Time for 4231?

[Bladezz]

We win and people want to change things.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

wilders original preferred formation

Blackman

Freeman steerman/wright O'Connell Stevens/lafferty

Fleck lundstrum/new player

Coutts Duffy brooks/carruthers

Sharp

This does 3 things for me,

1) gives more protection to the cbs
2) gives us more bodies in centre midfield
3) plays to our personnel strengths, more AMs where we are strong, less strikers where we are week.

As it seems our wing backs don't have the freedom to get forward as much against the better teams we may as well pull them back to full backs

Who do you think you are - Ted Rogers?

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

no i dislike 4231 because its far too defensive. it was the fashion for top teams to play that system the games were boring. the striker is always hugely isolated & it requires willing runners into the box which we've never been known for. & the chances will dry up

also last time we tried 4 at the back. southend sauntered through our defence scoring 3 goals in opening 15mins. causing a near angry riot in the ground

Yes it is more defensive, that's the point but I disagree about runners in the box and having 3 AMs would help on that matter.

Northampton got 99 points playing that formation under wilder

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

Who do you think you are - Ted Rogers?

Been done, keep up

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

Freeman is better defensively than people give him credit for, look at him today made same great challenges

No he isn't. He will obviously make some good challenges,only Coutts isn't allowed to tackle. I am a big fan of Freeman. Played in his correct position.
He is a square RWB in a square RWB position. I still wake with cold sweats remembering the acres of space he left opposition players when played as a FB and had gone off on a run upfield. Basham did the work of 2 players covering.
Square pegs square holes LRB. Always. Owt else is folly I tell thi. Folly and disaster!!!!!!

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

No he isn't. He will obviously make some good challenges,only Coutts isn't allowed to tackle. I am a big fan of Freeman. Played in his correct position.
He is a square RWB in a square RWB position. I still wake with cold sweats remembering the acres of space he left opposition players when played as a FB and had gone off on a run upfield. Basham did the work of 2 players covering.
Square pegs square holes LRB. Always. Owt else is folly I tell thi. Folly and disaster!!!!!!

Ok drop him then, there's no stopping the 4231 train

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

Ok drop him then, there's no stopping the 4231 train

You're going to derail our season!!!

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

You're going to derail our season!!!

Don't be a chuff

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Been done, keep up

Chuck me in dusty bin lol

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

Don't be a chuff

You'll run out of steam before I do!

 

[Ihadadream]

I would like to see us try 3-1-4-2 holding midfielder would allow Coutts ( who is by far our best player ) and Fleck to influence the game further forward, Brooke's seems to have a positive impact from the bench every time he comes on why rush his development when he is still learning and producing at the same time.

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

God help us,and especially the poor bastard on his own in front of the 3 when the opposition pour forward.

 

[blade67]

wilders original preferred formation

Blackman

Freeman steerman/wright O'Connell Stevens/lafferty

Fleck lundstrum/new player

Coutts Duffy brooks/carruthers

Sharp

This does 3 things for me,

1) gives more protection to the cbs
2) gives us more bodies in centre midfield
3) plays to our personnel strengths, more AMs where we are strong, less strikers where we are week.

As it seems our wing backs don't have the freedom to get forward as much against the better teams we may as well pull them back to full backs

Decent idea, especially away from home or against the stronger sides who I think will pick us off down the flanks with a back 3. Whilst this may be new to this squad of players, Wilder and Knill have lots of success with it at Northampton.

 

[Champagneblade]

I personally see the current 3-4-1-2 as being more inclusive to the players we have.

Defensively I don't see Basham or Wright best served in a back 4. Questions on Freeman too though he has played in a 4 under Clough and I haven't seen enough of Baldock to comment. I also think Sharp would be a passenger a lot of the time in 4-2-3-1. If he's not having a scoring day then he doesn't add much in the way of presence or pace. He's better with a partner. If he was ever injured then this would be an option.

I'd be looking at:

Blackman
Freeman Stearman O'Connell Stevens
Coutts Fleck
Brooks Duffy Lavery
Clarke

You could swap Carruthers for any of the three though I see those above as more of a goal threat.

Possibly Evans for Clarke though the latter performed better with his back to goal on Saturday.

This is what I'd go with if players all available.

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

Decent idea, especially away from home or against the stronger sides who I think will pick us off down the flanks with a back 3. Whilst this may be new to this squad of players, Wilder and Knill have lots of success with it at Northampton.

Exactly mate

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

I personally see the current 3-4-1-2 as being more inclusive to the players we have.

Defensively I don't see Basham or Wright best served in a back 4. Questions on Freeman too though he has played in a 4 under Clough and I haven't seen enough of Baldock to comment. I also think Sharp would be a passenger a lot of the time in 4-2-3-1. If he's not having a scoring day then he doesn't add much in the way of presence or pace. He's better with a partner. If he was ever injured then this would be an option.

I'd be looking at:

Blackman
Freeman Stearman O'Connell Stevens
Coutts Fleck
Brooks Duffy Lavery
Clarke

You could swap Carruthers for any of the three though I see those above as more of a goal threat.

Possibly Evans for Clarke though the latter performed better with his back to goal on Saturday.

This is what I'd go with if players all available.

For me it's the issue of protecting the defence and utilising our strength in attacking midfield

 

[Woodwardfan]

wilders original preferred formation

Blackman

Freeman steerman/wright O'Connell Stevens/lafferty

Fleck lundstrum/new player

Coutts Duffy brooks/carruthers

Sharp

This does 3 things for me,

1) gives more protection to the cbs
2) gives us more bodies in centre midfield
3) plays to our personnel strengths, more AMs where we are strong, less strikers where we are week.


