I would like one of our local journalists....

[alcoblade]

The criticism of Heckingbottom is ludicrous.

But I do think there is a case to appoint the new manager PDQ. The current system is absolutely hardwired into the players, their confidence is being obliterated every match.

This season is a write off and for me we may as well make a start now implementing a new style of football and system. We’re going to lose every game anyway and I do think there’s going to be an inevitable and uncomfortable period of transition when the new manager comes in. I’d rather begin that now than be sat in the bottom 6 of the Championship 5-10 games in with the fans baying for blood.

I’m torn. I agree with what you’re saying, but when you look at the pathetic way so many fans overreact - I’m not so sure.

Obviously this season can’t be turned by anyone, or by changing anything - but you can be sure that they will be blaming any new manager, 5 games in.

 

[Rodley]

I’m torn. I agree with what you’re saying, but when you look at the pathetic way so many fans ocerreact - I’m not so sure.

Obviously this season can’t be turned by anyone, or by changing anything - but you can be sure that they will be blaming any new manager, 5 games in.

Yep, I’m torn myself. But when I weigh it up, to me a new manager has a free hit for the remainder of the season. No fans and no pressure. If we got say one win and one draw, perhaps a sign of some different patterns of play, I think that would be some form of progress. I wouldn’t usually argue for it, but I think the Covid situation and how abysmal we’ve been actually represents an unusual opportunity.

Covid permitting we could have crowds back in August. If we start badly I think the new man will be under instant pressure. And it’s a massive, massive job for anyone. A huge rebuild.

To use an awful corporate sounding phrase, you can usually turn adversity into opportunity. I’d get the ball rolling now, we can’t tank any harder!

 

[bakeblade]

Wilder has created the mess we are in - no doubt about that with many of his signings and destroying the confidence of the few decent players we have with his awful tactics and selections. However, the fact that PH continues to select players that are clearly not good enough and/or don’t give a toss (Lunny, McBurnie and Stevens being the worst 3) - and to play the same awful tactics - means that he is bound to get some criticism.

I’d hoped he would have seen enough of us this season to at least see some changes were needed - both in team selection and approach/tactics. Instead it feels like the Wilder of the last 12 months is still here.

Today, like the Leicester game and like the whole season, was a complete disgrace. Pathetic and embarrassing.

I’m assuming he is just a stop-gap. If we appoint him as permanent manager it will be the cheapest of cheap options and McCabe-esque in its lack of ambition.

I would by now expecting Tindall to have bit of an input. Surely he should be a fresh pair of eyes and can see the problems.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Yep, I’m torn myself. But when I weigh it up, to me a new manager has a free hit for the remainder of the season. No fans and no pressure. If we got say one win and one draw, perhaps a sign of some different patterns of play, I think that would be some form of progress. I wouldn’t usually argue for it, but I think the Covid situation and how abysmal we’ve been actually represents an unusual opportunity.

Covid permitting we could have crowds back in August. If we start badly I think the new man will be under instant pressure. And it’s a massive, massive job for anyone. A huge rebuild.

To use an awful corporate sounding phrase, you can usually turn adversity into opportunity. I’d get the ball rolling now, we can’t tank any harder!

He’s also going to inevitably want to have a look at the squad and make his mind up on players. Trouble is, come in now and you technically have a relegation on your CV. Overall though, I agree we need much more than one preseason to sort this shit out, so don’t waste time if there’s an opportunity to get someone in earlier.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Most of the players are very familiar with another system that we've used in previous seasons. Heckingbottom's Under-23s play a very similar system to that, so even if he's comitted to a back 3, there's scope for doing a lot more with that than just doing exactly what Wilder would have done.

Nobody is expecting him to reinvent the wheel for the few weeks that he's in charge, but at least get rid of the rusty nails stuck in it, get the puncture repair kit out and pump up the tyres for a few games. He looks as jaded and as disinterested as the mardy bugger he replaced and seems to have little interest in promoting youth despite that being his actual job.

