Back to basics

[villarob]

Could somebody teach Stewart Downing how to cross a ball and Ashley Young to take a corner?

Yes, but not until the Summer as MON taught them previously and you can't change mid season; or so we are told!

[Mister E]

Why is randy dithering ?

Maybe because he cannot see what the alternatives are? - I can't see who might come in and asking KMac to do the job would be unreasonable and probably unlikely to keep us in the P'ship.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Wasnt `Back to basics` the rallying call and initiative to relaunch John Majors government ?

It was also a Viz character.
Gerard would make a good Viz character.
Pierre Le Dunderhead and his disaffected team.

[*shellac*]

[darren woolley]

We need to do something before it's too late.

[UsualSuspect]

I'd go with the following in the next game

Friedel

Walker Collins Cuellar Young (L)

Young (A)  Reo Coker Delph Downing

Bent Gabby

Subs: Marshall, Dunne, Baker, Petrov, Heskey, Makoun, Albrighton. 

Agree 100%

Bent and heskey together are too alike

[Chris Smith]

My view on back to basics is not so much a change in formation but in our approach to the game.

I remembered what I used to say about the Baggies under Mowbray, they had to earn the right to play the football he was wanting them to. We need to do the the same.

When Delph came on for Baker I said to my mate that we must be going for a record for the shortest average hight ever for a Premier League side. We need some bite in the side for Everton and Newcastle, players who will not hide and can stand up to the physical intimidation. They also need to be brave in possession.

I'd think about a midfield three of Petrov, Reo Coker and Delph with Young and Downing out wide and Bent on his own up front.

[PeterWithe]

Wasnt `Back to basics` the rallying call and initiative to relaunch John Majors government ?

It was also a Viz character.
Gerard would make a good Viz character.
Pierre Le Dunderhead and his disaffected team.

Also a rather good club in Leeds in the early nineties, I've never seen so much fanny in one place, anyway I digress.

[Concrete John]

I'd drop Young. 

I do rate him, but he's playing for himself now and not the team and we simply can't afford that.  In his place I'd play Delph as an attacking central midfielder.  No lack of work rate there and he also has the ability to score/create.  Behind him I'd play NRC and Petrov to give us a good solid feel as, especially away to Everton, we need to stop leaking goals first.

Downing and Albrighton wide with Bent up top.

Defensively I think we need the Collins & Dunne partnership back.  Walker is an easy pick for RB, but LB is a little different.  I'd go with Luke Young as was defensively solid there and as I said - we need a team to not lose first.  Call it negative, but that's what I think.

So......

Friedel
Walker
Collins
Dunne
L Young
Albrighton
Petrov
Delph
NRC
Downing
Bent.

Still a decent bit of attacking ability, but a strong spine with the Collins/Dunne and NRC/Petrov partnerships.  The option would be Gabby or Heskey on the bench and go 4-4-2 if needed.

[Dr Butler]

Everton away ? I would take a point now !

UTV
The Doc

[UK Redsox]

Wasnt `Back to basics` the rallying call and initiative to relaunch John Majors government ?

Or "Back to Nature" ?

John Major / Fad Gadget..... easily confused !!

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Could somebody teach Stewart Downing how to cross a ball and Ashley Young to take a corner?

Agree with you about the corners Mark, but Downing delivered some wicked crosses on Saturday, one that Makoun should have scored with.

Second half, Downing was mainly relying on Walker to put the ball into the box. Downing for all his speed, skill and effort must average about one decent cross per game. We normally score from it but it's still a very poor return.

[garyshawsknee]

I'd go with the following in the next game

Friedel

Walker Collins Cuellar Young (L)

Young (A)  Reo Coker Delph Downing

Bent Gabby

Subs: Marshall, Dunne, Baker, Petrov, Heskey, Makoun, Albrighton. 

Agree 100%

Bent and heskey together are too alike

Good call,without Gab up top,weve missed his pace so we can stretch teams,and alot of the time he'd pull out wide and create some space.

 Bent on his own up front makes it too easy for teams to defend. Its a shame that most of us on here can see it,but the one who counts is completely blind to this.

[Concrete John]

Yet when we did play 4-4-2 virtually exclusively we got overrun in midfield and failed to create.  We simply shouldn't be married to either and be able to change as the game dictates.

[damon loves JT]

Yet when we did play 4-4-2 virtually exclusively we got overrun in midfield and failed to create.  We simply shouldn't be married to either and be able to change as the game dictates.

John M on a `Back to Basics' thread.

What is grey and smells of Currie?