The starting 11 (2 Viewers)

Ccfcisparks · Jan 26, 2025

With Sheaf, Wright and EMC supposedly back in 2-3 weeks, what do we do with the team?

Stick with a back 5 where we’ve looked really good and bring in Wright for Simms or Asante.

Switch to a 433 to allow us to utilise EMC and Wright

maybe a 523 to allow the best of both worlds

Difficult decisions, but good problem for Frank to have

covcity4life · Jan 26, 2025

Let lampard decide based on opposition and training etc I say

433 where wright and emc fight for left wing spot is what will happen I imagine rather than moving wright to the other flank but we shall see.

532 with wright and Simms upfront will be interesting to see too

torchomatic · Jan 26, 2025

Exciting we'll soon have our best players coming back from injury. Sheaf as well.

covcity4life · Jan 26, 2025

torchomatic said:
Exciting we'll soon have our best players coming back from injury. Sheaf as well.

Yup could be like 3 new signings!

shmmeee · Jan 26, 2025

For me we’ve got to learn to play with a back four. If in three weeks we’re still in touching distance of the playoffs I’d be tempted to just stick Sheaf and Haji in for Allen and Simms and call it a day.

If not i think id probably go:

Dovin
MvE Thomas Kitching Bidwell
Torp Sheaf Rudoni
Saka Wright EMC

SBT · Jan 26, 2025

Systems are more important than individual players.

A 433 looks wonderful on paper, and leaving star players on the bench will put managers under pressure to justify their decision. But this squad has shown a fundamental inability to meet the expectations made of them from a 433 system, and it would be a gamble to abandon a winning formula in favour of one that has yet to yield results.

Ccfcisparks · Jan 26, 2025

shmmeee said:
For me we’ve got to learn to play with a back four. If in three weeks we’re still in touching distance of the playoffs I’d be tempted to just stick Sheaf and Haji in for Allen and Simms and call it a day.

If not i think id probably go:

Dovin
MvE Thomas Kitching Bidwell
Torp Sheaf Rudoni
Saka Wright EMC

Allen suits this formation so much more than sheaf

shmmeee · Jan 26, 2025

Ccfcisparks said:
Allen suits this formation so much more than sheaf

I don’t agree. Sheafs defensive stats are miles ahead. Allen works right now because we’re playing three at the back so he had no defensive duties and we’re playing it long so his progressive passing isn’t as important. Sheaf would add quality to the midfield in either formation.

Ccfcisparks · Jan 26, 2025

shmmeee said:
I don’t agree. Sheafs defensive stats are miles ahead. Allen works right now because we’re playing three at the back so he had no defensive duties and we’re playing it long so his progressive passing isn’t as important. Sheaf would add quality to the midfield in either formation.

The energy and mobility Allen offers us infront of the back five outweighs the extra defensive quality sheaf gives us imo

shmmeee · Jan 26, 2025

Ccfcisparks said:
The energy and mobility Allen offers us infront of the back five outweighs the extra defensive quality sheaf gives us imo

I think that’s fair. It’s my problem with all our midfielders is their tendency to stand about watching play and not move into space. Allen gives us that. I’d just rather shout at Rudoni and Torp to fucking move into space than play him just for that.

covcity4life · Jan 26, 2025

SBT said:
Systems are more important than individual players.

A 433 looks wonderful on paper, and leaving star players on the bench will put managers under pressure to justify their decision. But this squad has shown a fundamental inability to meet the expectations made of them from a 433 system, and it would be a gamble to abandon a winning formula in favour of one that has yet to yield results.

There used to be posts about how 352 doesn't work with our squad earlier this season so let's not write off 433 please

ovduk78 · Jan 26, 2025

I like that 352 is currently working and the movement that Jamie Allen gives us so I would stay with that. I think 433 with same midfield would leave back 4 exposed and with Sheaf is too static. Can Sheaf play central in back 3 with Thomas & Kitching either side? Haji instead of BTA and a bench including Sakamoto, EMC, BTA, Bassette & Eccles.

torchomatic · Jan 26, 2025

covcity4life said:
Yup could be like 3 new signings!