It’s the narrative that, if we even suggest a new formation, the players will start smoking and short circuit. British footballers have 4-4-2 hardwired into them. To suggest we have no choice but to play 5-3-2 because we would need to practice another formation for months, is patently bollocks IMO. PH could have walked into the Leicester game 5 minutes before kick off said nothing but 4-4-2 and the starting line-up, and the players would have known instinctively how to run that formation.

 

[Bladesman]

...to ask some tough questions for a change.

- why is Lundstram in the side? It’s an insult to the supporters to see that level of effort week in week out

- given the abject failure of 3-5-2, why aren’t you trying something else?

They were scared of/indebted to Wilder. He’s gone. Ask the questions we want answering. From what I read on here everyone would like to know the answer re Lundstram in particular.

They don't ask proper questions and spin nothing stories into something.

What Simon Jordan said about local journalists wasn't far wrong the other day even if it did upset Alan "Partridge" Biggs.

 

[PageHallBlade]

maybe they should get the radio sheffield journo who wilder used to be arsey with ( cant remember his name) to ask the questions as the rest are pitiful

 

[Houston_Blade]

I can’t see a caretaker manager trying to implement a new system then a new manager coming in and having to change it again. He’s a continuity man until the new man comes in.

They need to get the new man in ASAP.

I actually want us to take our time and get the next appointment right.

The managers that are linked at the moment are mainly out of work, I don’t want someone who has been sacked somewhere else just so that we don’t have to pay compensation to another club.

I also don’t want someone who the board haven’t done their homework on and considered in detail.

If that means an extra few weeks and we get it right then so be it.

I don’t care If it’s a non-binary gender, Laotian Buddhist monk with 3 eyes if it’s the right person for the job.

We don’t need to panic and appoint any old available shite in post just to appease the fans.

 

[Kempy]

It’s the narrative that, if we even suggest a new formation, the players will start smoking and short circuit. British footballers have 4-4-2 hardwired into them. To suggest we have no choice but to play 5-3-2 because we would need to practice another formation for months, is patently bollocks IMO. PH could have walked into the Leicester game 5 minutes before kick off said nothing but 4-4-2 and the starting line-up, and the players would have known instinctively how to run that formation.

I’m not sure I follow why this would help. I get it, we want to see a change. It’s awful to watch, has been for months. We want change, something different. Something that’s not an embarrassing 90 mins to watch is what we’re all craving at a bare minimum.

But I don’t get why 442 fixes this. It seems naive the old ‘go back to basics 442’. We don’t have the players to play 442. What wingers do we have? Who plays in a 2 at the back? 38 year old jags and ampadu? That will get shredded. Who plays in midfield? Arguably our worst position on the pitch for me this season but if we can’t even get a sniff off possession and battle in the middle of the park with 3, then why would we with 2?

Is it not more simple here. We don’t have the players due to injury to bring the breath of fresh air and change we all crave? Some will differ in this opinion but I don’t think CW and PH are that stubborn that they wouldn’t change it to 442 if they thought it could work.

I don’t think throwing the youngsters into this to fill the gaps as a 442 helps them for their development. Something PH is well placed to judge.

So is the answer here.. and respectfully that we all need to grow up and get over it. Woeful season, woeful 12 months. We will go down with records. It’s not going to get better in the short term, we quite simply don’t have the players fit to contest week in week out at this level whichever system they play. That isn’t going to change before the end of the season even with players coming back. They will be no where near match fit.

No answers here, just potentially a bit of perspective. It’s all shit and we have to wait for the new guy.

 

[BushBlade]

I actually want us to take our time and get the next appointment right.

The managers that are linked at the moment are mainly out of work, I don’t want someone who has been sacked somewhere else just so that we don’t have to pay compensation to another club.

I also don’t want someone who the board haven’t done their homework on and considered in detail.

If that means an extra few weeks and we get it right then so be it.

I don’t care If it’s a non-binary gender, Laotian Buddhist monk with 3 eyes if it’s the right person for the job.

We don’t need to panic and appoint any old available shite in post just to appease the fans.

