3-5-2 and a lack of pace

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

Now the novelty of the 3-5-2 has worn off, I'm worried that Freeman and Lafferty don't offer enough going forward. Also there's really not much pace in the side, especially without Done (though I do understand why he has been dropped).

Should we consider looking to switch to having at least 1 wing-back as a more naturally attacking player? Or maybe move to a 4-4-2 with Coutts and Fleck in the middle, with Chapman & Duffy out wide, dropping Basham to the bench?

We've had a great run, but given recent home performances, I can't help feeling we've been found out a bit.

 

[alcoblade]

Baby and bath water ?

 

[Roygbiv]

I think Chapman is going to have to start everytime at home to the poorer sides. If we lose a bit of defensive work because of that then so be it. Teams only get in our half about 5 minutes a match anyway

 

[Harry's Game]

We did need to try someone other than Done as he had not looked like scoring, it just seems we have probbaly tried the wrong one.

Lavery in for the "who cares anyway" Cup game or Chapman for me. I would still give Sharp a start as he needs to find a bit of form and confidence again.

 

[Ricky]

We do need something else out wide.

 

[SteveBlade]

A winger with pace in abundance doesn't help in games like the last three at home. The build up play needs to be quicker and more creative instead of shuffling down the wings every time.

 

[Roygbiv]

We did need to try someone other than Done as he had not looked like scoring, it just seems we have probbaly tried the wrong one.

Lavery in for the "who cares anyway" Cup game or Chapman for me. I would still give Sharp a start as he needs to find a bit of form and confidence again.

I'd go

Moore

Freeman
Basham
O Connell
Brown (If Wright isn't back)
Hussey

Fleck
Coutts
Chapman

Clarke
Lavery

Duffy has had a niggle so don't want to risk him for no reason. I'd like to see what Clarke looks like alongside someone other than Sharp and Lafferty has been poor of late.

 

[Caseh]

As Wilder said in his interview, the system we are using isn't the problem.

We need to move the ball quicker and put our chances away. Not really anything more to it tbh.

 

[Ricky]

I'd go with this at Bolton...


------------------Moore

------Brown O'Connell Basham

Freeman------------------------Hussey

-------------Coutts-----Fleck

-----------------Chapman

------------Lavery------Clarke

 

[YES Blade]

As Wilder said in his interview, the system we are using isn't the problem.

We need to move the ball quicker and put our chances away. Not really anything more to it tbh.

If the system isn't the problem then why did Wilder switch to 4-4-2 when Chapman came on?

That was a strange one for me, he should have brought Sharp or Clarke off at half time and gone back to his winning formula rather than force the match with something that hasn't worked so far this season.

 

[Roygbiv]

I'd go with this at Bolton...


------------------Moore

------Brown O'Connell Basham

Freeman------------------------Hussey

-------------Coutts-----Fleck

-----------------Chapman

------------Lavery------Clarke

Copycat

 

[Caseh]

If the system isn't the problem then why did Wilder switch to 4-4-2 when Chapman came on?

That was a strange one for me, he should have brought Sharp or Clarke off at half time and gone back to his winning formula rather than force the match with something that hasn't worked so far this season.

Because it's a change he keeps making, not just today. I'm not really sure why, as I'm yet to see what it adds. We control games with 352, and we continue to control games with 442.

 

[SwissBlade]

Baby and bath water ?

This 100%

 

[Jesus_was_a_Blade]

Agree with what others have said, it's not the formation, it's the players in it that make the difference.

In the last 3 home games (okay 2 were against 9 men) we've probably done a combined total of 15 minutes defending. Teams are more than happy to come to the Lane and play for the point, if they can grab a goal brilliant, but if not sit back and try to crowd us out.

We don't need to have 5 defenders on the pitch if we're not doing any defending. Chelsea currently have Moses (winger) and Alonso (full back) as their 2 wing backs, and they seem to have a decent balance to the side.

Personally for home games I'd still go a step further, Lavery one side and Chapman the other. While Freeman and Lafferty haven't done much wrong in my opinion, we'd surely benefit from having more pace and movement in the team.

We have 2 of the most creative players in the league in Duffy and Fleck, but there were too many times last night when they'd get their heads up and the only options were sideways or backwards.

 

[Slim Man]

Someone instead of Lafferty. Please. End of discussion.

 

[Rodley]

Baby and bath water ?

Some flouncing on show Alco.

 

[Boxer Blade]

When Chapman came on he looked dangerous, I accept the result didnt change but he definitely offers something different, someone in the pub after suggested replacing Freeman with Chapman, because defensively we should have cover with the three at the back and also we are not playing againt high quality who would expose us, sorry to be boring and predicable but Freeman and Lafferty are the weak links, will often do ok but for me we need better players in these two positions, i also accept that some will say the problems are in attack, at the moment its an argument that is difficult to argue against except a few weeks ago this same team were scoring for fun.