Preferred Team and System (15 Viewers)

[SkyBlueMatt]

I think with Sheaf and Grimes in the middle, we will be guaranteed of at least 90% possession.

If Sheaf is fit, he starts. Though it's moot as I don't see him signing a new contract, so he'll be off in the summer.

 

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[BinleyMegaSkyBlue]

That should have us winning games as there are 12 outfield players

Might have been a shit joke, but it's definitely a shit joke if you have to explain it i thought my comment made it clear I was joking!

 

[mmttww]

Whatever gets the best out of our best players i.e. Wright, Rudoni, MVE and Dovin and gets consistent results. I'm expecting it'll be 4-3-3 with 3 x CBs for tough games or to see games out.

 

[stupot07]

Unless you play Wright as lone striker, you can't play EMC and Wright in the same team if you play 433. Neither can play on the right.

 

[JoeCCFCPUSB]

Once we've got a fully fit squad and assuming no players depart. Is this Lampard's likely preferred 11?

Dovin
MVE
Thomas
Kitching
Bidwell
Grimes
Rudoni
Torp
Sakamoto
Simms
Wright

Dovin
Bobby Joel Kitch
MVE Bidwell wing backs
Torp Grimes
Rudoni
EMC and Wright

 

[shmmeee]

Unless you play Wright as lone striker, you can't play EMC and Wright in the same team if you play 433. Neither can play on the right.

That’s where he played in Turkey (middle of a front 3).

 

[Skybluedownunder]

Once we've got a fully fit squad and assuming no players depart. Is this Lampard's likely preferred 11?

Dovin
MVE
Thomas
Kitching
Bidwell
Grimes
Rudoni
Torp
Sakamoto
Simms
Wright

Can’t personally see how Sheaf doesn’t make our starting 11. We can’t ignore that he has been a good player for us over the years and still is a good player.
I’d take Sheaf over Torp if I had to drop one player from that team


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[JSL]

Once we've got a fully fit squad and assuming no players depart. Is this Lampard's likely preferred 11?

Dovin
MVE
Thomas
Kitching
Bidwell
Grimes
Rudoni
Torp
Sakamoto
Simms
Wright

Spot on in my opinion

 

[Gibbo]

5-3-2 it's working for heaven's sake and we don't any combination of four defenders good enough to keep clean sheets

Dovin
MVE - Lati - Thomas - Kitching - Bidders
Rudoni - Grimes - Torp
Wright - EMC

 

[blunted]

Historically, Lamps prefers a back four.
Can Grimes change the dynamic that left a back four exposed this season and led to the concede two goals a game outcome? Some goals came through the centre, but many originated from the wings. It's not all down to JDS's height.
I maintain our current full back choices leave a back four exposed. MVE gets caught up field too often. Bidders or JDS get insufficient cover from our attack minded left wingers.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

5-3-2 it's working for heaven's sake and we don't any combination of four defenders good enough to keep clean sheets

Dovin
MVE - Lati - Thomas - Kitching - Bidders
Rudoni - Grimes - Torp
Wright - EMC

We conceded a lot of goals playing 5-3-2 this season, the formation isn’t the ‘magic wand’ in our turnaround.

At full strength, our squad is most suited to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. We’ve got a good mix of wingers to come on.

The defence could be a concern, Thomas and Kitch had a 10-12 game stretch where we barely conceded a goal playing 4-2-3-1. That pair haven’t become bad defenders over night and with the right tactical tweaks, I’d back them to reform a solid defensive partnership.

A player like Grimes in the team will help out Thomas immeasurably.

