The system (5 Viewers)

[fernandopartridge]

Just as we were last autumn at Deepdale, it feels like the time is coming to call time on the current formation and set up. It's (and you cannot ignore the end of last season regardless of a couple of changes of personnel) almost a half season worth of games where the form is relegation level.

Wright is heavily marked and we don't have anybody else with anything like that goal threat.

The question is, where should we go to next?

 

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[Evo1883]

Just as we were last autumn at Deepdale, it feels like the time is coming to call time on the current formation and set up. It's (and you cannot ignore the end of last season regardless of a couple of changes of personnel) almost a half season worth of games where the form is relegation level.

Wright is heavily marked and we don't have anybody else with anything like that goal threat.

The question is, where should we go to next?

You'd have to say the 4231 has seen us more inconsistent over the last 18 months .

What's the answer , Wingbacks again ?

 

[Nick]

I don't think robins knows.

Most games it's clear the striker is isolated and not getting anything and we just persist with it. He makes subs but it's just different players with the same issues.

Our right winger was far drifting in far too central. Regardless of who's playing there.

 

[lord_garrincha]

It just feels the opposition are always 2 decent passes away from a shot on goal.

You can't be easy to play through both the middle & the wings. Really disheartening.

 

[Nuskyblue]

Wingbacks again ?

I think so tbh.

 

[Evo1883]

I think so tbh.

I mean we have the players

 

[Cally Fedora]

I’d like to see Wright through the middle flanked by BTA and Bassette. Bassette and Wright could swap regularly. If you have BTA and Bassette in the 11 the opposition are in for a hard game and things will be created. Harsh on Simms but he’s looked disinterested.

 

[Evo1883]

But arguably our only forward threat (Wright) would be stifled

He's a striker , and a better one than simms

 

[Nuskyblue]

I mean we have the players

It's the only way to field our best ones I think.

We're light in the middle, stacked at the back and up top.

3-4-3 for me.

 

[Evo1883]

I just feel he’s far better out wide. Wouldn’t have a place for Sakamoto or EMC either.

Sakamoto can play wing back too

 

[stupot07]

I'm not sure wingbacks is the solution, Milan never really looked comfortable when he played there last season, and when fit Sakamoto is arguably our most creative player. Milan looks better when he has someone in front of him he can bounce off.

 

[Nick]

Robins just said sheff wed are a totally different team to Blackburn.

So what the fuck did we try the same thing as we did in the week and then persist when they weren't working?

 

[fernandopartridge]

I just feel he’s far better out wide. Wouldn’t have a place for Sakamoto or EMC either.

It's hardly an issue in relation to the latter.

 

[Cov98]

Whether going back to wing backs is the answer or not, I think it’s pretty clear that the 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 we’re persisting with isn’t working.

I honestly think we’d be better off going 2 up front.
3-4-1-2 I think would suit us.
Binks and Lati were bought to be in a back 3, we have MVE, Dasilva, Bidwell and Saka who can play as wing backs, Sheaf and Eccles as holding mids, Rudoni and Torp as attacking mids and a plethora of options for up front. Could even have EMC up as a second striker next to Wright, Simms or BTA. Bassette too.

 

[clint van damme]

I've said ir before but we're not formation tweaking our way out of this.
It needs hard work,commitment and bollocks,I'm not sure this squad has it in them.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Or the former other than a purple patch last season tbh

Indeed, that purple patch looks like a blip really. Even before the cup run got going you'd say our performances declined after the Leicester game in January.

 

[Nuskyblue]

I'm not sure wingbacks is the solution, Milan never really looked comfortable when he played there last season, and when fit Sakamoto is arguably our most creative player. Milan looks better when he has someone in front of him he can bounce off.

Whatever stops us leaking soft goals is the answer. Another CB on the pitch could arguably do that.

We genuinely probably have to score 3 to win a game the way we are playing ATM.

 

[Pusb1]

I think so tbh.

our entire summer recruitment was based on buying wingers this would be a disaster

 

[shmmeee]

With Bidwell and Saka out I think it’s got to be wingbacks really. EMC is garbage, BTA isn’t a winger and Rapha is clearly a dud.

Dovin
Thomas Lats Kitching
MvE Eccles Sheaf Rudoni Dasilva
Wright BTA

That’s the best I’ve got.

 

[Pusb1]

With Bidwell and Saka out I think it’s got to be wingbacks really. EMC is garbage, BTA isn’t a winger and Rapha is clearly a dud.

Dovin
Thomas Lats Kitching
MvE Eccles Sheaf Rudoni Dasilva
Wright BTA

That’s the best I’ve got.

god that’s depressing

 

[Nuskyblue]

our entire summer recruitment was based on buying wingers this would be a disaster

3-4-3 ensures that we can play those wingers.

Personally I think, if fit, Sakamoto has to start. I'd argue BTA too at CF purely for his energy and pressing.

 

[shmmeee]

our entire summer recruitment was based on buying wingers this would be a disaster

We signed one winger. And he’s shit.

