NWCherries98
Fans' Favourite
I'm not going to write off 3 at the back just yet. I like that JT has put his own ideas onto the squad, we do look like a much more solid team, and we are also one of the highest scoring teams in the league at present (and unbeaten). Can't really have many complaints results-wise.
However, with regards to the utilisation of the squad, I feel like we're limiting ourselves a bit considering the number of decent creative forward players we have now. We do look reasonably solid at this level but IMO the quality of the performances from Midfield and Attack have been mixed at best, save for some good individual moments. I feel like this setup might make us much easier to plan against as we seem set on rigidly sticking to 3 at the back.
I also feel like the balance of the wingbacks has been a bit off- which is a pretty integral part of the formation. Stacey has looked quite good in attack as he's a bit more explosive and "winger-esque", but Smith has a tendency to cut in and slow everything down in this role, which makes it feel more like a 5 at the back. Personally I think we need to use someone in LWB who is either:
1.) left footed; so Rico, Kelly, Zemura or Daniels(?)
2.) more of a winger; Stanislas maybe, or again, Zemura (or even someone like Pugh tbh)
I would rather we just get to the stage where Smith & Stacey are competing at RB/RWB, and then Rico/Daniels/Zemura are competing at LB/LWB- just makes more sense to me. We have the problem of Rico looking fantastic at CB which might make him feel undroppable from that position, but I'm pretty confident that Kelly will come good there, and I also think that Rico has the athleticism (not necessarily the pace) to be a LWB in this league. Plus, we need to get the balance right sooner rather than later. Personally, on the back of his performances against City and Palace, I'd be more than happy to see Zemura starting league games for us- he's exactly the type of player we need there, it's just whether JT thinks he's ready or not.
I feel like we have the strength in depth in CB, but no real strength in depth out wide in games where I'd like to see us be more attacking. If we're going for a more "Sheffield united" style overlapping CB thing, I'm not convinced Mepham has the ability to do this either. Rico and Kelly certainly do, and maybe it's something that he could learn, but his crossing and passing further up the pitch is very rudimentary IMO. I think this is probably our best lineup with everyone performing at their peak:
------------Begovic------------
---Mepham---Cook---Kelly---
Smith---Cook--Lerma---Rico
Brooks------King------Danjuma
I'm always sceptical of a midfield two, but this is easily our best front 3 on paper, and goals win you games. Plus, you can almost make an entire second team of backups if you wanted too:
--------------Travers--------------
---Ofoborh---CCV---Simpson---
Stacey---Billing--Gosling---Zemura
Riquelme------Solanke------Stanislas
Probably rambling a bit at this point, but just wondering what peoples thoughts were on the formation and how best to utilise the squad. Before we signed CCV and Riquelme I would've said that we have good squad depth in terms of utility, but not personnel- but now that there's a few more bodies in the squad I feel quite confident that we can sustain a top 2 push this season. If the management and players perform, obviously.
However, with regards to the utilisation of the squad, I feel like we're limiting ourselves a bit considering the number of decent creative forward players we have now. We do look reasonably solid at this level but IMO the quality of the performances from Midfield and Attack have been mixed at best, save for some good individual moments. I feel like this setup might make us much easier to plan against as we seem set on rigidly sticking to 3 at the back.
I also feel like the balance of the wingbacks has been a bit off- which is a pretty integral part of the formation. Stacey has looked quite good in attack as he's a bit more explosive and "winger-esque", but Smith has a tendency to cut in and slow everything down in this role, which makes it feel more like a 5 at the back. Personally I think we need to use someone in LWB who is either:
1.) left footed; so Rico, Kelly, Zemura or Daniels(?)
2.) more of a winger; Stanislas maybe, or again, Zemura (or even someone like Pugh tbh)
I would rather we just get to the stage where Smith & Stacey are competing at RB/RWB, and then Rico/Daniels/Zemura are competing at LB/LWB- just makes more sense to me. We have the problem of Rico looking fantastic at CB which might make him feel undroppable from that position, but I'm pretty confident that Kelly will come good there, and I also think that Rico has the athleticism (not necessarily the pace) to be a LWB in this league. Plus, we need to get the balance right sooner rather than later. Personally, on the back of his performances against City and Palace, I'd be more than happy to see Zemura starting league games for us- he's exactly the type of player we need there, it's just whether JT thinks he's ready or not.
I feel like we have the strength in depth in CB, but no real strength in depth out wide in games where I'd like to see us be more attacking. If we're going for a more "Sheffield united" style overlapping CB thing, I'm not convinced Mepham has the ability to do this either. Rico and Kelly certainly do, and maybe it's something that he could learn, but his crossing and passing further up the pitch is very rudimentary IMO. I think this is probably our best lineup with everyone performing at their peak:
------------Begovic------------
---Mepham---Cook---Kelly---
Smith---Cook--Lerma---Rico
Brooks------King------Danjuma
I'm always sceptical of a midfield two, but this is easily our best front 3 on paper, and goals win you games. Plus, you can almost make an entire second team of backups if you wanted too:
--------------Travers--------------
---Ofoborh---CCV---Simpson---
Stacey---Billing--Gosling---Zemura
Riquelme------Solanke------Stanislas
Probably rambling a bit at this point, but just wondering what peoples thoughts were on the formation and how best to utilise the squad. Before we signed CCV and Riquelme I would've said that we have good squad depth in terms of utility, but not personnel- but now that there's a few more bodies in the squad I feel quite confident that we can sustain a top 2 push this season. If the management and players perform, obviously.