Rob Holding

[adebo]

Just a quick shout today to say he looked solid and composed and made a difference to our back line

 

[toledo]

He needs to stay in the team for Leeds...

 

[YES Blade]

I’d be happy for him to start against Leeds but only if it’s in a back four.

 

[Slim Man]

I'd be happy to sign him permanently already. Even if we go up.

He's always been a good player, just had a fallout with their manager.

Calming influence, good reader of the play and good with the ball.

Should really be claiming a start soon

 

[DronnieBlade]

Optimum positions of our defenders :-

Burrows - LWB
Robbo - LCB in a 3
AA - RCB in a 3.
Seriki RWB
Clarke RWB (maybe ?).

Like it or not, it’s crying out for Holding, if and when he does start, to start as the central defender in a 3.

UTB

 

[ancientblade]

ive been an advocate for 4 at the back and when we had souttar and anel as centre backs we were comfortable but anel and robbo have looked anything but comfortable recently i thought we looked solid 2nd half today with a back 3 and think wilder might just stick with it in a 343 set up

 

[KOPPO]

the gunners legend is class

 

[Slim Man]

We battered Boro playing a back 4 and you've got people suggesting we play a back 5 all of a sudden? Even knowing we have too many attackers to keep happy with the current formation

 

[BrisBlade]

I worry that against Leeds three at the back will quickly become five at the back. If we play Hamza and Vini as well we end up with that massive gap between defence and attack or no width. I would definitely prefer to see us stick with four at the back and one DCM and take the game to them.

 

[nopigfansintown]

We battered Boro playing a back 4 and you've got people suggesting we play a back 5 all of a sudden? Even knowing we have too many attackers to keep happy with the current formation

What people don't get is that we are mid rebuild. We are (slowly) turning over a squad that was built for a back three for almost a decade. It takes time, especially given the previous owner. The manager is trying to do this whilst keeping us competitive. He's succeeding so far.

 

[nopigfansintown]

I worry that against Leeds three at the back will quickly become five at the back. If we play Hamza and Vini as well we end up with that massive gap between defence and attack or no width. I would definitely prefer to see us stick with four at the back and one DCM and take the game to them.

The only way they should both play is if we have three across the middle (including Peck). HC/VS aren't - or at least haven't been - progressive enough on the ball to anchor together.Yesterday we played Brewster, BBD, TC and JRS first half and couldn't give them the ball (which rendered it almost pointless). The few times we did we looked like scoring. That in itself makes the argument for bringing in a another central midfielder: to give us more control and more legs whilst giving us passing outlets

The back three is less necessary as Leeds won't test us aerially in the same way as Luton. That tactical/personnel switch neutralised Luton's big front two in the same same way it neutralised Smith in the pigs game(Smith was dominating at that point and won nothing afterwards). With Leeds the issue is more about stopping them playing through you.

 

[SGBlade]

I’d rather we stick with a back four as our foundation (personally I think our squad suits 433 better than 4231) but we need to be able to have some tactical flexibility. Yesterday showed that - we were garbage first half and the switch to a 5 made a big difference.

It’s too simplistic to say ‘we’re rubbish when we play 5 at the back’. There are lots of reasons why we were crap last year - a predictable 5 at the back was just one amongst many. I personally think if we have Seriki and Burrows as wing backs, Anel bombing on from RCB, and a central three of, say, Peck, Souza and Hamer, we’d actually be very dangerous in this league. Front two could be a combination of any of our forwards. Or you play o’Hare and Hamer behind a single striker.

That’s said, I’d rather we line up against Leeds with the formation that saw us look so solid in the first half of the season, with Holding replacing Souttar and Peck replacing Blaster. I’d also rather see Seriki at right back but if it’s Gilchrist then I’m ok.

And please god, no more Choudhury in midfield for the rest of the season. Especially with Souza. I don’t mind him replacing Souza with 20 mins to go if we need some legs.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Optimum positions of our defenders :-

Burrows - LWB
Robbo - LCB in a 3
AA - RCB in a 3.
Seriki RWB
Clarke RWB (maybe ?).

Like it or not, it’s crying out for Holding, if and when he does start, to start as the central defender in a 3.

UTB

Becomes a tough gig for some of our better attacking players if we changed system to accommodate Holding.

Cooper
Clarke Anel Holding Robbo Burrows
Peck / Souza / Hamer
O’hare
Cannon or Campbell?

I’m not sure I particularly like that team. I’ve enjoyed watching have a bit of width and excitement down the flanks this season

 

[Charlieblade]

What people don't get is that we are mid rebuild. We are (slowly) turning over a squad that was built for a back three for almost a decade. It takes time, especially given the previous owner. The manager is trying to do this whilst keeping us competitive. He's succeeding so far.

Apart from repeating the same mistakes, with two incompatible midfielders and Burrows played anywhere but RWB!

 

[Keen Blade]

I’d be happy for him to start against Leeds but only if it’s in a back four.

So if it's a back 5 , Holding doesn't start

 

[S64 Blade]

Should come in for Robinson for the Leeds game.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Becomes a tough gig for some of our better attacking players if we changed system to accommodate Holding.

Cooper
Clarke Anel Holding Robbo Burrows
Peck / Souza / Hamer
O’hare
Cannon or Campbell?