 

[CBS16]

Dovin in goal 5 at the back. Pick whoever you like in front of it and I'm confident. Can make a case for all of them, no favourites just pick on merit and what works in the system. 5 subs means they'll all get minutes and can rotate between wingers or 2 strikers.
I really do understand the temptation to go 433, it gets all the best players on, but that means absolutely nothing if we go back to conceding 2 a game, a very nasty habit we had playing with the 4.
Solid back line with quality to nick a game in the midfield and forwards. That's what got us closest to the premier league in the donkeys years we've been out, got to stick with it in my opinion

 

[SleepyGinger]

When everyone is fit and firing

Dovin
MVE Thomas Kitching Bidwell
Sheaf Grimes
EMC Rudoni Wright
Simms

 

[robbiekeane]

honestly don’t see how ahead and grimes are in the same midfield together without sacrificing Torp or Rudonis attacking play

great to have strong options but on form i think it’s grimes rudoni torp for me

 

[Winny the Bish]

A fully fit Sheaf - which I don't think he's been at any point this season so far - is a Top 5 CM in the league.

It's crazy how many people would happily bench him. He has statistically been our best player this season.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

honestly don’t see how ahead and grimes are in the same midfield together without sacrificing Torp or Rudonis attacking play

great to have strong options but on form i think it’s grimes rudoni torp for me

With Grimes signing it's upsetting the Sheaf Defence Force quite badly. They're being even more illogical than ever.

In many people's eyes he plays even if he had one leg, a walking stick, and an eye-patch to go with it. They'd happily hinder the team just to shoe horn him in at any cost.

As historic records for the last three seasons show, we do better without him in the team, and that's showing itself again now. As you say, we've got Torp and Rudoni who are on fire, and even Jamie Allen who's doing very well. Grimes is an upgrade on Sheaf, and a proper captain as well.

Sure, if we're holding onto a lead, or need to amend tactics then that's different, but it's a no brainer who's on that starting teamsheet.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

A fully fit Sheaf - which I don't think he's been at any point this season so far - is a Top 5 CM in the league.

It's crazy how many people would happily bench him. He has statistically been our best player this season.

View attachment 41136

As I've been saying, he's not playing much worse than previous seasons, people are just noticing his limitations only now.

Football is not played on data websites only, and they skew his ability favourably. It isn't real. If you want to look at something more meaningful than short pass completion rates, look at our form and results with him in and out of the team for the last 3 seasons. It's quite damning and even though there's certainly other variables, the pool size is big enough with all his injuries to notice some serious patterns.

'It's crazy how many people would happily bench him.' - You see, this is why people are so deranged when it comes to him. We're playing so much better without him again, and some just cannot see what's right in front of their eyes. Also digging their claws further into denial now we've signed an improvement. I wouldn't be surprised to see some backlash against Grimes after a few games by the same people.

 

[Winny the Bish]

As I've been saying, he's not playing much worse than previous seasons, people are just noticing his limitations only now.

Football is not played on data websites only, and they skew his ability favourably. It isn't real. If you want to look at something more meaningful than short pass completion rates, look at our form and results with him in and out of the team for the last 3 seasons. It's quite damning and even though there's certainly other variables, the pool size is big enough with all his injuries to notice some serious patterns.

'It's crazy how many people would happily bench him.' - You see, this is why people are so deranged when it comes to him. We're playing so much better without him again, and some just cannot see what's right in front of their eyes. Also digging their claws further into denial now we've signed an improvement. I wouldn't be surprised to see some backlash against Grimes after a few games by the same people.

I just think it's bizarre to believe Allen coming in for Sheaf has been the making of us and the reason for those wins

 

[robbiekeane]

As historic records for the last three seasons show, we do better without him in the team, and that's showing itself again now. As you say, we've got Torp and Rudoni who are on fire, and even Jamie Allen who's doing very well. Grimes is an upgrade on Sheaf, and a proper captain as well.

