Strike force for Ipswich

[Cerberus Blade]

Sharp.

And A N other.

Sharp as the shoe in as he is our best striker. Or have folks forgotten this after 2 weeks out ?

UTB

PS pathetically consigned to the bench by the I know better brigade. You not learned your lesson yet ?

Sharp is our most prolific goalscorer. That's not the same as being the best striker necessarily. He's been consigned to the bench by Wilder btw - not by anyone on here.

In my opinion the combination of Clarke and Brooks is the best strike partnership we have, because Clarke is better than Sharp in the air and more mobile, plus he can finish and Brooks has pace and trickery. A big factor in our win in the Sheffield derby was the way these two played together. Clarke won a lot in the air, plus he pulled the Wednesday central defenders all over the place and bullied them out of it. I'm sorry, but Sharp wouldn't have done that.

I'm looking forward to seeing Billy back in action, but I think he'll need to wait for the opportunity to come up, just like any other player has to, and I think that's right. There are those though who want to afford him God-like status and bring him straight back into the team - but fortunately Wilder's not one of them.

 

[stringjunior]

In summary, we're play the often overlooked 6-5-5 formation

 

[Dnblade]

Think we'll see Lundstram in for Coutts alongside Fleck...Clarke up top,and I think he could go with the twin number 10's again in Duffy and Brooks.
Hopefully Baldock will be fit...Stevens at LWB...then I'd stick with the same back 3 plus Jamal in goal...then plenty of options on the bench to change things if needed.

 

[Ben_1982]

Gotta be Clarke and Brooks for me. We have 2 partnerships imo, those 2 together Or Sharp & Donaldson

 

[trav164]

No room for sentiment in football- Clarke/Brooks been immense, start them.

Or could Brooks play the Coutts role ?

Definitely not

 

[itsinyerblood]

Sharp.

And A N other.

Sharp as the shoe in as he is our best striker. Or have folks forgotten this after 2 weeks out ?

UTB

PS pathetically consigned to the bench by the I know better brigade. You not learned your lesson yet ?

By emphasising the "I know best brigade", you mean Wilder? Isn't it he who makes that decision who plays and who is a substitute?

 

[GaryHamsonsLeftBootLace]

I have some insider knowledge of Ipswich. We can expect a high tempo game. They'll have two up top (4-4-2 or even 5-3-2). Plenty of long and high balls. Lots of overload down the flanks. They'll sit back and hit us on the break - defending this is something of a weakness for us some might say. If they manage to go one up they'll make Norwich look like they'd played with 10 men up top. They won't be parking the bus, they'll stick the Orwell Bridge across the front of their goal (on it's side of course, otherwise that'd be pretty pointless I'm sure you'd agree). Garner always seems to score against us.

This is my local derby as I live in Suffolk (thankfully not in the shit hole that is Ipswich). I want to win this one (almost) as much as I wanted to beat the pigs. My son played at their academy most of his childhood until they decided they only wanted to offer terms to attacking midfielders and strikers and they didn't apparently need talented young defenders. I'm not bitter (well, a bit!).

It's going to be a tough game and if we're not on top of our game they will score and kill the game. If we can find some space and move the ball quickly, on the ground, we'll absolutely muller them.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Sharp is our most prolific goalscorer. That's not the same as being the best striker necessarily. He's been consigned to the bench by Wilder btw - not by anyone on here.

In my opinion the combination of Clarke and Brooks is the best strike partnership we have, because Clarke is better than Sharp in the air and more mobile, plus he can finish and Brooks has pace and trickery. A big factor in our win in the Sheffield derby was the way these two played together. Clarke won a lot in the air, plus he pulled the Wednesday central defenders all over the place and bullied them out of it. I'm sorry, but Sharp wouldn't have done that.

I'm looking forward to seeing Billy back in action, but I think he'll need to wait for the opportunity to come up, just like any other player has to, and I think that's right. There are those though who want to afford him God-like status and bring him straight back into the team - but fortunately Wilder's not one of them.

Billy not been 100% fit and not been risked from the bench. Well documented.

We will see when back to full fitness what Wilder thinks. My guess is straight back in the side. And with good reason.

UTB

 

[DronnieBlade]

By emphasising the "I know best brigade", you mean Wilder? Isn't it he who makes that decision who plays and who is a substitute?

See #38.

UTB

 

[itsinyerblood]

See #38.

