team selc./ Lambert/ Newcastle/ summer t. window

[smooth 114]

Yes I am trying to get four topics on to one post but today highlighted all four.

 

(1) Team selection - Since the Swansea game, every game there have been dramatic changes to the side with a number of players coming in and out. There has been little stability. I think most of us would agree that that at the Stoke game our team selection was not ideal with players ghostly in presence on the field. Today we were shouting out to change the system, 1 shot on target until Moriosn came on and had two headers. The diamond again did not work in an attacking principle, our possession was very much in our own half, it wasn''t hurting Wigan. I think we were lucky to get a draw today and still believe the 4-4-2 is our best system.

 

(2) Lambert has been exceptional throughout this, and other seasons, in regard to recognising the right times to play players, bring players in to the team from injury or changing a system. I do feel that the Stoke game, he was out thought by Pulis and today Martinez did out Fox Lambert as he waited to the last 10 minutes to bring on two wide players. We were trying to go through the middle but with players not capable of actually doing that at this level. Our strength relies on quick passing and getting balls in the danger areas. If you don''t shoot you don''t scroe and today we did play alot of stuff in 2/3 of the field, unfortunately it wasn''t in their final third.

 

(3) Newcastle, please revert to the 4-4-2 and play with two wide players. Defensively we lloked a little stretched, such a shame ayala is out Ward and Whitbread is def not as assured. Midfield does have to be changed and we need a threat on goal. So for me it is Ruddy, Naughton, Bennett, Whitbreat, Drury, EB, Fox, Surman, Pilky, Morison and Holt. Yes it means our goal scorer is taken out of the first team and Jackson who has been very workman like. But we do not need workman like, that will not win you games, that will keep you in games. Newcastle will be a very stiff test but I feel we need to begin to get our performances back up to scratch.

 

(4) I think this does lead to the summer transfer window, today we need an on-field player to shake up a performance like what we saw today. We know full back issues are there, we also know a striker is going to be needed with Martin and Wilbraham likely to leave. But genuine pace is needed out wide and that a midfield general who can put in the tackles and actually get a team fired up. Bradley Johnson looked to be that player and in time may well be, but we need that physical presence in our midfield. Strong, energized and dominating, adeyemi and korey can come back with experience but our midfield needs some physical clout.

 

I also note that I say the team for Newcastle does not have a great physical presence but that is because I believe we are struggling in that area with our current crop. Hoolahan can come from off the bench, Crofts and Johnson can fight for that position on the bench, but in order for us to beat Newcastle they cannot start. If we want to win the game, the ball has to go to cretaive players out wide who can put quality in to the path of two strikers who are hungry to score, Morison and Holt. That is when we are at our best.

[GJP 79]

[quote user="smooth"]

 

I also note that I say the team for Newcastle does not have a great physical presence but that is because I believe we are struggling in that area with our current crop. Hoolahan can come from off the bench, Crofts and Johnson can fight for that position on the bench, but in order for us to beat Newcastle they cannot start. If we want to win the game, the ball has to go to cretaive players out wide who can put quality in to the path of two strikers who are hungry to score, Morison and Holt. That is when we are at our best.

[/quote]

When we beat Newcastle in December both Crofts and Hoolahan started the game so I don''t understand how you can be so certain that they "cannot start" if we are to win. Hoolahan was also on the scoresheet in that game.

 

Though I do agree with what else you have said about needing more pace in midfield. Based on the game yesterday both Fox and Hoolahan are more worth their places than Crofts and Surman. Hoolahan tried very hard but Grant Holt didn''t provide much of an outlet for him and both Crofts and Surman failed to bring any kind of dynamism to the game (not that you would expect Crofts to do so to be honest but it was a disappointing showing from Surman.

 

Very hard to know what the manager is going to do. We have been making too many changes over the last few weeks but you can''t really keep the same side after that lacklustre performance against Wigan.

 

[Official Joe 0]

I didn''t go to Stoke so I don''t know if Howson can bring anything to the midfield here but agree with Smooth that our possession yesterday was lacking a cutting pass through to Jackson and Holt. 

[pete 371]

Ward starting to look shaky, Ryan Bennett with his pace (Presumably he is pacy) to slot in alongside Zak, we need some pace in the centre of defence.

[GJP 79]

[quote user="pete"]Ward starting to look shaky. [/quote]

"Shaky" would be an improvement on his performance yesterday. He was absolutely woeful, boardering on embarrassing.

 

I thought he was "unsung hero" of our promotion campaign last season and I''ve been a big fan of his but against Wigan he was all over the place.

 

He''s a a bit of a unit so he can make a lot of big wins and he''s got quality on the ball but Rodallega, Moses and company terrorized him with their movement and pace.

 

On that showing I''d rather have Leon Barnett in the team.

[smooth 114]

GJP, I certainly mentioned prior to the game against Newc. at home we had an opprotunity to go away from the way we had started the game, with Tiote, Coloccini and Taylor out. It was a very different game.

 

In the upcoming game, many of these players will be back and certainly having watched our midfield against Wigan play pretty ineptly then I cannot see Hoolahan have a field day with Tiote marking him or the bite and energy of crofts being great for the start of the game. The more I see of Crofts this season the more he looks like a midfielder who can help us in the last quarter of the game with fresh legs and strength. Over the full 90 he is not producing enough to warrant a starting place in the worlds best league. And that is it, he is a cracking player that performed exceptionally last year, but we have risen to the top flight.

 

Hoolahan in the central midfield role would have to be on a tight rein as Newcastle have some very tidy and capable players. For me to win the game, we can do that by not playing through the middle and little clever balls from Hoolahan (although later in the game that can work). For me it is two wide midfielders who get balls in the box for two strong forwards that will win us the game. Surman and Fox could ping the ball about and hold the central midfield position (although Howson could play this role alongside either Fox or Surman) and allow EB and Pilky to play. We also have seen that our full backs cannot be isolated as they were in the diamond with the players that we have.

 

Again really looking forward to the Newcastle game, it will be great to see what changes Lambert brings in and to see a performance that warrants our position in the table against a very good newcastle.

[technika 0]

think we really badly need tierney back. drurys doing ok but not a premiership full back these days. father time catching up with his legsid like to see martin and whitbread or martin/bennett in the middle with naughton at right back obviously (martin not a cb, prob roams to much but have never seen him give anything less than 100% and i think he reads the game better than ayala or ward)deep sitting counter attacking 451 for the rest of the year rotating holt/morison up front, two defensive/deep mids, two wingers and hooly just behind the striker, bit boring but time to grind out some pointsand someone please ask ruddy to actually throw the ball out quickly for a change instead of pretending too and then not actually doing shit, waiting for the opposition to get back in position, hoofing it and then looking shocked when it comes straight back. Hes prob up for pots this year but ffs he does it about 25 times a game and i cant believe no ones clocked itas for the transfers i fucking hope they get rid of jackson, wilbraham and chris martin this summer as they are a waste of space/wages at this level. If vaughan doesnt come back and do something impressive id get rid of him as well but i dont think there would be too many takers with him not really showing the doubters wrong about his fitness ( yet again) this season