Two new signings. And Sheaf.

rob9872 · Jan 26, 2025

Most teams only play 1 or 2 up top away, so perhaps something new that combines the best of both at home 3-4-3.

Earlsdon_Skyblue1 · Jan 26, 2025

With two of our best attacking players coming back, I would suspect us to kick it up a gear. BTA drops out for Wright at the very least. I'm not sure about how you fit in EMC, unless you drop Simms and play Wright there, with EMC then on the left. Not sure though, I wouldn't want to change too much though really. It's working well.

In the real world Sheaf doesn't get back in (I say that because he probably will, but shouldn't). We've looked much better without him, and it's the 4th time in 3 seasons he's had a long layoff and our form has drastically improved. It's not the only variable, but the sample size is big enough now that it isn't really a coincidence any more.

I don't see how you could drop many players at the moment, particularly the current midfield. It's working very well, which is not a bad problem to have at all!

Sky Blue Goblin · Jan 26, 2025

covcity4life said:
There used to be posts about how 352 doesn't work with our squad earlier this season so let's not write off 433 please

Exactly that, we haven’t played under Lampard with Wright and have kept getting better.

A Lampard 4-3-3 will not be the same as a Robins 4-3-3

Mucca Mad Boys · Jan 26, 2025

Our best 11 with everyone available, imo is:

4-3-3

Dovin
MVE
Thomas
Kitching
Bidwell
Torp
Sheaf
Rudoni
EMC
Simms
Wright

Sky Blue Goblin · Jan 26, 2025

Sky Blue Goblin said:
Exactly that, we haven’t played under Lampard with Wright and have kept getting better.

A Lampard 4-3-3 will not be the same as a Robins 4-3-3

For the record I would personally play

Dovin
MVE
Thomas
Kitching
Bidwell
Allen
Torp
Rudoni
Saka
Wright (would be asked to rotate in game with EMC)
EMC

Fergusons_Beard · Jan 26, 2025

shmmeee said:
For me we’ve got to learn to play with a back four. If in three weeks we’re still in touching distance of the playoffs I’d be tempted to just stick Sheaf and Haji in for Allen and Simms and call it a day.

If not i think id probably go:

Dovin
MvE Thomas Kitching Bidwell
Torp Sheaf Rudoni
Saka Wright EMC

Under Robins that starting 11 have been crap.

Be very interested to see Lampard get a tune out of them.

Still lacks in midfield where the back 5 shields the midfield (Sheaf) inability to defend in a back 4.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SBT · Jan 26, 2025

covcity4life said:
There used to be posts about how 352 doesn't work with our squad earlier this season so let's not write off 433 please

I feel pretty confident at this point saying that Lampard is doing a better job of getting a tune out of a 352 than Robins did this season.

shmmeee · Jan 26, 2025

Fergusons_Beard said:
Under Robins that starting 11 have been crap.

Be very interested to see Lampard get a tune out of them.

Still lacks in midfield where the back 5 shields the midfield (Sheaf) inability to defend in a back 4.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don’t think we’ve ever played that XI. Usually it was Eccles for Torp and Rudoni behind the front three in a 4231 and Simms up front with Wright or EMC on the left.

shmmeee · Jan 26, 2025

Sky Blue Goblin said:
Exactly that, we haven’t played under Lampard with Wright and have kept getting better.

A Lampard 4-3-3 will not be the same as a Robins 4-3-3

Robins played 4231 with Rudoni as a 10 and I don’t think that’s his best position. He’s not good enough on the ball nor is his movement good enough to play in the middle like O’Hare did. He’s better moving wide like under Lampard and getting crosses in.

PVA · Jan 26, 2025

Allen has done very well, but when Sheaf is back he comes in for him.

Dovin
MVE - Thomas - Kitching - Bidwell
Sheaf - Torp
Sakamoto - Rudoni - EMC
Wright

shmmeee · Jan 26, 2025

PVA said:
Allen has done very well, but when Sheaf is back he comes in for him.

Dovin
MVE - Thomas - Kitching - Bidwell
Sheaf - Torp
Sakamoto - Rudoni - EMC
Wright

Torp isn’t a DM. We keep trying to recreate the Hamer and Sheaf double pivot without Hamer and it’s just not going to happen.