UTB

Trouble is, I replied to your post #19

 

[I should coco]

Sharp is our most prolific goalscorer. That's not the same as being the best striker necessarily.

Quite how you have said that 1 + 1 does not equal 2, I don't know.

Strikers are there to..... er.....'strike'. Surely our most prolific striker who scores the most goals, must by definition be the 'best'?

If not please explain what 'best' means and let me know who fills this position?

 

[DronnieBlade]

Quite how you have said that 1 + 1 does not equal 2, I don't know.

Strikers are there to..... er.....'strike'. Surely our most prolific striker who scores the most goals, must by definition be the 'best'?

If not please explain what 'best' means and let me know who fills this position?

Cerby. Allow me.

Scoring is the major function required of a modern striker. But not the only one. General hold up and link play should be high on the list. As should pressing from the front. A deft first touch, especially when tightly marked , is more than useful. Being able to put decent crosses in to dangerous areas and being able to spot through passes also important. There is more. Strong aerial presence being a particular fave of the S2 mob !

When you add up ALL of these attributes, Sharp comes out on top.

I checked this with FIFA 18

UTB.

 

[I should coco]

Scoring is the major function required of a modern striker. But not the only one

So Hanson is not ruled out then?

A deft first touch, especially when tightly marked , is more than useful.

Another tick for Hanson.

Being able to put decent crosses in to dangerous areas and being able to spot through passes also important.

Hanson again then.

Strong aerial presence being a particular fave of the S2 mob !

Yup, another feather in Hanson's cap.

Looks like you have just made a compelling case for your favouritest players then, DronnieBlade ?

 

[Norderner]

Leon with the Bounce Killer & Brooks just behind.

 

[DronnieBlade]

So Hanson is not ruled out then?



Another tick for Hanson.



Hanson again then.



Yup, another feather in Hanson's cap.

Looks like you have just made a compelling case for your favouritest players then, DronnieBlade ?

Oh dear.

No hope for some

UTB

Deft first touch

P.S Bottom for a reason !

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/fifa-...gs-revealed-ahead-of-game-s-release-1-8767001

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Clarke stays in the team for a start.

Then Brooks and Duffy both deserve to stay in. But if Sharp's fully fit it will be a difficult decision.

So for now I'd say Clarke and Brooks with Duffy behind.

Then the issue is who to play in defence, especially with Stearman back. I don't want to see Wright dropped. Or Basham.

If everyone is fit and raring to go I’d look to go


--------------------Blackman

-----------CCV-----Wright-----JOC

Freeman------------------------------Stevens

-------------Basham-------Fleck

-----------------------Duffy

--------------Clarke------Brooks

Subs:

Stearman

Baldock

Lafferty

Lundstram

Carruthers

Sharp

Donaldson


Just hope that one of Freeman/ Baldock is fit as we have a problem if not with Coutts already out too.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Sharp.

And A N other.

Sharp as the shoe in as he is our best striker. Or have folks forgotten this after 2 weeks out ?

UTB

PS pathetically consigned to the bench by the I know better brigade. You not learned your lesson yet ?

Whilst I agree he is our best striker, when you have a partnership in as good a form as the Brooks/Clarke combo, there’s a good argument for sticking with them. Some say Stearman is better than Wright, that Moore is better than Blackman but whilst the person with the shirt is doing well, I’m not an advocate of taking it off them. Sharp will no doubt get his chance to reclaim his place and I’m sure he’ll take it at some point but nobody should be guaranteed a place regardless of respective form.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Given we are at home, as a one off I wonder if we could have Fleck, Duffy and Brooks behind Billy and Leon. Wilder is alm about going for the win.

Alternative seems to be Bash in midfield then you lose either one of Duffy, Brooks or Sharp and it seems it would be handy to have all three on the pitch at home.

If Stearman is back that’s a handy addition.

Whilst I like the idea of having them all on the pitch, I think the central attacking areas would become too congested and that Fleck wouldn’t have enough help in the deeper midfield role. We saw a bit of that when Lunstram was behind Carruthers and Brooks in the cup and struggled massively.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Sharp is our most prolific goalscorer. That's not the same as being the best striker necessarily. He's been consigned to the bench by Wilder btw - not by anyone on here.

