My feeling about the window is influenced less by the individual signings and more by how we have failed to fully back the manager (in my view). With Sarr and JP in the side we should have a decent team capable of competing for the top six. As others have said, our best team is almost certainly 433 or some variation, partly to accommodate Sarr (a good problem to have) and partly because of deficiencies in our approach to transfers (a problem that does not seem to have improved despite the assurances). Edwards has a clear style of playing that he is being forced to compromise because of this. But yes assuming Sarr and JP, and with Hamza and hopefully Davis and Hause to come into the team, it could definitely have been worse.
Squad would definitely be strong enough for top 2 challenge but leaving RE without a dynamic RWB is simply idiotic and unnecessary.
With Sarr staying and the RB and LB he has at his disposal, surely a 4-3-3 system (or derivative thereof) is the only way forward ?
I do agree. Ideally we should sign a right footed winger who could play either RWB or on the left of a front 3 as an inverted winger who can cut inside. That way we could switch between the systems well. Maybe Josh Bowler could do this but he is left footed so it would be harder for him to cover those roles. Ebosele would fit this profile too. That said, the fact that none of our CBs are any good at progressing the ball would be an issue for the 3-5-2.
To play attacking 352 you need WBs that are amongst your best players as this is where the tactical difference lies. Also a CB who can bring the ball forward otherwise you have 3 defenders hanging back creating an overload for the opposition in other areas of the pitch. Seeing as we ve not got any of the above and a dearth of rumours about signing those type of players I wonder if we will end up playing 433. Which would suit our full backs, our CBs, allow us to play Sarr on the wing and have a midfield 3 to allow for Asprilla to play.
Yes, and while I take Jumbo's point, I doubt we will be able to have 2 sets of first choice FBs to play either role. The issue will be if we then sell Sarr.
Could probably play Sarr at wing back in games where we should be the stronger team, this league is absolute gash. Granted 433 works better for Sarr but I'm surprised so many people are happy to accept it, we've prepared all summer with 343/352 and the club is forcing Edwards into playing another system through shoddy recruitment. Again.
I think we’re only one RWB away from being able to toggle between the systems well. Kamara, Sema and Hungbo on the left, maybe Morris in a back four too. New attacking wing back, Gaspar and Ngakia with Hungbo able to fill in there too. Seems a pretty good range of options. But we’d still need a CB who can bring the ball out.
It has to be a 4-3-3 if we’re keeping Sarr. He’s not a striker in a 3-5-2, he’s not an inside winger in a 3-4-3 and he’s too good at this level to bench. Bachman, Gaspar, Hause, Sierrelta, Kamara, Choudhury, Louza, Asprilla, Sema, Sarr & Pedro. That guarantees you play offs. A competent lone striker would’ve been nice as I do think Pedro is more a #10 than a #9 but I don’t fancy relying on Bayo or Manaj as a starter. *Edit, I forgot all about Davis. He starts up top, Pedro takes Asprilla spot for now. In a 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1.
We have Keinan Davis. When fit he’s totally good enough to play as that 9 with Pedro playing behind him and Sarr playing off the shoulder too. That should push for the top 2 in my opinion if Rob is able to adapt.
I like that line up but injuries aside I can’t see Edwards going without his captains Cleverley or Cathcart on the pitch
Disagree personally. Louza is coming back soon, maybe Asprilla will drop deeper once Pedro comes in and we have Dele-Bashiru too. It’s something I’d like to have but it’s my third choice incoming (RWB>RCB>CM>ST).
I don't think we can expect Asprilla to play 40+ games at a high level and Dele-Bashiru will be lucky to play again this year.
Ah, we've entered the "X player could probably do a job there" phase and the phase where we start using injured players, players who haven't kicked a ball yet and players who have never played in the positions being suggested for our latest, deluded reasoning of why "we'll be fine". Here we go again.
He's functional as a defender, but as RS2 said It would be an option when you're playing the dross that makes up the majority of this division
Yep, I made myself look a right Duxbury with that comment ……that said, I’m sure it didn’t go unnoticed to Edwards that there was no “captain” rallying the troops out there today.
I think he should be tried as a midfielder or at least deeper like he was playing before Manaj came off. He has great passing range, a nice technique and can carry it forward, spot a through ball. He also has the size to win midfield battles and the work rate to get stuck in. As a 'connector', he makes a real impact. He isn't that good as a number 9.
His OTT ( IMHO) celebration after making it 2-2 was bound to come back to haunt him - making it 3-0 or in a comfort zone then fair enough - just get on with the game and get us ahead
