tick tock

[Ollessendro]

Based on what I think KB will go with, don't see why not

Simmo
Lowton, Nyron, Morgs, Taylor
Ward, Monty, Britton, Ertl, Yeates
Cressy

Subs: Kozzy, Ched, Boggy, Squinny, Aksulu

My concern is the back 4. If we play for a point, or to not conced and nick a goal, away at Cardiff and Boro I think we could come unstuck.

My team would be:

-------- SS

Ertl Nos Morgs Kozzy

Ward Monty Britton Yeates

------ Cressy Evans

We could give QPR, Boro and Cardiff a decent run for their with this team. Although there are not a lot of options in reserve.

 

[lenners]

Based on what I think KB will go with, don't see why not

Simmo
Lowton, Nyron, Morgs, Taylor
Ward, Monty, Britton, Ertl, Yeates
Cressy

Subs: Kozzy, Ched, Boggy, Squinny, Aksulu

You'd have to hope Lowton's up to it otherwise we look desperately weak down both flanks.

 

[LouTheBlade]

My concern is the back 4. If we play for a point, or to not conced and nick a goal, away at Cardiff and Boro I think we could come unstuck.

My team would be:

-------- SS

Ertl Nos Morgs Kozzy

Ward Monty Britton Yeates

------ Cressy Evans

Not a bad team Olle, but if you had seen the Estudiantes game you would think Ertl is wasted at right back. He played in midfield and looked very composed in there. He needs to play in the centre of the park for me - definately. He was one of our better players last sunday.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Not a bad team Olle, but if you had seen the Estudiantes game you would think Ertl is wasted at right back. He played in midfield and looked very composed in there. He needs to play in the centre of the park for me - definately. He was one of our better players last sunday.

I agree, and for me, we should play 4-4-2 with Ertl instead of Monty but we all know that isn't going to happen. The Stir is talking today about us adopting the formation that 'was very successful in the world cup', 2 holding midfielders with a midfielder ahead of them and a striker ahead of him which is why I went for the team above.

As Olly says, time will tell.

 

[Revolution]

The Stir is talking today about us adopting the formation that 'was very successful in the world cup', 2 holding midfielders with a midfielder ahead of them and a striker ahead of him

This formation would appear to be very successful in getting you 1-0 wins, provided you have a superb defence and excellent midifielders.

If we use it, it will simply be 4-5-1 under another name, I fear, and will lead to a string of winless away games.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

The Stir is talking today about us adopting the formation that 'was very successful in the world cup', 2 holding midfielders with a midfielder ahead of them and a striker ahead of him

This formation would appear to be very successful in getting you 1-0 wins, provided you have a superb defence and excellent midifielders.

If we use it, it will simply be 4-5-1 under another name, I fear, and will lead to a string of winless away games.

It served us well in our record breaking away run the season before

 

[Revolution]

It served us well in our record breaking away run the season before

I know. That's where the superb defence bit comes in, Fleety...

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

It served us well in our record breaking away run the season before

I know. That's where the superb defence bit comes in, Fleety...

True, but on the plus side, I also think having Britton and Ertl ahead of them is stronger than it was that season with Squinny and Howard.

 

[Railway Blade]

From having a quick look round it appears we have the second smallest squad in the championship at 20, but we have one of the highest wage bills allegedly. have the 3rd best attendances and we cant be that behind the door on sponsorships and off field spin offs, so why are we struggling so?

Are we paying our players too much, or are the other championship clubs living beyond there means and are about to get a rude awakening ?

Avg squad size 26
Largest QPR 32
Lowest Portsmouth 19
( taken from Sky Sports website)

 

[Scottyblade]

I don't think it's all that bad, we've recruited well and just require 2-3 more in the next month for a decent squad but we already have a decent side with options in choice areas. Much better off than last season I think - year ago we started the season with -
2 Ryan France
3 Gary Naysmith
4 Nick Montgomery
5 Chris Morgan
6 Matt Kilgallon
7 Darius Henderson
9 Ched Evans
10 Kyel Reid
11 David Cotterill
12 Lee Williamson
13 Ian Bennett
16 Andy Taylor
17 Lee Hendrie
18 Jamie Ward
20 Brian Howard
21 Leigh Bromby
22 Justin Haber
23 Mark Bunn
24 Billy Sharp
25 Glen Little
27 Keith Treacy
28 Stephen Quinn
34 Kyle Walker

3 of which were gone before August, 2-3 who rarely or never played and another 3-4 who were gone by January's end.
Far more settled this time around and i'm much happier with Yeates/Cresswells/Ertls and Brittons than Reids/Treacy's/Bromby's and Howards, personally.
Only people we miss from the above is Killa and Walker, we know what happen and they weren't sustainable and Id rather Nosworthy/Bartley than Killa/Bromby even if I prefer Killa to Nos, a pair of full-backs and we'll be looking good shouts.

