Question Our formation - should it change sometimes?

[Holy Joe]

I like this idea, I had thought about it, however i feel Noor would be capable of playing that CAM role. I think we are missing a trick not giving him a more free role. He's so creative.

I was hoping that was what he was going to do on Sat when Morton came on, but he didn't seem to.

 

[Zeuss]

I was hoping that was what he was going to do on Sat when Morton came on, but he didn't seem to.

Yes,I was very surprised to read some on here were suggesting leaving out Noor,arguably (him or Ralph ?) our best player !

 

[Holy Joe]

Yes,I was very surprised to read some on here were suggesting leaving out Noor,arguably (him or Ralph ?) our best player !

I am suggesting leaving him out, if we have Morton and Miley both playing - imho Husin just not attacking enough. I think it's very arguable that he's our best midfielder let alone player!!!

 

[bluethroughandthrough]

At times we can feel a little bit one-dimensional but I don't necessarily think that's down to just the formation we play. Formations are really becoming a bit of a useless reference point in the modern game, in an actual match your shape can differ quite a lot game-to-game when you're attacking or defending, even if the 'teamsheet' formation or personnel hasn't changed.

I think the biggest issue with predictability on our end is how reliant we are on Bridge to create chances. I love GSM, but 1v1 he's not able to take on his man in the way that Bridge is, and until recently, we've had no subs or reserves who can come in and offer something different.

The recent signings will help with this, you can see how the game changed when Morton and Waldron came on.

But I don't really get the feeling that teams have 'sussed us out' or anything like that, we just happened to come up against a good Gateshead side who got the better of us. I don't see it as a reason to throw everything out the window.

Fair point. Using the logic here, replace Gus with a bridge like player and we lose the defensive aspect on the right and left. Then the formation does make a difference as we play with wing backs.

Formations may be fluid but it does dictate who we play in a role and their focus. Not all players are strong at defending and attacking - it's skill, their attributes and mentality which makes a difference where they play

What I think you've pointed out here is the issue of wing backs. If they are defenders they very rarely have the mentality and the capability to "take a player on" to create an opportunity. Width in itself is not enough to unlock a defence

 

[Target man]

No side is “too good to go down”.

2003 .... too good to go down .... but they
did! Some serious players in that team ..... not that I think we will but can easily get caught in a relegation scrap....

 

[Mark Corrigan]

2003 .... too good to go down .... but they
did! Some serious players in that team ..... not that I think we will but can easily get caught in a relegation scrap....
View attachment 31045

That and the Leeds team are the two that come to mind. Then again I think Chesterfield wouldn't go down in a billion seasons if we used a results generator!

 

[stewart]

I would go as far as to say Leicester should never have gone down last season also .

 

[leeblue]

OK my two penny's worth.
At the moment we have major problems, particularly in the attacking areas. We have stopped scoring goals and do not create enough chances.
The formation
relies heavily on good wing back play....Something that is seriously lacking at the moment, particularly in the attacking need of the team, no assists....nothing. Gus has just fallen off a cliff and bridge equally non productive on the other side. Therfore making our formation useless.
Couple this with having three holding midfielders play in midfield and it's little wonder the goals have dried up. Noor tried to be something like an Attacking midfielder today but that's not his game.
Therfore a plan B is essential for spells like this.....over to kevin maher on that one.
Recruitment
Crowther....good player
Waldron...1st game as a pro...no comment.
Morton....Good holding midfielder, excellent in keeping possession....however that kind of player is the one area we didn't need to go and get. Cav or noor or at a push Taylor can play in that spot. Would have been great to get a real attacking midfielder in there, great example of this today was evident every time cardwell got the ball into feet his only option....pass to a centre back.

 

[Lincoln Shrimp]

Some good points above.
When Miley was injured I think Kev felt he needed some cover, a like for like replacement, hence the Morton signing.
Looking forward, I'd think very carefully about signing Fonguck up on an extended contract. We need to leave some space to bring in a couple of attack minded midfielders as a priority. Wes doesn't do enough for me to consistently cause teams enough problems. The summer will be interesting for sure.

 

[duncan bulgaria]

we are Southend who are 19th in NL division , if Maher or any manager thinks that we can’t change our formation when up against teams that set up to frustrate us is a little naive .

If it’s not working then the sign of a good manager would be to identify , tweak and conquer …..clearly we are above that

 

[Medway Blue]

OK my two penny's worth.
At the moment we have major problems, particularly in the attacking areas. We have stopped scoring goals and do not create enough chances.
The formation
relies heavily on good wing back play....Something that is seriously lacking at the moment, particularly in the attacking need of the team, no assists....nothing. Gus has just fallen off a cliff and bridge equally non productive on the other side. Therfore making our formation useless.
Couple this with having three holding midfielders play in midfield and it's little wonder the goals have dried up. Noor tried to be something like an Attacking midfielder today but that's not his game.
Therfore a plan B is essential for spells like this.....over to kevin maher on that one.
Recruitment
Crowther....good player
Waldron...1st game as a pro...no comment.
Morton....Good holding midfielder, excellent in keeping possession....however that kind of player is the one area we didn't need to go and get. Cav or noor or at a push Taylor can play in that spot. Would have been great to get a real attacking midfielder in there, great example of this today was evident every time cardwell got the ball into feet his only option....pass to a centre back.

