Hi folks,
Although its been discussed already regarding our Defensive issues, and this may sound like a sharp stab at DJ but it is concerning me somewhat that DJ decided to play Beevers at LB and Mattock RB, playing players in their un-natural postions can only cause problems, as we all seen v Brighton Friday night. Now if we ahve R Johnson and L Buxton out injured/ suspended or whichever, then dosnt it make better sense to play each understudy in their respective positions i.e. Mattock at LB and K Lee at RB? Course it does, now im concerned at the fact the DJ seems to be very reluctant to play Kieran Lee, ok he has no experience at this level, so why did he sign him if he dosnt trust him?? He played Mattock there as there is no other natural RB here (other than K Lee) and Beevers at LB as he used him there before.
So I think Mattock and Beevers played in those postions for the reason that he dosnt seem to trust Lee. Give Lee a chance DJ or otherwise use the loan maket to send the poor kid out to get some games and bring in a more experienced RB to cover Buxton if you dsont rate K Lee, simple! Playing players out of position (Especially to seemingly avoid playing K Lee) will not work at this level as we have been punished too many times thus far due to a lack of experience and players suffering in the wrong positions.
Now I hate to be critical of D Jones after last seasons exploits but defensivley we need to be a) More balanced positional wise and b) Need more experience esp at CB (Which I have discuused already on the Huddersfield Match Thread).
Now for the headache facing DJ in midfeild, Bringing in Barkley has surely given DJ food for thought, does he take out McCabe, who has been immence? Take out JJ who is back to his "inconsistant best"? Take out Rodri so he can support Bothroyd? Its a hell of a tough choice. The more natural option would of course be dropping JJ...but Barkley isnt a winger so does that mean DJ having to drop 4,4,2/ 4,4,1,1 and play a 4,2,3,1 with Barkley sitting next to Semedo or supporting Bothroyd? Then that would mean dropping either Rodri or McCabe which Im sure DJ dosnt want to do. My idea would be to play 4,3,3 with both McCabe AND Barkley at either side of Semedo, then move Rodri out Wide with Antonio on the other side, then Bothroyd through the middle??
Personally id be in favour of the latter option as it would accomodate all three personnel in question. I think Rodri could do a job out wide as it allows him to be just as creative as well as threatening, plus he could express his more natural technical side of his game more there. It also allows McCabe and Barkley to push up a bit and express themselves without worrying about defensive duties to much as Semedo will cover that. Plus what with a lot of teams using this formation nowadays 4,4,2 seems dated...esp at Prem and Championship level so maybe we should move a bit with the times a bit tactically.
UTMO
Changes needed v Huddersfield
posted on 18/9/12
True enough LIS
After a little think maybe i was being a tad harsh on DJ, esp after all he's done in a short space of time. Maybe he thinks K Lee isnt ready for this level just yet and may loan him to a bottom half Championship side for a couple of months to get some experience, who knows but the defnce does definatly need work on though and im sure DJ will do something about it for tommorow night
I know it wont be a stroll in the park in this division and its gonna be a hell of a tougher compared to L1. Thats why im concerned about our defence coz this league is very unforgiving, when you go up a division personnell will be brought in and sacrifices will be made, even the likes of Llera or even Madine will be if they dont show they are capable, I know Madine has been playing catch up fitness wise due to injury and he'll still be around for some time but when fully fit and given the chance he'll be playing for his Wednesday future, I really hope he scores as many this season as he did last season coz I think he's capable...but DJ is the guy he has to prove himself to.
posted on 18/9/12
Come on lad. you cant say any defensive pairing has been proven to not work at this stage. We have only had a handful of games. If we are already saying things like that then we might aswell ship Rodri back to Barca because he hasnt exactly been amazing since his debut has he.
I think theres been to much chopping and changing in the last few games so its back to basics for me.
Kirkland
Buxton Taylor Lera Mattock (cos Redas injured)
JJ McCabe Semedo Antonio
Madine Bothroyd (or Ogrady)
I want the goal machine back in the mix. Hes immense and you all know it.
posted on 18/9/12
Buxtons injured still Poite, Rodri is still finding his feet, the guy IS class and is more than capable of playing for a top half prem side, he'll get there, is a more physical league than what he is used to dont forget!
Is Madine your new...ahem...i dare not say
posted on 18/9/12
Ive always had strong feeling for the goal machine. Hes a legend.