Couldn’t agree more. It seems like we’re just sick of being shit and want it to stop now so we’re clutching at straws a bit. A new manager won’t be able to change much, he’ll still have a squad of players with key players missing through injury, players hugely out of form and players who are disinterested, disillusioned and demotivated. If he doesn’t turn it around immediately he’ll be getting called a cunt faced weasel’s arse.
And it’s quite possible the new bloke has a job to finish somewhere else before he comes here. I don’t have a lot of respect for managers that leave unfinished business.
We have to take the short term pain now in the hope it will lead to a long term gain.

As for bringing the kids in, we’ll struggle to find a better u23s manager than Hecky, if he doesn’t think it’s the right time to play them, that they’re not ready, I’ll accept it because he knows more about it than I do, much, much more. He actually works with these kids, knows their character and their ability. It’s taken RND two seasons of loans to get from where these kids are now to being a likely first team player for us next season.

 

[Bladesman]

maybe they should get the radio sheffield journo who wilder used to be arsey with ( cant remember his name) to ask the questions as the rest are pitiful

Mike McCarthy, he was the one who questioned Wilder about Lunny a few seasons ago.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I’m not sure I follow why this would help. I get it, we want to see a change. It’s awful to watch, has been for months. We want change, something different. Something that’s not an embarrassing 90 mins to watch is what we’re all craving at a bare minimum.

But I don’t get why 442 fixes this. It seems naive the old ‘go back to basics 442’. We don’t have the players to play 442. What wingers do we have? Who plays in a 2 at the back? 38 year old jags and ampadu? That will get shredded. Who plays in midfield? Arguably our worst position on the pitch for me this season but if we can’t even get a sniff off possession and battle in the middle of the park with 3, then why would we with 2?

Is it not more simple here. We don’t have the players due to injury to bring the breath of fresh air and change we all crave? Some will differ in this opinion but I don’t think CW and PH are that stubborn that they wouldn’t change it to 442 if they thought it could work.

I don’t think throwing the youngsters into this to fill the gaps as a 442 helps them for their development. Something PH is well placed to judge.

So is the answer here.. and respectfully that we all need to grow up and get over it. Woeful season, woeful 12 months. We will go down with records. It’s not going to get better in the short term, we quite simply don’t have the players fit to contest week in week out at this level whichever system they play. That isn’t going to change before the end of the season even with players coming back. They will be no where near match fit.

No answers here, just potentially a bit of perspective. It’s all shit and we have to wait for the new guy.

Some good points there, but things are going to change anyway when the new manager comes in, so I don't think it can cause us many new problems if we try something else. Maybe it'll even be valuable for the players to try something different than the dysfunctional routine we're currently stuck in.

We could try something like this vs Arsenal:

- - - - Ramsdale - - - - - -
- Baldock Jags Egan Bryan - -
Bogle Brunt Ampadu Fleck Osborn
- - - - - - - - Burke - - - - - - - - -

Defending deeper, sacrificing a defender and a striker for two extra bodies in midfield, I'd try to frustrate Arsenal. The midfielders that are pretty comfortable on the ball and usually try to make something happen. An outlet striker up front, maybe we could slip a ball through to him, if Arsenal push players forward and the centre halves are isolated. I wouldn't really confident, but it would be nice to see us trying a different approach.

 

[Weasel]

Some good points there, but things are going to change anyway when the new manager comes in, so I don't think it can cause us many new problems if we try something else. Maybe it'll even be valuable for the players to try something different than the dysfunctional routine we're currently stuck in.

We could try something like this vs Arsenal:

• - - - - Ramsdale - - - - - -
• - Baldock Jags Egan Bryan - -

Bogle Brunt Ampadu Fleck Osborn
- - - - - - - - Burke - - - - - - - - -

Defending deeper, sacrificing a defender and a striker for two extra bodies in midfield, I'd try to frustrate Arsenal. The midfielders that are pretty comfortable on the ball and usually try to make something happen. An outlet striker up front, maybe we could slip a ball through to him, if Arsenal push players forward and the centre halves are isolated. I wouldn't really confident, but it would be nice to see us trying a different approach.

I'd be inclined to give that a go. Then again I think most of us just want to see something different and some of the main failures dropped (Lundstram quite literally hopefully).

