Does he know his best team?

[Number 9]

Many pages of message boards are dedicated to our considered team for the coming game. To be fair, we all have an opinion and provide some nearly logical reasoning to support the madness of our preference.

However, it regularly leaves me gobsmacked when, an hour before kickoff, we get to enjoy Alex Neil's team. Personel and formation changes are commonplace and often leave me scratching the head, wondering where on earth that selection came from.

Surely a settled team which plays together more often than not, will perform better in the long run. I know Tettey is suspended etc, and injuries strike, but those variables don't go anywhere near explaining Neil's tinkering.

So, here's the thing, should the team be changed so frequently? 

If we're so good, why are we changing around shape and players every game or two?

 

[morty]

A lot of his changes are forced though. Obviously some are tactical, based on the opposition, but not all.

And sometimes it can be about shoehorning certain players in, for example if you're playing 4-4-2, I really don't think you can play Hoolahan. Also you need a good strong midfield pair, my ideal would probably be Dorrans and Howson, who have both overlapped being out injured.

Also look at the suspensions we have had recently too.

Trouble is he is criticised when he changes it, and also when he doesn't.

 

[Number 9]

It's not scientific I'll grant you, but it's not unusual for me to be surprised when looking at the team news prior experience a game.

Difficult to predict what team Neil will put out.

Who suggested a 442 against Wigan?

 

[morty]

It's not scientific I'll grant you, but it's not unusual for me to be surprised when looking at the team news prior experience a game.

Difficult to predict what team Neil will put out.

Who suggested a 442 against Wigan?

I think what partially drove it was midfield options, Mulumbu isn't the most mobile and dynamic. 

But obviously its a lot to do with the opposition, Alex mentioned that Wigan have started playing a lot narrower and more compact, so obviously thought we could do well with a bit of wing play. By all accounts though Wildschutt was given dogs abuse from minute one till the final whistle, and it looks like it affected him.

I think we'll be back to what we normally play, on Saturday. 

 

[Number 9]

The Wildman:

He's obviously not fit / up to speed yet

Professional player shouldn't really be affected by the crowd like that, he will improve.

Wigan;

Are we having to adapt our players & formation, completely changing everything, to play a team who are gonna be Div 3 come August?

 

[morty]

The Wildman:

He's obviously not fit / up to speed yet

Professional player shouldn't really be affected by the crowd like that, he will improve.

Wigan;

Are we having to adapt our players & formation, completely changing everything, to play a team who are gonna be Div 3 come August?

You put out the team that can best exploit the other teams weaknesses, and give us the best chance of winning.

I think we approached this in the same way as the Cardiff game, knowing it wasn't going to be all silky passing and skill. The manager knew it was going to be a bit of a battle and picked the team accordingly. Cardiff showed that sometimes you have to play ugly, and you have to select the players who can do that.

As much as I love them, can you really see either Murphy charging into a 50/50 tackle with some brute of a player?

I don't think the pitch was up to much either.

I also think that arrogantly assuming we should beat teams like Barnsley etc has been our undoing this season.

 

[Number 9]

The theory is fine, but many times since Neil has been in charge, his tactics have proven to be lacking. We haven't won games with our better players and adjusted tactics.

History doesn't prove Neil's case.

 

[morty]

Ahhhh, now I see where this is going

 

[Number 9]

It's not going there?

The other logical line is the effect it has on players.

If you played your best, gave 100% did as well as you possibly could with few discernible mistakes, how do you feel when you're dropped the next game?

 

[morty]

To be fair players that have been dropped have mostly deserved it, Klose, Wes, Pritchard.

 

[Canaryboy]

I'm glad he rotated out Wes, shows he realises that he pushed him too far earlier in the season. The bloke is too old to start every fixture and he was being asked to at one point, then his performances suffered and he was dropped for about 5 or 6 weeks.

When we've got a midweek game and a weekend game, Wes should be sitting one of them out. We'll see the best of him that way. That particular decision was a correct one for me. 

 

[Number 9]

As long as he plays in the right one