This second striker 4-4-1-1 thing is crap. It just doesn't work. It may do with the benefit of decent signings, but right now, it's absolute bobbins.
I think we need to play a bit uglier. I hate saying it, but 4-4-2. Play Gabby and Carew up top. Carew's all right when he's got someone doing the running for him. Let him stay up top and wait for the service. We need Downing on the left and then Ash on the right.
CM- I'd be tempted to bring in Osbourne to play with Clark. Get some physical presence in there. I like Bannan, a lot, but I just don't see where he can play? Wide? Not quick enough. In CM he's just too small. It's a scary prospect seeing Ossie back in EPL football but the lad is an athlete, over 6 foot and can put his foot in. Our midfield gets sliced open too easily.
At the back, Warnock is a disgrace and Dunne has been poor (though getting a little better recently). Collins has been iffy too. The sooner Carlos comes back, the better. Can we not call back Davies? Friedel's had a poor week, but no problems with him to be fair, because if not for him this season, we'd be much closer to West Ham.
We're so shit at the back right now, that the only way we're gonna get points is to outscore the opposition. Lets go direct, get physical, and play direct. Win ugly. Pelt crosses into the box. What I'm saying is...god...play the O Neill way. Twat yes, dull football yes, but three 6th place finishes in a row, and not far shy of 4th on two occasions. He got results and his game plan worked.
I'm afraid, both K Mac, and Houllier have tried to change things too quickly. It has to be a bit more gradual a process.
4-4-2, or a more conventional 4-3-3, when we at least get 1 or 2 of our senior CM players back.