I dont think we are much better defensively with 5 at the back, and the benefits we do see is outweighed by what we loose going forward. It has its games to start/switch to it, but I would prefer to see us go at team with 2 attacking wingers in the main
Match Thread Blackburn Rovers - Coventry City Match Thread - Tuesday 21st Jan (26 Viewers)
- Thread starter Nick
- Start date
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
I can't agree that we're not much better defensively with a 5. We look much better to me and have conceded 1 goal in 3.
Scoring goals hasn't really been an issue this season, I think on the day Robins got sacked we were something like joint 7th top scorers even though we were 17th in the league.
We've suddenly got people talking a out the play offs again, whychange what's put us in that position?
Especially when it seems Wright and EMC are still weeks away.
TomRad85
Well-Known Member
No sense changing it atm. With Wright and EMC back? Be tempting wouldn't it. Get them in and start giving out some absolute trouncings.
Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
We thoroughly deserved fo win last night is that what you meanWorks both ways though. Had Dovin not been MotM & kept us in it the last few games, had we not got a very fortunate last minute penalty v Cardiff etc etc. That's why you need to take a step back & analyse the bigger picture. As much as some people hate it, underlying data, trends & xG etc. are really valuable.
There's been some real positives the last few weeks & still some worrying things.
I saw somebody trotted out the old adage "the league table never lies" earlier. Never has there been a bigger lie!
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
You could equally just argue what if a keeper who concedes nearly every attempt on his goal hadn’t been picked in the first however many games.Works both ways though. Had Dovin not been MotM & kept us in it the last few games, had we not got a very fortunate last minute penalty v Cardiff etc etc. That's why you need to take a step back & analyse the bigger picture. As much as some people hate it, underlying data, trends & xG etc. are really valuable.
There's been some real positives the last few weeks & still some worrying things.
I saw somebody trotted out the old adage "the league table never lies" earlier. Never has there been a bigger lie!
Frostie
Well-Known Member
I was really pleased with the way we managed the 2nd half. We were undeniably poor in the 1st & really didn't deserve to be in front but once we were, despite a couple of (self inflicted) hairy moments, I never really doubted we'd win.
Again we have to temper it slightly with the state Blackburn are in currently, but there were some good signs there. We didn't just sit back & try to defend for our lives like we did against Norwich & there was some real fight, spirit & clever game management too. Pleasing to see.
Frostie
Well-Known Member
And now finally picking Simms/BTA who quite obviously offer miles more than Bassette.
People bash Lampard for the Collins thing but I can understand him wanting continuity there (to a point). The one I can't get my head around is the constant selection of Bassette up top by himself, he was a waste of a shirt in some of those games.
Captain Dart
Well-Known Member
FL knows who created the opportunity, that's what matters.
torchomatic
Well-Known Member
I don't think we were particularly poor first half. They were a lot better than us and had more of the ball. We seem to have cut down on the turnovers in the last few games. I don't think it's a coincidence that that has been while Sheaf and Eccles haven't been our two main midfielders, as they tend to give the ball away, a lot.
Most impressed by the 2nd goal last night Dovin bowls it out to kitching who takes it way past half way short pass to Torp who hits the killer ball in my view first time showing really good vision to pick out MVE giving him a lot of time to pick the cross, great low hard ball across goal by Rudoni and 2... Not one but 2 strikers in the 6 yard box 17 seconds from Dovin throwing the ball to it in the back of the net. That's the type of football you need to carve clear cut chances in this league.
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Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
Agree about kitch and torp
Rudoni control was great
CovValleyBoy
Well-Known Member
There was a Bobby Thomas special last night. From right back posn he plays a blinding crossfield pass to their oncoming attacker. Pissing myself after the danger had gone.
It's either confidence or he genuinely can't see very far.
Sakamoto then went full Bobby Thomas and "cleared" another crossfield pass directly to Blackburn player.
Great 3pts...looking forward to Saturday.
It's either confidence or he genuinely can't see very far.
Sakamoto then went full Bobby Thomas and "cleared" another crossfield pass directly to Blackburn player.
Great 3pts...looking forward to Saturday.
Boicey
Well-Known Member
We definitely played with more speed and aggression. Allen has been a real upgrade on Sheaf in that (who'd have thought?).
