Salopian 1 Posted September 19, 2007 Once you have made the decision to pick Hux, then the subsequent question is, "How can we stop the opposition rampaging down the open left?" (Last night Drury again struggled with a winger with pace.)You can try playing 4-3-3, which worked in the promotion season because we had a firmer defence, or you can play 4-4-2. If it''s the latter, to play Hux as a striker means that the other striker is on his own, while if you play him as the wide left player you are playing 4-3-3 in effect. We have seen this problem for so long, because Hux is neither a winger nor a striker, but Hux and perhaps Hux not yet quite at his best.At Charlton, the manager opted for four midfielders apart from from Hux. This had the consequence of a limited strike force - a wandering Hux and a lonely Brown, but it did a reasonmably good job of containment after the usual nervy start.Why Brown? I suspect because of his physical strength and ability to hold the ball, and the admitted tiredness of Dave on Saturday. Why not Curo? We have seen when Ernie another small''un played a lone role that he was not very effective. Why not Shackell? PG had spoken about the pressure of games and playing someone too soon. These were all his judgement, and it nearly came off with a little luck! The manager would have been a hero if the score had remained 0-0 for a few more minutes. But he has become a villain because of a moment of tiredness/failure of concentration by Doc in not heading away the long ball, and because the foul by Brellier was given in the area. From hero to villain because of failures by others. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Citizen Journalist Foghorn 0 Posted September 19, 2007 ANd I thought Alan Pardew made the bold decision to bring on Mccloud, who turned the game for them. (Having said that they rattled our woodwork 3 times so were due some luck...) Our manager didnt have the guts to bring on Cureton or Dave for thath exceptional talent Chris Brown. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ricky knight 0 Posted September 19, 2007 We have to have the bottle to go away and actually try to win games, our away record is a joke so why not change our mindset, things will continue this way while we look for 0-0. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites