Strike force

[RMBlade]

Why do we need to play wingers? We have an abundance of CM's Id like to see something like this

-------Basham-------
Hammond----Reed
-------Baxter---------
-Sharp----Sammon

With Harris and Freeman (Brayford when he is back) providing the width.

Basham - Sits infront of the back 4 never gets forward (except set pieces).
Reed - has the legs to get up and down the pitch and is slightly defensive minded
Hammond - not as mobile as Reed but is defensively minded so when Freeman/Brayford are bombing forward he can cover.
Baxter - Can just sit behind the strikers linking everything together.

All of these players are interchangeable with J Wallace, Coutts, Scougs able to come in.

I do think you need Scougs or Reed as one of the 2 CM's though because the rest are immobile.

The issue with 90% of our problems is midfield. Granted Sharp has missed sitters and the defence isn't going to set the world alight but if we can control the game from midfield I feel we will have a better chance of success.

 

[Bladesince59]

I think the bigger issue is the fact we're playing 4-4-2 with two central midfielders that can't run.

Precisely.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I think Adams best postion will be striker, playing off a target man. Same goes for Sharp and Done. The problem is none of them are cutting it without a target man alongside them. Of those 3 Adams seems most adept at also performing out wide.

I've been banging this drum for weeks now, but again I will say that whilst our defense is Priority 1, our attack is not as good as some of our fans seem to think, especially not with Adkins current system. At Walsall I'd love to see us go 4-4-2 with the following midfield/attack.

JCR J Wallace Baxter Adams
Sharp Sammon

Done and Flynn both able to come on off the bench if a winger or forward isn't doing the business.

I like this suggestion. My only concern is we might be a bit open and Walsall play decent passing football with a 5 in midfield and plenty of movement with Sawyers at the tip of it particularly dangerous behind Bradshaw. We’d concede plenty and it would be a case of trying to outscore the opposition. I would love to see that sort of approach to most games though it would be risky in this particularly tough game.

 

[longinthe toothblade]

For me, Sharp and Adams just does not work.


When Sharp was up top with Sammon, I think he went on a run scoring about 6 in 6. Since he’s been up top with Adams or on his own, he’s scored something like 1 in 9. Sure Adams has also scored 6 goals but Some of them were scored when cutting in from the wing.


If you look at our points tally with the differing strike partnerships, I think you’ll see a similar pattern with Sharp and Adams being up front for Gillingham, Millwall, Crewe, Southend etc.


For me, given our lack of wide options and lack of balance in the current strike pairing, it is imperative we go back to having JCR and Adams wide with Sharp and Sammon up front. If we have those 4 in those positions, there is less for the central midfield to do and they can play deeper to protect the back 4 (2 from Baxter, Basham, Hammond, Coutts and Reed would do).

Agree with the Sammon / Sharp combo. The latter definately works better running off a target man.

Adams is raw but exciting talent, however, he's still got an awful lot more to learn. Needs to show more industry for me and he also needs to work on his 'team work' and bringing others in to play.

Leave Basham in defence please where he's far better suited.