need is more players with first team quality

 

[Swannyblade]

Swannyblade so a system which has played its part in getting us top 10 in this division should be abandoned?

I think what we need is more players with first team quality

No, not abandoned...but I think we should have a viable plan b/other option available. Our best performances this season have arguably been pigs/Leeds away when the expectation has been on the opposition to attack us - this plays into our hands when playing a back 5. When teams have sat back against us, our attacking play has often looked slow and ponderous.
There are times when a back 5 will suit, but it seems silly to be reliant on one system

 

[Pompey_Blade]

The system would have carried on being effective if we had Coutts available pulling the strings all season.

 

[drinksmat]

Next seasons plan: Keep the same system, score more, concede less. Simple.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

It might be time to move on from the 5-3-2 formation that served us so well during our return to our natural position in the football pecking order (frustratingly just outside the playoff positions).
Last season, most teams (bar Walsall ) couldn’t handle it, and during the early part of this season, it continued to be effective against the opposition. However in recent times, the impact seems to have been lost. O’Connell and Bash’s marauding runs forward from the back 3 have become less common, and the opposition teams seem more prepared to exploit our defensive deficiencies when possession is turned over.
Also, we seem overly reliant on attacks down the right, as Baldock seems much better suited to the attacking wing-back role, than Stevens on the left.
If we can recruit some quality for the defence, maybe we can revert to a back 4 (or at least have it as a viable option). It would also be nice to have some bona fide wide men in midfield, getting some quality balls into the box to feed the frontmen.

Man City’s success with a similar system and other teams’ efforts to replicate it, means the 5-3-2 has gone mainstream and no longer has the same impact or element of surprise - even stale old England are looking to have a dabble with it at this summer’s WC under Southgate...might be time to have a viable plan B

Very well put and I couldn't agree more.

For 3-5-2 to be effective at Championship level and above, the wing backs need to be natural WINGERS who can also defend (e.g. Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young etc. ) rather than FULL BACKS who are not bad at going forward but don't score goals or provide killer balls to the strikers, which both of ours are.

With the squad we have at present, I have been convinced for some time that a 4-1-3-2 or 4-1-4-1 set up would be more effective and should be one which includes at least two creative midfield players or one such and an out and out winger.

 

[BigBed]

Let's concentrate on getting a couple of chaps in that can fucking score before anything else.

 

[wavy-blade]

Frigging shooting practice might help , over the bar from 8 yards ffs !!

 

[super_pig]

It might be time to move on from the 5-3-2 formation that served us so well during our return to our natural position in the football pecking order (frustratingly just outside the playoff positions).
Last season, most teams (bar Walsall ) couldn’t handle it, and during the early part of this season, it continued to be effective against the opposition. However in recent times, the impact seems to have been lost. O’Connell and Bash’s marauding runs forward from the back 3 have become less common, and the opposition teams seem more prepared to exploit our defensive deficiencies when possession is turned over.
Also, we seem overly reliant on attacks down the right, as Baldock seems much better suited to the attacking wing-back role, than Stevens on the left.
If we can recruit some quality for the defence, maybe we can revert to a back 4 (or at least have it as a viable option). It would also be nice to have some bona fide wide men in midfield, getting some quality balls into the box to feed the frontmen.

Man City’s success with a similar system and other teams’ efforts to replicate it, means the 5-3-2 has gone mainstream and no longer has the same impact or element of surprise - even stale old England are looking to have a dabble with it at this summer’s WC under Southgate...might be time to have a viable plan B

we haven't really played our original system since Christmas though. the one that had serves us well. since then we have been playing with the handbrake on

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Let's concentrate on getting a couple of chaps in that can fucking score before anything else.

You mean like the Championship's highest scoring pairing ?



That would be Clarke and Sharp, then.

 

[super_pig]

You mean like the Championship's highest scoring pairing ?



That would be Clarke and Sharp, then.

i remember one game .. ahem.. leon bagged a hat trick.. and still lost!

 

[BigBed]

You mean like the Championship's highest scoring pairing ?



That would be Clarke and Sharp, then.

So your saying you'd stick with that pairing next season then!??

 

[mancunianblade]

No, not abandoned...but I think we should have a viable plan b/other option available. Our best performances this season have arguably been pigs/Leeds away when the expectation has been on the opposition to attack us - this plays into our hands when playing a back 5. When teams have sat back against us, our attacking play has often looked slow and ponderous.
There are times when a back 5 will suit, but it seems silly to be reliant on one system

Find it odd you should quote the Wendy game as part of your point.

For the first half of the season at least if we found ourselves under pressure in midfield we would remove the CB which was generally Jake Wright and revert to a flat back 4 to help match the threat in the centre of the park. This particular plan B was used at Hillsbrough??

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

So your saying you'd stick with that pairing next season then!??

Am I ??

