Flagon Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 We are all more than aware of our extremely small squad and now have two tough games coming up against a potentially Premiership team in waiting followed by a Premiership on Tuesday and then onto a winnable game away to Leeds. Not saying the others aren't winnable but Leeds would obviously be seen as easier of the three. Earlier in the season Freeman got sent off forcing Bobby Reid into the fold and against all odds at the time we beat Boro away. Cotts himself stated that the players were shattered after the West Brom game, and this came off the back of the Charlton disappointment, Reading disappointment and mauling at Burnley. Surely we have to give up something these next two games and give someone an opportunity for a rest. We really aren't in much of a position to make wholesale changes and I think we only really have a couple of viable options to swap players in and out. These players have pretty much played week in week out for well over a season now given that there has been very little transfer activity and you really can't fault their efforts. There have only been a handful of games where we've really been done, alot of the others could genuinely have ended differently. I personally would look to start Reid for Freeman and Burns for Wilbs. If the paperwork is sorted I would also look to see how Garita could do at some point in those matches. The players must be pretty shattered giving everything for such little reward at the moment. With still no imminent signings, heaven forbid any injuries to our squad and in particular to players where we really seem to have no other viable options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lrrr Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 Expect Williams in for Bryan to try and cope with Albert, Williams being more defensively sound. Keep Wilbraham in to start with however expect Agard to come on again sometime earlyish in the second half like Tuesday, maybe the hour mark. Reid for Freeman would be the last change you could maybe expect, only thing I would say is the game seemed a lot more open with Reid on, he got forward more than Freeman, whether this is something we'd want against Boro would be the issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidered abroad Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 We need personnel changes without doubt but I consider that we must go to a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formation to make us more solid at the back. If we can stop conceding, we may have a slight chance of avoiding the drop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lrrr Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 3 minutes ago, cidered abroad said: We need personnel changes without doubt but I consider that we must go to a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formation to make us more solid at the back. If we can stop conceding, we may have a slight chance of avoiding the drop. Given we have a squad built to play used to 532 is it wise to swap system? Seems to me its the reason we've stuck to 532, yes we haven't been overly successful, however swapping systems would mean the whole squad having to get used to the new system mid season while matches are taking place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HLR Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 Don't see Cotterill making any changes for the Boro game, but if there is one it will be Del in for Bryan. Williams is more defensively minded. Reid should come in for Freeman, that is doubtful however. For the WBA game I'd freshen things up, as we all know we cant afford any more injuries, so it's the game to do it. Wagstaff, Williams, Reid, Agard, Burns and Garita would all get game time if it were up to me. Do fully expect same XI for both games nonetheless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin phantom Posted January 14, 2016 Admin Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 The bottom line is we have changed the formation once (Derby away) all season - this isn't going to happen now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Isewater Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 It's simple , we give the fringe players a day to remember on Tuesday and the others can get their heads down and get us out of the mess that we're in in the league . Winning the FA Cup can wait until next year and the change in personnel would really screw up Pulis plans . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 We need to forget about Tuesday it's a distraction really. If we had made changes at WBA got stuffed but beat Preston nobody would of moaned..... well some would of obviously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenkibby. Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 34 minutes ago, hodge said: Given we have a squad built to play used to 532 is it wise to swap system? Seems to me its the reason we've stuck to 532, yes we haven't been overly successful, however swapping systems would mean the whole squad having to get used to the new system mid season while matches are taking place. So is not possible for players to know how to play more than one formation? Some teams are able to change during games, no wonder we can't sign anyone if they must be playing in a 532 now,it might take them 4 weeks to get up to speed if the side they are in are playing 442!! How many sides in the country play this system ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shtanley Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 Reid in for Freeman, Burns in for Wilbraham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lrrr Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 3 hours ago, stephenkibby. said: So is not possible for players to know how to play more than one formation? Some teams are able to change during games, no wonder we can't sign anyone if they must be playing in a 532 now,it might take them 4 weeks to get up to speed if the side they are in are playing 442!! How many sides in the country play this system ? 532 was has been ingrained in the team for a long time now, given how dominant we were last season there was no need for us to play another system, they may have been using another one in training, but we wouldn't know that. However if they start learning a new system now, it takes time to learn it, meaning during that time results aren't likely to get better with no guarantee the new system will bring an improvement in results. Really last seasons success has hurt us in this regard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThOmO Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 7 minutes ago, hodge said: 532 was has been ingrained in the team for a long time now, given how dominant we were last season there was no need for us to play another system, they may have been using another one in training, but we wouldn't know that. However if they start learning a new system now, it takes time to learn it, meaning during that time results aren't likely to get better with no guarantee the new system will bring an improvement in results. Really last seasons success has hurt us in this regard. Don't buy this, it's not like they've never played a different system, be it here or previous. 4-2-3-1 would suit the personnel we have with options in every position plus harder to break down, simple system where you get one role and not dual roles like wing backs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lrrr Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 1 minute ago, ThOmO said: Don't buy this, it's not like they've never played a different system, be it here or previous. 