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Thanks for the feedback and comments. There have been some more interesting speculation since I posted this last week. I've heard good things about Croatia keeper Dominik Livaković and remember him at the last World Cup. Jacob Greaves was linked by The Telegraph. Fotis Ioannidis seems to be going elsewhere but it was exciting to see us linked with an expensive international striker!
@broseleyblue, my understanding of circumventing FFP is similar to PhuketPete's, in so far as 'MA will know how to reduce this and structure deals to minimise risk to P&S rules and initial outlay at expense of add-on’s etc.'
I totally agree about group psychology. There seem to be a lot of good characters in the squad. Maybe seeing all their hard work being translated into points has given them that extra belief in themselves and KM's methods?
I don't want to tempt fate either but Burgess's transformation has been remarkable. He looks more like the ball playing CB capable of featuring briefly for Fulham (August 2014 at Portman Road) and the defensive one who topped so many league statistics for Accrington. The right/left footed balance at CB definitely helps us when playing out from the back. He will probably be competing against a fairly expensive summer signing for a starting place next season though. If Matt Clarke is over his back injury then he'd be my pick for a PR return, like his namesake.
We definitely seem to suit playing teams who come at us and leave some space for us to exploit in behind. I hope/think you are right though, maybe our style of play is more suited to the Championship. We are possibly more tactically sophisticated than many in the league above already and this team will be strengthened in the summer.
@Walk_the_Wark, I'm beginning to think that you could be on the wind up. As saying this is rubbish, that you go to games and pointing out that we played 4-2-3-1, does not constitute a counter argument.
More fool me for trying to explain this further :) But you have completely missed the underlying point of the blog. I am not insisting on a formation, I am advocating that our players are capable of occupying numerous positions and that by moving or rotating a few meters, we can potentially alter the formation. But essentially we are fluid, depending upon the circumstances.
I was sat in the Sir Bobby Robson upper, where you can get a great overview of the pitch, and agree that for a large percentage of the game we were playing 4-2-3-1, as you state. However, Phil@TWTD and the EADT both reported that we were playing with wing-backs. Not 4-2-3-1 as we both perceived it. Against Southend on Tuesday, they reported different formations on the same game. So clearly, it's not as simple as you suggest.
Yesterday I noticed a change around the hour mark when Leigh replaced Davis. Poor Leif had very much being playing diagonally across the pitch from Burns, as a left-back and a right winger respectively. However, we became more cavalier in our approach. Leigh was bombing forward down the left flank and was almost in line with Burns at times (they looked like wing-backs), as we stretched the play. Aluko and TJJ were playing centrally as dual 10's in support of pace merchant Jackson.
The days of us being wedded to a rigid formation like under McCarthy and Cook are gone. I'm not reinventing the wheel here (nor the cog). It is widely accepted that modern football teams have numerous ways of playing and can adapt during a game.
@peaky 69, I totally agree. I know some people wince at the very thought of us playing out from the back, but as you allude to, this is definitely advantageous to more technically gifted sides (so us in League One).
Based on McKenna's post-match comments from Saturday, this isn't going to change either. "We've improved our build-up structures a lot over the course of the time we've been here. But we can't take that for granted. We need to keep working and improving that."
I remember a poster on here referring to covalent bonds, or partnerships across the pitch (CB's, CM, left side, right side, strikers). Now I see McKenna and modern coaches almost constructing molecular structures, or patterns of play.
I'm not saying we have the ability to play like Ajax, nor am I comparing McKenna to Erik ten Hag. But this short video (especially from 1:40) really stuck in my mind about variation in build-up play. We don't necessarily use these exact structures, but I think it's the level of detail that McKenna and co strive for.
Thanks to everybody else for your feedback. I'm really looking forward to the season ahead. The Millwall friendly defeat/thrashing last year warned us that we were a group of strangers who would needed time to build relationships and pattern of plays. It hopefully shows how far we have come as a side, that we were unlucky not to beat them towards the end yesterday. That's quite a swing in 12 months.
The finishers or bomb squad, to steal some rugby terms, could be massive for us. Tiring League One defenders will not relish the prospect of facing the pace of Jackson and Edwards, nor the guile of TJJ and Aluko, with 20-30 minutes to go. I think it could also keep the squad happy, giving them more game time.
My biggest concern for the season ahead is how referees deal with time wasting, which was farcical at times last season.
Garner will probably score a hat trick or the winner now I've written this and I hope he does, but surely his aggressive target man style is playing into Bolton's hands? By all accounts Wheater and Beevers love a physical and aerial duel but get exposed by pace. Despite having no form I would give Sears a run out today and keep it on the deck where possible. I went to the reverse fixture in September and from memory, after a dire first half, McGoldrick came to life in the second and the introduction of Celina really gave us an attacking edge. COYB's.
A great read as always Harry. I'm hoping that their full backs being caught 'marooned' up field will leave space for the pace of Ward and Celina on the counter attack. Their centre backs sound fragile and will not like the physicality of Garner or Waghorn either, so lots of chinks in their armour for us to expose. Would normally be happy with a draw at the Riverside but reading this it sounds like they are there for the taking. COYB's!
