Lessons for Neil?

[GazzaTCC]

It probably seems a tad harsh to some, given the start to the season we've had and that we're sitting second in the League, but there are several points, nothing major, that I think Adams needs to reflect on if this season is to be the success we all crave.

First, as McNally mentioned at the supporters forum on Friday, the objective over the summer was to have cover with two players in each position. I don't think anyone would disagree with this, the trick, which I believe Neil has yet to address properly, is how to rotate / tinker with his starting XI and match day squad so as many players are match fit, or near to being match fit as possible. If last night proved anything, it's that the balance isn't there yet.

Second, pick on form, not reputation. Wes clearly wasn't match fit on Saturday, whatever test he may have passed to suggest otherwise. We have options, so why not use them? Similarly, Grabban seems to be struggling at the moment, so why not try Lafferty up front with Jerome, for example.

Third, remove the obsession of trying to fit Wes into ever formation. We all know the player's strengths and weaknesses, he's been here long enough, so don't start him wide left.

Fourthly, play players in their strongest position. VOO came with the reputation of being an attacking midfield player, yet, to date, he's been played wide right. Likewise, Lafferty, Elliott Bennett, Nathan Redmond have all been played wide left, whilst captain, Russ, has been played at centre back. I realise that there may be occasions when needs must, but this seems to be happening too frequently.

Fifth, Bradley Johnson, vice captain, just don't do it. This suggests he's almost undroppable, he's not, nor should he be deemed incapable of being taken off.

Well, there you go. Second is great and shouldn't be dismissed, but, as with everything in life, it's about recognising your strengths and weaknesses and adapting accordingly. I'm just not sure Neil is there yet?

OTBC

 

[morty]

Good stuff, can't really disagree with anything there!

 

[GazzaTCC]

Having sold Pilkington and Surman, both of which i agreed with, I'm beginning to think that we're actually short of players in the wide left position. Only Josh Murphy is a natural there and he's not ready at the moment for a full game.

 

[morty]

Having sold Pilkington and Surman, both of which i agreed with, I'm beginning to think that we're actually short of players in the wide left position. Only Josh Murphy is a natural there and he's not ready at the moment for a full game.

Stop saying stuff I agree with lol. Yes, there is definitely space for a naturally left sided player on loan. 

 

[GazzaTCC]

A Huckerby esque type of wide left?

 

[morty]

A Huckerby esque type of wide left?

If I'm honest, no. My reasoning being is that I wouldn't want to stifle chances for Josh. Actually I'd like more of a Surman type player. In fact, it was for this reason that I thought he would stay.

 

[SussexYellow]

Agree with bits of of the OP but.....

Not sure Grabban has been struggling. Just has not scored for a couple of games. What we have been seeing is maybe what we are going to get with our Lewis. The early goals have overly raised expectations. However if you are going to rotate maybe worth giving Hooper a go with Jerome.

Lafferty for me is a bit of an enigma, not sure if he is a wide man or a striker. Does not get enough goals to be a striker so maybe a wide man. Possibly switching flanks with Redmond during the game.

VOO is another one we just do not know enough about yet. I had read that he was more a defensive midfielder. We will see in time I guess!

 

[GazzaTCC]

Sussex, perhaps, on reflection, I was a little harsh on Grabban. Having got off to a flyer, he now looks like a player desperate for a goal, almost trying too hard. Some of his decision making was poor on Saturday, shooting when he should be passing for example.

 

[Robert Brompton]

I have to say that I have been really impressed with Grabban and feel that his overall game has actually improved as we have played more games despite his scoring streak coming to an end. At Brentford he worked incredibly hard and opened up a lot of space for Jerome by dragging defenders out into the channels. From what I saw last night I don't see Hooper ousting him for some time yet (barring injury).

 

[eatonparkboy]

Sussex, perhaps, on reflection, I was a little harsh on Grabban. Having got off to a flyer, he now looks like a player desperate for a goal, almost trying too hard. Some of his decision making was poor on Saturday, shooting when he should be passing for example.

i think perhaps you are a tad harsh all round. We all have our favourites and I guess the manager does as well and I would imagine there are 5-6 players in the starting XI who would have to play a number of games badly for them to be dropped.

While we have a big squad you would imagine that maybe one bad game and you are under pressure. But to be honest, I believe it is difficult for a manager to drop a player who he believes is not performing as he should but has faith in that player to get it right.

Yes Wes can look a passenger. And Bradley does give away the odd easy ball. But do you say John Ruddy should be looked at because of Birmingham's first goal? Some would argue that having got hands to it he should have kept it out. 