My comments about Rodri were purely sarcasm. Obviously the lad has bags of talent his introduction to the English game is a big learning curve for him so I think he could be a star. I only said that we cant write off any defensive pairing in such a short space of time. If a new striker doesnt scre in every game people say he needs time but when a defender lets a goal in he gets slated straight away. Taylor will be good and so will Gardener. Key for the moment is to get that quick fix which works now.
Didnt realise Buxton was injured. Its annoying that, I really like the way he runs...
posted on 19/9/12
My comments about Rodri were purely sarcasm
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Phew, you had me worried there and I was alright till I read the Buxton bit
You need to get to that Pastor right away dude
Eee dear...
posted on 19/9/12
Buxton is out for some time.
I have a feeling Jones will run with the same team that played Brighton, with Barkley starting, possible for McCabe. Lee doesn't seem to be part of the plans at the moment
A lot has been written recently about the changes, defense etc. My chief worry is that Jones has bought too many players in and seems at a slight loss as to what and where and how to play them.
Irvine did the same and it didn't work. The performance at Brighton had an Irvine - esque feel to it, flat and directioneless.
However Jones is no Irvine, much more experienced etc, and I hope he will revert to previous type at the end of last season, selecting a settled side with players in their rightful positions. Our squad is good enough to compete at this level but it wont if it is chopped about and players played out of position. He needs to find a preferred 11 quickly and identify the correct fill ins when injury strikes. To me, Beevers at LB is not a good solution - out of position and struggled.
Saying that, the players have to perfrom - playing two wingers is a risk and JJ has to perfrom consistently - he got away with it last term but as we have seen before, he tends to struggle in the Champ. I expect Mayor to feature more if JJ goes AWOL
2-2 tonight.
posted on 19/9/12
A lot has been written recently about the changes, defense etc. My chief worry is that Jones has bought too many players in and seems at a slight loss as to what and where and how to play them.
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I agree to an extent there, I think we have brought in 1 Striker too many, no disrespect to Bothroyd but Im starting to think that do we need him? Well yes and then well a bit of no, he has the experience at this level but COG had a great start to this season and now he's seemingly out in the cold again to make way for him, which is a shame, Maguire hasnt had a sniff as of yet, and its only a matter of time before players start to get unhappy and disrupt the high morale we have.
Every squad needs good balance, not saying that DJ hasnt done a good job bringing players in, he has but it looks a little unbalanced up top and in the full back postions, we have Buxton and Lee, great, a nice balance but he's reluctant to play Lee so he moves Mattock there which isnt his postion, then plays Beevers a CB at LB and its obvious that he cannot play there. Then theres LB's RJ, Mattock & D jones, too many and D Jones should have left I think as I dont think he's up to it at this level, ok he's had injuries but at this level he's not up to it.
Im hopeful that DJ has addressed this and that he gives Lee a chance at RB and Mattock at LB then we'll have two players in their natural positions, RB should play RB and likewise for CB's and LB's.
Regarding Barkley I think McCabe will make way for him as he's played a hell of a lot of ggames in a short space of time, esp as he didnt have a pre season.
I'd like to see Rodri still play in the team but I get the feeling DJ will rest him tonight as he has said that he has struggled since his debut and may rest him.
I'd like to think he'll go
Kirkland
Lee
Taylor
Gardner (If fit)
Mattock
Antonio
Semedo
Barkley
Mayor
Bothroyd (Think he deserves a home debut to see how he goes)
Madine
But I think he'll go
Kirkland
Mattock
Taylor
Llera
Beevers
Antonio
Semedo
Barkley
JJ
Bothroyd
Madine
posted on 19/9/12
I don't feel Gardner will feature much TBH - there is a Palace fan here who say that when he gets injured, it months rather than weeks. I hve a feeling he is going to be a bit of a dud I'm afraid.
Bothroyd and Madine are too similar - Rhodri to start with Bothroyd for this one... he is proven at Champ level.
I also want to see and hear more form Kirkland. he needs to be in command fo the defense. At the moment, I don't think he is which isn't helping.
posted on 19/9/12
Yeah he does seem too quiet for a keeper, he's a great keeper but its not all about wonder saves, commanding your area and being vocal (or shouty) is just as esentail I think.
posted on 19/9/12
Get Tango to be his wingman for thuddersfield game.
Rodri and Bothroyd up front for me, their styles would mesh well I recon. Madine is a bit below in the class stakes as it stands. He's a good plan B though.