Best starting 11, formation and tactics

[Barney]

Haven't really done an analytical thread like this before, i've tended just to use it as a platform to moan after bad results but since i'm quite bored i'm going to have a go. When you think about it, it's actually quite interesting (well at least it is to me) to have a look at our potential options when our injured players arrive back.

Important to note as well that as it's been well publicised at our attempts, i'm presuming we sign Hammond and Burn in the loan market. I'm also presuming Wallace and Coutts can sustain their fitness when they come back from injury.


We could go with a 4-3-3:

Howard
Brayford - Edgar - Burn - Harris/Freeman
Hammond - Basham/Wallace/Coutts/Baxter - Adams
Done - Sammon/McNulty - Sharp


​

4-3-3 is obviously risky when you only have 3 in midfield, but it seemed to work quite well against Bradford towards the end so maybe that could be an option. I do wonder whether it was Bradford's tactics of sitting back and allowing pressure that enables us to press in a 4-3-3. I'm not sure how often it would work, I suppose that's for Adkins and his team to assess the upcoming oppositions preferred way of playing.

​

Or we could stick with a 4-4-2 when our better players/new signings arrive:

Howard
Brayford - Edgar - Burn - Harris/Freeman
Coutts/JCR/Flynn - Basham/Wallace/Baxter - Hammond - Adams
Sharp - Done


​

4-4-2 hasn't really worked that well so far and right now I don't think we have the players to play it, unless Baxter can really step up because he has been nowhere near good enough prior to Bradford. When injured players arrive back and should Hammond be signed, I think Adkins could revert back to 4-4-2.

If Coutts can stay fit (doubtful) I would much prefer him on the right where he used to play as opposed to Campbell-Ryce, Coutts crossing must be of a higher standard to what we've been used to. Flynn could also potentially fill in at right midfield, although I must admit I don't think he's in anyway good enough to be in a promotion winning side.

Done surely has to be 1st choice as soon as he recovers from injury, with Sammon and McNulty competing for his place. This will effectively put Higdon out altogether and in which case we should look to loan out now or move on in the JTW.

We could possibly go with another formation but as these two have been the main two so far I haven't mentioned any others, feel free to do so though.


Tactics and things to focus on

For me the most important bits of information to focus on would be:

• Desire - I have to say it's hard to judge desire but when we've been defeated in the past, Gillingham is a great example - the players just looked as though they had given up. We've looked a bit soft at times, the players need to let the opposition know they're going to fight and give everything for the shirt at all times. No ducking out of challenges etc.

• Defensive organisation and direction. A leader in the defensive line needs to take control and demand players a role at set pieces and given scenarios. We've been caught out many a time by a lack of organisation at the back.

• Closing down at a much faster pace, not allowing them time and room on the ball - this has cost us dearly in the last few games.

• Faster tempo in possession

• Making a lot more runs off the ball, allowing a variety of options for the man in possession.

Competition for places

Depending on the formation:

• Harris and Freeman - LB in either formation
• Sammon and McNulty - central striker in a 4-3-3.
• Basham, Baxter, Wallace and Coutts - part of the midfield 3 alongside Hammond and Adams in a 4-3-3.
• Basham, Baxter and Wallace - CM alongside Hammond in a 4-4-2.
• Coutts, JCR and Flynn - RM in a 4-4-2

Until these players arrive back we will have to hope our performances improve but from that it's clear to see how many options we will have for different positions within the squad. That, and the fact that players of much higher quality (Brayford, Harris), and potentially much higher quality (Wallace, Coutts) are arriving back from injury can only be a healthy few facts that could go a long way to righting our wrongs.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Haven't really done an analytical thread like this before, i've tended just to use it as a platform to moan after bad results but since i'm quite bored i'm going to have a go. When you think about it, it's actually quite interesting (well at least it is to me) to have a look at our potential options when our injured players arrive back.

Important to note as well that as it's been well publicised at our attempts, i'm presuming we sign Hammond and Burn in the loan market. I'm also presuming Wallace and Coutts can sustain their fitness when they come back from injury.