I think their is room for negative criticism about a team performance or individual one but for the moment I think Adams has been first class as a whole and has done everything he promised and what we expected of him. And I genuinely believe his experiences on Canary Call etc have been a bonus in understanding what the majority of supporters are looking for.

 

[splutcho]

I'd agree with a lot of the OP. Especially on forcing players in where they can't really play. I can't imagine VOO was thrilled at being shoved out wide last night and if I never see Wes Hoolahan play as a left winger again, it'll be too soon.

 

[Yellow Fever]

Good discussion. I agree with the main drift of the OP, but also feel it's a tad harsh. I do not understand players playing out of position with a squad as big as ours. Adams seems to have abandoned the 4-2-3-1 which was working well for a 4-4-2 which, IMO, has hardly worked at all. Had we stuck with the former, Odjidja-Ofoe could have played as an ACM instead of WR switching to WL. It seems that the formation is forcing the players roles. As for last night, it was always going to be difficult to get fluid play from 11 players who have hardly played together before. Gary Gowers sums this up nicely:

"There is no questioning the quality of those brought in – we’ve discussed at length the depth of the current squad – but by making wholesale changes, however logical, you end up with eleven talented individuals but not necessarily a good team. And so it proved. Last night’s starting XI was almost a brand new team and, however well drilled they have been on the fields of Colney, to expect them to ‘click’ as a unit was always going to be a big ask. And it’s not just the team cohesion that suffers. Minus a bona fide reserve league it’s also nigh on impossible to maintain the required levels of match fitness."

 

[ZLF]

A Huckerby esque type of wide left?

you mean an inverted winger  h34r:

 

[Din]

Agree with all that, particularly about playing players in their strongest position. The likes of Odjidja-Ofoe, Lafferty, and Hoolahan aren't going to be at their best unless they're played in their strongest position.

 

[GazzaTCC]

you mean an inverted winger h34r:

Haha, i was meaning in terms of his impact when he arrived, but, as Morty said it would limit the opportunities for Josh.

There's nothing wrong with inverted wingers, as a concept if they can cross with both feet, or go inside or outside with pace. Hucks ticked all those boxes, not sure that the current options we have do?

 

[GazzaTCC]

Yellow Fever - I have no issue with formations being varied from game to game, dependent on opposition and whether we're home or away. Every formation has its plus points and negative ones.

However, whatever you go with, it's not really formations that win or lose you games, it's players. And square pegs in round holes does nothing to assist the cause.

Last night's selection wasn't helped by the fact that Hooper & Howson were playing their first games of the season, having come back from injury. Nor that Cuellar VOO & Miquel joined late in the window, so missed pre-season with us. It had all the look of an accident waiting to happen, but, rather that than in a League game!

 

[Yellow Fever]

I agree with that Gazza, but my point was, chose the players then choose the formation rather than vice versa. I'm really pleased with the way Adams and Holt and Martin have brought attacking football and high tempo passing back, but the reversion to 4-4-2 without players suited to it doesn't make any sense to me. IMO, Odjidja-Ofoe has a lot to offer as an ACM, but he looks out of place out on the wing in a 4-4-2, where Josh would be more appropriate. 

 

[GazzaTCC]

Most top level coaches agree that 4-4-2 is rather dated. We're suffering at the moment because we don't have a natural, experienced, wide left player.

I'm also happy with the 4-2-3-1 option, although, maybe we should consider 4-3-3 or, even 4-3-1-2. I think we have t the squad for all three options.

 

[Boyerboy]

I think Yellow Fever is right. It is a lot to do with formations. The 4231 formation served us well especially with the front four switching positions.

What has complicated things is the impact of Jerome. Suddenly, Adams is trying to fit two strikers in so 442.

But, that meant Wes out wide which doesn't always flow and it means that the central midfield is Tettey and Johnson so we lose the thrust from midfield that Wes has been giving us and Howson or Vadis also provide.

I think Adams needs to choose his one striker and perhaps play Grabban from a wider role as he did with Lafferty.

Adams is suffering the first effect of his super squad and he must make very difficult decisions

 

[Yellow Fever]

The problem with 4-4-2 is that we only have one senior player who is a natural winger, Elliot Bennett (although he can also play in the other formations). Redmond can play that role, but it restricts him. I have yet to see Wes succeed out wide left and so he's wasted there. Either a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 would suit the players we have very well. Jerome, Lafferty and Grabban have shown that they can play flexibly up front. I hope we aren't changing the formation just to suit Hooper who, IMO, could also play up front in either a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 when he's match fit again. I'm hoping that Odjidja-Ofoe can slot in behind the striker(s) the way Wes does, but provide power and goal-scoring as well (much like Damien Francis did back in 2004-5).