Next season squad and formation

[Sean Thornton]

G

I do think that a rewrite of formation and strategy is needed. 5-3-2 (as is at the moment, and not 3-5-2) is readable and beatable. The overloads in the wide areas are easily countered and lead to us being countered easily, or simply surrendering possession. As much as the arrival of Heckingbottom heralded change, it's not happened. Either he, or the players are simply dogs who know no new tricks. I don't think this is evident throughout the team, but certainly the midfield and backline seem welded to it like a favourite dummy.

If players are unable to change, then they need to go. Obviously, we are losing Berge, but with him should go Lundstram, Fleck and definitely Norwood. The three across the centre are our achilles heel and everyone knows it and gets goals through it. If they know it this season, they'll know it next, regardless of any assumed drop in quality of our opponents.

We need to change the numbers game and compete in midfield and the only way to do that is pack it with four players. With this, we have the option of:

3-4-3, (3-4-1-2, 3-4-2-1),
4-4-2, (4-4-1-1)
5-4-1

Either way, the extra man gives options, cover and above else, competitive bite to keep the play in the centre pf the park facing forward instead of everything going up one side, back to Egan/Ramsdale/Norwood and up the other side a-la 'Wilderball'. Yesterday was so much of that it was sickening. We were going nowhere because as soon as they stopped us, it went backwards. The front two are unfed and resorted to chasing opportunities, instead of capitalising off them and our midfield simply doesn't threaten.

So, moving ahead, the expected cull is gonna be brutal and effective. The survivors should be:

3-4-1-2

--------------------------------------------------------------Ramsdale*----------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------Basham--------------------------------Egan*------------------------------O'Connell*-------------------

-----Baldock*------------------------------Bogle-------------------------------Osborn---------------------------RND----------

----------------------------------------------------------McGoldrick------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------Brewster-------------------------------------------McBurnie---------------------------------

Note: Assuming * players stay. We also will have to quickly run the midfield die nut down all the central four if no effective replacements are inbound. But to me this is the most effective lineup in this system with 'no changes'

Given that rethreading players in short time may not have the effect need, we then need to revert to basics and play versions of 4-4-2. Boring, but solid provided we play steady football and don't get too ambitious against fast, counterattacking sides. From that, now with five in midfield:

4-3-2-1

---------------------------------------------------------------Ramsdale*-----------------------------------------------------

-----------Baldock------------------------Egan----------------------------------O'Connell-------------------RND---------

------------------------Bogle----------------------------(Basham/NEW)-------------------------Osborn-------------------

----------------------------------McGoldrick-----------------------------(NEW/L Freeman)---------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------McBurnie-----------------------------------------------------------

This gives us adequate cover if Bash sits and covers the back four whilst Bogle-Didsy-Freeman-Osborn work forward to feed McBurnie in a modified 4-1-4-1

Then if defending deep against pressure we revert to a 5-4-1 it's pretty fundamental but we must - must - retain that numbers game in the middle to win the battles and retain possession and get up the pitch. Currently we can't even do that. Creating gaps and weaknesses has to stop now. We need rid of the current trio - good luck to the lads and thanks, but it's time to move on and build.

pommpey

Central midfield looks almost as lightweight as having Norwood in it. “NEW” needs to be a strong holding player.

Still not sure while lots of people think RND would be one answer either. Don’t think he’s pulled up many trees at Stoke.

Budget notwithstanding

 

[Nah den]

I wouldn't exactly say it's terrible but having seen the championship on Quest most weeks it varies from having 5 or 6 decent teams to the rest being very inconsistent in the middle and really really poor at the bottom.

If we accept the challenge like Norwich and Watford and to a degree, Bournemouth, and don't feel fucking sorry for ourselves, revert back to 3412 and sign a couple of decent players we'll do pretty well.

For some of our fans that think we'll be poor - i'd say you haven't watched the championship this season. Teams give it away cheaply - and this echoes what CW always used to say "It's what you do in possession and also out of possession". If we can get a manager/coaches that will maintain the type of play we did v Everton and get back to a consistent 3 and GK in defence then we'll do very well.

By hook or by crook if we can start with Rammers, Bash, Egan and JOC (it's vital in my book), then there's no reason to fear the Championship next season.

Did any of you hear what Pickford said after Sundays game - he called it attitude - we need to maintain that in the last 2 games, pick it up again in pre-season (a proper one) then go again from the off (with Fleck STARTING from game 1, not game 4, 5 or 6 !!)

UTB

Admittedly I've not seen loads of it this year, a couple of Wendy games praying they'd lose (not the best marker for 'quality' I accept), a couple of others and some of tonight's play-off. Having watched all our games I just think the difference in pace, power, technique, tactics etc is huge. Obviously we've been poor in the majority of games, but only lost by a single goal in plenty. If we can add a few decent players we should have too much for most of that division.