Summer 2023 Transfer Rumours

I fully agree the tactics are poor and I think everyone is aware with 5 at the back we seem to completely isolate the centre forward but even if we could get players alongside Derbyshire he isn't the short term answer in that lone striker.

 

We're discussing centre forward options, not the wide players and you're pinning all your hopes on a young wide player who's made such an impact that you can't even remember his name?

Joking aside though, I hope we do see either Smith, Afoka or Youmbi given a go because clearly Derbyshire doesn't have the legs anymore to battle, completely isolated against league two defenders.

 

Derbyshire isn't the answer to anything anymore. With Oliver back in Oct and Cook a couple more weeks away, it's going to be hoping for the best with a mix of Derbyshire, Afoka & Tulloch.

Harrogate play a very narrow 433 with 2 sitting DMs, which is why I think Hughes will stick to his back 5 and try get a tune out of it one more time. I'd go Afoka in this one, Harrogates CBs are Anthony O'Connor who isn't the most physical defender going and Rod McDonald, lower league journeyman again who doesn't scare strikers. Afoka played like he is a bit raw and wants to turn and face the CB, might be a better ploy that Derbyshire who was more a feeder striker trying to link.

 

Well that is either Afoka*, Smith, Derbyshire or Youmbi for a couple more games.

The young wide player whose name escapes me can offer more than Vassel who hasnt kicked a ball in 4 years.

 

I really hope he doesn't persevere with the 5 at the back. Best case scenario, it's another 45 minutes of football wasted and worst case, we sneak a win and it gives Hughes the justification to keep it for another month.

I'd play 4231 and hope the wide men and Walker can support whoever plays the striking role enough to give us a threat.

 

The two names I picked out were poor examples, I accept I should have looked deeper rather than names I'd heard of but there will be free agents out there. It's just a matter of whether Hughes wants to strengthen that area (I don't believe he does) or whether the two genuine strikers can get back quickly, score enough goals and stay relatively injury free until at least the January window.

 

I think most fans want him to change the 5 at the back, but I don't think anyone is actually confident that he will change the tactic, not yet at least anyway.

 

The issue isn't the system to be fair, it's the fact we don't have any genuine wing backs in the squad. It just seems bizarre that he's poured all his efforts into playing wing backs without actually addressing that particular area and just hoping full backs can simply switch roles.

 

We could have the best wing backs in the country, the ball would never get to them in the right positions. We.just don't have a midfield capable

 

It's the wing backs being full backs, the centre backs having no pace, the midfield having little positional awareness or pace or confidence in their ball ability, and the front line having zero consistency all season so far....... other than that......

 

Get those minor issues sorted and we are laughing.

 

Ah well, at least we've got fully fit and in form strikers ..... oh wait.

 

Oduor was signed and tagged as wing back when he arrived. He clearly isn't and said as much soon after arriving saying he sees himself as a number 10.

Oyegoke signed as wingback, but has had poor start to his spell here and cannot dislodge Halliday now, who is not a wing back, but a decent and reliable traditional full back.

So it's all very baffling why Hughes persists with the formation

 

I don’t think we will see it again Idle? Surely the second half against Grimsby was the writing on the wall… . We just don’t have the personnel to play 532 or 352.

 

Macdonald really impressed me for Crewe in our 3-2 defeat at the end of last season.

 

not sure about that
https://x.com/bbcwys/status/1702351781336904161?s=61&t=BvDUbPRDSVlyYBUE3y1Grw

 

We shall see .. Maybe away?

 

We've ruined him.
Played him left side of a 2 when we signed him on the back of impressing on the right side of a 3.
We then go to a 3, try playing him on the left side during friendlies without even bothering to try him on the right.
Shambles.

 

How much will they be able to make a significant contribution to his wages?