Does the new formation change January targets? (9 Viewers)

[shmmeee]

If this is us formation wise now, do we still need just a CM and a CB and a RWB?

If we’re keeping this formation what do we need in Jan?

GK: Dovin/Wilson/Collins
CB (3): Thomas/Lats/Binks/Kiching
RWB: MvE/(Saka)/(Eccles)/(Lats)
LWB: Rudoni/Bidwell/Dasilva/(EMC)
DM (2): Sheaf/Eccles/(Torp)/(Rudoni)
AM: Torp/Saka/EMC/Allen
ST: Simms/Wright/BTA/Bassette

For me we need a couple of DMs now with Torp and Rudoni playing elsewhere. One experienced one Doug special who will take over from Sheaf next season.

And really need another CB, get an experienced head in there.

Aside from that, we look pretty stocked if a few players out of position (EMC/Saka). RWB we have a few who can fit in, especially if we have cover for Eccles at DM.

I imagine if anyone wants to take Collins, Bidwell or Allen off us we wouldn’t complain.

 

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[Viktor17]

Absolutely in midfield - need that dynamism, any injuries we are buggered. Sheaf will likely miss some games.

Your right ideally 2, one being the sheaf successor. Could get 2 if we moved Allen on perhaps?

Yes agree on that older head CB also.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Man the recruitment team must hate the Robins tactic shift .

So in my opinion I do think it doesn’t change targets only as:

Milan is our only natural RWB. While Eccles can play there he’s doing great in DM. As such this would be one target.

We have four Centrebacks for three roles. This is personal preference but feel an experienced CB to control the middle would be a target as feel we lack experience in our defence.

In DM since torp has been placed as a ten we only have three players. As such I would want to see one understudy for Sheaf (this could wait until the summer tho) and one experienced box to box CM.

I think all other roles are well covered and imagine Brad would be off to help make way for numbers

 

[Viktor17]

Man the recruitment team must hate the Robins tactic shift .

So in my opinion I do think it doesn’t change targets only as:

Milan is our only natural RWB. While Eccles can play there he’s doing great in DM. As such this would be one target.

We have four Centrebacks for three roles. This is personal preference but feel an experienced CB to control the middle would be a target as feel we lack experience in our defence.

In DM since torp has been placed as a ten we only have three players. As such I would want to see one understudy for Sheaf (this could wait until the summer tho) and one experienced box to box CM.

I think all other roles are well covered and imagine Brad would be off to help make way for numbers

Forgot RB cover, good shout. Also like sheaf, perhaps getting MVE replacement in early also may help. As would expect he will go in the summer also.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Centre midfield is still number one priority

 

[clint van damme]

Centre midfield is still number one priority

And whatever formation we play doesn't alter that

 

[shmmeee]

Phillip Billing only got 21 minutes so far. Would be ideal if there’s a deal to be done.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Phillip Billing only got 21 minutes so far. Would be ideal if there’s a deal to be done.

Can’t see Phillip only due to wages but what a signing that would be.

Can’t really think of anyone else of the top of my head

 

[PUSB-We_are_going_up]

We still need a CB and a CM regardless

 

[skybluecam]

Spends summer building a squad for 532

Plays 433

Spends summer building a squad for 433

Plays 532

I want to get off Mr Robins wild ride

 

[stupot07]

I think it's fine if everyone is fit. There's a difference filling job for the odd game but when you have to cover a 10+ game stretch 'filling in' out of position opposition work you out. We really missed Sakamoto last season, a few filled in, but non did so with the same quality. For example Lati at right wing back for an extended period would be a real concern. And that goes for a number of positions where on paper we look well stacked. Plus you're only an injury a two away from not having flexibility to cover.

 

[clint van damme]

Spends summer building a squad for 532

Plays 433

Spends summer building a squad for 433

Plays 532

I want to get off Mr Robins wild ride

Your embarrassing agenda couldn't be clearer.
Time to put up a other poll.

 

[skybluecam]

Your embarrassing agenda couldn't be clearer.
Time to put up a other poll.

It's a fact, is it not?

Don't have an agenda. I want us to succeed with MR. But not having to tear up our plans and start fresh every October would help us quite a lot.

 

[clint van damme]

It's a fact, is it not?

Don't have an agenda. I want us to succeed with MR. But not having to tear up our plans and start fresh every October would help us quite a lot.