The leadership/captain thing is massive. Sheaf’s not a leader, and honestly seems to shy away from the ball when things aren’t going well and loses concentration

Excited to see what Grimes is like in this team

 

[Batu1969]

Dovin
Thomas Lati Binks
MVE Bidders
Grimes Sheaf Torp
Sakamoto Wright
Simms

OR

Dovin
MVE Thomas Kitchin Bidders
Grimes Sheaf Rudoni
Sakamoto EMC
Bassette
BTA

 

[jas365]

There's no way i'd be dropping Torp atm, he's playing out of his skin

 

[skybluelee]

Dovin
Thomas Lati Binks
MVE Bidders
Grimes Sheaf Torp
Sakamoto Wright
Simms

OR

Dovin
MVE Thomas Kitchin Bidders
Grimes Sheaf Rudoni
Sakamoto EMC
Bassette
BTA

You've got 12 there, mate.

 

[Batu1969]

You've got 12 there, mate.

Dovin
Thomas Lati Binks
MVE Bidders
Grimes / Sheaf Torp
Sakamoto Wright
Simms

OR

Dovin
MVE Thomas Kitchin Bidders
Grimes / Sheaf Rudoni
Sakamoto EMC
Bassette
BTA

Thank for the catch.

 

[Skyblue_CP]

A fully fit Sheaf - which I don't think he's been at any point this season so far - is a Top 5 CM in the league.

It's crazy how many people would happily bench him. He has statistically been our best player this season.

View attachment 41136

Crazy how quick people throw one of the best midfielders in the league and our best player out, for a player who don’t get me wrong I think will be good but hasn’t even officially signed yet, let alone pulled on a sky blue shirt.

 

[Nick]

Whichever wins us games

 

[ovduk78]

Until Sheaf, EMC & Wright are back I wonder if FL will go 442 with Grimes, Allen, Torp & Rudoni in midfield and Simms/BTA up front. This of course could be scuppered if BTA leaves so he could go 433/451 with Sakamoto instead of BTA.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Until Sheaf, EMC & Wright are back I wonder if FL will go 442 with Grimes, Allen, Torp & Rudoni in midfield and Simms/BTA up front. This of course could be scuppered if BTA leaves so he could go 433/451 with Sakamoto instead of BTA.

What is this obsession with 442.

 

[ovduk78]

What is this obsession with 442.

It isn't an obsession with 442 and they won't play that way either, it could be 41212 or 4222 or 4132, I just thought it was easier to type 442 to show 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2 strikers!!

 

[Chicken Mcgraw]

Dovin
MVE Lati Kitching Bidwell
Sheaf Allen Rudoni
Sakamoto Simms Wright

 

[SkyBluePower]

In terms of squad depth that’s phenomenal really.
Our only real risk continues to be not having a RB to cover MVE with decent Championship experience
Assuming Wilson deputises for Dovin
Dasilva for Bidwell and also possibly a little risky to the system if anything happens to Tats
That’s if week keep Lati but even if BTA does go.
For the first time in ages the balance seems right

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

Seems so. Madness.

No

 

[shmmeee]

Is it worth playing somebody out of position just to accommodate Sheaf?

Rudoni? I think he’s better wide TBH and Lampard likes an inverted winger so I could see it. I’m not sure Sheaf is right in that position in a 433 though. Maybe if we need to go 4231 for solidity and put Torp at AM with Sheaf and Grimes shielding the defence.

 

[rexo87]

Dovin

MVE Thomas Kitching Bidwell

Sheaf Grimes

Saka Rudi EMC

Wright

The service Wright will get with that team behind him will be a joke. Gotta remember he had nothing like that sort of side behind him when he played up front at the start of last season

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

Dovin

MVE Thomas Kitching Bidwell

Sheaf Grimes

Saka Rudi EMC

Wright

The service Wright will get with that team behind him will be a joke. Gotta remember he had nothing like that sort of side behind him when he played up front at the start of last season

He would get much better service if you played Torp.

 

[rexo87]

He would get much better service if you played Torp.

Yeah possibly. I’ve got Sheaf in there when he’s fully fit and at his best, the Sheaf from earlier this season wouldn’t get in the side