What Do We Need To Change? (1 Viewer)

[Alkhen]

The forwards aren’t working. Simms and Godden want to be in the same place and Godden is constantly whining on the pitch which isn’t great for anyone. Godden is also tHoe worlds slowed forward which kills a lot of our attacks. Wright wants to play in the channels and wide, Simms wants to be in the box. Ayari is far too raw for this league. We need Allen/O’Hare/Palmer back in the number 10 role.

The midfield isn’t working, Sheaf and Eccles are too similar and both lack the drive and vision to move us forwards consistently hence the side to side. They’re both good “nick the ball” type DMs but not rock solid and can get overrun. It means a massive gap to what is in reality a front three in our system. It also slows our play. This is the real issue. Up front and in defence you can see we might have the right notes but not in the right order. In midfield we’re missing an entire brass section.

Defence looks confused as Robins hinted at for the first last night. But then it changes literally every week. We’ve gone from Rose Hyam Fadz for years at a stretch, then to McNally and Doyle last season who were quality. Again there’s elements there, Binks, Lats, Thomas have shown bits an pieces but it needs knitting into a defensive unit. Normally I’d say that’s Fadz role, but he’s increasingly looking like this is his final season at this level. We need to pick a back three and give them time to form a unit.

Other than that, we’re OK

Pretty much how I see it. Godden and Simms want the same space and Simms is naturally deferring to Goddess seniority. I reckon it's time to test Simms as central almost loan striker. Give Haji a brief to run the channels and support Simms.

Sakamoto is an odd one. Obviously talented but where does he fit? Maybe try a fluid front 3 with Simms the focal point and Wright and Tatsu more wide? Hard because Robins isn't moving from the back 3 + wingbacks. Haji and Tatsu would need to show more discipline out of possession to help the midfield.

There just doesn't seem to be a natural formation to the players we have and it's more and more obvious that the missing link is Hamer

Best I could come up with:

 

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[BlueSkiesForever]

I'm sorry but those two mock lineups have completely destroyed any credibility your tactical opinions had.

What’s so drastically wrong with those line-ups that completely discredits any ideas I’ve ever had? What would you do?

Except for Wright or Dasilva on LW I can’t see anything that’s remotely radical about them, I literally can’t see any other way we set up if we ever went 4ATB. The defence basically picks itself, Sheaf and someone else in defensive midfield, O’Hare/Allen/Ayari in attacking midfield then Sakamoto and someone else on LW/RW with Simms or Godden up top.

 

[Legia Sky Blue]

A simple change I would like to see, particularly while we are playing 2 forwards is for our wing backs to cross the ball at the first oppotunity. Too often they turn backwards from a crossing position and keep possession, and in the process slow our attack down, allowing the opposition to organise themselves defensively. Even if the crosses don't always find their target there is always the prospect of a half clearance falling to one of our midfielders supporting play, and to me is a much better percentage option. While our forwards have generally been poor, it must nevertheless be frustrating to make runs for an expected cross only to have to turn back on your heels to start again when a cross isn't delivered.