You do have an agenda.
What you don't have is the bollocks to admit it.

 

[RobinsSkyBlues]

Spends summer building a squad for 532

Plays 433

Spends summer building a squad for 433

Plays 532

I want to get off Mr Robins wild ride

When and by whom did you get this information?

Sheaf being unavailable and then getting up to speed has been our biggest problem so far. He is one of the players the team is built around. His return to fitness has coincided with our turnaround. Do you know of the targets missed out on?

 

[skybluecam]

When and by whom did you get this information?

Sheaf being unavailable and then getting up to speed has been our biggest problem so far. He is one of the players the team is built around. His return to fitness has coincided with our turnaround. Do you know of the targets missed out on?

What information?

Summer 2023 we built a squad to play 532 (or however you want to characterise our 5 back), then spent most of the season playing 433. This summer we built a squad for 433 and are now finding form in a 532 again.

You do have an agenda.
What you don't have is the bollocks to admit it.

You're confusing an agenda with an opinion.

 

[RobinsSkyBlues]

It's a fact, is it not?

Don't have an agenda. I want us to succeed with MR. But not having to tear up our plans and start fresh every October would help us quite a lot.

Would you prefer a manager that keeps doing the same thing expecting results to suddenly change? Robins has to put the best side out with the players available and fit enough. Sometimes it means playing different systems. Just like when coming against a side with mainly big players. Football isn't about pick a side and play the same players all season.

 

[Cally Fedora]

We definitely still need a central midfielder. If Sheaf or Eccles aren’t available we have an issue.

 

[RobinsSkyBlues]

What information?

Summer 2023 we built a squad to play 532 (or however you want to characterise our 5 back), then spent most of the season playing 433. This summer we built a squad for 433 and are now finding form in a 532 again.


You're confusing an agenda with an opinion.

So how do you know what formation the players were brought in for?

Last season we had a new squad. The players had to learn the system Robins wanted. This was on top of fitness levels and ended up lack of confidence in a few.

You're welcome to your thoughts. But all they are is guesstimating. Yet you state them as fact. Try considering where we were when Robins came back. We've had Wembley visits, have won things, a penalty shootout from the Prem and last season was robbed of a place in the FA cup final for only the second time in our history. Yet from these few posts you sound like you want him gone.

Some people amaze me.

 

[clint van damme]

What information?

Summer 2023 we built a squad to play 532 (or however you want to characterise our 5 back), then spent most of the season playing 433. This summer we built a squad for 433 and are now finding form in a 532 again.


You're confusing an agenda with an opinion.

No I'm not. You've got an agenda.
No issue with it, just weird you haven't got the bollocks to admitit.

 

[ptr]

No because we still play with centre backs and centre mids, the areas that need strengthening.

One of each will do and we then have cover in every position. No way we make more than two signings anyway.

 

[skybluecam]

So how do you know what formation the players were brought in for?

It's blindingly obvious that last season we recruited for a 532 and this season a 433.

 

[David O'Day]

no, as people have said teh weakness is depth in CM

 

[clint van damme]

It's blindingly obvious that last season we recruited for a 532 and this season a 433.

 

[long way home]

We are obviously chasing another quality ball playing DCM and im sure we will eventually get someone in. This has not been a secret and something most know is needed no matter how we do until Jan window opens. I hope we are very clear eyed on targets and are making progress on some of these deals so we can get them over the line early. Or at least not be wasting time on those who have no desire to come to our club.

If we do only have to bring in 1 or 2 id be happy, that means certain players have found the consistency and are performing and helping get the team get the results needed. I like all the signings and have seen glimpses to make me believe they are good players, consistency is something i see lacking but winning will help that. And if that carries on we will see the best of Thomas Asante, Torp, Mason Clark and Rudoni which makes Robins life so much easier come Jan. I do think we need to lose some of the current squad but that may have to wait till next summer when certain contracts will of run out.

 

[SeaSeeEffCee]

We do now have a fair few wingers who are either going to have to be shoehorned into the side or won’t get much game time. Worked out ok on Saturday, but perhaps not the best game to judge it on given 10 men and Boro chasing the game.

I think there is a chance we end up back playing 4-3-3 by the end of the season anyway though.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

I think it's still largely the same.

Jan notorious for not getting great value, but I'd still say
- cover for MvE
- ball playing CM (preferably with experience)
- an experienced CB if available

 

[RobinsSkyBlues]

We do now have a fair few wingers who are either going to have to be shoehorned into the side or won’t get much game time. Worked out ok on Saturday, but perhaps not the best game to judge it on given 10 men and Boro chasing the game.