 

[Bergen Blade]

I'd be inclined to give that a go. Then again I think most of us just want to see something different and some of the main failures dropped (Lundstram quite literally hopefully).

Maybe Leeds, with their intense pressing wasn't the right game to try a youngster, but in the long run we can't keep making up excuses not to give them some playing time when the current first teamers are also struggling.

 

[Weasel]

I think the supporters would be much more forgiving of mistakes made by the team of we had a couple of youngsters in the team and dropped ones who aren't going to be here next season.

I'd be inclined to go with your suggested team and put Brewster and Ndiaye on sometime in the second half of games to see if they can work as a pair.

Stevens and Norwood need dropping and Lundstram should be paid off and told to go away and stay away from the training ground. Don't want his attitude rubbing off on others

 

[Champagneblade]

If we are going to change formation, which we should have done some time ago, let's get round pegs in round holes. I say we should have changed simply because once JOC got crocked for the season, the effectiveness of the system was compromised. 80% of our play is out wide so losing the only guy who can make 40% of that work made no sense to persevere. Flogging a dead horse for months on end was so futile.

I don't have an issue with 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-2 at all and I don't subscribe to the idea that we were found out. We simply no longer had the players available to keep it effective and it was poor management to not recognize that. We were gradually replacing proven PL performers with League One/Championship level back ups. That's not being found out, there is simply a degree of quality you must maintain after which the tactics and formations become almost academic.

So round pegs, round holes...

Stevens and Baldock are fullbacks or wing backs not centre backs. Now Egan is back, let's play them there though I think there is every chance one of the right backs will be out through concussion. Let's assume Baldock came off worse. Also let's also acknowledge the fact Stevens is not a robot and a spent force for now. He's played too much football with too much running and not enough rest. For the benefit of his career take him out.

In midfield, picking Lundstram serves no benefit to anyone so there has to be a midfield that can accommodate being without him.

Burke is a winger. No matter how much Chris tried to fashion a striker out of him, it is another one of his pet projects which failed - see Morrison, Rodwell.

A compact 3, using Burke's pace as an outlet. Why not actually let the only winger we have with pace actually play as a winger?

For the more challenging games, e.g. Spurs away, up front I'd play McGoldrick to drop deep and help the midfield when we are out of possession and link play when we attack and you actually try to give Brewster a chance, who I'd start every match now.

Ramsdale
Bogle Egan Ampadu Lowe
Burke Norwood Fleck Osborn
McGoldrick
Brewster

I'd probably rotate Sharp with McGoldrick so Brewster has an experienced player beside him, guiding him so he can get something out of these games and acknowledging the fitness of 2 players well past 30.

I'd also look to give occasional minutes to Brunt and Gordon as appropriate and possibly as the game wears on see if N'Diaye and Mousset can build on their understanding in the U23s and maybe preserve a bit of Mousset's value or see if his renewed interest can bear some fruit.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

I’m not sure I follow why this would help. I get it, we want to see a change. It’s awful to watch, has been for months. We want change, something different. Something that’s not an embarrassing 90 mins to watch is what we’re all craving at a bare minimum.

But I don’t get why 442 fixes this. It seems naive the old ‘go back to basics 442’. We don’t have the players to play 442. What wingers do we have? Who plays in a 2 at the back? 38 year old jags and ampadu? That will get shredded. Who plays in midfield? Arguably our worst position on the pitch for me this season but if we can’t even get a sniff off possession and battle in the middle of the park with 3, then why would we with 2?

Is it not more simple here. We don’t have the players due to injury to bring the breath of fresh air and change we all crave? Some will differ in this opinion but I don’t think CW and PH are that stubborn that they wouldn’t change it to 442 if they thought it could work.

I don’t think throwing the youngsters into this to fill the gaps as a 442 helps them for their development. Something PH is well placed to judge.

So is the answer here.. and respectfully that we all need to grow up and get over it. Woeful season, woeful 12 months. We will go down with records. It’s not going to get better in the short term, we quite simply don’t have the players fit to contest week in week out at this level whichever system they play. That isn’t going to change before the end of the season even with players coming back. They will be no where near match fit.

