Three in midfield and pace on the break

[Ricky]

It's about time Adkins lined up like this, and as a result we've won a tricky looking away game.

It offers us a far better balance and gives us a far better chance than the usual 4-4-1, sorry 4-4-2 does.

This has to be the main thing to take from today.

 

[jt64]

Hope he tries that again midweek, playing against someone who conceded six today.

Of course, he'll need to change for next weekend when Hammond gets his customary booking and is suspended as a result

 

[Ricky]

Reed always seems to do well in a three man midfield. We always look more solid when he's there. I can't believe it's been so long since we tried it.

 

[Roygbiv]

We are much better with 3 in the middle. I'll be pissed off of we go back to 4-4-2 now

 

[Boxer Blade]

When I saw the team I was pleased, nearly excited, I agree, for me its the way togo, the good days under cloughy (Wembley) was a packed midfield with some pace we may even see scougal get a game, anybody looking forward to the game on Tuesday? Doesn't take a lot sometimes does it.

 

[Ricky]

It's still mainly Clough's squad and Clough always played with three in midfield. We don't have the options to play 4-4-2 effectively as we lack athleticism (and ability) in midfield and there's no strike partnership. We need to stick with three in midfield but ideally with more attacking intent than we saw with Clough. Basham, Reed and Baxter central and JCR, Adams and Sharp in front for me.

 

[Slim Man]

We are much better with 3 in the middle. I'll be pissed off of we go back to 4-4-2 now

It suits everyone in the team, paticularly Hammond

 

[blade too long]

we may have stumbled upon a system that works
will just add a bit of gloss to the remaining fixtures

our away form continues to be excellent , just got to get bramall lane less daunting

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Are we happy?

Good, good, good.

Let's enjoy the three points, a clean sheet, a win over a local rival.
We start again on Tuesday, against a side who may not have a full-time manager in charge.
We have to claw our way back into contention, Millwall have a two-game hand on us (5 points) and we need to make sure that they and all the rest around us know that we haven't yet "started".

Well done today, let's hope they can carry it on at Bury and we might all be happy again on Tuesday night, 10pm.

"I'm happy, hope you're happy too............."

 

[blade too long]

this division still throwing up barmy resolts
posh 0 bradford 4
wigan ¨0 oldham 0

shows anything can happen
Barnsleys new slump under way

 

[Tyler Durden]

Adams up front has changed the complexion of the team for the better. He's still young enough to be moulded into a striker too.
Calvert-Lewin and Reed gave a great account of themselves today as well.

 

[Dnblade]

Agree,Che looks a lot better up top for me than when played wide ..still think he can get fitter,but good performance today.

 

[blade too long]

tou cant win owt with kids


sits back and waits

 

[blade67]

It's about time Adkins lined up like this, and as a result we've won a tricky looking away game.

It offers us a far better balance and gives us a far better chance than the usual 4-4-1, sorry 4-4-2 does.

This has to be the main thing to take from today.

How did they line up today? Just listened to 2 guys on P&G and they couldn't agree on who played up front

 

[Ricky]

How did they line up today? Just listened to 2 guys on P&G and they couldn't agree on who played up front

Adams up front on his own with DCL on the left from what I can gather.

 

[Dnblade]

Looked like 4231 with Hammond and Ree as the 2,,and JCR,Jose and DCL the 3 behind Che.

 

[blade67]

Looked like 4231 with Hammond and Ree as the 2,,and JCR,Jose and DCL the 3 behind Che.

Ta

So Baxter playing as a 10, with JCR and DCL wide

I think we need 3 in the middle, but how do we fit Sharp in?

Does Adams go left and DCL to the bench?

 

[alcoblade]

Looked like 4231 with Hammond and Ree as the 2,,and JCR,Jose and DCL the 3 behind Che.

It was this.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

Ta

So Baxter playing as a 10, with JCR and DCL wide

I think we need 3 in the middle, but how do we fit Sharp in?

Does Adams go left and DCL to the bench?

I think that's what we'll do.

We will get overrun against powerful midfields because neither Hammond or Reed are going to cover enough ground. But there's plenty of shit in this league that it should work against.

UTB

 

[SwissBlade]

Reed always seems to do well in a three man midfield. We always look more solid when he's there. I can't believe it's been so long since we tried it.

I think I said in sept that we should go with a line up like this. Not wanting to gloat, but shows that Adkins is perhaps learning about his players and their strengths/ weaknesses.

