Back 5?

[FredZeppelin]

If the defence was better protected by midfield then four works fine.

Maybe, but it isn't being protected well, is it?
We simply don't have the midfielders to do the job. Under the circumstances, therefore, it would madness to carry on as we are with the 'bombscare' defending and goalkeeping. We might be able to 'flat-track bully' the rubbish like Barnsley, Peterboro, etc, but against most teams who are organised we are going to get very inconsistent results, let alone the good teams who could thrash us.
utb

 

[Houston_Blade]

We’d still concede with a back ten

When the primary defensive technique is to wave our legs in the general direction of the ball I completely agree. We are piss poor at defending.

 

[Working Class Hero]

At the end of the day we have centre backs who are all suited to a back three, so just fucking play em in a back three.

 

[ancientblade]

i wanted us to go to a back 4 but its not working with the personnel weve got and would definetly go with a back 3 at the city ground bring basham in at rcb and go 343 with nidaye mgw and mousset if fit as the front 3 maybe drop fleck and put osborn alongside norwood

 

[sufcboy95]

Actually think Davies has been better than Egan.

 

[JJBlade]

We don't need midfielders that protect the back four/five

We need midfielders that have power, strength, athleticism, bottle, and the ability to progress forward play, not stop it, or hold it up.

I believe that all areas of our team will improve with a more powerful, athletic, chance creating midfield.

Less stress on the defenders means mistakes are not always as desperate, more chances created for the forwards means that missed chances are not so desperate either.

The driving force of the team is the midfield, and ours haven't got a drive in them

 

[Peaktrade]

Nothing to do with back 5.. under Wilder we bottled many results. Never forget Billys hat-trick, got subbed .. boom 3 conceded!!

We were and still are missing a strong midfielder.. but unfortunately the budget went on a couple of expensive bench warmers ..

 

[ancientblade]

We don't need midfielders that protect the back four/five

We need midfielders that have power, strength, athleticism, bottle, and the ability to progress forward play, not stop it, or hold it up.

I believe that all areas of our team will improve with a more powerful, athletic, chance creating midfield.

Less stress on the defenders means mistakes are not always as desperate, more chances created for the forwards means that missed chances are not so desperate either.

The driving force of the team is the midfield, and ours haven't got a drive in them

yes midfield is still our achiles heel far too negative and lightweight although unlike most on here who dont rate him a fit sander berge i think we would be so much stronger with him in there a midfield pivot of norwood and fleck wont get us in to the play offs

 

[Sharp as a blade]

We're in a period of transition, it's clear to see.

Last season everyone and their dog wanted us to switch to a back 4.

It would only take 1 or 2 poor games with a back 5 for some fans to again start stating it's too defensive, doesn't work anymore etc.

I like Slavs approach of not wanting to shut up shop after going 1 or 2 up. Despite what happened yesterday sort of forcing him to do it.

We had a dreadfully organised pre season, signings weren't in till deadline day and that came off the back of a season where we got pumped every week and created one chance about every 3 games.

Yet we're still only 3 points of the play offs and given the performances, (in terms of judging the manager) we're unlucky not to be higher. I say give it more time.

 

[tincan]

For me it’s a bit of a misnomer as our back 5 was actually a back 9 - with everyone slotting into formation when out of possession. That’s why whenever a red card came along, it did not damage us that much as the remaining 8 just expanded a little. Now however the back 4 means when we lose the ball to an opposition playing a front 9 we struggle to regain it even against inferior players.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Carl Asaba was spitting feathers yesterday.

 

[5tannington Blade]

I'm not sure a back 5 will sort out all our problems but if it means Basham comes in and someone out of form like Fleck misses out then I'm all for it

 

[Silent Blade]

Last season everyone and their dog wanted us to switch to a back 4.

pommpey has always said this!

 

[pommpey]

pommpey has always said this!

And?

You're a bit obsessed with me, aren't you love?

pommpey

 

[Roygbiv]

We played a back 3/5 against Huddersfield and Luton and produced the two of the most appalling performances of the season outside of the West Brom debacle. I think the idea we go to a back 5 and everything will be rosy is fanciful. Players are making basic individual errors that are leading to goals and that has nothing to do with tactics.

I personally think the midfield are as much as a problem as the defence. Teams literally run straight through us and the defence are constantly back tracking. We were 3-0 up yesterday and Barnsley were often 4 v 4 against us which is ridiculous.

 

[reedy63]

If John Egan gets injured god help us.

 

[reedy63]

Baldock and Stevens can,t defend neither can Davies. only Egan up to it.

 

[RammyBlade]

No its a backwards step and just undermine everything Slavs been working on so far.

We stick with back 4, but maybe the old Christmas Tree formation (4-3-2-1) would be more apt... as people have said we are just so light in midfield.
View attachment 123431

Id like to see SJ try that formation - could work

 

[Silent Blade]

And?

You're a bit obsessed with me, aren't you love?

pommpey

Not as obsessed as you about 5-3-2!

Lets hope Slav's formation will work

 

[pommpey]

Not as obsessed as you about 5-3-2!

Lets hope Slav's formation will work

5-3-2 wasn't working without O'Connell. The evidence is plain to see.

Our midfield is massively light and underskilled. The evidence is plain to see.

Our endeavours with or without overlapping centrebacks, are easy to counter. The evidence is plain to see.

Oh ... hang on. You go to matches, don't you? My bad. Disregard the above.

pommpey

 

[Silent Blade]

5-3-2 wasn't working without O'Connell. The evidence is plain to see.

Our midfield is massively light and underskilled. The evidence is plain to see.

Our endeavours with or without overlapping centrebacks, are easy to counter. The evidence is plain to see.

Oh ... hang on. You go to matches, don't you? My bad. Disregard the above.

pommpey

Not been to any away matches yet so far