Home vs Mansfield Sun Dec 29th

As much as i'm not a massive fan of 4-4-2 we do need to change the formation. But with what we've got i haven't a clue what really would work. I like Pritchard but you can't play him in a 4-4-2 to get the best out of him, without Reeves i wouldn't dream of going 2 in central midfield with the lot we've got.

I've got this injuries permitting

O'Donnell

Mellor/Henley BRE AOC Wood

Reeves

Donaldson

After that i'm struggling because none of the others fill me with much confidence. I'm interested to know how people would fill in the blanks. We tried 4-4-2 early on and it didn't look owt special. Vaughan and Donaldson hardly set the world on fire together. And none of our wingers inspire anything. 4-3-3 seemed to work best until Donaldson got injured.

 

I think we need to start worrying less about the opposition, this league is awful. I’m not fussed about possession stats etc we need to start winning games, you’re right in that 4-4-2 might not be the answer but we must try something different

I’d play McCarten just off Vaughan Sunday with Pritchard coming in from the left

I’m not fussed what Mansfield have to offer

 

I’d have the same except Henley for Mellor. The problem is half of that team is either ill or Injured. So, a better experiment is to rearrange yesterday’s starting eleven into a 442 and see what you get. Not leaping to Bowyers defence or anything like like that, I’ve seen every game at home bar one and at times it’s not great with subs that boggle the mind but if it’s really that bad injury wise, you can only play the hand you’re dealt. They should have been 3 up at HT on Saturday, was the most one sided half I’ve seen in a while.

 

McCarten has to be given a go and i'd expect Vaughan to be clear of illness. The three at the back and 'wingbacks' doesn't really work unless you have exceptional wingbacks, might work for Klopp and Pep but then they have the picks of the worlds best full backs. Go with a back four and let them defend as a unit, its league 2 i don't expect the defenders to be playing an over complicated game.

 

we cant play 4-4-2 when the only left winger (ismail) is out poorly.
In January another left sided forward and a striker are essential.
Both signings not loans.

 

Fans screaming for it yesterday were an embarrassment.

 

Why was Pritchard taken out of the first team yesterday??
I very much doubt he will be fit for Sunday.

 

Lets play 433 then.

OD
Henley BRE O’Connor Wood
Cooke Reeves Pritchard
McCarten Vaughan Oteh

Take the game to the oppo for a change!

 

I agree.
Some were even gesturing 4-4-2 with their hands to the players at the end.
Divs
The only way to do it imo would be to play wood as a winger and Henley left back.

 

Oteh and McCartan out wide?

 

I agree with that line up bar Oteh. I would play Pritchard in his spot, move Wood up to the side of reeves and play Henley left back.

 

Of a 3

 

I agree swapping Connelly for Shay.
All running no football brain Connelly.
At least Shay has goals in him and can cross.

 

Where are the wingers then? That's 5-3-2 in disguise. No width, no creativity.

 

I was thinking more direct. There’s creativity in the midfield, and with three up top each playing off the shoulder of the other, then plenty to aim at. Wood and Henley can provide width if needed.

 

Fundamentally, there's not much difference between Bowyer's set up and yours - a CB out and a striker in is literally it. Everything else remains the same. Anything you gain by playing an extra striker you lose by depriving yourself of even more creativity as the fullbacks no longer have full licence to attack.

Bowyer needs to keep it simple for me. There was nothing wrong with 4-3-3 earlier in the season in terms of personnel- not too defensive not too attacking. The only thing it needed was better players and we now have long term absentees returning and a transfer window to sort it out.

 

I presume he's picked up the sickness bug that's been knocking about camp. It was a bit worrying to hear Bowyer say in his post match interview that Vaughan was straight into the toilet at the end of the game - if he wasn't completely recovered, why on earth was he he in the match day squad spreading his germs and risking other players coming down with the bug before Sunday?

 

my team sheet was very much based on players recovering from the bug effecting the club

 

5 hours on a coach full of infectious sickness bugs is not good for any player not suffering by the sounds of it we could struggle to field a half fit team against Mansfield
If things were so bad yesterday why on earth didn't they apply for the game to be postponed !!!!

 

Awful formation you've gone with there. To continue our unbeaten run and pick up a vital point at home against a dominant side (they haven't won in 5 so this makes them even more dangerous and hungry for 3 points), I'm going to go for an improvement on what's working so far.

Mellor-Henley-French-Paudie-Everton-O'Connor-Wood-Longridge


Cooke
Connolly (Striker)