4-4-2

[blader]

The constant obsession with 4-4-2 pre-season has come home to roost a bit yesterday. People bombarding the manager (and the chairman, for some reason) on social media all summer begging for 4-4-2 have hopefully been put in their place a bit.

This is not the wonderfully attacking formation some like to believe it is, nor does it provide the protection for our under par centre backs.

Now, I am not for one minute suggesting this is the cause of our pathetic first outing but the fans' obsession with it needs to stop as we don't have the players to suit a flat 4-4-2. Good sides don't play this formation at any level any more, unless you're willing to play a direct Warnock-esque style of play with a big man / quick man combination. Our defence might be poor, but how much protection is a midfield 4 or Baxter, Basham, Murphy and Woolford realistically going to provide them? I'd hope we don't intend to stick with this formation for long unless we sign the players suitable to carry it successfully.

 

[sheffielder]

If we play Basham infront of Baxter on a regular basis don't expect much improvement

 

[mattbianco1]

Yesterday was an absolute disgraceful performance.

Very little positives to take from it.

We never got the 2nd ball. Never pressed like they pressed us. Never had a spell of comfortable possession.

I would be surprised if Long plays on Saturday or indeed the rest of the season. A goalkeeper needs to concentrate constantly, any lapse and it affects your game. This wasn't helped by the horrific words being shouted at him from our own fans behind him. You've made a mistake, the last thing you need are hundreds of your own fans hurling horrendous abuse at you. Some need to take a step back and calm down.

400 miles on the clock. 4-0 defeat and infighting on the away end, all on the first game. Great start.