January Transfer Window

Think the issue is that if we don't go up then we know that we haven't gone for up it.

Swindon, Exeter and Crewe all play on the front front. Yes, against teams like us they might be a little more defensive but normally it's about pressing and getting men into the box.

I can't believe with the players we have that we're not going for it.

The problem is Bowyer not the formations. Bowyer!

Fans don't mind losing games if your team have at least given it a go.

 

Bowyer is the problem mate.

We've the players to be attack minded.

When listening to Wellens yesterday, it was like he was saying the league is poor and we will attack and see.

 

What question?

 

That might be a little too late, not having a go @Biker but we have just had several threads most saying the club would be mad to not bring Doyle back, I don't think either Doyle or Vaughan could be criticised for the lack of supply they got or didn't get, did we need two defensive midfield players in the midfield three that basically sat just in front of the defense and created nothing.
The subs made sense although for my money Akpan could have replaced either Reeves or Palmer, I hope Palmer isn't one of his favorites because both were poor, Oteh for Taylor was the right decision maybe he could have brought Gibson on for Connolly but I was quite happy with McCartan.

 

Sorry mate missed that post.

The formation I would play with the current players is:

4-3-3

Henley, POC, AOC, Wood

Reeves,Taylor, Cooke

Connolly, Doyle, Vaughan

We've the players to be more attacking and press! Bowyer is holding the team back.

When Devitt and Harry are back I would look to get them in to the side.

In the transfer window it's all about shipping players out but getting a decent RB.

Think our problem is we don't have a decent left sided winger to play 4-4-2 and Donaldson is out then to play 5-3-2 our full backs don't push on much and are not good on the ball.

 

As I've posted above seeing that starting 11 I didn't have a problem with it I thought there was enough within that squad to bring points home, but it was evident from the 11th minute when Palmer rattled our cross bar with that header that we had opposition that were prepared to have a go, and for a team that had only 2 wins in 13 or what ever it was we should have worked harder and done the basic stuff which is expected from a team sitting joint 3rd in the table.
I watched the whole game and can honestly say not one player deserved more than a 5, possibly the only exceptions being Vaughan and Doyle who had little to work with, although I still think a man with 23 goals to his credit so far this season should have scored.

 

Down to the manager for me.

Barring 1 or 2 games since he's been here I have need seen us really control a game and press from the off.

We've the players!

 

Yes I remember Our managers connection with Forest
and mixed him up with Ian Bowyer at Forest.Too many
Bowyers at that time!

Wonder if we would benefit from an ex striker as assistant
coach?

 

How do you think given your expert opinion we have the best home record in the league ?

 

Teams are seeing coming to VP a good point.

They're changing their style to playing on the counter.

As many have stated nothing wrong with going to say Swindon and playing 5-3-2 being a bit defensive the problem is overall Bowyer's mindset and application to the game is far too negative which cost us against teams we should be beating.

 

I just about agree but I'd elaborate slightly. We looked good attacking late on against Northampton, scoring 2 in the final 20 minutes, with Cooke and Pritchard playing 4-2-? of sorts (with Mellor, Donaldson, Vaughn and Ismail). We looked very good attacking in a 4-2-3-1 versus Swindon. Cooke and Pritchard played (with Donaldson, Mellor and Connolly - no Vaughn). We looked good attacking for half a game against Salford in a 5-3-2. Cooke and Pritchard played (without Donaldson or Vaughn but with Oteh,Connolly and Mellor). Maybe it's the players more than the formation. We've attacked best with Cooke, Pritchard and Mellor. 4-2-3-1 has been exciting with them a few times. 5-3-2 looked more solid but has been tedious without them. I reckon 4-2-3-1 or 5-3-2 could be fine so long as we have Cooke (I think probably best next to Reeves or Akpan), Pritchard and Mellor.

An untried alternative for attacking play with those 3 would be 5-2-3 defend/3-4-3 attack = GK - AoC, PoC, BRE - Mellor, Cooke, Pritchard (Akpan until fit), Wood - Connolly, Donaldson(Oteh until fit) and Vaughn. For me, that's the 11 that have gelled best. (Bench would then be GK, Oteh, Reeves, McCartan, Ismail, Akpan and Henley who I think are all very worthy of sub appearances to try win places back and offer tactical changes.)

That's my choice from a myriad that have maybe resulted in some poor performances from having too many players and trying to keep them all happy.

 

Bowyer said on BBC radio after Crawley game that
we aren't going forward enough and too much side
to side passing.We've been doing that all season so
why doesn't he tell them to get the ball forward more?

 

Reeves and Palmer.

 

I thought Bowyer was a right back. He was when I saw him play. A plodding full back.

 

People who disparage this league must remember we’ve spent a hell of a long time in it over the years and many good managers and players have tried in vain to get us out of it. We don’t appear to have the right balance at the moment and this must be addressed in this window. I reckon we need three good signings to create the momentum to take us up. DCM, LW, RB. Is our manager cheeky enough and single minded enough to be on the phone constantly looking to wheel and deal, Warnock style! I think not. I remember Warnock conning Lenny Lawrence into taking Mitchell for Sinnot. That’s the kind of cheek I admire in context . Not many in the game liked Warnock be he got results. I suspect fellow managers like Bowyer. He’s a nice man. Too pleasant and polite.

 

Defensive midfielder is probably a priority, we have too many of the same type, who I feel think they can't be creative in case they lose it and then there's just an enormous space they can run through freely to our defense

 

Leftfield shout.. Matt Rhead till end of the season..Physical presence league experience.. Better then a kid out of nappies.