No answers here, just potentially a bit of perspective. It’s all shit and we have to wait for the new guy.

I’m not sure I follow why this would help. I get it, we want to see a change. It’s awful to watch, has been for months. We want change, something different. Something that’s not an embarrassing 90 mins to watch is what we’re all craving at a bare minimum.

But I don’t get why 442 fixes this. It seems naive the old ‘go back to basics 442’. We don’t have the players to play 442. What wingers do we have? Who plays in a 2 at the back? 38 year old jags and ampadu? That will get shredded. Who plays in midfield? Arguably our worst position on the pitch for me this season but if we can’t even get a sniff off possession and battle in the middle of the park with 3, then why would we with 2?

Is it not more simple here. We don’t have the players due to injury to bring the breath of fresh air and change we all crave? Some will differ in this opinion but I don’t think CW and PH are that stubborn that they wouldn’t change it to 442 if they thought it could work.

I don’t think throwing the youngsters into this to fill the gaps as a 442 helps them for their development. Something PH is well placed to judge.

So is the answer here.. and respectfully that we all need to grow up and get over it. Woeful season, woeful 12 months. We will go down with records. It’s not going to get better in the short term, we quite simply don’t have the players fit to contest week in week out at this level whichever system they play. That isn’t going to change before the end of the season even with players coming back. They will be no where near match fit.

No answers here, just potentially a bit of perspective. It’s all shit and we have to wait for the new guy.

I wasn’t advocating 4-4-2 as much as I was saying that arguments citing a lack of practice for why we couldn’t change formation, aren’t valid

 

[Ginger Gnome]

Some good points there, but things are going to change anyway when the new manager comes in, so I don't think it can cause us many new problems if we try something else. Maybe it'll even be valuable for the players to try something different than the dysfunctional routine we're currently stuck in.

We could try something like this vs Arsenal:

• - - - Ramsdale - - - - - -
• Baldock Jags Egan Bryan - -

Bogle Brunt Ampadu Fleck Osborn
- - - - - - - - Burke - - - - - - - - -

Defending deeper, sacrificing a defender and a striker for two extra bodies in midfield, I'd try to frustrate Arsenal. The midfielders that are pretty comfortable on the ball and usually try to make something happen. An outlet striker up front, maybe we could slip a ball through to him, if Arsenal push players forward and the centre halves are isolated. I wouldn't really confident, but it would be nice to see us trying a different approach.

That looks like a flat back seven when Bogle, Osborn and Ampadu inevitably drop deeper, there's no hope of goals in that side.

 

[Kempy]

Some good points there, but things are going to change anyway when the new manager comes in, so I don't think it can cause us many new problems if we try something else. Maybe it'll even be valuable for the players to try something different than the dysfunctional routine we're currently stuck in.

We could try something like this vs Arsenal:

• - - - Ramsdale - - - - - -
• Baldock Jags Egan Bryan - -

Bogle Brunt Ampadu Fleck Osborn
- - - - - - - - Burke - - - - - - - - -

Defending deeper, sacrificing a defender and a striker for two extra bodies in midfield, I'd try to frustrate Arsenal. The midfielders that are pretty comfortable on the ball and usually try to make something happen. An outlet striker up front, maybe we could slip a ball through to him, if Arsenal push players forward and the centre halves are isolated. I wouldn't really confident, but it would be nice to see us trying a different approach.

It’s a very fair point Bergen and I get the why not change it rather than sticking with the same system which isn’t working. It could go either way really in terms of value. I question whether the reason we’re sticking with 352 /532 is because PH has been told to do so. Club set up in that model and coaches linked favour a similar system. - speculation of course but links with some of the Prince’s comments in his recent interview.

I have my doubts about the squad you suggest for Arsenal. I still think we fundamentally don’t have the wingers despite bogle showing strong traits to play rw/ rm. That left hand side gives me nightmares if I’m honest lining up in the prem both going forwards and defensively but that is not to disparage the effort and work rate of Bryan or Osborn. The quality just isn’t there for either of them at this level. I think we‘d get ripped apart on the left flank.

