JTW - Which system to recruit for?

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

Sorry for the essay but I fell asleep early and then woke up early...gave me something to do

The mythical JTW that has brought so much disappointment over the years is creeping ever closer. Since us fans are pinning all our hopes on it, I figure we could consider what system we should be recruiting for having not been convinced by any so far this season. Here are the main 3 options:

3-5-2

Pros:

1. Keeps 2 up front whilst getting an extra man in midfield.
   
2. Will suit Baxter more than 4-4-2
   
3. You can get away with 1 CM being a bit "average".

Cons:

1. Wing -Backs are a specialist position and if they fail the whole thing falls apart. Possibly Flynn, Freeman or Brayford could play RWB but we'd need to sign a LWB and is there anyone out there? Perhaps my standards for wing-back are too high after Borbokis/Quinn but it's hard to think of anyone truly capable of excelling in this position on either flank.
   
2. Three Centre-backs. Good luck with that.
   
3. JCR wouldn't fit in this formation and neither would Harris/K.Wallace.

4-4-2:
Pro's -

1. Players are extremely familiar with this formation and seem happiest when this is done right.
   
2. Will get the most out of JCR as a right winger.
3. Sharp, Done & Adams all look like they would benefit from partnering Sammon/ A.N. Other big man.up front.

Cons -

1. Not ideal for Baxter (arguably our least bad player this season) - Due to his fitness (I'm not sure this can improve much) he's not fully capable of playing in either a central two (too much ground to cover) or as an out and out striker (no pace - no height/strength). Possibly why he's ended up out wide lately but this isn't optimal either. He's more suited to playing "in the hole". Also Scougall suits the hole role too more than any role in a 4-4-2.
   
2. Ideally both central midifelders can cover plenty of ground and can contribute both in defence and attack. I'm not sure that sentence applies to ANY of our current squad.
   
3. Left Wing. Since Murphy left we've really struggled down the left.

4-5-1 / 4-3-3

Pros:

1. Lets you shoe-horn Done and Adams as winger-strikers
2. Baxter suits the attacking midfield role.
   
3. A lot of teams are playing this formation - fight fire with fire?

Cons:

1. Done & Adams have been below-par as winger-strikers so far.
   
2. The 1 up front needs to be a big 20 goals a season type.
   
3. Doesn't suit Sharp or Sammon or JCR.

CONCLUSION: 4-4-2.

Knowing us we won't sign a great big 20 goals a season centre forward who could lead the line in a 4-5-1 and it doesnt really suit Sharp, Sammon or JCR and they are all capable players at this level in the right system. It's higly unlikely we'd get decent wing-backs for a 3-5-2. So almost by default I think it has to be 4-4-2.

Whilst Baxter has been one of our better performers he does not warrant having a whole system based around him, he's not best suited to 4-4-2 but with the right person next to him he could just about manage as CM in a 4-4-2 and long-term I could live with him leaving if we get a quality creative midfielder in.

Ideally in the JTW we'd get 1GK, 2 Centre backs, 2 Central midifelders, 1 Left Winger & 1 Forward but that's never going to happen. More realistically we could get away with putting 1 absolute defensive dynamo next to Baxter in central midfield (NOT HAMMOND OR COUTTS) and possibly give Flynn a go on left wing. We've got Edgar on loan until the end of the season so we can probably get away with signing one quality central defender (Harry Maguire anyone?). GK can wait until Summer.

So for me a succesful JTW will see us signing: 1 Centre Back, 1 energetic, physical, tough defensive CM, 1 Centre Forward. The question is who should we go after?

 

[Tezza1889]

Good post....

I predict that hammond becomes permanent, and Baxter is sold..

While I'd be sad to lose Baxter, I can understand that the club might just have had enough of him, so, get a few quid in hopefully for him..

Hammond....old pals act all day long the inks been dry ages on that one..

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

Good post....

I predict that hammond becomes permanent, and Baxter is sold..

While I'd be sad to lose Baxter, I can understand that the club might just have had enough of him, so, get a few quid in hopefully for him..

Hammond....old pals act all day long the inks been dry ages on that one..

Adkins should tread carefully, if he buys Hammond and insists on playing him and he consistently under-performs then he will have effectively signed his own P45 in the summer.

 

[Caseh]

I'm just hoping we get Dan Burn in this time, other than that I have no clue who we should try and recruit.

Edit: I also think we will keep Hammond, which won't be a problem as I'd take a guess at us getting in a midfielder with a bit more mobility and energy, Morsy would obviously be really nice, I'd like for us to go for Bradley Dack.

 

[Tezza1889]

Adkins should tread carefully, if he buys Hammond and insists on playing him and he consistently under-performs then he will have effectively signed his own P45 in the summer.

The chase for Hammond and delay to ensure he was here in January was the big giveaway wasn't it, will Adkins be here in January is the bigger question, we know how trigger happy our board are, and a couple of bad defeats and I wouldn't want to guess what would happen, remember, they sacked weir and saved thier season, so they might be thinking along the same lines... Sadly.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Agree that Adkins should be trying to shape the squad for it to fit into a preferred formation for the rest of the season.

Personally I think it's possible to achieve decent balance in our current 4-3-3 formation, but some tweaks are needed. Hopefully Adkins will have got it right by January.

Fjortoft's Aeroplane, when you describe the formations that has three midfielders centrally, you seem to assume we play with two holding and one (Baxter) advanced/in the hole. Why this preference, and not the other way?

 

[Revolution]

I want a big midfielder who can run, pass and shoot. Lots of league one clubs have these type of players. they must be available. 2 would be even better.

I also want a better centre half than the one we've already got.

I actually think we don't need strikers assuming we don't sell anyone currently on the books.

I suspect it will be:

- Hammond in
- McNulty and Baxter out
- possibly another centre half in.

That would be poor transfer business imho.

The formation doesn't matter. It's all about getting better players.

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

Agree that Adkins should be trying to shape the squad for it to fit into a preferred formation for the rest of the season.

Personally I think it's possible to achieve decent balance in our current 4-3-3 formation, but some tweaks are needed. Hopefully Adkins will have got it right by January.

Fjortoft's Aeroplane, when you describe the formations that has three midfielders centrally, you seem to assume we play with two holding and one (Baxter) advanced/in the hole. Why this preference, and not the other way?

I wouldn't say the other 2 were strictly holding players. I would see it ideally as 1 that was primarily defensive, 1 a box-to-box all rounder and 1 attacking.

 

[blade too long]

we buy in players who can adapt to more than one formation
we dont want to be one trick ponies
442 433 5121 inberted diamond 235 if we go old school
we will need to change systems in games if they arent working

so long as they can get players to understand there are different sustems theres no need to buy players to suit one
we employ different tactics away to what we do at home at times
a decent pro should be ready to change on request

 

[SotonBlade]

I'm expecting big changes in January, whether that is the right thing to do or not.

Brannigan moving on is a massive indication to me that Adkins is not happy with his recruitment procedures and he either wants control of that element or he wants someone else to do it his way. I'm expecting more outs than in's but expecting an in's to be ones that will be expected to start games, no bench warmers.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I'm expecting big changes in January, whether that is the right thing to do or not.

Brannigan moving on is a massive indication to me that Adkins is not happy with his recruitment procedures and he either wants control of that element or he wants someone else to do it his way. I'm expecting more outs than in's but expecting an in's to be ones that will be expected to start games, no bench warmers.

Unless there's been a total change in approach from the Prince and his people, I'd be amazed if Adkins is taking greater control or getting his own man in to replace Brannigan.

 

[super_pig]

So for me a succesful JTW will see us signing: 1 Centre Back, 1 energetic, physical, tough defensive CM, 1 Centre Forward. The question is who should we go after?

how long have we been saying this now?? remind me..
nice post btw

 

[Bergen Blade]

I wouldn't say the other 2 were strictly holding players. I would see it ideally as 1 that was primarily defensive, 1 a box-to-box all rounder and 1 attacking.

I know, but there is a difference between the pictured formations in that the one on the left uses a player "in the hole", a role which can be quite different to the two box to box roles in the other one.

Lately Adkins has used the one on the right, i.e. no hole-role as preferred by Baxter.

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

I know, but there is a difference between the pictured formations in that the one on the left uses a player "in the hole", a role which can be quite different to the two box to box roles in the other one.

Lately Adkins has used the one on the right, i.e. no hole-role as preferred by Baxter.

I'd say hole role makes more sense for Baxter, he's not got the legs for box-to-box. But as you said this still needs "tweaks". What changes would you like to see in January to make this more successful? How many midifielders do we need to sign? Does Sharp fit in with your ideal 4-5-1? Sadly I think "tweaks" is an understatement.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

The formation doesn't matter. It's all about getting better players.

Both matter. I don't think League 1 is particularly full to the brim with highly adaptable players – they all tend to do a particular role quite well. If we sign a load of people wholly unsuited to the style we want to play, we are going to run into problems. We're sort of seeing that now in that the majority of midfielders from the Clough era are suited for Clough's 5 in midfield. Take Leon Brittan – a classic example of where a lack of foresight in terms of the system we were planning for led to a quality player looking completely mediocre.

 

[Gee]

This transfer window will pass by with no business as usual, you may see players out but I would be surprised to see anyone come in. They will use some shit excuses like we need to sell half the squad before we buy or MB leaving has put a spanner in the works yaddar yaddar. There are going to be a lot of disappointed fans and supporters come the end of January...........

Onwards and Upwards

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Lots of league one clubs have these type of players. .

Do they though? We hear Sam Morsy mentioned quite a bit but who else is there in this league? A lot of league 1 teams play 3CMs to make them look better. George Moncur is a threat going forward but has defensive frailties similar to Baxter. Struggling to think of too many that have a good all round game. Some look jack of all trade master of none. Some look like destroyers who couldn’t pass water or can’t run (Hammond). Some look decent “number 10s” but can’t play in a 2 (Brad Potts for example). Some are good playmakers but can’t run or tackle (Coutts). Some can run around a lot but lack in other areas (Basham and Scougall). I don’t think you see many at this level who have a good all round game. The odd one that comes along doesn’t stay at this level too long (Coady).


I don’t think we will ever sign the complete central midfielder whilst we’re at this level. I think we need to get the right balance of attributes in the team to get the best results. Clough found a formula in 2014 before his summer recruitment and players lost sent it to shit. I think the main attributes we’re lacking are pace, stamina and strength. I think any players we bring in need to real athletes who can help us outfight and outwork opponents.