We could go with a 4-3-3:

Howard
Brayford - Edgar - Burn - Harris/Freeman
Hammond - Basham/Wallace/Coutts/Baxter - Adams
Done - Sammon/McNulty - Sharp


​

4-3-3 is obviously risky when you only have 3 in midfield, but it seemed to work quite well against Bradford towards the end so maybe that could be an option. I do wonder whether it was Bradford's tactics of sitting back and allowing pressure that enables us to press in a 4-3-3. I'm not sure how often it would work, I suppose that's for Adkins and his team to assess the upcoming oppositions preferred way of playing.

​

Or we could stick with a 4-4-2 when our better players/new signings arrive:

Howard
Brayford - Edgar - Burn - Harris/Freeman
Coutts/JCR/Flynn - Basham/Wallace/Baxter - Hammond - Adams
Sharp - Done


​

4-4-2 hasn't really worked that well so far and right now I don't think we have the players to play it, unless Baxter can really step up because he has been nowhere near good enough prior to Bradford. When injured players arrive back and should Hammond be signed, I think Adkins could revert back to 4-4-2.

If Coutts can stay fit (doubtful) I would much prefer him on the right where he used to play as opposed to Campbell-Ryce, Coutts crossing must be of a higher standard to what we've been used to. Flynn could also potentially fill in at right midfield, although I must admit I don't think he's in anyway good enough to be in a promotion winning side.

Done surely has to be 1st choice as soon as he recovers from injury, with Sammon and McNulty competing for his place. This will effectively put Higdon out altogether and in which case we should look to loan out now or move on in the JTW.

We could possibly go with another formation but as these two have been the main two so far I haven't mentioned any others, feel free to do so though.


Tactics and things to focus on

For me the most important bits of information to focus on would be:

• Desire - I have to say it's hard to judge desire but when we've been defeated in the past, Gillingham is a great example - the players just looked as though they had given up. We've looked a bit soft at times, the players need to let the opposition know they're going to fight and give everything for the shirt at all times. No ducking out of challenges etc.

• Defensive organisation and direction. A leader in the defensive line needs to take control and demand players a role at set pieces and given scenarios. We've been caught out many a time by a lack of organisation at the back.

• Closing down at a much faster pace, not allowing them time and room on the ball - this has cost us dearly in the last few games.

• Faster tempo in possession

• Making a lot more runs off the ball, allowing a variety of options for the man in possession.

Competition for places

Depending on the formation:

• Harris and Freeman - LB in either formation
• Sammon and McNulty - central striker in a 4-3-3.
• Basham, Baxter, Wallace and Coutts - part of the midfield 3 alongside Hammond and Adams in a 4-3-3.
• Basham, Baxter and Wallace - CM alongside Hammond in a 4-4-2.
• Coutts, JCR and Flynn - RM in a 4-4-2

Until these players arrive back we will have to hope our performances improve but from that it's clear to see how many options we will have for different positions within the squad. That, and the fact that players of much higher quality (Brayford, Harris), and potentially much higher quality (Wallace, Coutts) are arriving back from injury can only be a healthy few facts that could go a long way to righting our wrongs.

Barny , good post , but as a blade you know we cannot presume anything . I would not even think of Burn and Hammond , until they ( or a another ) , sign on the dotted line . Up to press , we go with what we have got.

UTB

 

[Barney]

Barny , good post , but as a blade you know we cannot presume anything . I would not even think of Burn and Hammond , until they ( or a another ) , sign on the dotted line . Up to press , we go with what we have got.

UTB

Yes, I should have mentioned something about that. Obviously I too will believe it when I see it but I think it's common knowledge we're after these two so thought i'd include them for the sake of fantasising.

 

[SteveBlade]

Burn isn't happening because he's needed at Full Ham.

 

[Harry's Game]

4-4-1-1

Howard

Brayford, Edgar, New CB, Harris

New LW, New CM, Basham, Adams

Done

Sharp.

 

[Rodley]

Haven't really done an analytical thread like this before, i've tended just to use it as a platform to moan after bad results but since i'm quite bored i'm going to have a go. When you think about it, it's actually quite interesting (well at least it is to me) to have a look at our potential options when our injured players arrive back.

Important to note as well that as it's been well publicised at our attempts, i'm presuming we sign Hammond and Burn in the loan market. I'm also presuming Wallace and Coutts can sustain their fitness when they come back from injury.