I think the pace of arsenal would wipe the floor with the cb pairing suggested - a key issue for any 2 we could play in a 4 at the back. Defending deeper may help with that but I’d suggest that’s what we have been doing all season but still making awful mistakes. I’m not sure we have any quality going forwards in that squad to get a good ball through for Burke to run onto (and to add that Burke’s composure in front of goal is non existent). No diddsy in that first 11 either? I’m not sure how we link anything across the pitch without him.

Every game at the moment seems to be sit deep, keep in it and try nick something but bemoan quality at the back and going forwards for a lack of quality chance creation. I’m not sure how we solve this with the players we have available to us or by a change of system. We also lack a lot of strength, experience and I’d suggest positional sense in midfield with that squad and i‘d suggest we’d be very weak at set pieces in both boxes.

A change as you suggest looks better than a 442 but I wonder how much of change that suggested 451 is from what we are doing now? - maybe that’s the point though which would be fair... something similar.

Having said that, I don‘t have answers for you to back up what I would do right now. Which defeats the point of me picking wholes where I could not suggest how to plug them myself.

 

[Kempy]

I wasn’t advocating 4-4-2 as much as I was saying that arguments citing a lack of practice for why we couldn’t change formation, aren’t valid

Thats fair mate! Your’s was just the most recent post on this thread I saw mentioning 442 which appears to be a trend so I just put my 2 pence down.

 

[Bergen Blade]

That looks like a flat back seven when Bogle, Osborn and Ampadu inevitably drop deeper, there's no hope of goals in that side.

The main objective would be to strengthen the midfield to make us more competitive and difficult to play against. I wouldn't expect us to score loads of goals against Arsenal whoever we pick.

 

[Bergen Blade]

It’s a very fair point Bergen and I get the why not change it rather than sticking with the same system which isn’t working. It could go either way really in terms of value. I question whether the reason we’re sticking with 352 /532 is because PH has been told to do so. Club set up in that model and coaches linked favour a similar system. - speculation of course but links with some of the Prince’s comments in his recent interview.

I have my doubts about the squad you suggest for Arsenal. I still think we fundamentally don’t have the wingers despite bogle showing strong traits to play rw/ rm. That left hand side gives me nightmares if I’m honest lining up in the prem both going forwards and defensively but that is not to disparage the effort and work rate of Bryan or Osborn. The quality just isn’t there for either of them at this level. I think we‘d get ripped apart on the left flank.

I think the pace of arsenal would wipe the floor with the cb pairing suggested - a key issue for any 2 we could play in a 4 at the back. Defending deeper may help with that but I’d suggest that’s what we have been doing all season but still making awful mistakes. I’m not sure we have any quality going forwards in that squad to get a good ball through for Burke to run onto (and to add that Burke’s composure in front of goal is non existent). No diddsy in that first 11 either? I’m not sure how we link anything across the pitch without him.

Every game at the moment seems to be sit deep, keep in it and try nick something but bemoan quality at the back and going forwards for a lack of quality chance creation. I’m not sure how we solve this with the players we have available to us or by a change of system. We also lack a lot of strength, experience and I’d suggest positional sense in midfield with that squad and i‘d suggest we’d be very weak at set pieces in both boxes.

A change as you suggest looks better than a 442 but I wonder how much of change that suggested 451 is from what we are doing now? - maybe that’s the point though which would be fair... something similar.

Having said that, I don‘t have answers for you to back up what I would do right now. Which defeats the point of me picking wholes where I could not suggest how to plug them myself.

With our dynamic 3-5-2 too often turning into a static 5-3-2 we are too weak in midfield and I think it would be worthwhile trying to strengthen the three unfortunate sods in midfield being ran through in game after game. This is key for me, we have too many players not really affecting play. Wing backs just hanging around at the back. Centre halves marking noone, waiting for runners to chase after. Strikers hardly touching the ball. Leading to: Midfielders chasing shadows.

So - let's try to move players into positions where they can affect the game more. A few tweaks, and who knows how it will affect dynamics.

With a back four and five players in front of them, it should in theory make us more difficult to get through. Less distance between the lines and between players, less time and space for their midfield.

