Formation

[Flackmeister]

I'm not sure how many games we have started with 3 central defenders and "wing backs" now, but what I am sure of is that it's not working. In most of those games we have ended up having to change formations. If anyone has stat's on goals conceded with back 3 compared to back 4, that would be interesting.

We definitely don't have the players to play with wing backs - Ribeiro is the only player we have who is suited to this role and he is being played at centre back (if at all). Davies and Woodman don't have the engines to get up and down the line and it normally takes the opposition about 15 minutes to work out that all they need to do to tear us apart is to get the ball down the channels and whip in some crosses.

The annoying thing is, I think we have the players to be in with a chance of promotion (in a league lacking in quality), if we just played our best players in their best positions.

Failing that it would be nice to at least see some of the younger players given more of a chance. This was supposed to be a breakthrough season for our young players. If we are going to struggle I would rather see us struggle with the home grown youngsters in the team rather than players winding down their careers.

 

[GrecianWonder]

We change every game about 4 or 5 times. Getting stats on what formation is used when we concede will be impossible.

 

[manc grecian]

We looked a lot more solid with 4 at the back on Saturday even Wodman did ok. If someone could get off their arse and find us a proper centre back to partner JMT then we could have Ribiero back at RB and we'd look a bit more threatening.

 

[CREDYGRECIAN]

4 defenders IMO is a must at league 2 level

We're not Barcelona get the basics right and build from there

 

[Avening Posse]

Total agreement, I believe the 3 central defender and 2 wing back thing has failed for us consistently and words fail me when we persist with it. Wing backs are specialist roles and you cannot simply "ask" someone in their 30's who has never done it before to become one overnight. The nightmare that was last season brings back memories of Butterfield being asked to do it on the right, completely unfair on him and he was worse than s__te at it.
Our good spell in the main had 4 at the back, so 442 for me every time, and I believe in the main most lower division players are used to it and understand it. We are not Benfica

 

[CREDYGRECIAN]

Mike Bassett said 4 4 ****ing 2 and he managed England

 

[Antony Moxey]

Mike Bassett said 4 4 ****ing 2 and he managed England

Haha - that's such a quality film.

 

[tagz]

Haha - that's such a quality film.

The series was good as well.

 

[GRECIAN_LDN]

Ribiero looks class when he's running at players and often put the opposition's winger on the back foot, IMO playing him at CB is a complete waste. Having Davies at WB means the opposition's winger can cheat as Davies doesn't have the engine to get up and back. This is probably part of the reason we so vulnerable to a counter attack.

 

[GrecianWonder]

Total agreement, I believe the 3 central defender and 2 wing back thing has failed for us consistently and words fail me when we persist with it.

Apart from when we were in league 1!