I think there is a chance we end up back playing 4-3-3 by the end of the season anyway though.

Wright isn't a winger. But last season he clicked when cutting in from the right. This season he is looking very good in the middle. Now the other players are being changed between WB's and wingers. EMC looked good running at the defence. Just like he did for his last club. Rudoni? Starting to look good anywhere on the left but not out of place in the middle either.

Of course it would be great to bring in reinforcements. Any other club would say the same. But other than Leeds I don't see much strength in depth. We've already had injury problems. Other clubs have got away with it with the constant international breaks. But winter is on its way. Fatigue will come into it.

The table will look different by the end of the year. I think we will be top 6 or very close by then. Consistency is affecting most clubs. I will be very happy just to see the defensive mistakes reduced.

And on another good point look at the amount of different players that have scored this season. Must be at least 10 so far. And there will be more.

 

[RobinsSkyBlues]

It's blindingly obvious that last season we recruited for a 532 and this season a 433.

Is it?

Where do the wingers fit into a 433? 1 on each side and 1 in the middle? Do we have WB's leaving just 2 CB's to defend? Or was MVE an oversight that Robins planned not to use this season?

Instead of just stating things as fact can you please explain your reasoning so we can understand your thoughts.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Is it?

Where do the wingers fit into a 433? 1 on each side and 1 in the middle? Do we have WB's leaving just 2 CB's to defend? Or was MVE an oversight that Robins planned not to use this season?

Instead of just stating things as fact can you please explain your reasoning so we can understand your thoughts.

I think to be fair, you can normally judge recruitment ideas based on the first couple of line ups.

Last we recruited 4 centrebacks to go with Faz, Tats was played as a Wingback and ten and Haji was played through the middle and was taught in November time to play on the left.

Think this was to build off the 5-3-2 we did brilliantly before but Robins has a amazing record at changing shape to get the best of the players, league one champions year comes to mind.

This window we recruited to enforce our depth at Right and Left wing which we didn’t use before. Signed a back up striker to replace godden. With this following Adi vinesh’s interview where he want on about a 4-4-2 and Saddle said we were going to set up in a 4-3-3.

I love the fact, Robins comes up with new plans and can get the best out of players in roles they haven’t played before, but there’s no denying we have changed shape and seemingly plans for players like Rudoni who was brought in to either be a 8 or 10.

 

[skybluecam]

Is it?

Where do the wingers fit into a 433? 1 on each side and 1 in the middle? Do we have WB's leaving just 2 CB's to defend? Or was MVE an oversight that Robins planned not to use this season?

Instead of just stating things as fact can you please explain your reasoning so we can understand your thoughts.

Where do the wingers fit into a 433… on the wings?

No we have full backs - MVE is perfectly capable of playing as a full back?

If we were planning to play 5 at the back this season we would have more than 4 centre backs in the squad, and wouldn’t have bought wingers.

 

[covcity4life]

Still just want a midfielder tbh

If rudoni can play wing back maybe we don't need to worry so much about a specialist right now

Lwb

Bidwell
Da Silva
Rudoni
Emc

Rwb

Mve
Lati
Eccles
Sakamoto

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Still just want a midfielder tbh

If rudoni can play wing back maybe we don't need to worry so much about a specialist right now

Lwb

Bidwell
Da Silva
Rudoni
Emc

Rwb

Mve
Lati
Eccles
Sakamoto

Only issue is, if MVE gets injured your then having to pull one of our CBs and then we have no back ups (unless Bidwell can play there) or one of our three DMs.

IMO, we need a RWB, CM as the top priority and then a CB if we can get one.

 

[Mr Panda]

I think ultimately he'll want to go 4 at the back, with 532 being put in place to just steady the ship and give the defence some reinforcement. We've got a couple of valuable players who don't fit the formation (Mainly EMC) which I'm sure will play into it.

Given the success of Wright down the middle in recent games - the goal and assist on Saturday were fantastic - If I was MR I'd be very excited about the prospect of slowly reintroducing EMC in his position on the left and keeping Wright up top. The big question mark being can he do it up there without BTA or Simms?

 

[shmmeee]

I’m not sure EMC has done anything to justify building the entire team around getting him on the pitch TBH.