We don't have many options, especially as I'd like to give Lundstram and Norwood a rest. Cut me some slack if you think the suggested teams lacks attacking flair. We've managed to score on two occasions in our last 7 matches. I don't expect miracles from the suggested line up either.



Defensively it should make us more able to cope. Most PL teams play with one central striker. Three centre halves to deal with this one player is a luxury, the way things have turned out. Sure, lack of pace may well be an issue. But it wasn't for Jags at Old Trafford. Him and Egan should be suited for defending deep. Hopefully they'll be switched on and read the game well, especially with more cover in front of them.

Osborn has good defensive attributes, not sure why you don't rate him in such a role (left midfield), protecting Bryan, whose best position may well be as an orthodox left back. I like Didzy, but I'd sacrifice his link play for more defensive solidity and a threat in behind.

 

[Kempy]

With our dynamic 3-5-2 too often turning into a static 5-3-2 we are too weak in midfield and I think it would be worthwhile trying to strengthen the three unfortunate sods in midfield being ran through in game after game. This is key for me, we have too many players not really affecting play. Wing backs just hanging around at the back. Centre halves marking noone, waiting for runners to chase after. Strikers hardly touching the ball. Leading to: Midfielders chasing shadows.

So - let's try to move players into positions where they can affect the game more. A few tweaks, and who knows how it will affect dynamics.

With a back four and five players in front of them, it should in theory make us more difficult to get through. Less distance between the lines and between players, less time and space for their midfield.

We don't have many options, especially as I'd like to give Lundstram and Norwood a rest. Cut me some slack if you think the suggested teams lacks attacking flair. We've managed to score on two occasions in our last 7 matches. I don't expect miracles from the suggested line up either.

View attachment 109859

Defensively it should make us more able to cope. Most PL teams play with one central striker. Three centre halves to deal with this one player is a luxury, the way things have turned out. Sure, lack of pace may well be an issue. But it wasn't for Jags at Old Trafford. Him and Egan should be suited for defending deep. Hopefully they'll be switched on and read the game well, especially with more cover in front of them.

Osborn has good defensive attributes, not sure why you don't rate him in such a role (left midfield), protecting Bryan, whose best position may well be as an orthodox left back. I like Didzy, but I'd sacrifice his link play for more defensive solidity and a threat in behind.

Brilliant post Bergen. I really enjoy reading your analysis - you have a real knack for it mate.

I agree with all of that, the first para especially is a brilliant summary.

I really hope you’re right on the tweaks and the Man Utd game is a fantastic example of us actually putting into action something similar.

Midfield a huge problem (the main problem for me) and yeah 100% will cut you some slack on that. I don’t think we can expect much flowing attacking movement or momentum.

On Osborn, I do rate him. Love his energy, work rate and what he brings (not to mention a good left foot on him as well) but I don’t believe he has enough at this level. I think his physicality let’s him down both defensively and going forwards. We’re in dire need of the enda of the past few years. He looks a different player.

Not sure on Bryan. Some good performances after gaining some confidence from scoring. Probably done enough to earn a contract next year but I still hold high doubts on whether he has enough at this or the level down. Switches off far to easily. Having said that, no one has for me nailed down any position on our left hand side all season.

I’d still suggest keeping Didzy. Potentially instead of the youngster. I’d argue he gives us more assured work rate and more potential to actually get a half decent ball in behind. - a false 9 or CAM rather than out and out striker.

 

[Numpty's Dusty Ruts.]

Couldn’t agree more. It seems like we’re just sick of being shit and want it to stop now so we’re clutching at straws a bit. A new manager won’t be able to change much, he’ll still have a squad of players with key players missing through injury, players hugely out of form and players who are disinterested, disillusioned and demotivated. If he doesn’t turn it around immediately he’ll be getting called a cunt faced weasel’s arse.
And it’s quite possible the new bloke has a job to finish somewhere else before he comes here. I don’t have a lot of respect for managers that leave unfinished business.
We have to take the short term pain now in the hope it will lead to a long term gain.

