| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! 13:05 - Jan 10 with 1421 views | unstableblue |
Philogene and £20m a real statement, gets his man (eventually) again.
The manager and the club’s financial backers are clearly going to give the second half of the season a real go, trying to better the 15 points with 20+. 1 point already achieved. A challenge given that the Wolves owners are similarly determined. A weaker, financially constrained and in-flux Everton maybe the better hope to finish above.
Before the window and in McKenna’s planning.. I’d suggest Broadhead, Woolfie, Burns and H Clarke were seen as not at the right level. As well as obviously Ali. Finally, whilst Jack Clarke is deemed to have the ability, he may be more of a project player and needs building up and Premier experience from the bench.
Other focus areas for McKenna pre-window planning:
1. The subs bench and attacking options are way way off what is needed, and as benchmarked against peers;
2. Our defensive solidity and the Axel injury loss has effected the team performance and points tally;
3. The injury, suspension or form loss of Omari and Delap would kill the season
Solution - real quality in January; change in system to a low block 5 for away games and against tougher opposition. A high quality striker being the number one target.
Of note and perhaps since plans for January were drawn up, Burns, Broadhead and Woolfie have turned in much improved and promising performances AND OShea has shown he can play the Axel
Role very effectively.
In terms of plans for first team selection - he’ll want to start both Philogene and Omari (when both fit)… with Omari as the 10, Szmodics is effective. AND crucially score goals AND presses well. Philogene can play left or right, starting on the left for Villa. With the new system, McKenna likes a robust and physical player on the right… maybe at home we’ll see Szmodics left, Philogene right (but just behind the striker); and a Godfrey in right back.
Perhaps these are the two shapes/systems:
HOME/Lesser opposition
Walton
*Godfrey OShea Greaves Davis
Morsy/Phillips - Cajuste
Philogene Omari Szmodics
Delap
With a new striker, Broadhead, Jack Clarke being the difference engine to unlock teams
AWAY/Strong opposition
Walton
OShea Woolfie Greaves
Johnson/Axel.———————-David
Morsy/Philliips - Cajuste
Omari Philogene
Delap
******* What do you think are our leader’s plans and team strategy? Open your mind? *****
PS - as McKenna states, Phillips has a major part to play in the second half of the season!!
PPS - * not convinced Godfrey is deemed a right back and an Axel direct cover, and maybe quality to cover OShea. And will get less game time than expected. [Post edited 10 Jan 13:32]
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| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! on 13:13 - Jan 10 with 1319 views | Help |
Just remember Omari is out for a while so the right side is still an issue, hence why we may be looking at another true right sided player. |  |
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| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! on 13:21 - Jan 10 with 1233 views | jasondozzell |
Not sure about Woolfie, Broady and Burns being thought of as not at the right level.
Broady our best player for the last two games imo. Probably the most technically gifted player at the club.
Woolfy excellently since he's come back in.
Burns did well against Chelsea. Great in the air and pace. And can pin full backs as well as do a good job in that wing back role. An important weapon for McKenna. |  | | |
| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! on 13:21 - Jan 10 with 1226 views | unstableblue |
| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! on 13:13 - Jan 10 by Help |
Just remember Omari is out for a while so the right side is still an issue, hence why we may be looking at another true right sided player. |
Absolutely- Philogene will effectively replace him for a number of weeks.
Still think they’ll look at an upgrade for Burns but in that mould.
Also Godfrey may be more a back-up for OShea than we think, and despite my post may never play the Axel role as is more a centre back. Certainly when Axel is fit, he’s straight back in and Godfrey is bench behind him and OShea.
I think OShea is a key players for McKenna, hence the improved back up player. | |
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| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! on 13:24 - Jan 10 with 1180 views | unstableblue |
| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! on 13:21 - Jan 10 by jasondozzell |
Not sure about Woolfie, Broady and Burns being thought of as not at the right level.
Broady our best player for the last two games imo. Probably the most technically gifted player at the club.
Woolfy excellently since he's come back in.
Burns did well against Chelsea. Great in the air and pace. And can pin full backs as well as do a good job in that wing back role. An important weapon for McKenna. |
As said the view of Broadie, Burns and Wolfie and the strategy in their positions was probably set before the recent excellent form.
I am pretty sure that Broadhead was seen as surplus to requirements in the summer - proven by Jack Clarke, Szmodics and Philogene all incoming.
But we need real quality competition across the attacking three - Broadhead, Clarke, Szmodics, Philogene, Omari, Burns is getting to the level- with another incoming.