It's a big positive

 

[spongebobblade]

We lined up with DCL and Jam slightly tucked inside (diamond?) ahead of the midfield 3 first half. They gradually got wider second half but it was nice to see players actually wanting the ball for a change. Reedy and Che were excellent as was Baxter (going forward) Not been impressed with Hammond but he was better today. We weren't excellent but it was a big improvement. Donny? Well if we've been poor they were truly awful

 

[Bergen Blade]

we may have stumbled upon a system that works
will just add a bit of gloss to the remaining fixtures

We've did that earlier in the season too... http://s24su.com/forum/index.php?th...ble-across-the-winning-formula-tonight.42357/

 

[blade too long]

We've did that earlier in the season too... http://s24su.com/forum/index.php?th...ble-across-the-winning-formula-tonight.42357/

makes you wonder why they drifted away from it

 

[Ginger Gnome]

I think I said in sept that we should go with a line up like this. Not wanting to gloat, but shows that Adkins is perhaps learning about his players and their strengths/ weaknesses.

It's a big positive

It's a strange thing to gloat about, everyone knew we were better with three in central midfield based on last season and the squad we have, if you only realised that in September, you were a bit late to the party.

That Adkins is just now learning that his players suit three in midfield isn't something to be impressed by as he's had months to discover that, and since he abandoned 4-3-3 after trying it earlier in the season, there's no guarantee that we won't be back to a shaky 4-4-2 on Tuesday.

 

[SwissBlade]

It's a strange thing to gloat about, everyone knew we were better with three in central midfield based on last season and the squad we have, if you only realised that in September, you were a bit late to the party.

That Adkins is just now learning that his players suit three in midfield isn't something to be impressed by as he's had months to discover that, and since he abandoned 4-3-3 after trying it earlier in the season, there's no guarantee that we won't be back to a shaky 4-4-2 on Tuesday.

Yes, which is why I said it wasn't something I was gloating about... It was an observation that Adkins had finally realised - through luck or good observation, that the middle three combination would be one that works

It's not about 4-4-2, 4-5-1 or 4-3-3, but finding the right types of players to play together. So the point about mentioning it in September was again related to the types of players, not just 3 min midfield.

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

It's still mainly Clough's squad and Clough always played with three in midfield. We don't have the options to play 4-4-2 effectively as we lack athleticism (and ability) in midfield and there's no strike partnership. We need to stick with three in midfield but ideally with more attacking intent than we saw with Clough. Basham, Reed and Baxter central and JCR, Adams and Sharp in front for me.

What's interesting is that it's taken until February for Adkins to realize the capabilities of his squad and pick a team/system to suit it.

We've gone full circle. One of the reasons some fans wanted clough out was the 'boring' football. Yet he played to the strengths of the squad and players at his disposal - three men in the middle, pace on the flanks. What he was lacking was a quality center forward. Amazing Adkins hasn't seen this with the set of players he has until now. Now we are back to potentially playing with 3 in the middle, and hitting teams on the counter. I don't mind that as long as we're getting results, but it's no different to last year.

People comment on how Reed played well today. That's because he's better in a 3. Hammond, basham and Baxter are all lacking in mobility, again, they do better in a 3 in the middle.

Finally, I know Adams has been going through a lot personally with his dad etc, but why he has been sat on the bench is beyond me. He is such a threat, sometimes erratic, inconsistent, but he's going to cause problems in a game and with his pace pin opposition teams back. He's also got a good scoring record, he should be on course to get over 10 goals this season. Not bad at all for a 19 year old.

 

[Gin&Juice]

makes you wonder why they drifted away from it

Shrewsbury

 

[Gin&Juice]

Ta

So Baxter playing as a 10, with JCR and DCL wide

I think we need 3 in the middle, but how do we fit Sharp in?

Does Adams go left and DCL to the bench?

I hope thats the plan. I wouldnt be suprised to see DCL on the bench for the remainder. Im happy for the lad to start, I think he's deserved it and he's lived everyone's dream of starting for United today. Hopefully he can get a couple of goals in the run in.

 

[blade too long]

Shrewsbury

that team that knocked wednesday out of the cup
must be a good side, won at blackpool today

 

[Revolution]

I think that's what we'll do.

We will get overrun against powerful midfields because neither Hammond or Reed are going to cover enough ground. But there's plenty of shit in this league that it should work against.

UTB

I will happily confess that when I saw the team my thought was that we'd get overrun - but of course we didn't, and I should have focused on who was not in the team - Coutts, Woolford, Sammon and Basham. All slow, with little or no end product to their play. Credit to Adkins for shaking things up and it working.