At this stage I think Stearman looks like he needs to be in a 4. Anybody know any Wolves fans who would know? Lafferty could play left back in a 4.

Personally I have total confidence in Wright in a 3 even at this level. Basham is better with him there and i don't see Bash in a 4 either by the way.

Just perhaps, we might have been better served with 4-4-2 at the last two away games against clubs in the Top 4. Less ambitious until the later stages but that would dilute Wilder's mantra of attacking the opposition.

I hope we don't go and all out attack the other lot in September, they love that.

 

[Silent Blade]

I also think Sharp would be a passenger a lot of the time in 4-2-3-1. If he's not having a scoring day then he doesn't add much in the way of presence or pace. He's better with a partner..

Fully agree

 

[Ricky]

wilders original preferred formation

Blackman

Freeman steerman/wright O'Connell Stevens/lafferty

Fleck lundstrum/new player

Coutts Duffy brooks/carruthers

Sharp

This does 3 things for me,

1) gives more protection to the cbs
2) gives us more bodies in centre midfield
3) plays to our personnel strengths, more AMs where we are strong, less strikers where we are week.

As it seems our wing backs don't have the freedom to get forward as much against the better teams we may as well pull them back to full backs

Basham should be considered for selection if Wright is.
Coutts in an advanced midfield role is madness, he has to be part of the midfield base.
Sharp struggles on his own.

Our best 4-2-3-1 option for me is this:


GK

Baldock Basham O'Connell Stevens

Coutts Fleck

Brooks Duffy Carruthers

Evans


Not perfect but we'd be able to flood central midfield while having just about enough to adequately support the striker, mainly with Brooks. Quite flexible but no option for 3 at the back with the players on the pitch.


More of a 4-3-3 could suit us better if we sign an athletic ball winning midfielder (Leonard for example). It would release Brooks and one other to stay closer to the striker and also make us more solid in the middle. It could be our best way to set up away from home.


GK

Baldock Basham O'Connell Stevens

Coutts Leonard Fleck

Brooks Duffy

Evans


Or possibly a midfield diamond with Brooks up top next to a striker.

 

[Caseh]

Yes it is more defensive, that's the point but I disagree about runners in the box and having 3 AMs would help on that matter.

Northampton got 99 points playing that formation under wilder

We got 100 points playing this formation under Wilder.

Is 1.5 points per game not enough for our first season back in the Championship?

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

Basham should be considered for selection if Wright is.
Coutts in an advanced midfield role is madness, he has to be part of the midfield base.
Sharp struggles on his own.

Our best 4-2-3-1 option for me is this:


GK

Baldock Basham O'Connell Stevens

Coutts Fleck

Brooks Duffy Carruthers

Evans


Not perfect but we'd be able to flood central midfield while having just about enough to adequately support the striker, mainly with Brooks. Quite flexible but no option for 3 at the back with the players on the pitch.


More of a 4-3-3 could suit us better if we sign an athletic ball winning midfielder (Leonard for example). It would release Brooks and one other to stay closer to the striker and also make us more solid in the middle. It could be our best way to set up away from home.


GK

Baldock Basham O'Connell Stevens

Coutts Leonard Fleck

Brooks Duffy

Evans


Or possibly a midfield diamond with Brooks up top next to a striker.

Coutts played right midfield for derby successfully

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

We got 100 points playing this formation under Wilder.

Is 1.5 points per game not enough for our first season back in the Championship?

Of course it is, won't be playing Barnsley every week tho.

It'll be interesting to see how we cope with derby next week, who's manager specifically targeted Boltons 352 with great success.

 

[Ricky]

Coutts played right midfield for derby successfully

And he's played his best football for us centrally and that's where he's become a key player, forming the heart of our team with Fleck. Moving him anywhere else isn't an option Wilder will consider.

He played on the right of a 4 for Derby (when he was younger and quicker), but attacking right winger in a 4-2-3-1 would be a ridiculous position for him now.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

wilders original preferred formation

Blackman

Freeman steerman/wright O'Connell Stevens/lafferty

Fleck lundstrum/new player

Coutts Duffy brooks/carruthers

Sharp

This does 3 things for me,

1) gives more protection to the cbs
2) gives us more bodies in centre midfield
3) plays to our personnel strengths, more AMs where we are strong, less strikers where we are week.

As it seems our wing backs don't have the freedom to get forward as much against the better teams we may as well pull them back to full backs

Why not try 321 with Ted Rogers instead?

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

Why not try 321 with Ted Rogers instead?

Why not think of a joke that hasn't been done twice before?

 

[Cerberus Blade]

What is actually Baldocks injury ?

Must be summat really serious I reckon?

Bubonic plague?

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Why not think of a joke that hasn't been done twice before?

Didn't read the whole thread first so if it's on here then hey! Great minds think alike maybe?

It's a generation thing probably. Not the generation game though. That's Bruce Forsyth and it's been done more than twice already.

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

And he's played his best football for us centrally and that's where he's become a key player, forming the heart of our team with Fleck. Moving him anywhere else isn't an option Wilder will consider.

He played on the right of a 4 for Derby (when he was younger and quicker), but attacking right winger in a 4-2-3-1 would be a ridiculous position for him now.

Yeah good point about his age, would mean he doesn't have to track back as much tho.

I think Billy would be ok on his own up top as long as the 3 support him, which backs up your point on coutts' mobility.

 

[Ricky]

Yeah good point about his age, would mean he doesn't have to track back as much tho.

I think Billy would be ok on his own up top as long as the 3 support him, which backs up your point on coutts' mobility.

In games where we have most of the ball I think Billy might be able to cope, he would need the midfielders close to him though, which is partly why the 4-3-3 could be better than 4-2-3-1 for him - 2 committed AMs rather than 3 with defensive responsibility.