Echo today

[BLUEBLOOD]

i wonder if the game could be in doubt if this rain carries on.

Don't be soft lad ... you've obviously been watching too much cricket ;)

 

[PrawNZ]

or tennis!

 

[sufcintheprem]

Its a good idea to try... but in reality I feel we are only doing this because we have no wingers! Imo this a complete change of how we play, as we always push to get the ball wide at every opportunity, this is a narrow way of playing and rather than putting a lot of crosses into the box this is involves feeding the strikers with through balls... usually best employed with pacy strikers this doesn't fit with the signing of Paul Furlong who I would imagine is at his most dangerous in the air?!

Depends how we do it really. The best use of this formation is almost certainly Italy or Milan where Pirlo is used as a deep lying playmaker (Maher, basically) and the two in the middle of the park are required to cover their full backs while the attacking player plays like the more attacking central player in 4-4-2.

Bailey would work very well as one of the central two and McCormack could probably do it too. Not sure who we have for attacking and defending. Moussa one day could be the deep-lying player. Francis and Mulgrew, to be honest, would be ideal as full backs for this at League One level/

I hoenstly doubt we've put much thought in to it though. Friendlies, especially this one, are primed as opportunities for players to get match fitness.

 

[SUFCEssex]

Don't be soft lad ... you've obviously been watching too much cricket ;)

i know but with all this rain wakering isn't the best ground in the world.

 

[Andy_S]

I cant see why we didnt hold onto Black

Because he was a tubby, lazy git, who did very little to earn a new deal? That and the fact that none of the players around him seemed to enjoy having him in the team probably didn't help. We can do far better.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

I think Anthony Grant would be perfect for the holding role with Bailey and Macca in front of him. Do need a replacement for Gower tho to play in the hole.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

For anyone who is interested, this is Ian Joyce. Also spent some time at Grays last season but never played for them.

Does he moonlight as a scarecrow? he's obviously doing a good job - no birds to be seen.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

I think Anthony Grant would be perfect for the holding role with Bailey and Macca in front of him. Do need a replacement for Gower tho to play in the hole.

Agree that Grant would be ideal for the holding role, Scannell or Moose for the "Free" role?

 

[Neil_F]

For what it's worth this is my take on it:

I think the "free role" will be the least free on the whole pitch. I would personally have Paul Furlong play there with Barnard and Walker operating in the channels on the shoulder of the last defender.

Moussa would be the holding man and Bailey and McCormack would be given licence to push forward. The thinking would be that Barnard and Walker would push teams back as they were worried about being turned round and leaving too much ground to exploit. That would allow Furlong to hold the ball up higher up the pitch in an area less likely to be challenged. He would then have Bailey and/or Macca to move the ball to and he would then get in the box.

The problem I think would be defensively. I think it would expose us greatly when teams moved the ball across the pitch in one or two passes. I don't see how we would be able to get across in time. It would almost give a free opportunity to the opposition to put the ball in the box from a wide area.

 

[Cricko]

For anyone who is interested, this is Ian Joyce. Also spent some time at Grays last season but never played for them.

I wonder if anybody has told him that he is missing his Cross..

Oh a Double pun..:unsure:

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Cant see it working. Dont have a natural defensive player. Macca and Bailey both like getting forward, Moussa isnt a great tackler and Scannel is still a rough diamond. We need to buy at least 2 more midfielders as at the mo those are the only 4 mids we have, any injuries or suspensions we are buggered. Plus our strikers arent particularly mobile which doesnt lend itself to this system.

Er, did you watch you last season?

Nicky Bailey played a lot of his best football protecting the back four and is probably the best defensive midfielder I've seen at the club.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

For what it's worth this is my take on it:

I think the "free role" will be the least free on the whole pitch. I would personally have Paul Furlong play there with Barnard and Walker operating in the channels on the shoulder of the last defender.

Moussa would be the holding man and Bailey and McCormack would be given licence to push forward. The thinking would be that Barnard and Walker would push teams back as they were worried about being turned round and leaving too much ground to exploit. That would allow Furlong to hold the ball up higher up the pitch in an area less likely to be challenged. He would then have Bailey and/or Macca to move the ball to and he would then get in the box.

The problem I think would be defensively. I think it would expose us greatly when teams moved the ball across the pitch in one or two passes. I don't see how we would be able to get across in time. It would almost give a free opportunity to the opposition to put the ball in the box from a wide area.

Interesting take on it. I don't necessarily disagree, but I'd be surprised if Tilly and Brush went that way with it. It might involve Walker dropping back to be the free man.