David Weir to change Style

[Patrick Suffaux]

To add to bergs and sothall's suggestions, I would go for this if playing 442:-

Long
McMahon Maguire Collins ANYONE
Brandy McGinn Doyle Cuvelier
King Miller

Brandy and Cuvelier have the ability and pace to switch sides. Not sure where Baxter fits in that sort of shape.

 

[silverfox]

Good stuff Daz.

If I may, I've always been quietly impressed with your knowledge and footballing nous. It's just a shame other members of your forum footy team regulars, with the exceptions of Mouse, Iggle, The Pups and Small, are so lacking in comparison.

SF thinks the same, and so do Ballin and Large.

I'm not sure what i'm thinking or what you think i'm thinking?

But Daz, for his age, knows his football and his comments are always respected by me.

He's a bloody good player too!

 

[DazBlade88]

Good stuff Daz.

If I may, I've always been quietly impressed with your knowledge and footballing nous. It's just a shame other members of your forum footy team regulars, with the exceptions of Mouse, Iggle, The Pups and Small, are so lacking in comparison.

SF thinks the same, and so do Ballin and Large.

You're trying to recruit me for 163 already, aren't you?

Cuvelier has been terrible for us so far and doesn’t deserve a place (“Look, the king has no clothes”), he’d only be on my bench.

Cuvelier is the type of player that relies on movement in front of him to be effective, that's why Walsall fans raved about him. For one reason or another, our movement going forward is pathetic and it makes players like Cuvelier look poor because they have no options and end up having to play ridiculous balls to try and make something happen.

I've said it before on here but I think we need a physical presence in midfield in order for us to dominate more. When we do lose the ball we're not winning it back quick enough because we go in for tackles like we're a bunch of kids against grown men. Get someone in who can win that ball back quickly and that could make a big difference to us in both directions.

Both of these points are relevant whether we play 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 with the style we're trying to implement. We're trying to be a pass, move and press team without the moving or pressing!

 

[DazBlade88]

Who will head in the crosses from the wings?

Getting balls in the box would be a bonus at the minute, don't worry about the finishing yet!

 

[Silent Blade]

The plan is to supply through balls like the one from Hodges here:

It is easy to play that kind of pass when the opposition defences play high up the pitch not expecting their star midfielder to give away possession like that. This was in 1992 and most PL teams were expected to play more attacking football against us. In 2013, league 1 clubs know about our strengths and weaknesses and find it easy to stop us from scoring so they play deeper than Chelsea did (MK Dons were very very deep and very boring). We do not have much pace or height up front as Dave Weir keeps signing small players with flair but without character so with your suggestion of players and formation for this Sunday along with Doyle's weak leadership, I cannot see us winning

 

[silverfox]

You're trying to recruit me for 163 already, aren't you?




Cuvelier is the type of player that relies on movement in front of him to be effective, that's why Walsall fans raved about him. For one reason or another, our movement going forward is pathetic and it makes players like Cuvelier look poor because they have no options and end up having to play ridiculous balls to try and make something happen.

I've said it before on here but I think we need a physical presence in midfield in order for us to dominate more. When we do lose the ball we're not winning it back quick enough because we go in for tackles like we're a bunch of kids against grown men. Get someone in who can win that ball back quickly and that could make a big difference to us in both directions.

Both of these points are relevant whether we play 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 with the style we're trying to implement. We're trying to be a pass, move and press team without the moving or pressing!

You are talking far too much sense Daz!

ps....have you got the pace to join 163?

 

[Silent Blade]

Getting balls in the box would be a bonus at the minute, don't worry about the finishing yet!

It will have to be low crosses rather than high crosses as I cannot see Harry or Neill regularly running into the box apart from when we get a set piece. I remember an ageing Dave Watson partnering with Alan Stubbs for Everton against Liverpool's strikers Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler and said it was an easy match for him and Alan because they didnt play high up the field and knew that there wont be any high balls into the box. Everton won that game by 2-0

 

[Silent Blade]

Murphy

How many more chances does he need before we finally see his potential?

 

[God]

Anyone who went to the Crawley game will tell you that there wasn't even an attempt to play a particular brand of patient, passing football. Perhaps the same for Hartlepool but I didn't go, but we were aimlessly passing anywhere and everywhere, backwards, sidewards, long, anything to just get rid of the ball.

Confidence is absolutely rock bottom and DW thinks that an instant changeover to direct football will yield instant results. Sorry David, but the problems at United stem deeper then tactical inability. There are no leaders in the pitch (in fact, negative influences like Doyle and McMahon), you are making panic signings, you inspire no organisation or leadership of your players and the fitness levels are the worst I have ever seen.