Harsh on Waldron, who was completely starved of any quality service. It was clear to me that he has the potential to be very effective for us if we play to his strengths.

Bit at the bottom that I've put in bold is a great point. With the type of attacking/driving central midfielder that we so badly need, Cardwell wouldn't have to come deep to get on the ball and if he did, then he'd have that attacking/central midfielder running beyond him......which Husin, Miley and Morton won't do.

Some good points above.
When Miley was injured I think Kev felt he needed some cover, a like for like replacement, hence the Morton signing.
Looking forward, I'd think very carefully about signing Fonguck up on an extended contract. We need to leave some space to bring in a couple of attack minded midfielders as a priority. Wes doesn't do enough for me to consistently cause teams enough problems. The summer will be interesting for sure.

He's been posing other teams more problems recently than any of other central midfielders have!

I'm also not sure that Morton and Cav are as similar as people are making out. Yes they can both come deep and "hold", but Cav operates more side-to-side and Morton can pick a pass better than Cav can.

 

[leeblue]

Harsh on Waldron, who was completely starved of any quality service. It was clear to me that he has the potential to be very effective for us if we play to his strengths.

Bit at the bottom that I've put in bold is a great point. With the type of attacking/driving central midfielder that we so badly need, Cardwell wouldn't have to come deep to get on the ball and if he did, then he'd have that attacking/central midfielder running beyond him......which Husin, Miley and Morton won't do.


He's been posing other teams more problems recently than any of other central midfielders have!

I'm also not sure that Morton and Cav are as similar as people are making out. Yes they can both come deep and "hold", but Cav operates more side-to-side and Morton can pick a pass better than Cav can.

I'd have no qualms trying Wood in an Attacking midfielder role, get him buzzing around the front 2....even going beyond them at times, shock horror.

 

[leeblue]

Harsh on Waldron, who was completely starved of any quality service. It was clear to me that he has the potential to be very effective for us if we play to his strengths.

Bit at the bottom that I've put in bold is a great point. With the type of attacking/driving central midfielder that we so badly need, Cardwell wouldn't have to come deep to get on the ball and if he did, then he'd have that attacking/central midfielder running beyond him......which Husin, Miley and Morton won't do.


He's been posing other teams more problems recently than any of other central midfielders have!

I'm also not sure that Morton and Cav are as similar as people are making out. Yes they can both come deep and "hold", but Cav operates more side-to-side and Morton can pick a pass better than Cav can.

Genuine question in Waldron what did you see from him.
Again only my humble opinion and bearing un mind he's only been a pro for a week or so, I'm not writing him off but I thought he was timid, didn't anticipate anything, didn't seem particularly fast, when decent balls slipped in to channels he hesitated and then didn't seem to want it badly, some poor touches and zero communication that I saw.

 

[Lincoln Shrimp]

Harsh on Waldron, who was completely starved of any quality service. It was clear to me that he has the potential to be very effective for us if we play to his strengths.

Bit at the bottom that I've put in bold is a great point. With the type of attacking/driving central midfielder that we so badly need, Cardwell wouldn't have to come deep to get on the ball and if he did, then he'd have that attacking/central midfielder running beyond him......which Husin, Miley and Morton won't do.


He's been posing other teams more problems recently than any of other central midfielders have!

I'm also not sure that Morton and Cav are as similar as people are making out. Yes they can both come deep and "hold", but Cav operates more side-to-side and Morton can pick a pass better than Cav can.

You're right, Wes has been posing more problems than any of our other midfielders. However, if we want promotion next season then I believe we need better. More goals, more creativity, more pace. Let's not forget he was distinctly average last season and took half a dozen games this season before he could finally manage 90 minutes. Most of his good work comes whilst working with Bridge on the left. What we really lack is someone to drive forward centrally, committing defenders and threading balls through for our strikers to run onto. When was the last time we scored a goal in that fashion?

 

[bluethroughandthrough]

Yes it does need to change

Same team...


Colin
Gus crowther kensdale Ralph
Cav husin Morton
Waldron cardwell bridge

 

[CanveyCastle]

Something needs to change.

Gus's arms must ache from standing on the right touchline and waving for the ball to be passed to him without success. (Play it left lads!)

Collin rolls the ball to Kensdale whenever he has possession ----- puts us under pressure straight away if the oppositions press high up the pitch. We are not Man City , able to play everything out from the back.

We need a mid-fielder with bite, like Timlin or Deegan, not some one looking busy but pass nowhere or tackle anyone. Not naming names.

As Paul Sturrock once told me "They cannot score if we have the ball in their half of the pitch"