Wing-Backs...?

[royalgull]

Actually quite like the idea of that setup only the personell i'd personally change. Don't think Nicholson has the athleticism or stamina to play as a wing back but LRT certainly does, would suit him down to the ground. I'd also swap Oastler for O Kane and have McPhee in that role behind the forwards. But i like the idea of all 3 of the centre backs playing, looks a stronger looking lineup. would be silly not to experiment with this sort of lineup in pre season even for a half.

[samgull]

Actually quite like the idea of that setup only the personell i'd personally change. Don't think Nicholson has the athleticism or stamina to play as a wing back but LRT certainly does, would suit him down to the ground. I'd also swap Oastler for O Kane and have McPhee in that role behind the forwards. But i like the idea of all 3 of the centre backs playing, looks a stronger looking lineup. would be silly not to experiment with this sort of lineup in pre season even for a half.

so you would be happy to have say palmer as the replacement for one of the 3 CB's, yes I know we have oastler but he is needed in the middle.

[Trojan 67]

5-3-2 to 3-5-2 or even 3-3-4, works when the holding midfield player moves to either side to cover in behind for which ever wing back is on the forward run.

[royalgull]

so you would be happy to have say palmer as the replacement for one of the 3 CB's, yes I know we have oastler but he is needed in the middle.

One gets injured/suspended, change the system back to a 4-4-2 which they are used to playing anyway. In my side Oastler wouldn't play so he'd be a sub option to come on and play there if needs be during a game.

[samgull]

One gets injured/suspended, change the system back to a 4-4-2 which they are used to playing anyway. In my side Oastler wouldn't play so he'd be a sub option to come on and play there if needs be during a game.

well by that rational we just change the formation of choice because we lose a CB of which we have no real cover for in the 3-5-2 system then why deploy the tactic and formation if we cannot cope with a basic squad issue

[Fonda]

so you would be happy to have say palmer as the replacement for one of the 3 CB's, yes I know we have oastler but he is needed in the middle.

Both LRT and Oastler can play CB. So you either bring one of them on, or if they are already on, move one of them to CB and bring someone on in their original position (Lathrope into midfield for example).

[samgull]

yes that can be done but as i've alluded to we get 1 injury or suspension at CB and we are messing around with a rubik's cube and then when the cube has been moved around we have pretty much little else remember I am talking about 1 injury or suspension.......what if we had 2.

[Trojan 67]

Some get lost in the bullsh't of "modern" formations.

Pre Alf (later to become Sir Alf ) it was "3-4-3", the 4 being, what is now called the "diamond" (holding, 2 central, one in the "hole").

There's nothing new under the sun, only old ideas reworked to look like something new.

[royalgull]

But we can cope, Oastler could play there LRT could play there if Nicholson was to play as a wing back,i would probably go with Nicho to start with but i don't think it would suit him and would be happier seeing LRT play there. If it was anything long term could get a loan in.

To be honest I'd sooner play 3 centre backs with 2 lads at wing back that are ideally suited to that role than play 4-4-2 as we currently stand with the choices of McPhee, O Kane Stevens or Macklin as our wingers. I think we'd get a lot more out of our wing backs than potential wingers right now.

[Fonda]

yes that can be done but as i've alluded to we get 1 injury or suspension at CB and we are messing around with a rubik's cube and then when the cube has been moved around we have pretty much little else remember I am talking about 1 injury or suspension.......what if we had 2.

If we got 2 injuries/suspensions in any position we'd struggle. You can't cover every eventuality with a squad the size of ours. Saah, Robbo, Ellis, Oastler, LRT, Palmer - i think that is enough options. Bringing a midfielder into midfield in order that a defender/midfielder can move into defence doesn't seem like a lot of disruption to me?

[samgull]

I can see your point royal time will tell.......I'm right though!

[royalgull]

i do think it's irrelevant as i don't think he'll go this way, it's a bit out of fashion the 3-5-2 it's been replaced with the more trendy 4-5-1/4-3-3. 3-5-2 is the shellsuit of football formations these days.

[samgull]

If we got 2 injuries/suspensions in any position we'd struggle. You can't cover every eventuality with a squad the size of ours. Saah, Robbo, Ellis, Oastler, LRT, Palmer - i think that is enough options. Bringing a midfielder into midfield in order that a defender/midfielder can move into defence doesn't seem like a lot of disruption to me?

not saying we need cover for every eventuality all im saying is we (if playing 3-5-2 ) would need a recognised CB for cover. not palmer.

[Trojan 67]

Does anyone remember the Dutch side of the early 70s ?

They didn't have a rigid formation, they had a team of footballers whose shape as a team ebbed and flowed.

Brian Clough said football is a simple game. I agree. The opposition is only a danger when they have the ball. So keep possession of the f'cker and don't give it away cheap.

[Fonda]

not saying we need cover for every eventuality all im saying is we (if playing 3-5-2 ) would need a recognised CB for cover. not palmer.

And i've explained how we'd have that. If (for example) Ellis had to go off, we moved Oastler from midfield into the defence and brought Lathrope off the bench into midfield - would that be so bad? I can't see a problem with it.

Royal is right, it won't happen. It's not a common formation anymore and Ling is certainly not reknowned for playing it, i just think it would eradiate many of the problems we have within the current squad.