Change of formation required ?

[mitch_ward_stunner]

Not suggesting this is the answer , but would appear to me that with o Connells absence , we currently have no one up to that level currently in the squad , for me
Neither Robinson or Stevens have the required ability to play that role ... a flat back four may seem risky given are already currently vulnerable defence , however given our current form do we continue to play with this tried and trusted system or attempt to change things , my reservations would be Bashams ability to play as one of two instead of in a three , however if he could , or if we utilise ampadu or jags in a centre half partnership with Egan . Just strikes me that the system that has brought us so much success could currently be holding us back .... the flat three midfield just isn’t working and we need to think outside of the box ... perhaps with a flat back four ...would allow us to play with more creativity up the top of the pitch ... possibly a back four of Baldock Egan basham/ampadu Stevens / Lowe ,. Then either a two sitting basham / ampadu ... Norwood / berge ... or a three of say ampadu Norwood berge , allowing the likes of Burke mcgoldrick to provide t

 

[jono_t2000]

Not suggesting this is the answer , but would appear to me that with o Connells absence , we currently have no one up to that level currently in the squad , for me
Neither Robinson or Stevens have the required ability to play that role ... a flat back four may seem risky given are already currently vulnerable defence , however given our current form do we continue to play with this tried and trusted system or attempt to change things , my reservations would be Bashams ability to play as one of two instead of in a three , however if he could , or if we utilise ampadu or jags in a centre half partnership with Egan . Just strikes me that the system that has brought us so much success could currently be holding us back .... the flat three midfield just isn’t working and we need to think outside of the box ... perhaps with a flat back four ...would allow us to play with more creativity up the top of the pitch ... possibly a back four of Baldock Egan basham/ampadu Stevens / Lowe ,. Then either a two sitting basham / ampadu ... Norwood / berge ... or a three of say ampadu Norwood berge , allowing the likes of Burke mcgoldrick to provide t

I would like to see 4-5-1 leaving Brewster up top with Burke and Berge outwide in midfield bombing down the flanks.

Our midfield desperately needs more bodies right now

 

[mitch_ward_stunner]

I would like to see 4-5-1 leaving Brewster up top with Burke and Berge outwide in midfield bombing down the flanks.

Our midfield desperately needs more bodies right now

Yeah even something like this ... also considering playing a midfield three instead of dropping berge deep and pushing on someone like fleck etc more advanced

 

[mitch_ward_stunner]

Possible

 

[knowsnowt]

Should try 8-6-1-2.

 

[Foody]

I've seen so many posts suggesting four, four fucking two (or some variant of it) and I just don't agree. 4/5 of the back 5 have played their best football in this formation. The best example I can find for this is Chris Basham, he was rightly player of the season last year, yet I'd drop him in a 4-4-2.

Out issue isn't that our system has been figured out, it's that we aren't even playing our system. We've played some of the best football I've seen from us with this formation and I don't think we need to give up on it just yet. Personally I'd try Ampadu at LCB and encourage him to push forward at every opportunity, hopefully with Fleck infront of him we'll look a completely different side.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I would like to see 4-5-1 leaving Brewster up top with Burke and Berge outwide in midfield bombing down the flanks.

Our midfield desperately needs more bodies right now

I'd like Brewster to show us he has a pulse first.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Should try 8-6-1-2.

I’d try 3.14159265359. We’d slice through them like pi

 

[CoatesyBlade]

It’s a tricky one... Basham is without doubt perfectly suited to playing the attacking RCB. But it’s simply not working at the minute. All the forward players look terrible... are they though? Or is it the system?
we don’t have JOC at LCB for the season and no one else can fill that void!
The flat 3 in midfield is getting completely over run and offering nothing apart from Sander.
The system has been figured out as we see teams simply defending down the flanks as we offer nothing in the middle.
We need to show more as an attacking force... we simply need to!
If that means Bash is on the bench then that’s that.
I don’t have the answer... and seeing as Bash is one of our best players... it’ll be a bold call at this stage. But maybe one that needs to be made!

 

[robbiez666]

Possible

I would probably be a bit less conservative in midfield than that (maybe Berge in the centre but slightly deeper) but 2 holding midfielders is probably the way forward. The only issue is at CB. I don't think Basham is good enough to be a CB in a back 4.

 

[Badger Blade]

Other thought is whether we turn Basham into a lanky Nick Montgomery, just run around, win the ball and give it to Norwood/Berge/whoever to try and create something?

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Said it before

when you have a squad with ZERO attack minded midfielders, ZERO wingers and ZERO wide forwards - you leave little room to change things up. We don’t have the players for any other formation unless we want to play one of our 15 defensive midfielders up front.

this is the formation and these are the players we have to work with. Only time will tell if we can put out a premier league quality showing for all the money spent.

we need some results before January and hope we can plug the massive gaps all over the squad in that window.