SBT · Jan 26, 2025

shmmeee said:
Torp isn’t a DM. We keep trying to recreate the Hamer and Sheaf double pivot without Hamer and it’s just not going to happen.

A good example of why our “strongest XI” and our “best team” is not always the same thing.

shmmeee · Jan 26, 2025

SBT said:
A good example of why our “strongest XI” and our “best team” is not always the same thing.

Or why 433 is a better formation for our players than 4231.

I still think in aggregate the midfield and defence isn’t good enough for where we want to be And that’s why we have to play five at the back.

PVA · Jan 26, 2025

shmmeee said:
Torp isn’t a DM. We keep trying to recreate the Hamer and Sheaf double pivot without Hamer and it’s just not going to happen.

I don't think it's be too different to the role he's playing at the moment - Sheaf can sit and Torp can do what he does. Or it could be a flat 3 as you suggest.

shmmeee · Jan 26, 2025

PVA said:
I don't think it's be too different to the role he's playing at the moment - Sheaf can sit and Torp can do what he does. Or it could be a flat 3 as you suggest.

I think it is. Hamer was more a deep lying playmaker, but he was so good he could play anywhere. We miss his willingness to receive the ball and drive through it pick a pass and neither Torp nor Rudoni can do that right now. TBH it’s why I feel long term we need another midfielder in there who is more dynamic and more comfortable in the middle of the park.

lord_garrincha · Jan 26, 2025

covcity4life said:
Let lampard decide based on opposition and training etc I say

Probably says as much in his contract too.

ptr · Jan 26, 2025

The fact that Allen and Torp are playing so well means we can actually let Sheaf recover and ease him back into it - instead of rushing back into 90 mins.

If we can get back to his best, which I fully back him to, then we’re laughing.

Bigelvesy · Jan 26, 2025

shmmeee said:
For me we’ve got to learn to play with a back four. If in three weeks we’re still in touching distance of the playoffs I’d be tempted to just stick Sheaf and Haji in for Allen and Simms and call it a day.

If not i think id probably go:

Dovin
MvE Thomas Kitching Bidwell
Torp Sheaf Rudoni
Saka Wright EMC

A thousand times this

Cally Fedora · Jan 26, 2025

I wouldn’t over complicate things. I don’t like five at the back but we’ve just won three league games on the bounce. You have to stick with that for now.

PUSB-We_are_going_up · Jan 26, 2025

No reason why we cant just play a fluid system that fluxes between a 532 and 433 easily, Start in a 532 with the current team and then sub Wright, EMC and Tats on taking off BTA, Simms and a CB (thats not Kitch or Thomas). Or you could do Visa versa, strength in depth means there is no ‘nailed on starter’. It is as it should be play who’s in form

Saddlebrains · Jan 26, 2025

Why can't we use both? To be able to fluidly change between 433, 4231, 532, 451 would be a huge string to our bow and we seem to have the players to do it

If we start 433

Dovin

Milan
Thomas
Kitching
Bidwell

Torp
Sheaf
Rudoni

Sakamoto
Simms
Wright

Then have EMC, Eccles, Bassette, Allen Asante available to change it if needed

532

Dovin

Milan
Lati
Thomas
Kitching
Dasilva

Sheaf
Rudoni
Torp

Simms
Wright

Again, EMC, BTA, Bidwell, Allen, Eccles Bassette Sakamoto etc to change it

ptr · Jan 26, 2025

Saddlebrains said:
Why can't we use both? To be able to fluidly change between 433, 4231, 532, 451 would be a huge string to our bow and we seem to have the players to do it

If we start 433

Dovin

Milan
Thomas
Kitching
Bidwell

Torp
Sheaf
Rudoni

Sakamoto
Simms
Wright

Then have EMC, Eccles, Bassette, Allen Asante available to change it if needed

532

Dovin

Milan
Lati
Thomas
Kitching
Dasilva

Sheaf
Rudoni
Torp

Simms
Wright

Again, EMC, BTA, Bidwell, Allen, Eccles Bassette Sakamoto etc to change it

Then we can start shithousing with Dovin going down, allowing us to change formation in middle of the game.

The starting 11 (2 Viewers)

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