Crewe (Away)

Well let's hope he gets us firing sooner rather than later.

 

Completely agree.

 

What was the attendance and away following please? Didn't hear yesterday and not in papers or on BBC website.

 

It was announced as 4459 at the match, and that is also in Parker's article today. 1279 of us, also in that article. It certainly seemed a packed away side from where I was, in F block, but there must have been a few hundred seats unsold then.

RCB

 

I don't see the problem with 5-3-2 if we have no wingers. Wood and Mellor both don't look like proper full-backs to play a 4-4-2. They like to push up too much (like the rest of the team!) and don't stop enough crosses (Oldham!). We've only ridden our luck well so far because Everton and A'oC have started the season very well. (Don't blame them for midfield failings.) It made me wonder if we could squeeze Paudie at the back to help cover up and let Mellor and Wood get A LITTLE further forward to put crosses in so I don't blame Bowyer for that one. On paper it made perfect sense. We went wrong because all the previous midfield faults of going too far upfield, not getting back in position quickly, not getting a tackle in and ballwatching rather than marking players, were magnified by the extra space playing 3-5-2 where some of the 5 wandered off from what I could see of highlights.

I can still see 5-3-2 being successful with some practice if people learn their roles and midfield learn to sit better, take fewer risks, get back in position, track runners and tackle. I think it suits our first 11 better. However, if players don't learn and midfield keep going walkabout, then 4-4-2 might be better. As for 4-3-3, well midfield have to work bloody hard and have been weak so far. They keep starting okay and fading, ending up knackered at the wrong end of the pitch. If Bowyer wants to try it again with the new lads, then fair enough. But I'm not optimistic. No formation will work if midfield all wander too far upfield at the same time!

And is there any chance of getting a hard-tackler in to anchor midfield like we wanted 15 signings ago? Nah ... I didn't think so.

 

Watched the highlights back again this morning

Our right hand side of defence looked awful and everything seem to come down that side.

The first goal free run at goal and O’Donnell seemed to take an age to come off of his line and didn’t narrow the angle at all leading to an easy goal.

Second one it was far too easy to cut back inside and get his shot away, Akpan just gave up.

A lot of finger pointing like last season and I hope to god we go to a back four this weekend

 

The problem i see going with a five is that it means going with Mellor and Wood as the wide part of the five.That leaves three places in midfield up for grabs from a permutation of about 11. I see Bowyer sticking with a back four, giving him the option to play more of the players he's just brought to the club.

 

I think you might be right, but will he drop 4 new players in, pick the originals and ease the new ones in, or surprise us and play 4-3-3 so only 3 of the midfield mulititude get a start?

 

I have no idea mate, its anyones guess as to what the line up will be on Saturday. I'll see if there's a thread on it.

 

They've looked good enough in a back 4 up until Sat when the defensive formation was changed. The back has been solid until then.