He needs to go.

I went to the Crawley game and can honestly say it was, the first half at least, the WORST I have ever seen a United side play since I started going in 1974/5

 

[DazBlade88]

You are talking far too much sense Daz!

ps....have you got the pace to join 163?

You know me mate.

I think the trouble is that I do have the pace!

It will have to be low crosses rather than high crosses as I cannot see Harry or Neill regularly running into the box apart from when we get a set piece. I remember an ageing Dave Watson partnering with Alan Stubbs for Everton against Liverpool's strikers Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler and said it was an easy match for him and Alan because they didnt play high up the field and knew that there wont be any high balls into the box. Everton won that game by 2-0

I think it's all about variation. I'd hazard a guess that drilled low crosses get almost as many goals as those whipped in at head height, but it depends on the personnel. Taylor is a big bloke even though he doesn't play like one.

 

[Silent Blade]

I think it's all about variation. I'd hazard a guess that drilled low crosses get almost as many goals as those whipped in at head height, but it depends on the personnel. Taylor is a big bloke even though he doesn't play like one.

Agree it is about variation but this season our crossers often choose the wrong option. Taylor might be 6 foot 2 and I agree that he isnt a traditional centre forward. With King on International duty, i cannot think who is the best striker for Taylor to play off. I still cannot undderstand why we didnt call off this Sunday's match, it will backfire like it did for us when McEwan allowed Peter Withe (our player at the time) to play for Birmingham against us and score 2 goals

 

[Bergen Blade]

It is easy to play that kind of pass when the opposition defences play high up the pitch not expecting their star midfielder to give away possession like that. This was in 1992 and most PL teams were expected to play more attacking football against us. In 2013, league 1 clubs know about our strengths and weaknesses and find it easy to stop us from scoring so they play deeper than Chelsea did (MK Dons were very very deep and very boring). We do not have much pace or height up front as Dave Weir keeps signing small players with flair but without character so with your suggestion of players and formation for this Sunday along with Doyle's weak leadership, I cannot see us winning

To be honest Silent Blade, I'm not very confident myself! In any case I'm sure Weir won't pick that team, so we'll never find out.

Having said that, teams have defended deep and high up the pitch against us this season and we've generally struggled against both. A big problem for us is that when we attack we always have 11 men to beat. We very rarely win the ball in good positions. Neither are we good at picking up loose balls high up the pitch.

There are many reasons for this, but basically it means we're resigned to trying to score our goals the hard way, ie. when the opposition have plenty of players behind the ball.

I think a tight, compact 4-4-2 could make it easier for us to win the ball in good areas and launch quick attacks with the aim of playing through balls to Taylor and Brandy.

 

[alcoblade]

it will backfire like it did for us when McEwan allowed Peter Withe (our player at the time) to play for Birmingham against us and score 2 goals

I remember that well. It could only happen to us...

UTB

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Daz - Cuvelier has just been crap (there I've said it). I'm always suspicious of players who require the players around them to be playing in a certain way before they can perform. I predict that in six months time, Cuvelier will be talked off as dead wood who we desperately need to get shut off. I hope he proves me wrong.

Silent - I could say the same about Murphy but how many times has he played as a striker for us? I would say none and I think he deserves at least one game up front before we consign him to the scrap heap. Especially as the only other goal-getting options are Brandy and Ironside.

 

[BladeFisher]

Daz - Cuvelier has just been crap (there I've said it). I'm always suspicious of players who require the players around them to be playing in a certain way before they can perform. I predict that in six months time, Cuvelier will be talked off as dead wood who we desperately need to get shut off. I hope he proves me wrong.

Silent - I could say the same about Murphy but how many times has he played as a striker for us? I would say none and I think he deserves at least one game up front before we consign him to the scrap heap. Especially as the only other goal-getting options are Brandy and Ironside.

But didn't Murphy go through a positive spell including the goal at Dean Court and we all thought, oh the lad's going to be ok. Admittedly not a Brian Deane but perhaps he was finding his feet so to speak.

 

[Guesty]

The plan is to supply through balls like the one from Hodges here:



Forgot about Long also being called up though. Howard comes in obviously.

That's funny, Littlejohn's right foot appears to be on the end of his left leg!

 

[Sirius]

To add to bergs and sothall's suggestions, I would go for this if playing 442:-

Long
McMahon Maguire Collins ANYONE
Brandy McGinn Doyle Cuvelier
King Miller

Brandy and Cuvelier have the ability and pace to switch sides. Not sure where Baxter fits in that sort of shape.

ANYONE or SOMBODY Hope either or even SOMEONE ELSE turns it round. IMO The ideas are right. Please make it click.