Most liked posts in thread: Hindsight

Yes but the system works better with either Butterfield or Payne playing at the moment Butterfield is the better option

 

HAS been the better option, not neccessarily the best option. Butterfield was very good on Sat and pretty average again on Tuesday. Payne's a better goalscorer and better offensively. Butterfield is better in a midfield 4. The system would be better with both Payne and Butterfield in it but we have problems upfront that can't accomodate both.
The problem isn't either of them or them playing together, the problem is Doyle and/or Ball. Because neither of them are target men Payne has very little to feed off. I think Payne was sacrificed against 2 strong powerful sides in Luton and Peterborough but could be brought back in on Saturday against Oxford.

 

Because he has results to achieve and the aim is to keep us up.

2 games and you're saying give him the job? Do me a favour. He will get judged at the end of the season.

I'm glad he wasn't given a few years contract because everything have to be put into keeping us up.

 

If he keeps us up then he 90% gets the job for me if he doesn't then it's 50% as they're so good managers available and more will be available in the summer.

Look, I am not seeing past Oxford but Bowyer, the players, the supporters all have a job to do on Saturday.. we need to bloody win!

 

Our recent poor form has coincided with turgid form from Payne.

Butterfield is looking a far more useful player, as he's trying to get on the ball in the middle of the park all the time.

I might be tempted to drop Ball for Payne, though, as Ball has done naff all up front.

 

What on you talking about.

We've a rich owner. If he doesn't want to put his hand in his pocket that's up to him but football is results business and managers are judged on results!

 

He is putting his hand in his pocket

 

Why would we have to drop Butterfield ?.

 

It's about balance.

Ball, OB, Butterfield and Payne playing together doesn't give us balance.

You need a Akpan, Anderson or Wright in there:

 

Until they have actually played together I can't see how that comparison can be made.

 

On the one or two occasions that Hopkin played them together, he played a 4231, which needs wingers to work. But we played Ball and LOB out wide and Butterfield too deep. Bowyer's been here a week and realised this doesn't work so plays a diamond where all three can play together in their natural positions.

Until we've played them all together in this system with the new style of play, which is the most appropriate it has been all season, we can't really judge if they can work as a midfield team or not.

 

We can't be sure O'Brien would have stayed he obviously wanted the security of a longer deal with Notts County.
I'm not sure we were so wrong wanting to keep Payne he was one of the trio that were getting us results in December.
I agree with you with regards Hopkin's comment, we were screaming out for cover at CD a bigger partner for Doyle and a wide man cover at LB, yet he brings in two more midfield players, we'll never know if the extra money we are paying Town to keep Payne was the reason he couldn't get the above said players in, but he didn't and now (not saying you) some are trying to make a case out for why Payne should not play.
I accept teams have to have balance but IMO you play the likes of Payne and balance the team around your players who can play, as your Carbone example above.

 

You'd never have thought that Sterling, Sane, Silva, B Silva, Gundogan would work in a midfield would you. But it really does.

 

When you've been carrying a team all season you start to get a bit fatigued

 

Yup - extendable pitch!

 

How do you get 90% of a job ? Just asking like

 

Well Collins only got 0% of the job.

Go figure!

 

We would never have got rid of Hopkin in time for January . He would have had to walk earlier and wouldn’t

 

Totally agree. On his first stint I was never actually never a huge Clarke fan as a player however as a club man he clearly had a good affiliation with the club which made his endearing to supporters. I think he would have something to offer in league two, but I would be very concerned if we were using him as a main starting forward.