 

[Ollessendro]

Not a bad team Olle, but if you had seen the Estudiantes game you would think Ertl is wasted at right back. He played in midfield and looked very composed in there. He needs to play in the centre of the park for me - definately. He was one of our better players last sunday.

I accept that Lou, but I have big issues with paying 4-5-1. I also have a mate who is a Palace fan and said Ertl is an excellent right back and a real battler. My concern is the defense and playing Morgs, Ertl and Nos gives you 3 decent defenders (out of 4). There cerainly seems a case for playing Ertl in the centre, but I'm concerned about our full back options.

I agree, and for me, we should play 4-4-2 with Ertl instead of Monty but we all know that isn't going to happen. The Stir is talking today about us adopting the formation that 'was very successful in the world cup', 2 holding midfielders with a midfielder ahead of them and a striker ahead of him which is why I went for the team above.

As Olly says, time will tell.

Maybe Jim has the sloution, but it seems unlikely Monty will be dropped.

I suppose the 4-5-1 could be turned into a 4-3-3 formation and we could play more attacking football. There's no reason (at least in theory) why we can't play 4-5-1 (4-3-3) and not play to win. I think that is the key. Playing to win. My fear is that KB will set up 4-5-1 and try to nullify Cradiff and nick a goal, they'll score early and then we have no pan B. It happened several times last year and KB never learnt from it. Our defence is not good enough to nullify them and try to nick a goal. We simply have to attack. If we try to attack, play to win and lose I'll not be (too) upset. If we play to draw and then get found out I'll be really pissed off.

 

[frechyblade]

Playing 4-5-1 is fine if we play football and don't try and get forward too quickly. If you give time for play to develop you can get the midfield into more attacking positions. Where we let ourselves down is by getting the ball forward too quickly. Even when we played 4-4-2 there is little chance of getting midfield support up front if it goes straight up front from defence.

UTB

 

[Ollessendro]

deja vu anyone?

 

[Highbury_Blade]

If you mean deja vu as in Olle resurrecting ancient threads then yes

 

[Ollessendro]

If you mean deja vu as in Olle resurrecting ancient threads then yes

so you do not see any parallels between this pre season and last then Highbury?

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Not really no.

Last year we had a manager that knew his squad, and knew what he needed to do (In his mind at any rate).

 

[Ollessendro]

Not really no.

Last year we had a manager that knew his squad, and knew what he needed to do (In his mind at any rate).

Do you think we will be prepared (for a promotion push) by the start of the season?

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I'm not expecting one next season (though i think the current squad are technically capable of it). Sorting out the style is the most important thing. If that leads to a promotion push then great. If not, then as long as it doesn't lead to a relegation dogfight, then it's no biggie. The season after for me is the most important one.

 

[Ollessendro]

I'm not expecting one next season (though i think the current squad are technically capable of it). Sorting out the style is the most important thing. If that leads to a promotion push then great. If not, then as long as it doesn't lead to a relegation dogfight, then it's no biggie. The season after for me is the most important one.

I agree. However, I think we need an overhaul to achieve that. But perhaps Wilson is looking to do it slowly. Slowly shift out the talentless failures and bring in a mix of youth and experience that can play football.

My worry Highbury is that the big earners will leave in the next few weeks and we will not replace them. Hence we will be left with a depleted squad and relying on loans again.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I don't think we'll be relying on loans too much next season, or maybe i'm just placing a bit too much faith in the dev squad/ academy to step up to the plate.

 

[Come from away]

Having the development squad gives a good bridge and means we are not reliant on the academy to fill the gap. I think Wilson is right in that with a few new arrivals we will be OK - how much better than OK depends on who comes in and how well the team can knit together; that's the fun of pre-season.

 

[SwissBlade]

I see no few parallels to last summer. We learnt from the season before and I thought the preparation in summer 2010 allowed us to get the players in and get straight into the preseason.

The summer before though has a great deal of parallels and it worries me

 

[gavtheblade]

i wish i had a pound for every read on this old timer.