Allen and Torp really dug in and supported that back line.
We did look short at the back, Thomas for Lati earlier might have helped. Although Lati did help midfield well and got his foot in.
Bidwell did very well. In part just adding more steel, he won't be pushed around.
Allen and Torp really dug in and supported that back line.
We did look short at the back, Thomas for Lati earlier might have helped. Although Lati did help midfield well and got his foot in.
Bidwell did very well. In part just adding more steel, he won't be pushed around.
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We also played a back 5 at Norwich where we conceded 2. We played 4 at the back against Plymouth, Millwall & Cardiff and only conceded 1. The stats can support both points of view. If we would have beaten Millwall in a game we dominated we wouldn’t have been too far off the plays offs then.
Ultimately I don’t think the system really matters it’s the personal at the back where we are struggling and if that’s not going to be addressed this month I would rather play towards our strengths which is with wingers. Happy to stay with 5 until Haj & EMC are back fit but once they are I would prefer 433
Potbellypig
Well-Known Member
Another good 3 points, with some great individual performances. I'm interested in how it pans out when Wright and EMC are back, as we know they probably don't fit well into this formation.
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
Would say on the last bit, we can do both as in play with wingers and have a back three as we found out yesterday with the 5–4-1.
Wouldn’t mind us making that our go to.
First half an hour especially was terrible.
Couldn't get on the ball at all, had no control whatsoever and could easily have been a couple down.
We'd got into it a little five or so before the goal, and where good after it, but up to then, I was worried.
Agreed mate, Milan looked good further forward. Happy to play whatever system works whilst we have Sheaf, Haj & EMC out
Boicey
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't put Sheaf back in. Too slow and poor at tackling. Just drags our tempo down.
We are so much better playing quicker.
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
Hopefully sitting on the bench might get a fire under sheaf like it did with Dovin.
I would bring Sheaf back in for Torp once Sheaf is fully fit.But i agree he has too earn the right To then stay there.
torchomatic
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't. Why should he just *walk back into the team? We've done a lot better without him.
*limp in Sheaf's case.
Because a fully fit Sheaf is one of the best midfielders in the championship. I know his recent form doesn’t support that but he’s proven that over the last 2 seasons.
We also will look to sell him this summer and benching him will devalue him.
David O'Day
Well-Known Member
it was more a 3-4-3 when on the ball to be fair
torchomatic
Well-Known Member
Ah, the old "one of the best midfielders in the championship" line. He's not. His form his crap, he slows the game down, he gives the ball away constantly, is an awful leader on the pitch. We are a much better team without him as results have shown since he's been out. Regardless of your "devalue" take, he doesn't deserve to come straight back in once fit. especially not if the team continues the current form.
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
I thought so too to be fair. Would be the shape I’d start even when Wright and EMC are back.
David O'Day
Well-Known Member
not sure, then were does Rudoni and Saka fit
Gynnsthetonic
Well-Known Member
Can't believe they'd of gone 13 points above us if they'd won. It's cut back to 7 now, very catchable
TomRad85
Well-Known Member
He's also brought Kitching back in, a £4 million defender who was needlessly frozen out and looks to have improved our defence immediately.
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
Good problems to have, but up to you if you want Wright as a striker if so.
Your front three could be Sakamoto - Wright - EMC which would mean we would have depth for all three in form of BTA - Simms - Rudoni.
Other option is you play Rudoni in the centre of the pitch.
Old Warwickshire lad
Well-Known Member
When Sheaf comes back he has got to play the deep role,in the middle just in front of a back four.
He would be the first line of defence,I think this would plug the gap in the middle of the defence.
It would solve the conundrum between him and Eccles of who should be doing what. Might mean Josh loses his place though.
Unless of course Josh is performing like he was earlier in the season, and Ben is performing like he was. Then Ben will be on the bench.
He would be the first line of defence,I think this would plug the gap in the middle of the defence.
It would solve the conundrum between him and Eccles of who should be doing what. Might mean Josh loses his place though.
Unless of course Josh is performing like he was earlier in the season, and Ben is performing like he was. Then Ben will be on the bench.
He’s been crap most of the season but Rovers fans think it was because they were not playing to his strengths until recently.