 

[Pierre's PC]

Am I ??

I think it's called the Cathy Newman response

 

[Fulwood Blade]

We don't play 5-3-2 as the OP states. Primarily it's 3-4-1-2 and has a few times during the season started as 3-5-2.

When losing we generally move to 4-4-2 or 4-3-3.

Isn't modern football about being able to adapt during a game? and having intelligent footballers that can move around at will to suit changing situations?

Our recent game with Fulham showed how comfortable they were on the ball and just moved us around at ease - at times they took the piss with their excellent movement.

CW & AK have all the knowledge needed for the modern game - they just need the chance to get better players in.

We murdered Barnsley yesterday - just go and look at the BBC stats, yet lost the game. There's nothing wrong with our approach to playing games.

It's the economy stupid, said an American president - it's better players, with this management that we need - and bear in mind, some of our existing players would actually suffice and be better with some better players around them............there lies the secret and the challenge.....the ones to keep and the ones to jettison.

UTB

 

[Ginger Gnome]

Since when did Man City play a similar system to us? They almost always use a back 4.

If you're looking to stop teams exploiting out defensive deficiencies, playng one less defender is an odd way to go about it.

You can get Duffy and Brooks in the same side by playing Brooks off Clarke with Duffy in his normal spot in front of two more standard midfielders. There's no need for Evans and Lundstram in the same team like we keep doing.

 

[Woodwardfan]

If we at least have a system then we can build recruitment around it.

That's what Wilder/ Mitchell have been doing.

Baldock, Lafferty, Stevens and Hussey were signed to be wing backs.

Opinion will vary on their suitability.

I've not looked but guess they were all signed on at least 3 year contracts.

Improvement in the squad primarily depends on improving overall quality with new signings.

I think our best wing back is still Freeman, unfortunately.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Actually we play 3-5-2.

 

[Bladezz]

Our system and style of play is excellent 9/10 for me.

We have 6/10 players for the championship.

Sometimes we lose to 9/10 players with a 6/10 system. But without investment we can never up the 6/10 upwards.

 

[Come from away]

It is not about the system. We are playing well and create many chances. If we could even double our spending budget (5 million) and dump it on a striker (probably INTL) we could start to challenge for the playoffs. For 10 million we could go for two strikers. What we do not need is more League One stars, the only exception might be a back-up for Jack 'O as we have nobody to fill his attacking CB role. I say this thinking that regardless of ownership we are not going to have a large spending budget next year, so I do not see the five or six new players coming in.

 

[BladeFisher]

Swannyblade so a system which has played its part in getting us top 10 in this division should be abandoned?

I think what we need is more players with Championship quality

Just edited that for you Swiss

 

[Come from away]

Just edited that for you Swiss

Championship quality is great BUT hard to do on a limited budget.

 

[finlaytheblade]

If we at least have a system then we can build recruitment around it.

That's what Wilder/ Mitchell have been doing.

Baldock, Lafferty, Stevens and Hussey were signed to be wing backs.

Opinion will vary on their suitability.

I've not looked but guess they were all signed on at least 3 year contracts.

Improvement in the squad primarily depends on improving overall quality with new signings.

I think our best wing back is still Freeman, unfortunately.

I agree Woody Boldock comes forward with the ball well and takes up some good positions but is very wastefull. Freeman is different he is more measured in his approach and comes in to the box late which means he doesn't get picked up so easily,most of his goals last season came this way.
Didn't really get into positions this season but we were going well at the time and he wasn't taking up those attacking late runs which gave him his goals last season,I would give him the opportunity to do so,but the manager may think differently.

 

[Boxer Blade]

Our system and style of play is excellent 9/10 for me.

We have 6/10 players for the championship.

Sometimes we lose to 9/10 players with a 6/10 system. But without investment we can never up the 6/10 upwards.

Do you teach maths? You've lost me, mind you I wasn't very good at sums

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

If we at least have a system then we can build recruitment around it.

That's what Wilder/ Mitchell have been doing.

Baldock, Lafferty, Stevens and Hussey were signed to be wing backs.

Opinion will vary on their suitability.

I've not looked but guess they were all signed on at least 3 year contracts.

Improvement in the squad primarily depends on improving overall quality with new signings.

I think our best wing back is still Freeman, unfortunately.

Deffo missed Freemans goals.

 

[BigBed]

Am I ??

Thats what I'm asking......
I only required a "yes or no" reply.

 

[Ihadadream]

Don’t see the need to change what is a positive formation and style of play, with the addition of some pace up top and the value of a years Championship experience which for much of the squad is the first time they have played this level I think were well set to give it another go next year, look at Reading and the Bastards this year it’s a fine line between the playoff’s and a relegation battle. Look at Villa/Derby/Boro And Fulham whoever doesn’t go up this year will start having to adjust to the financial implications of being a championship club