Been pondering this for a while now, when the first XI dropped, for the first time this season, I'd say there was a general feeling of positivity, and rightly so as it was probably the strongest XI we've put out, yet in practice, we all saw that the team is highly flawed. I keep going through scenarios in my head, but until we have an actual left-back who isn't crocked, pretty much any system we put out is going to have some problems. I've been banging the drum for Will Hughes a lot, but what changes when he comes in? With Perica out for a while now and Gray not up to speed yet, what do we do about the strikers? Sarr and Pedro have had their moments playing together as a nominal front two, but it's clear that it doesn't really work, but as long as we go for 3 at the back, bringing in a striker means we lose a body in the midfield. So, what's the solution? Continue hoping to grind out wins until we sign a left-back, or bite the bullet and play Kiko or Sema in a position they're not fully comfortable in, in the hope that we'll look more fluent elsewhere on the pitch?
Surely Hughes will come in for a Quina or Garner (they seem to switch around) and Gray might get a chance as a more natural striker and with good form at this level. Think I'd rather have Kiko as a left back - be quicker and just about better defensive wise. Sema is useful in a more forward role rather than wing back.
That's it for me. Sema unlucky to miss out, probably heavily rotated with Pedro who in turn rotates with Gray and Perica.
About right, but just play Wilmot. I'm beyond bored of Cathcart and his years of mediocrity. We need to give Wilmot a chance to develop, not favour crap like Cathcart ahead of him and stifle yet another of our young players.
Garner for me, I think his top level is higher than Chalobah and Cleverley, and can also do a bit of the dirty work too (although with Capoue and Hughes in the team there'll be less of a need for that from him). Maybe put Hughes further back with Capoue and then have Garner further up the pitch too. What is it that's actually stopping us from playing this? Is it just a case of Will Hughes to come back, or is Vlad really insistent on a genuine left-back in order to play this system? (Not to detract from that woeful showing at all, whatever system we play you'd really hope for better against Wycombe from Cleverley, Quina and Capoue in particular)
It’s true. To me so far Wilmot has looked slightly average a bit limited “British” defender. But at least he’s an unknown that COULD become great. Cathcart is only heading one way. He also only made it above Kabasele because he doesn’t have as many brain farts, Cathcart’s problem is he just totally and utterly hates the football lol. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I quite like your choice squibba, but I would go slightly different in a 4231 formation: - same back four, Hughes and Capoue sitting in front of them and alternating pushing forward when needed. Sema on the left Pedro in behind the front man with a free role and Sarr on the right. Up front when fit Perica, but until then a rotation of Gray, Deeney and Murray.
I was unsure when I saw Cathcart in your lineup, but also unsure who is so much better to replace him aside from WTE. I've pretty much landed on what Nath suggests - if Wilmot is ever going to develop as a centre back who can play in a two as well as a three, playing alongside WTE in this division is about the best opportunity for it he could get. That would of course be aided by the rest of the defence being comfortable rather than boasting a makeshift left back who is defensively suspect at the best of times, but in all fairness, Femenia has has periods of competence whilst being fielded as an orthodox left back - maybe some miraculous act of god would see that replicated. Either that, or intelligent action with the recruitment of a left-back from free agency.
I'd imagine the reason Wilmot didn't play tonight was because he's not the strongest in the air, which does kind of beg the question why he wasn't involved against Bournemouth? I don't know, all our defenders (apart from Troost-Ekong) all offer something but are ultimately all much of a muchness, Ivic has done well to make us look more solid generally, but mistakes are beginning to creep in from time to time. At least with Wilmot I suppose he has scope to improve, could be a really good defender if we put faith in him
Yep, it's the point I've made before. Both Wilmot and Cathcart are average, but one is young with the potential to improve a great deal and possibly become a Premier League level defender, whereas the other is an ageing, bang average Championship defender who will never be good enough for the Premier League again and is only going to regress further. Logic says the young player with potential to develop should be playing and given that chance ahead of one of our many proven failures, but we hate developing young players and seem intent on stifling them and ruining their careers whilst persisting year after year with crap like Cathcart and Cleverley.
Seem to be one of Garner or Quina to me with one of Cleverley/Capoue/Chalobah plus Hughes taking the other midfield roles.
There is literally no contest between Capoue, Cleverley and Chalobah at all. There's one choice when fit and it's definitely not the two latter hopeless cloggers.
Cleverley and Chalobah have had good games this season, but purely for their off the ball work, on the ball...yeah, not good. Cleverley in particular managed to spurn what could have been a golden opportunity to seal the game when we were 1-0 tonight, wasn't even a particularly difficult pass to JP, but he still ****ed it up. That said, Capoue, who did look a level above in his cameos off the bench, was utterly pathetic today, but still, all things being equal, he's streets ahead of Chalobah and Cleverley
Cleverley will likely still play coz he is Captain. Cathcart picked by Ivic yesterday because of his distribution i expect. Wilmot's was poor at times in his last start whereas Cathcart played a killer pass against Bmouth. Hopefully Hughes and Gray start and improve the team. I dont mind Garner from what i have seen so far. I'd play him over Quina. Though Quina could be an option as a sub for Pedro wide left once we get a striker playing. Powder puff as a midfielder but does have some dribbling skills running towards the box i noticed last night. Handy against tired defenders last 15 mins of games.
It's a bit pointless to talk about a 'strongest team' when we know that the squad will be constantly rotated throughout the season to cope with the number of games in quick succession. However, what is clear from last night and the previous games is that we need a true striker in the team. Murray's run and shot in the last minute was the only central threat to the goal. Whatever formation is chosen (and I would include 4-4-2 as another possibility), our best players now are essentially wide players who need specialist strikers to aim for.
Do we think Gray and Hughes are going actually be involved Saturday? Seem to be “fit” for a while but not got in the squad yet.
I'd pretty much go along with that, although I'd have Hughes deeper and maybe Quina in the Hughes position. I'd like to see Deeney play a prominent part too. We're really missing this type of bully on the pitch right now, although Gray's pace and hard work ethic would probably be a better fit for this team.
I think we should’ve bought in an experienced championship midfielder, like a Watson or Eustace type. When teams go down and look to go back up they normally add a few top draw championship players that know the division. Capoue is class but he’s isn’t going to be what we need in games like last night. Hopefully Hughes will improve us, but we keep saying that about various players who have been integrated since and it hasn’t been the case.
I like the thinking behind this team (although would be tempted to change both centre backs). We are on paper one of the strongest teams in the league so there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to be positive / attacking. Get our best players on the pitch.
Probably on the bench if at all, and depending on how things are going maybe they will get a late cameos, just to give them a run out.