 

[SBAndy]

It’s part of the reason I previously spoke about Callum Styles, and I think if we were to commit to it then maybe Rudoni could play the role as well. 433 on the ball, 442 off the ball.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

See last year we still were battling and having good performances like Bristol. This year I don’t think swapping the formation changes anything. Feels like swapping deck chairs on the titanic atm

 

[stay_up_skyblues]

I think it has to be wingbacks with the personnel. Something has to change and no new faces until January.

Dovin

DaSilva
Milan

Binks
Lati
Thomas

Eccles
Sheaf

Rudoni

BTA
Wright

Whilst I don’t particularly rate him Lati has to come in to provide some more defensive steel. Be that as a CB in a three or planted in front of the back four as an out and out DM. Fucking powderpuff in midfield and defence at the moment and I just cannot get on board with Liam Kitching. Never impressed and seems to be regressing.

 

[SeaSeeEffCee]

I don’t understand how he can watch the Swansea game, with BTA playing RW and narrowly as possible and it completely backfiring, and then doing the exact same thing again today only with EMC playing that role. Tactically Robins has been a complete mess this season, I really don’t know what he’s doing or even really trying to do. We only seem capable of playing well against opposition who set up in a certain way. Anyone who keeps it tight and presses it high is always going to get a result against us, especially as our passing is so unbelievably poor.

 

[shmmeee]

Think the only alternative is the Aston Villa and Man Utd, half 4-4-2 / half 4-3-2-1. Unsure who would be picked as the other 10 to Rudoni whilst Allen is injured though.

This in possession with Wright able to play on the wing (unlike this picture he’d be left not right)

View attachment 38767

This out of possession with basically no press:


View attachment 38768

Torp?

 

[clint van damme]

Torp?

Didn't bring him on today when we were crying out for fresh legs in the middle.
If he doesn't rate him, fuck him off.

 

[shmmeee]

Didn't bring him on today when we were crying out for fresh legs in the middle.
If he doesn't rate him, fuck him off.

Feels like before when Robins has had his back to the wall and puts an XI out and is reluctant to change it. Makes me think there’s players he doesn’t trust, Bassette, Torp, etc so he won’t use them.

 

[Nick]

Feels like before when Robins has had his back to the wall and puts an XI out and is reluctant to change it. Makes me think there’s players he doesn’t trust, Bassette, Torp, etc so he won’t use them.

He didn't trust Wilson and now look.

I just don't think he can make his mind up.

 

[CV22SBA]

I’d like to see Wright through the middle flanked by BTA and Bassette. Bassette and Wright could swap regularly. If you have BTA and Bassette in the 11 the opposition are in for a hard game and things will be created. Harsh on Simms but he’s looked disinterested.

You can’t play strikers as wingers and the wingers we have are not good enough.

 

[SAJ]

I’d like to see Wright through the middle flanked by BTA and Bassette. Bassette and Wright could swap regularly. If you have BTA and Bassette in the 11 the opposition are in for a hard game and things will be created. Harsh on Simms but he’s looked disinterested.

Simms looks disinterested. Wright looks the most disinterested of all our players. He’s turned up twice this season the rest of the time he’s been a fairly lazy passenger.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

With Bidwell and Saka out I think it’s got to be wingbacks really. EMC is garbage, BTA isn’t a winger and Rapha is clearly a dud.

Dovin
Thomas Lats Kitching
MvE Eccles Sheaf Rudoni Dasilva
Wright BTA

That’s the best I’ve got.

There’s not real change there. The players would be more or less stood in the same places.

It’s a personnel issue. The best teams in possession exposed our attacking sets, for example, WBA (A) literally just moved side to side to stifle us last season. Defensively, Thomas and Kitching have mistakes in them (like today) and we just concede more goals when we play Lati and Binks.

There’s a lot of young players in there and not enough experience around them. Is it a coincidence that defensively, the Thomas and Kitching partnership slowly deteriorated after McFadz left the club?

 

[shmmeee]

There’s not real change there. The players would be more or less stood in the same places.

It’s a personnel issue. The best teams in possession exposed our attacking sets, for example, WBA (A) literally just moved side to side to stifle us last season. Defensively, Thomas and Kitching have mistakes in them (like today) and we just concede more goals when we play Lati and Binks.

There’s a lot of young players in there and not enough experience around them. Is it a coincidence that defensively, the Thomas and Kitching partnership slowly deteriorated after McFadz left the club?

We’re desperately missing defensive experience and midfield dynamism. But that’s hardly news. Even today people talked about changing it but the bench was devoid of real options. Bassette wasn’t quite right, Simms either. Torp a bit meh. Rapha and Saka not being available has ruined the 4231 really. We don’t seem to get the best out of MvE Wright or Rudoni as our best players but no idea what would.

 

[hinckley cov]

Just as we were last autumn at Deepdale, it feels like the time is coming to call time on the current formation and set up. It's (and you cannot ignore the end of last season regardless of a couple of changes of personnel) almost a half season worth of games where the form is relegation level.

Wright is heavily marked and we don't have anybody else with anything like that goal threat.

The question is, where should we go to next?

Bassette could be the man he has more pace than wright but Robins won’t play him