In my opinion the combination of Clarke and Brooks is the best strike partnership we have, because Clarke is better than Sharp in the air and more mobile, plus he can finish and Brooks has pace and trickery. A big factor in our win in the Sheffield derby was the way these two played together. Clarke won a lot in the air, plus he pulled the Wednesday central defenders all over the place and bullied them out of it. I'm sorry, but Sharp wouldn't have done that.

I'm looking forward to seeing Billy back in action, but I think he'll need to wait for the opportunity to come up, just like any other player has to, and I think that's right. There are those though who want to afford him God-like status and bring him straight back into the team - but fortunately Wilder's not one of them.

I see it like this. Clarke and Brooks works better when we are playing a 3 across the middle such as Bash, Coutts and Fleck (such as in the derby) because the gap from midfield to the front 2 is bigger than when we have Duffy in the linking up meaning the front 2 are in more danger of becoming isolated so having the ability to carry the ball, muscle defenders out of balls over the top etc. are more important.


If we are dominating midfield and penning teams in working the ball into the box time after time (usually via the combination of Duffy, Fleck, Coutts, the wingbacks and wide CBs), Sharp is ideal to profit from such play. Horses for course and all that.

 

[Pinchy]

Gotta be Clarke and Brooks for me. We have 2 partnerships imo, those 2 together Or Sharp & Donaldson

Donaldson has played one full game. He’s never been on the pitch at the same time as Leon. Might your assessment be a little premature?

 

[Dkc]

If everyone is fit and raring to go I’d look to go


--------------------Blackman

-----------CCV-----Wright-----JOC

Freeman------------------------------Stevens

-------------Basham-------Fleck

-----------------------Duffy

--------------Clarke------Brooks

Subs:

Stearman

Baldock

Lafferty

Lundstram

Carruthers

Sharp

Donaldson


Just hope that one of Freeman/ Baldock is fit as we have a problem if not with Coutts already out too.

No keeper on the bench?

 

[EddieColquhoun]

Mariner and Brazil.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

No keeper on the bench?

Oops. Found myself getting a bit Warnockesque there didn't I?

 

[GaryHamsonsLeftBootLace]

Donaldson has played one full game. He’s never been on the pitch at the same time as Leon.

Are you suggesting Donaldson IS Clarke and it's another scam crafted by the directors to make us think they're spending money on new players when in reality it's the same one we already had?

 

[blade too long]

remember a winger scoring 4 in a 7 goal win over Ipswich , wonder if Brooks can repeat it to start his goal scoring off

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Quite how you have said that 1 + 1 does not equal 2, I don't know.

Strikers are there to..... er.....'strike'. Surely our most prolific striker who scores the most goals, must by definition be the 'best'?

If not please explain what 'best' means and let me know who fills this position?

It's about their contribution to the team. It's not just about how many goals they score. All the best United teams I've seen have had two strikers up front who complement each other well. Quite often, two players who have different qualities. So, it's about picking the best combination imo, not the one who's scored the most goals. The combination of Clarke and Brooks is a really good one imo, because it gives us aerial power, strength and goal scoring ability with Clarke, plus the speed and trickery of Brooks. It works really well together. If you drop Clarke to make way for Sharp, you lose the aerial power at least, if you drop Brooks to make way for Sharp you lose the pace and trickery.

Sharp will get back in the team before long, no doubt. And that's not taking anything away from his fantastic scoring record. But I think, on current form at least, we are better off sticking with Clarke and Brooks for now.

 

[I should coco]

The combination of Clarke and Brooks is a really good one imo, because it gives us aerial power, strength and goal scoring ability with Clarke, plus the speed and trickery of Brooks.

Can you remind me again, what is the point of this wonderful partnership?

If the ultimate aim is scoring goals, I think you will find that a certain B Sharp Esq is quite good at that.

 

[Maidenhead]

We're leaking goals yet only three teams in the league have conceded less...

It's a good problem for Wilder to have with team selection at the moment. The fact that everyone is coming up with different variations shows how well he has done in building the squad.

Stop quoting quantifiable facts will ya?

It spoils the fantasists fun.

 

[Maidenhead]

Half of them will be injured in mysterious training ground circumstances,seen in A+E,on crutches during the next two weeks.

Better than been seen on crotches, that can keep em out for years

 

[Torrix1889]

So Baldock is out, Coutts suspended and Freeman possibly 50/50.....I would go with;

Blackman

CCV (RWB)
Bash
Wright/Stearman
JOC
Stevens (LWB)

Fleck
Lundstram
Duffy

Brooks
Clarke