2 up front or 1 at Wembley?

[Slim Man]

Can't knock the performances with 2 upfront in these 2 legs, but Sunderland and Coventry are a different proposition. Both better sides than Bristol.

We absolutely pasted Cov at the lane with Campbell upfront being supported by Brewster. Could easily make a case for O'Hare.

Sunderland I think in reality you could do with the legs in midfield against the youth, could easily see us being overrun.

Moore is a very odd footballer, whilst he's played well as I think he can in these last two there's a lot missing in his game, and I don't think I'd pick him in our strongest XI - it's looking like we can potentially put that out (bar Arblaster and Souttar).

Then again... you can't knock 2 3-0 wins, and if we change it and lose its potential egg on face time.

Interesting issue to deal with, but that being said if we go with 2 upfront I think the only change should be Campbell in for Cannon. Brooks has earned that starting spot for me on the right.

 

[Stretch]

I understand that it would be more risky against better opponents, but I think we have looked really good with 2 up top, and specifically Moore being one of the two.

So with a two, I agree that Moore and Campbell would be the best pairing, but if we go with a single striker, then it has to be Campbell.

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

1 up front for me (Campbell). Our bench looks really uninspiring when Moore and Campbell both start. I like the idea of bringing on a forward that isn't Cannon, Brewster or Oné. Especially when you consider this could go to extra time and pens, the quality on the subs bench takes on extra significance.

 

[Bladesman101]

Cooper
Choudhury Anel Robinson Burrows
Peck Souza
Brewster Hamer
Moore Campbell

O’Hare on in 60th minute

That’s the team.

 

[Sheffsteel]

In the match at the SOL Sunderland surprised us by sitting back letting us control midfield.
They defended in numbers, so altho we had plenty of attacks we struggled to create much.
The Sunderland manager must have realised our defence was slow, so they encouraged our central defenders to park themselves on the half way line
Then Sunderlands tactic was to counter attack really quickly with their pacy strikers.
They didn’t attack us that much but always looked much more dangerous.

Sunderland used the same tactics away at Coventry, they were happy to sit back and let Coventry have loads of possession.
Then they waited for the occasional break away attack.

No doubt Wilder will be aware of their counter attack threat.

Almost everyone of our games this season, which ever team scored the first goal tends to win.

So in the final at Wembley, first goal is key. In fact we’ve never scored in a play-off final.
So we only need a score a goal and maybe our fans will appreciate we’ve already created history and believe it’s our year.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Cooper

Choudhury Anel Robinson Burrows
Souza Peck
Brooks Hamer
Campbell Moore

Subs;
Davies
Seriki
Holding
McCallum
Davies
O'Hare
Rak-Sakyi
BBD
Brewster

 

[jono_t2000]

Can't knock the performances with 2 upfront in these 2 legs, but Sunderland and Coventry are a different proposition. Both better sides than Bristol.

We absolutely pasted Cov at the lane with Campbell upfront being supported by Brewster. Could easily make a case for O'Hare.

Sunderland I think in reality you could do with the legs in midfield against the youth, could easily see us being overrun.

Moore is a very odd footballer, whilst he's played well as I think he can in these last two there's a lot missing in his game, and I don't think I'd pick him in our strongest XI - it's looking like we can potentially put that out (bar Arblaster and Souttar).

Then again... you can't knock 2 3-0 wins, and if we change it and lose its potential egg on face time.

Interesting issue to deal with, but that being said if we go with 2 upfront I think the only change should be Campbell in for Cannon. Brooks has earned that starting spot for me on the right.

Brooks starts we lose. Good going forward but aimlessly drifts infield and gets caught ball watching far too often.

Left Choudhury badly exposed in the 1st half especially.

Another one better coming off the bench than starting.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

2 up front, Moore & Campbell.

We look better for having Moore in the side, he creates space for others and offers set piece threat.

 

[Slim Man]

Brooks starts we lose. Good going forward but aimlessly drifts infield and gets caught ball watching far too often.

Left Choudhury badly exposed in the 1st half especially.

Another one better coming off the bench than starting.

He should be able to drift inside. That's where he's most effective.

Peck should cover that gap, like Souza does when Hamer does the exact same thing.

 

[Flumps]

Definitely 2 upfront.

The midfield left a bit to be desired yesterday but I do feel confident with the likes of Hamza, Vini and Anel in the squad.