 

[Big Hitter]

Basham to me has proved his worth countless times, he is a modern day Colin Bell ( remember him ? ) up and down that pitch, he must have lungs like Red Rum.
Always remember that goal he got at Leeds two years ago, it was a classic, I jumped out of the chair roaring with excitement. Gave the old lady a heart attack .
Shearer hit the nail on the head the other week on MoTD we are not getting the crosses in to the forwards.

 

[guancheblade]

I would like to see 4-5-1 leaving Brewster up top with Burke and Berge outwide in midfield bombing down the flanks.

Our midfield desperately needs more bodies right now

Whatever formation it is it surely can no longer contain two strikers. We might as well have just one of them not touching the ball instead of two.

3-4-2-1 for me

We still don't have the width in the attacking area and this would still keep us centrally compact which is how Chris likes it. But maybe just maybe we can get the ball into the striker every once in a while by bridging that gap.

 

[AdamSufc1997]

Has to be 4 at the back now. We just look shit playing 5 at the back with Stevens

 

[Come from away]

I've seen so many posts suggesting four, four fucking two (or some variant of it) and I just don't agree. 4/5 of the back 5 have played their best football in this formation. The best example I can find for this is Chris Basham, he was rightly player of the season last year, yet I'd drop him in a 4-4-2.

Out issue isn't that our system has been figured out, it's that we aren't even playing our system. We've played some of the best football I've seen from us with this formation and I don't think we need to give up on it just yet. Personally I'd try Ampadu at LCB and encourage him to push forward at every opportunity, hopefully with Fleck infront of him we'll look a completely different side.

Then play the four that remain as 'the' back four rather than trying people out of position or new guys just getting used to the team - is that really 'messing' with things?

 

[Badger Blade]

Persisting with the same thing but expecting different results is the first sign of insanity and Einstein was a smart bloke.

I don't think Wilder has known his best 11 right from the get-go this season compared to last where the team pretty much picked itself. The three at the back is leaving gaps in the traditional full back positions where we got caught out for the first goal against Chelsea. Moving to a back 4 leaves the defenders to defend then get the ball to the midfield to create something rather than relying on centre backs to create chances. Teams we play against at this level don't park the bus against us like they did in League One so Basham/Stevens/Robinson can stay where they are.

Based on current form/availability
4231 or 4411
-------------Ramsdale
Baldock Egan Jagielka Robinson
--------- Berge---Ampadu
Burke------McGoldrick -----Osborn
------------ McBurnie

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Persisting with the same thing but expecting different results is the first sign of insanity and Einstein was a smart bloke.

I don't think Wilder has known his best 11 right from the get-go this season compared to last where the team pretty much picked itself. The three at the back is leaving gaps in the traditional full back positions where we got caught out for the first goal against Chelsea. Moving to a back 4 leaves the defenders to defend then get the ball to the midfield to create something rather than relying on centre backs to create chances. Teams we play against at this level don't park the bus against us like they did in League One so Basham/Stevens/Robinson can stay where they are.

Based on current form/availability
4231 or 4411
-------------Ramsdale
Baldock Egan Jagielka Robinson
--------- Berge---Ampadu
Burke------McGoldrick -----Osborn
------------ McBurnie

I like the idea - but Expecting PL creativity from Osborn and Burke is the issue here.

Maybe you could play Burke and ask bogle to play further forward on the other side. But when look at the options our rivals and the likes of West Brom and Fulham have for creative players compared to ours.... None are naturally wingers or wide forwards or attacking midfielder and I cant see they have the ability to do what’s required to be honest.

For better or worse we have a squad of defenders, defensive midfielders and an abundance of strikers. There aren’t to parts in place to switch things up

 

[Foody]

Then play the four that remain as 'the' back four rather than trying people out of position or new guys just getting used to the team - is that really 'messing' with things?

I honestly think it is a massive change, yes. For a kick off the loses the one one unique thing we have, which has been key to our success. In addition that leaves a partnership of Egan and Basham, I genuinely can't remember bash playing well as part of a two. What makes him so good is how much he plays on the front foot; he's always closing down and looks to carry the ball out. All of which are great qualities in his current position, but leave you massively exposed when playing with 2 CBs. So that means he has to adapt his game completely to a role that just doesn't suit.

We've very much built a squad to play this formation, therefore we just don't have the options to move away from it.
My personal opinion is that we should play Ampadu LCB and give Osborn a chance at LWB with Norwood, Berge and Fleck in midfield. No idea who starts up front probably McBurnie and Brewster, but maybe that's harsh on McGoldrick. I do feel we need to use Burke more, but from the bench.

 

[Whitby-Blade]

Think it’s time for a change, our system is very dependent on a few key players. JOC quite possibly the most important, he’s the foundation our left side is built on, he brings the best out of Enda and to an extent Fleck.

I’d be looking to get some extra firepower at the top of the pitch, bring Moose in for Burke when fit and slowly bed in Brewster in off the bench.

 

[Come from away]

Unless there are more injuries I do not expect any change this INTL break.