Chaplin does drop down the order. | |
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| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! on 13:43 - Jan 10 with 1037 views | bsw72 |
| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! on 13:24 - Jan 10 by unstableblue |
As said the view of Broadie, Burns and Wolfie and the strategy in their positions was probably set before the recent excellent form.
I am pretty sure that Broadhead was seen as surplus to requirements in the summer - proven by Jack Clarke, Szmodics and Philogene all incoming.
But we need real quality competition across the attacking three - Broadhead, Clarke, Szmodics, Philogene, Omari, Burns is getting to the level- with another incoming.
Chaplin does drop down the order. |
The question mark on Broadhead was never about ability, I think the concern was about the physical demands and the number of niggly injuries he has had.
Since he has come back into the team in the last few weeks, he looks so much fitter and stronger than before.
Chaplin has some ability at this level but I have a question mark against his capacity to compete physically at this level in the middle of the pitch - he doesn't have the skill of Omari, and when they are both in the XI, we lose an element of physical presence.
I think Chaplin has reached his peak ability and so we may see him get less game time in the coming weeks. |  | | |
| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! on 14:19 - Jan 10 with 925 views | unstableblue |
| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! on 13:43 - Jan 10 by bsw72 |
The question mark on Broadhead was never about ability, I think the concern was about the physical demands and the number of niggly injuries he has had.
Since he has come back into the team in the last few weeks, he looks so much fitter and stronger than before.
Chaplin has some ability at this level but I have a question mark against his capacity to compete physically at this level in the middle of the pitch - he doesn't have the skill of Omari, and when they are both in the XI, we lose an element of physical presence.
I think Chaplin has reached his peak ability and so we may see him get less game time in the coming weeks. |
Completely agree that Broadheads physicality would have been a key factor as to why he was seen as surplus to requirements this summer
But also agree he’s looked much more robust in recent games.
With Szmodics injured he becomes a key player, alongside Burns - especially with Omari out. | |
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| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! on 16:24 - Jan 10 with 809 views | CBMTOBWMMBG |
| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! on 13:21 - Jan 10 by unstableblue |
Absolutely- Philogene will effectively replace him for a number of weeks.
Still think they’ll look at an upgrade for Burns but in that mould.
Also Godfrey may be more a back-up for OShea than we think, and despite my post may never play the Axel role as is more a centre back. Certainly when Axel is fit, he’s straight back in and Godfrey is bench behind him and OShea.
I think OShea is a key players for McKenna, hence the improved back up player. |
Not sure Axel gets straight back in. He's been out for 6 weeks now. And is still out.
That is a lot of fitness to build-up, plus we have stronger options now: Godfrey of course plus O'Shea has proved he can do that role well.
More generally we will need the big squad. We consistently have a number of injuries, this is likely to continue. We are not alone in getting lots of injuries.
Don't think we can double-guess the team. Feel more that we need multiple options depending on fitness of our players, and quality and style of oppositions. So I don't expect a regular starting XI. |  | | |
| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! on 16:42 - Jan 10 with 717 views | Len_Brennan |
McKenna like to have 2 strong options for each position, and then some extra forwards to allow for injuries/suspensions, while still being able to bring on finishers for each of the front 3 or 4..
He also appears to be favouring a 5-2-2-1 formation now, particularly away from home & against the better sides.
With that in mind, and looking at the rest of the season as a whole, rather than just the next league game (injuries), I would see him having the following pattern in his head :
Walton/Muric
Tuanzebe/Godfrey
O'Shea/Woolfenden
Greaves/Burgess
Johnson/Burns
Davis/Townsend
Morsy/Phillips
Cajuste/Taylor
Hutchinson/New Signing
Philogene/Szmodics
Delap/New Signing
Additional attacking options:
Broadhead
Clarke
Chaplin
Hirst | | | |
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| So TWTD hive mind, what’s in McKenna’s plans and beautiful mind?! on 16:45 - Jan 10 with 684 views | Swansea_Blue |
Er, he hasn’t got his man yet. It appears to be dragging out/stalling (again). I’ve not got a good feeling about him, and his dodgy agent lol, but that means nothing of course.
Agree about new striker needed; AAH needs to go on loan (or sold). Agree with others on Broady and Woolf especially both being up to the level. Wes is handy to have around too but blows more hot and cold.
The injuries are screwing things up. Two players for each position should be enough, but do we need a little bit more across the front 3 behind the striker just to cover absences and allow KM to fully use the bench? The trouble is, they then become redundant once people are back fit. |  |
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