4-2-3-1 would suit the personnel we have with options in every position plus harder to break down, simple system where you get one role and not dual roles like wing backs Previously in a back 4 Flint has been exposed, so if that happens again either you have Little playing at right back and being exposed or Ayling at RB with two left footed centre backs and Bryan at LB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThOmO Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 4 minutes ago, hodge said: Previously in a back 4 Flint has been exposed, so if that happens again either you have Little playing at right back and being exposed or Ayling at RB with two left footed centre backs and Bryan at LB. RB - Ayling/little CD - 2 of Flint, Baker, El Abd, Williams LB - Williams/ Bryan Adam el abd is a comfortable back 4 centre half with championship experience who we've never played as such Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lrrr Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 1 minute ago, ThOmO said: RB - Ayling/little CD - 2 of Flint, Baker, El Abd, Williams LB - Williams/ Bryan Adam el abd is a comfortable back 4 centre half with championship experience who we've never played as such Don't think Little can play in a back 4 personally he bombs forward too much and doesn't track back quick enough, gets found out in a back 5. Again last time Flint had a spell in a back 4 he didn't fare well. Same with Little really Bryan tries getting forward, potentially leaving us exposed in a back 4. So you'd need: Ayling ---- El Abd ---- Baker ---- Williams How much stick do you expect Cotterill would to take for leaving Flint out for El Abd? Really I'd have liked us to keep Moore, I would have had no qualms about Moore and Baker playing centre back together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Isewater Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 32 minutes ago, hodge said: 532 was has been ingrained in the team for a long time now, given how dominant we were last season there was no need for us to play another system, they may have been using another one in training, but we wouldn't know that. However if they start learning a new system now, it takes time to learn it, meaning during that time results aren't likely to get better with no guarantee the new system will bring an improvement in results. Really last seasons success has hurt us in this regard. Sorry but i am sure that they have all played different formations prior to coming here . Most players are more at home with 442 and should have No problem switching back ,No ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lrrr Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 1 minute ago, Major Isewater said: Sorry but i am sure that they have all played different formations prior to coming here . Most players are more at home with 442 and should have No problem switching back ,No ? They will have but its the difference is playing a different formation with a different teams tactics, build up play, tempo, role they're playing in the team, overlapping players etc it takes time to get used to what your team mates do around you, all the different pieces take time to gel, hence why new formations etc are generally pre season work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThOmO Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 That would be the choice Flint or al abd we haven't seen al abd in a back 4 no need for full backs to bomb forward quite so much as wingers in front of them as the two I'd go Pack ----- Smith and the 3 would be rw - burns/agard cam - Reid/freeman lw - Bryan/freeman With kodjia as striker as he's used to this role in a 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lrrr Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 We ship enough goals with a back 5, I would hardly expect that to get any better changing to a back 4, Pack and Smith would play similar roles to their current ones, so in reality you're moving players further up field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenkibby. Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 13 minutes ago, hodge said: Don't think Little can play in a back 4 personally he bombs forward too much and doesn't track back quick enough, gets found out in a back 5. Again last time Flint had a spell in a back 4 he didn't fare well. Same with Little really Bryan tries getting forward, potentially leaving us exposed in a back 4. So you'd need: Ayling ---- El Abd ---- Baker ---- Williams How much stick do you expect Cotterill would to take for leaving Flint out for El Abd? Really I'd have liked us to keep Moore, I would have had no qualms about Moore and Baker playing centre back together. So are you saying little cannot play full back? He's going to struggle then when the time to move on comes!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillies Downs Leeds Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 3 minutes ago, hodge said: We ship enough goals with a back 5, I would hardly expect that to get any better changing to a back 4, Pack and Smith would play similar roles to their current ones, so in reality you're moving players further up field. It is always a back 3 though as our wing backs are usually too far advanced especially later in a game when tiredness kicks in in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lrrr Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 1 minute ago, stephenkibby. said: So are you saying little cannot play full back? He's going to struggle then when the time to move on comes!!! Personal opinion is he makes a poor full back as I've said his inclination is to get forward, when he does he doesn't tend to track back quick enough. His personal strengths come in his attacking play. If we were to play 442 I would rather Little playing RM/RW then RB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lrrr Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 1 minute ago, Gillies Downs Leeds said: It is always a back 3 though as our wing backs are usually too far advanced especially later in a game when tiredness kicks in in my opinion. With Bryan and Little its more of a back 3, Williams and sticks back hence why he often plays more than Bryan, what I saw of Bennett he was able to get up and down the pitch better than Little does. Again last season we could get away with the attacking wing backs, this year we suffer with them not tracking back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 3 minutes ago, Gillies Downs Leeds said: It is always a back 3 though as our wing backs are usually too far advanced especially later in a game when tiredness kicks in in my opinion. Remember seeing Gary Neville talk about this and he said when one wing back goes forward the other has to make sure he stays back otherwise you will always be in trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThOmO Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 11 minutes ago, hodge said: We ship enough goals with a back 5, I would hardly expect that to get any better changing to a back 4, Pack and Smith would play similar roles to their current ones, so in reality you're moving players further up field. Disagree in this system it's a disciplined back 4 without the need to use fullbacks to bomb on, dragging centre halfs left and right, with the protection of 2 midfielders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big C Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 I think Freeman will struggle to make Saturday so there will be at least one change Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flagon Posted January 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 3 minutes ago, Big C said: I think Freeman will struggle to make Saturday so there will be at least one change Yeah I think he was meant to be a doubt against West Brom but was OK. Think that was one of main reasons Bobby got more game time Tuesday. Team getting smaller all the time. We are in such a crazy situation, you couldn't make it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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