We could go with a 4-3-3:

Howard
Brayford - Edgar - Burn - Harris/Freeman
Hammond - Basham/Wallace/Coutts/Baxter - Adams
Done - Sammon/McNulty - Sharp


​

4-3-3 is obviously risky when you only have 3 in midfield, but it seemed to work quite well against Bradford towards the end so maybe that could be an option. I do wonder whether it was Bradford's tactics of sitting back and allowing pressure that enables us to press in a 4-3-3. I'm not sure how often it would work, I suppose that's for Adkins and his team to assess the upcoming oppositions preferred way of playing.

​

Or we could stick with a 4-4-2 when our better players/new signings arrive:

Howard
Brayford - Edgar - Burn - Harris/Freeman
Coutts/JCR/Flynn - Basham/Wallace/Baxter - Hammond - Adams
Sharp - Done


​

4-4-2 hasn't really worked that well so far and right now I don't think we have the players to play it, unless Baxter can really step up because he has been nowhere near good enough prior to Bradford. When injured players arrive back and should Hammond be signed, I think Adkins could revert back to 4-4-2.

If Coutts can stay fit (doubtful) I would much prefer him on the right where he used to play as opposed to Campbell-Ryce, Coutts crossing must be of a higher standard to what we've been used to. Flynn could also potentially fill in at right midfield, although I must admit I don't think he's in anyway good enough to be in a promotion winning side.

Done surely has to be 1st choice as soon as he recovers from injury, with Sammon and McNulty competing for his place. This will effectively put Higdon out altogether and in which case we should look to loan out now or move on in the JTW.

We could possibly go with another formation but as these two have been the main two so far I haven't mentioned any others, feel free to do so though.


Tactics and things to focus on

For me the most important bits of information to focus on would be:

• Desire - I have to say it's hard to judge desire but when we've been defeated in the past, Gillingham is a great example - the players just looked as though they had given up. We've looked a bit soft at times, the players need to let the opposition know they're going to fight and give everything for the shirt at all times. No ducking out of challenges etc.

• Defensive organisation and direction. A leader in the defensive line needs to take control and demand players a role at set pieces and given scenarios. We've been caught out many a time by a lack of organisation at the back.

• Closing down at a much faster pace, not allowing them time and room on the ball - this has cost us dearly in the last few games.

• Faster tempo in possession

• Making a lot more runs off the ball, allowing a variety of options for the man in possession.

Competition for places

Depending on the formation:

• Harris and Freeman - LB in either formation
• Sammon and McNulty - central striker in a 4-3-3.
• Basham, Baxter, Wallace and Coutts - part of the midfield 3 alongside Hammond and Adams in a 4-3-3.
• Basham, Baxter and Wallace - CM alongside Hammond in a 4-4-2.
• Coutts, JCR and Flynn - RM in a 4-4-2

Until these players arrive back we will have to hope our performances improve but from that it's clear to see how many options we will have for different positions within the squad. That, and the fact that players of much higher quality (Brayford, Harris), and potentially much higher quality (Wallace, Coutts) are arriving back from injury can only be a healthy few facts that could go a long way to righting our wrongs.

Excellent post. Lack of tempo and bite has been an issues for a few seasons now. Think that could be down to personnel as much as coaching - are we too nice?

 

[Ricky]

How about Basham and Burn at centre half with Hammond in midfield with Wallace when he's fit. We probably won't sign those two but if we did I think that's how we'd be at our strongest. I'd put Baxter in midfield too and go with three in there. Done and Adams supporting Sharp. The improved midfield and return of the first choice full backs would mean we wouldn't need to go direct as often, thus negating much of the need for a target man up front.

Coward

Brayford Burn Basham Harris

Wallace Hammond

Baxter

Done Sharp Adams

 

[SteveBlade]

We desperately need a couple of solid CM's, another centre back would be ideal but having a strong midfield would benefit us much more overall. It would be the difference between our best team working or falling apart due to a lack of balance.

E.g.

Now:

- Howard -
Brayford - Edgar - Collins - Harris
Baxter - Basham - Reed
Adams - Sharp - Done

Would anyone trust that midfield to control games?

Imagine two solid ball playing box to box midfielders, who can put in a shift defensively alongside Baxter, who could sit just in front. Wouldn't that make you so much more confident in being able to truly take hold of games?