I should have said not start Celina, not drop him, as he didn't start the Bolton game, even though it was crying out for his talent in the first half. Probably doesn't graft enough for Micks tastes but good managers find solutions to these problems
I watched the Millwall Leeds extended highlights and I believe the 4-4-2 which played the second half against Bolton would suit this game. Leeds looked vulnerable down the flanks, even if their goal came through the middle. They should have had a hatful from crosses. Hopefully an area where Ward and Celina, supported by our full backs, would find real joy. Plus our strikers are more clinical than Millwalls. Leeds also seemed second to every ball in cm and simple long balls down the field were causing havoc, which Garner could profit from. Now I've written this Mick will probably go with wingbacks and drop both Celina and Kenlock!
Great news! If he's fit enough to start I would play him alongside Knudsen so we have a left and right footed pairing. The Dane is pretty solid at CB from what I have read. Kenlock left back then Spence and Iorfa to fight it out for the right back spot. Looking forward to the game and I hope Mick goes all out and plays Celina and Ward out wide, with Adeyemi surging forward from CM. At the very least he has to start Celina. His dribbling and long range shooting ability will put teams on the back foot.
While MM is still here and with the players at his disposal we should go 4-4-2 with Bialkowski; Spence, Chambers, Berra or Smith, Kenlock; Ward, Huws, 'Dave', Lawrence; Sears and McGoldrick. I wanted this eleven to start against Fulham but it started the second half and we drew that 45 minutes 1-1 away at a play off chasing team, which is respectable. Only a mad man would revert back to Skuse and Douglas! Most fans have been well aware of their limitations for a long time but I thought the Lincoln embarassment highlighted their level as players for the entire nation to see? Well it did to everybody other than the man who matters, the one who keeps selecting them. Dare I say it but out of spite for the fans who state the obvious?! #pubtalk
I normally subscribe to the 'if it ain't broke then don't fix it' mantra but I'm hoping we play the team Phil suggests in a 4-4-2. One of the many frustrating facets of the game I saw against Wolves last month was that we had 3 centre backs marking a lone striker when we desperately needed more impetus in midfield. This switch would not only accommodate Lawrence but possibly deploy Spence and Kenlock as two attacking full backs in a 4, not wing backs in a 5. Can't recall that happening too often, if at all, under McCarthy.
I watch a lot of Spurs games on tv, and being able to comfortably switch between a back 3 and four is a massive string to Pochs bow. He can tailor his line ups to counter opponents without unsettling his own players. Conditioning our players to do this will benefit us in the future, regardless of whether Mick is here or not.
I don't want to read too much into a home victory against a bottom three side but it makes you wonder what we could have achieved this season had MM not been so stubborn! I'm getting deja vu, no Skouglas, one defensive midfielder, everybody in their correct positions and we win! Maybe a younger more attack minded manager would utilise this squad better.
Well Mick, if you continue to play Chambers at cb instead of rb; the young attacking wing backs; the more gifted Huws, Ward and 'Dave' rather than Skouglas in the engine room; Sears up front instead of out wide, then at least you give us a chance against the enemy. Us fans have longed for these changes and picking up points against the top six with these alterations proves we are evolving. Please don't revert to type!
Take the game to them and expose their vulnerable defence. The likes of Naismith, Pritchard, Hoolahan et al are obviously a threat but for me they all want to occupy the same areas. None of them are comfortable out wide and drift in to the centre, where we should have large numbers with a 3-5-2. Neill may be tempted with the raw talent and pace of the Murphy twins.
I have thought for a while that our squad suits the in vogue 3-4-3/3-5-2. We have four decent centre backs (competing for 3 spots), no Chambers at rb and two young attacking full backs/wing backs from the academy. Hopefully after the players have had time to adjust to the formation we will stop conceding so many goals. Didn't go to the game today but from what I have seen of Knudsen and Kenlock, the latter appears better suited to the left wing back position. How did Knudsen perform in that role today?
Yet again we see the benefits of Douglas being dropped in favour of the more adventurous and talented Bru and Dozzell. Gutted Lawrence isn't ours, hate to think where we would be without him.
Watching the goals they have conceded, Forest look particularly vulnerable from crosses. Hopefully Lawrence and Ward will be able to exploit this. If Cohen and Kasami are as bad as their fans suggest in the holding roles then Didz and Bishops dribbling ability should also be suited to the occasion. Hoping we can put on a bit of a show but you never know in this crazy league.
Frustrating times for Forest. Burke has been a revelation at Leipzig. With Osborn on the other flank, Lansbury and Vaughan in the middle, Bendter alongside Assombalonga, they would have had an excellent front six. Luckily for us only 3 of those are likely to feature. I hope Lansbury stays quiet as he can run a game when in the mood. Would love Assombalonga and Osborn at Town, great players who could do us damage today if they get the right service.
Some very healthy competition for the attacking roles now. Will be even stronger when Williams and Didz are back. Highly unlikely to be played by Mick but this is my XI when everybody is fit: (4-3-3): Bart; Emmanuel, Smith, Berra, Kenlock; Williams, Skuse, Grant; Ward, McGoldrick, Lawrence. Great attacking options like Sears, Best, Pitman, Bishop and Bru on the bench.
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