Having Cooper in the net too relaxes me alot. He isn't perfect but I do like his confidence coming to collect the ball and he seems very calm deal with shots, alright he doesn't save them all but for the first time in a while I don't worry about the keeper.

 

[MayorOJC]

Would go back to 4-2-3-1 personally. Moore ended up being a great choice for Bristol, but their center backs (particularly in the second leg) were tiny. Coventry have Bobby Thomas and Sunderland have Chris Mepham, so he likely wouldn't get that same dominance in the air. We'll need that extra body in midfield.

 

[Blademan89]

2 up top same as Bristol games, makes opposition team more weary to push forward and thinks more about us and their approach to it.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

We changed for the Bristol games as Wilder thought, correctly, it would be the best line up against their style.

It's not that we have got married to the current set up.

 

[XH536]

3 (three), up front, that is, but I'm awfully fond of, 2 (two), out fro**, nudge, nudge, win, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[coaxingstar71]

I think a lot will depend on the opposition and Wilder will go with whichever formation he feels will best suit the situation. However, there's no denying that we have looked better and created much more chances with two up, unless it's just coincidence, the players look more comfortable and the overall performances have been better.

I think Moore has to start, especially now that we appear to have finally worked out how to be threatening from corners. Something we'd hardly managed all season and then scored from 3 in 6 goals in the two play-off legs.

 

[Rochdaleblade]

I've changed my mind several times after reading this thread

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

For me O'Hare has to start, he looks so sharp at the moment. He suits the ACM role really well in a 4-2-3-1. So that's my 2nd argument for 1 up front.

 

[Cheeky Blade]

Can't knock the performances with 2 upfront in these 2 legs, but Sunderland and Coventry are a different proposition. Both better sides than Bristol.

We absolutely pasted Cov at the lane with Campbell upfront being supported by Brewster. Could easily make a case for O'Hare.

Sunderland I think in reality you could do with the legs in midfield against the youth, could easily see us being overrun.

Moore is a very odd footballer, whilst he's played well as I think he can in these last two there's a lot missing in his game, and I don't think I'd pick him in our strongest XI - it's looking like we can potentially put that out (bar Arblaster and Souttar).

Then again... you can't knock 2 3-0 wins, and if we change it and lose its potential egg on face time.

Interesting issue to deal with, but that being said if we go with 2 upfront I think the only change should be Campbell in for Cannon. Brooks has earned that starting spot for me on the right.

Short answer.

 

[Slim Man]

We changed for the Bristol games as Wilder thought, correctly, it would be the best line up against their style.

It's not that we have got married to the current set up.

Moore has started 4 from 5 since Burnley. We aren't married to it, but it's looking likely

 

[JayGreen17]

2 - look how much more dangerous we’ve looked,

 

[Booker4]

2's up as Brian Johnson would confirm! You'll have to a fan of ACDC to get that! Decent song that too!

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

I said to some friends a few weeks back after our terrible performances against Oxford , Plymouth and Millwall that now it was clear that we were not going to qualify for the automatics , Wilder and his staff should use the remaining games to learn lessons from that and develop a different formation , style of play and team selection that would benefit us in the playoffs .

Given our performances at Ashton Gate and particularly the second half at the Lane , they appear to have done precisely that which gives me great confidence that we can go to Wembley anticipating a victory providing we stick with the formula that has got us there.

 

[Uganda Blade]

I said to some friends a few weeks back after our terrible performances against Oxford , Plymouth and Millwall that now it was clear that we were not going to qualify for the automatics , Wilder and his staff should use the remaining games to learn lessons from that and develop a different formation , style of play and team selection that would benefit us in the playoffs .

Given our performances at Ashton Gate and particularly the second half at the Lane , they appear to have done precisely that which gives me great confidence that we can go to Wembley anticipating a victory providing we stick with the formula that has got us there.

Shame they didn't hit upon the formula before the Oxford game

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

If Sunderland sit deep, having Moore allows us that option to put a high ball into the box.

He also gives us the extra set piece defensive capability.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

Stick with the two up top as we've looked far more dangerous in the final third and the midfield have had more choices when they have the ball.

My bigger question is Peck or Davies? Peck is still very inconsistent and can run around like a headless chicken chasing the ball, which creates a gulf between him and Vini. We can't allow teams space to exploit.