"Fleck and Freeman can't play together"

[BladeTillIDie]

Because they're both left footed? Bit harsh tbh. Fleck is a guaranteed starter, so that means Freeman can't ever start a game? He has to start vs Norwich for me, such a gifted and skillfull footballer we have in Luke.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

Because they're both left footed? Bit harsh tbh. Fleck is a guaranteed starter, so that means Freeman can't ever start a game? He has to start vs Norwich for me, such a gifted and skillfull footballer we have in Luke.

Tough one. I don't know the answer.

 

[DronnieBlade]

2 players.

One spot in the 11.

Hard Cheese Freeze !!!

UTB

 

[Beans]

Don't think it's that they can't, just that they probably won't.

 

[elgoog44]

while Fleck is on his A game week in and week out, would be very hard to justify Luke's involvement in the starting 11, but he would not have stayed if he did not want to push for a start and while he keeps Fleck on his toes, we benefit from him pushing those performances out of Fleck.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Well the central player could be either left or right footed!
Would love to see him and fleck play together. Or alternatively Freeman given free roam to do whatever he wants, he just has an eye for a pass and a great cross on him.
Be sad if he left having hardly played when for me he could offer so very much!
Maybe when we switch to a more defensive holding midfielder in the middle bit he Fleck and Freeman would have free reign to get forward.
Could Berge be that player to sit deep and just be the cover Norwood can’t quite offer?

 

[Ricky]

I do wish Wilder could be a tad more flexible with the right/left sided balance thing.

 

[Paulus]

Freeman to play the 'Duffy' role? I would like to see us try it and the Norwich game seems a good opportunity to me. No matter how you might gloss it up we could do with scoring some more goals. Play Freeman as a roaming 10 with Fleck and Norwood behind him and with Billy and Ollie up top. If it isn't working we've got the subs to change it around.

 

[Akinbiyi]

I do wish Wilder could be a tad more flexible with the right/left sided balance thing.

I think we ought to try it out, see what he's like. Freeman is very agile and can move his feet and body quickly, he could play on the 'wrong' side in my opinion. In a 3 at least.

 

[Akinbiyi]

Freeman to play the 'Duffy' role? I would like to see us try it and the Norwich game seems a good opportunity to me. No matter how you might gloss it up we could do with scoring some more goals. Play Freeman as a roaming 10 with Fleck and Norwood behind him and with Billy and Ollie up top. If it isn't working we've got the subs to change it around.

That's the ideal position for him.

 

[DeanLearner'sCat]

I reckon Freeman in the Duffy role ahead of Fleck and Norwood/Berge would be magic, but I get why Wilder has gone to a flatter 3 and, as it's unquestionably worked at this level, I can't see him going back.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Because they're both left footed? Bit harsh tbh. Fleck is a guaranteed starter, so that means Freeman can't ever start a game? He has to start vs Norwich for me, such a gifted and skillfull footballer we have in Luke.

The lads got a great engine too. Everybody else was running on fumes when he created Billy’s goal.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

That's the ideal position for him.

We don't really play the Duffy role anymore, that's pretty much what was sacrificed to make us a bit more solid in the Prem. If that was in his plans then he could have tried it against Reading. That formation basically leaves Berge out as well which ain't gonna happen any time soon.

 

[8lade]

Also he's not as good as Duffy (at that role) and hasn't got a hard enough shot on him. Probably the best crosser of a ball from open play we have but we don't really play like that too often, perhaps it was an alternative had things not turned out as well as they have.

 

[Akinbiyi]

Also he's not as good as Duffy (at that role) and hasn't got a hard enough shot on him. Probably the best crosser of a ball from open play we have but we don't really play like that too often, perhaps it was an alternative had things not turned out as well as they have.

How do we know, we've never tried him in it

 

[guancheblade]

Also he's not as good as Duffy (at that role) and hasn't got a hard enough shot on him. Probably the best crosser of a ball from open play we have but we don't really play like that too often, perhaps it was an alternative had things not turned out as well as they have.

Errr so why did Wilder sign him then? You don't sign one of the best players in the Champ as a back up plan

 

[Torrix1889]

Could in a 4-4-2.....

 

[Rollerball]

With the midfielders we have we could play a 4-4-4-2 but I'm pretty sure the FA etc will frown upon that idea

 

[Ron_Justice]

Only way l can see it happening. Would allow some freedom / rotation for Billy's spot and McG could equally play that Freeman role.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

View attachment 73061

Only way l can see it happening. Would allow some freedom / rotation for Billy's spot and McG could equally play that Freeman role.