As for bringing the kids in, we’ll struggle to find a better u23s manager than Hecky, if he doesn’t think it’s the right time to play them, that they’re not ready, I’ll accept it because he knows more about it than I do, much, much more. He actually works with these kids, knows their character and their ability. It’s taken RND two seasons of loans to get from where these kids are now to being a likely first team player for us next season.

Good comment about managers leaving unfinished business BB!!

 

[Webding]

We could try something like this vs Arsenal:

• - - - Ramsdale - - - - - -
• Baldock Jags Egan Bryan - -

Bogle Brunt Ampadu Fleck Osborn
- - - - - - - - Burke - - - - - - - - -

Defending deeper, sacrificing a defender and a striker for two extra bodies in midfield, I'd try to frustrate Arsenal. The midfielders that are pretty comfortable on the ball and usually try to make something happen. An outlet striker up front, maybe we could slip a ball through to him, if Arsenal push players forward and the centre halves are isolated. I wouldn't really confident, but it would be nice to see us trying a different approach.

It might be nice to see a different approach, but it would be horrible to see that team.

I don’t really see the point in trying to grind out results at this stage. Some hard fought draws aren’t going to get us anywhere, and if the current management team aren’t in the frame for a permanent role, there’s barely any point in them trying their ideas or proving themselves.

So by my logic, there’s no point in trying anything until we get next season’s manager in (unless he’s in already?) The one tiny gain we could get is in starting players who are going to be here next season and/or need to show they’re worthy of a new contract. Or just by giving some of the kids a go.

 

[Revolution]

Lundstram still putting in the same half arsed effort and still getting game time.

Heckingbottom is almost as big a liability as Lundstram is. It beggars belief that this loser is on our managerial shortlist.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Lundstram still putting in the same half arsed effort and still getting game time.

Heckingbottom is almost as big a liability as Lundstram is. It beggars belief that this loser is on our managerial shortlist.

It would be interesting to hear if he's been advised to keep the current system and not make too many changes for his spell as caretaker.

The Wilder-inspired formation and style and our foolish belief that somehow it will start working again seem to be holding us back, in my opinion.

This season, and not one real attempt at trying a different approach? Surprising.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Lundstram still putting in the same half arsed effort and still getting game time.

Heckingbottom is almost as big a liability as Lundstram is. It beggars belief that this loser is on our managerial shortlist.

Do you genuinely think he’s been put on a shortlist? What do you think it is, a torn off a piece of A4 held in the safe?
They’ve got it down to a few managers they want, if they wanted him he’d have the job, so I think it’s pretty clear where he is in their thinking.
However he is also a well performing employee, who’s stepped when needed/asked. You think they should publicly dismiss him when they’re likely to want him to go back to his previous role?

 

[robbiez666]

It would be interesting to hear if he's been advised to keep the current system and not make too many changes for his spell as caretaker.

The Wilder-inspired formation and style and our foolish belief that somehow it will start working again seem to be holding us back, in my opinion.

This season, and not one real attempt at trying a different approach? Surprising.

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Do we have the players to play a back four though? We've conceded the second highest amount of goals with 5 at the back. Basham can't play in a back two and I doubt Bryan can. Baldock and Stevens are our main threats to create something and they'd be stuck back defending. We don't have one midfielders who could shield the defence.

I honestly think think we're playing this formation because we haven't got players to do anything else. It's easy to forget that every team at every level have been trained in one formation/system for 4 years.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Do we have the players to play a back four though? We've conceded the second highest amount of goals with 5 at the back. Basham can't play in a back two and I doubt Bryan can. Baldock and Stevens are our main threats to create something and they'd be stuck back defending. We don't have one midfielders who could shield the defence.

I honestly think think we're playing this formation because we haven't got players to do anything else. It's easy to forget that every team at every level have been trained in one formation/system for 4 years.

I think we are a long way from being able to play the current system. We are doing things the hard way, offensively and defensively. Opposition teams are running straight through our midfield - it is too weak and we are lacking the numbers to be competitive. Although the squad is not ideal for it there are combinations that could be tried. I don't subscribe to the idea that the creativity from Baldock and Stevens would be a huge miss if played at full back, rather than wing back. Is it two assists between them so far?