I’m not sure I particularly like that team. I’ve enjoyed watching have a bit of width and excitement down the flanks this season

Understand what you say.

But don’t be so dismissive of the additional out wide capabilities this would give us with Burrows and Seriki (when fit) would afford us.

Add on AA bombing down the right as well (less so Robbo down the left) as underlapping / overlapping wide CBs and there just might be sufficient compensation in this formation to out way what you state.

It’s really to accommodate Holding - which IMO is far from a given !!

UTB

 

[Cherry Street]

I’d have him over Robinson in a back four.

Much of Robinson’s selection has been down to his ability to win one-on-one duels, his strength, his aggression, winning headers, essentially all the non-footballing side of the game, in spite of his numerous footballing deficiencies, especially on the ball.

Yesterday he didn’t even manage what he’s supposed to be good at. Holding must come in.

 

[bakeblade]

I’d have him over Robinson in a back four.

Much of Robinson’s selection has been down to his ability to win one-on-one duels, his strength, his aggression, winning headers, essentially all the non-footballing side of the game, in spite of his numerous footballing deficiencies, especially on the ball.

Yesterday he didn’t even manage what he’s supposed to be good at. Holding must come in.

Agreed, Holding looks too good a player to leave out.
We'll need Robbo back when Anel gets suspended

 

[N20 Blade]

Should come in for Robinson for the Leeds game.

It will one of two ways with Robinson if he plays.

He has a blinder, channels the atmosphere the right way, intimidates the Leeds forwards and galvanises the rest of the team with a captain’s performance.

Gets booked early for a silly offence, outpaced by the Leeds forwards, at fault for their goal and sees red.

Holding is a conservative selection.

 

[Sheffsteel]

It will one of two ways with Robinson if he plays.

He has a blinder, channels the atmosphere the right way, intimidates the Leeds forwards and galvanises the rest of the team with a captain’s performance.

Gets booked early for a silly offence, outpaced by the Leeds forwards, at fault for their goal and sees red.

Holding is a conservative selection.

Very much agree.
We all know JLT can be a liability but we also know he can be an inspirational big player for us.

Hence why I’m more sat in the fence regards him.
Sometimes don’t think he gets the credit he deserves but most fans focus on his errors.

 

[Champagneblade]

It will one of two ways with Robinson if he plays.

He has a blinder, channels the atmosphere the right way, intimidates the Leeds forwards and galvanises the rest of the team with a captain’s performance.

Gets booked early for a silly offence, outpaced by the Leeds forwards, at fault for their goal and sees red.

Holding is a conservative selection.

At some point it just makes sense to pick the guy who has 30• Champions League games and 100 league games almost for Arsenal competing at the top level over the guy who was part of the Premier League’s worst defence.

 

['Doc' Pace my hero]

We only have three central defenders,if all are fit and you want to play a back four, you would select the best two defenders,simple.The advantage of having the ability to switch to a five can be very useful to suit circumstances,we wouldn’t have won yesterday without that option.I personally think that Anel and Holding are the better defenders and probably less likely to be prone to unforced errors.
However,Wilder obviously sees a leader in Robinson and will always cut him a ‘bit of slack’ and he forgives him his occasional shortcomings.All three are going to be essential in the remaining fixtures,we have found life difficult since the loss of Soutter.

 

[theoneandonly36]

All we need now is an opposing Centre Forward called Richard Wyllie.

 

[GymClassHero]

When Holding came on I felt he immediately extended and air of confidence across the back line. Of course he's going to be a bit rusty, but you could see his class.

After watching his post match interview I'm even more impressed. Seems a well spoken, pleasant bloke and was very appreciative of us for giving him an opportunity to get his career back on track. Proven at PL level, could potentially be one of Wilders smartest signings - was very open when asked about staying here and we would get him for free.

 

[Nick Jansky]

When Holding came on I felt he immediately extended and air of confidence across the back line. Of course he's going to be a bit rusty, but you could see his class.

After watching his post match interview I'm even more impressed. Seems a well spoken, pleasant bloke and was very appreciative of us for giving him an opportunity to get his career back on track. Proven at PL level, could potentially be one of Wilders smartest signings - was very open when asked about staying here and we would get him for free.

What makes you think we would get him on a free?

 

[GymClassHero]

What makes you think we would get him on a free?

My mistake I thought he was out of contract this year but it's actually next. Either way, doesn't seem any route back for him at Palace and should all go well for him here he seems the type to show a bit of loyalty and we would likely be able to get him cheap.

 

[Shawy24]

I’m going out on a limb here and crediting Wilder with some tactical nous. I think he’s going to fool Farke with a five. Seriki Anel Holden Robbo Burrows. Souza Peck Hamer OHare Campbell.

 

[Danetheblade]

I’m going out on a limb here and crediting Wilder with some tactical nous. I think he’s going to fool Farke with a five. Seriki Anel Holden Robbo Burrows. Souza Peck Hamer OHare Campbell.

And we’ll get absolutely dominated like the last time he had some “tactical nous” against Leeds.

 

[Shawy24]

And we’ll get absolutely dominated like the last time he had some “tactical nous” against Leeds.

Your suggestions?