We did this for a very short time (7 mins) in the Arsenal home game when Freeman came on, and it coincided with our worst spell of the game – we struggled to keep the ball, were pegged right back, and clearing our lines didn’t really happen with Sharp isolated up front:

Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck
Freeman
Sharp

It was only when McBurnie came on for Norwood and we returned to two up front that we could get out of our own half. It’s not a go-er in my opinion as an option to start with.

Where we’ve been chasing games we’ve at times switched to 3 up front in some form with a not-quite-but-similar number 10 role – some home games, and I think the last time was away at Arsenal. Those are the sorts of situation where we could maybe have used him more in a Duffy-esque role, and might depending on situations in games. He sort of had that role when he came on at Bournemouth too back in August. But we won’t be changing the formation we start matches with anytime soon.

 

[Houston_Blade]

It would mess with my OCD, for that reason I’m with Wilder.

 

[8lade]

Errr so why did Wilder sign him then? You don't sign one of the best players in the Champ as a back up plan

Why did we sign Madine, Hogan and Washington on loan when none of them were better than what we already had? Back up for injuries and plan B. And best player in the championship, even if we put aside that debate he still wouldn't get ahead of Fleck or Norwood. Maybe Lundstram but he's wrong footed for that side, so yes he was signed up as a back up.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Probably won’t play together .. but I think Freeman could play the old Duffy role if we needed to change things around

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Why did we sign Madine, Hogan and Washington on loan when none of them were better than what we already had? Back up for injuries and plan B. And best player in the championship, even if we put aside that debate he still wouldn't get ahead of Fleck or Norwood. Maybe Lundstram but he's wrong footed for that side, so yes he was signed up as a back up.

Wilder has talked about getting in genuine competition for players for some time – last summer was the first opportunity we’ve really had to get that for Fleck, and I think this has probably helped this season to keep Fleck’s performances high and consistent. Had the midfield 3 formation gone wrong too (poor results, Lundstram not up to the standard of the league etc), then Freeman also would have offered an option to switch back to our old formation. It hasn’t, so we haven’t. I feel like I’m saying this a lot lately, but how Freeman’s been used this season isn’t really particularly surprising.

 

[8lade]

Wilder has talked about getting in genuine competition for players for some time

I think we agree on this Freeman is what we could afford, so not the first name on the team sheet but if we hadn't played so well or if we get injuries a competent deputy. I feel people are trying to shoe horn him into the side somewhere but at that point somebody has to unfairly concede their position.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Because they're both left footed? Bit harsh tbh. Fleck is a guaranteed starter, so that means Freeman can't ever start a game? He has to start vs Norwich for me, such a gifted and skillfull footballer we have in Luke.

Back off, I'm Luke's biggest fan.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

If we can be flexible on the right/left footer thing, there's no reason for me why Freeman can't play on the right of the three with Fleck and Norwood. Lunny is off form and Berge is still settling in.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I do wish Wilder could be a tad more flexible with the right/left sided balance thing.

Probably the best game Freeman’s had for us at Reading. Thought he did well. But we’ve got a thing going on down that left hand side with Fleck, Stevens, O’Connell. Them three are really in tune with each other. Pity we don’t have the same fluidity down the right. But it will come.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I think we agree on this Freeman is what we could afford, so not the first name on the team sheet but if we hadn't played so well or if we get injuries a competent deputy. I feel people are trying to shoe horn him into the side somewhere but at that point somebody has to unfairly concede their position.

It’s the sign of a good squad that we have plenty perceived to be ‘hard done by’ in terms of gametime. Besic is third choice for his position having done well. Osborn’s been excellent the last two games and will be back on the bench on Saturday. At various points of the season people have said whichever striker’s been not starting has deserved a start. This isn’t an issue of Freeman not starting, it’s the reality of now having good options in the squad.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

If we can be flexible on the right/left footer thing, there's no reason for me why Freeman can't play on the right of the three with Fleck and Norwood. Lunny is off form and Berge is still settling in.

Exactly it’s not like asking a full back to play on the wrong wing. The difference between the Fleck role and the Lundstram role is minimal. We might even benefit from Freeman being able to cut inside on his stronger foot.

It’s been the weakest position in the team for months and he deserves at least a chance to fill it.