5 at the back? (20 Viewers)

[rob9872]

But still much better than Wright which is the worry

I'm not sure there was anything to choose. The only thing I'd say is Wright clearly wasn't fit. He shouldn't have stayed on but hopefully the minutes in his legs will be a benefit going forward. It should also put to bed the Norman No Goals experiment until next season as he wasn't any better or ready in his latest cameo.

 

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[stupot07]

What run ?
We've just won 9 from 11 playing two different systems. Like I've said in other threads at this point of the season just play your players in form . 5 at the back means dropping EMC and Sakamoto which would be madness .
For me just a bit better game management and stopping the stupid fouls around our own box would be a good start .

Sunderland
Burnley
Sheffield United
West Brom

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Sunderland
Burnley
Sheffield United
West Brom

If we’re still in the top 6 after those games that’s where we’re finishing.

 

[Chicken Mcgraw]

Back 5 is definitely the way to go for now, harsh on EMC and Sakamoto but has to be done:

Wilson
Thomas Binks Kitching
MVE Eccles Sheaf Torp Bidwell
Simms Asante

 

[JSL]

You know it’s funny, saw a Fifa recreation having us as a 5-4-2-1, dug deeper and can see this formation used at least on football websites for Preston and Oxford and found the attached video commenting on our 3-4-2-1 shape.

Noted as being this when attacking
Dovin
Thomas-Kitching-Bidwell
Milan - Eccles - Grimes - Rudoni
Saka - EMC
Simms

And then a 4-4-2 when defending. Sadly don’t think we’ve got anyone who can play the Rudoni role.

Are FIFA allowing us 12 in our side then?

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Are FIFA allowing us 12 in our side then?

Yeah I meant 3-4-2-1. Can’t be arsed to edit tho

 

[shmmeee]

Having three shit CBs instead of two doesn’t help, our wingbacks were getting caught up the field and no one knew where to be. We played some teams on absolutely honking runs with 5ATB, and the football was dreadful. I’d rather not if we don’t have to.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

Parking the argument about the defence for a minute, I do have some questions currently about our attack. Simms for me has had a long run in the team, but hasn't looked that useful for a while. Our wingers, mainly EMC and Sakamoto, have been instrumental in us scoring goals. Switch the formation and surely you leave less players higher up the pitch to work with Simms, and remove the effective wingers we have in the process.

On top of this, MvE has looked a lot better recently, and is starting to rebuild that connection with Sakamoto again. I appreciate the left side of defence is a problem, but as we have just gone on a crazy winning run, to change this after one loss does seem to be a bit of a panic move. The goals we have conceded have been stupid, rather than down to be being tactically outdone. In fact, we could probably do a shittest goal of the season to concede video as there have been so many this year all following a similar theme. We get complacent, we switch off, someone does something stupid.

I understand the arguments as to why people think this may be a good idea, but I personally wouldn't want to change the formation just yet.

 

[TomRad85]

Parking the argument about the defence for a minute, I do have some questions currently about our attack. Simms for me has had a long run in the team, but hasn't looked that useful for a while. Our wingers, mainly EMC and Sakamoto, have been instrumental in us scoring goals. Switch the formation and surely you leave less players higher up the pitch to work with Simms, and remove the effective wingers we have in the process.

On top of this, MvE has looked a lot better recently, and is starting to rebuild that connection with Sakamoto again. I appreciate the left side of defence is a problem, but as we have just gone on a crazy winning run, to change this after one loss does seem to be a bit of a panic move. The goals we have conceded have been stupid, rather than down to be being tactically outdone. In fact, we could probably do a shittest goal of the season to concede video as there have been so many this year all following a similar theme. We get complacent, we switch off, someone does something stupid.

I understand the arguments as to why people think this may be a good idea, but I personally wouldn't want to change the formation just yet.

Agreed ESB. I'd be very tempted to try BTA for Simms now, we'd have to change how we play a bit but Simms needs some time out of the starting 11. Obviously you'd bring in EMC and Dasilva for Sunderland too, that left side was shocking yesterday.
Most goals conceded seem to be either just straight up avoidably shit whatever the formation is, or a complete balls up by the ever decreasing in quality match officials, who seem to be getting huge decisions wrong every single game which is frankly unacceptable.

 

[PVA]

None of our strikers are able to receive the ball with back to goal and hold it up.

Simms is probably the best at it, which is saying something because he traps it further than he can kick it.

 

[Gibbo]

I think it’ll be knee jerk to change anything too much. Form has been fantastic.

Tonight wasn’t much to do with formations but more about a higher number of their players being up for it compared to ours.

Persisting with Haji was the wrong decision too, way off it tonight but atleast he’ll have some more sharpness from that

Two goals a game in three games on the bounce since we reinstated four at the back and against bang average opposition. The stats don't lie. And three really soft goals from set pieces. This run was built on 3 central defenders. It ain't pretty but it works. K and T are just not good enough to be the only two central defenders.

 

[Grendel]

Having three shit CBs instead of two doesn’t help, our wingbacks were getting caught up the field and no one knew where to be. We played some teams on absolutely honking runs with 5ATB, and the football was dreadful. I’d rather not if we don’t have to.

What do you think most teams are like in this league?

Most are much of a muchness. The top 3 are miles ahead of everyone other than possibly Sunderland.

After that it’s pretty mediocre. Few points separating a lot of teams.

It’s the teams that dig results out that will be in 5th and 6th.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Two goals a game in three games on the bounce since we reinstated four at the back and against bang average opposition. The stats don't lie. And three really soft goals from set pieces. This run was built on 3 central defenders. It ain't pretty but it works. K and T are just not good enough to be the only two central defenders.

It’s easy to knee jerk into switching to a back 3 but things could’ve panned out very differently in certain games playing 5-3-2. With Grimes’ role as a half back, we held a shape identical to 3 CBs anyway - the ‘meta’ 3-2-5 attacking shape that’s popular atm. The issue was just how much space we gave away between the lines and this was something that was picked up on a tactical analysis I shared post-Stoke win. Take it for what it is, the run wasn’t going to last forever and think we need to make some tactical tweaks to generate chances in the box (non-crosses).

This run was built on scoring the first goal in matches. We looked positive and well in control until we went 1-0 and then it all fell apart and we seemingly lost the ability to do basic things.

As good as we’ve been lately, we’ve been too reliant on scoring from crosses so when we went 1-0 down last night, Derby just packed the box and you had Simms and Wright on their own against 3 CBs.

 

[RoboCCFC90]

Think it's needed without Rudoni.

Totally agree it's needed, but not because we are missing Rudoni, because we are missing EMC.

As I referred to in another post, I would've gone 5-3-2 last night with Torp behind Haji and Simms.