Quote from: Risso on April 23, 2021, 12:29:10 PMTried different formations andd combinations of players. McGinn is shite as a defensive midfielder, so why not try him in a slightly wider attacking formation. He could have given Davis a go in a 4-4-2 before being forced into it. Given 3-5-2 a go with Targett and Cash as wing backs. Lots of things.but if the players are piss poor that's surely just shuffling the deckchairs. What you're describing sounds a lot like the inept floundering from Sherwood that setup what was probably our worst season ever in the top flight.This isn't personal but I just find it funny that, if we're not doing well, whatever the manager is doing is absolutely 100% the wrong thing. Personally I don't think we're all that far away from being decent, we just need a bit of confidence and a bit of luck because right now there's a hint of reluctance in everything we're doing as if the players are expecting the worse and all the little things (slightly under hit passes, taking 1 more touch, giving up on a run too soon) are a result of that. I don't think we can address that by changing the formation or juggling the players around. That said I would like to see us have an extra man staying high up the pitch when we're defending to give us more of a chance of running in behind teams on the counter because I think that might be the best way to earn that bit of luck. Given how Watkins plays (he often comes deeper to press the defensive midfielder) right now we are left without an out ball more often than I'd like.
Tried different formations andd combinations of players. McGinn is shite as a defensive midfielder, so why not try him in a slightly wider attacking formation. He could have given Davis a go in a 4-4-2 before being forced into it. Given 3-5-2 a go with Targett and Cash as wing backs. Lots of things.
Quote from: Ketzster on April 23, 2021, 11:08:51 AMYes well it was a pretty shocking run in the Championship. People say it will be fine with better players, but it wasn’t when we had better players than other teams in the Championship when Grealish was out. You can ignore that run in the Championship and stuff but just buying better players won’t solve Smiths tactical inflexibility and not knowing what to do if plan A isn’t working. We can’t keep having long spells like this when a player is missing. It’s not just 6 games. 15 in the Championship, more than 10 now etcGrealish is our best player by a country mile. Just like he'd be the best player in pretty much any other team in the world. It's hardly surprising that we struggle when he's out.Smith brought Barkley in to take some of the pressure off Jack but it's turned out he's crap! Until we get better players we're always going to struggle without one of the best players in the world.
Yes well it was a pretty shocking run in the Championship. People say it will be fine with better players, but it wasn’t when we had better players than other teams in the Championship when Grealish was out. You can ignore that run in the Championship and stuff but just buying better players won’t solve Smiths tactical inflexibility and not knowing what to do if plan A isn’t working. We can’t keep having long spells like this when a player is missing. It’s not just 6 games. 15 in the Championship, more than 10 now etc
Quote from: paul_e on April 23, 2021, 12:39:25 PMQuote from: Risso on April 23, 2021, 12:29:10 PMTried different formations andd combinations of players. McGinn is shite as a defensive midfielder, so why not try him in a slightly wider attacking formation. He could have given Davis a go in a 4-4-2 before being forced into it. Given 3-5-2 a go with Targett and Cash as wing backs. Lots of things.but if the players are piss poor that's surely just shuffling the deckchairs. What you're describing sounds a lot like the inept floundering from Sherwood that setup what was probably our worst season ever in the top flight.This isn't personal but I just find it funny that, if we're not doing well, whatever the manager is doing is absolutely 100% the wrong thing. Personally I don't think we're all that far away from being decent, we just need a bit of confidence and a bit of luck because right now there's a hint of reluctance in everything we're doing as if the players are expecting the worse and all the little things (slightly under hit passes, taking 1 more touch, giving up on a run too soon) are a result of that. I don't think we can address that by changing the formation or juggling the players around. That said I would like to see us have an extra man staying high up the pitch when we're defending to give us more of a chance of running in behind teams on the counter because I think that might be the best way to earn that bit of luck. Given how Watkins plays (he often comes deeper to press the defensive midfielder) right now we are left without an out ball more often than I'd like.Well, you leave out as many as the piss poor players as possible.Why not give something like this a go: Martinez Konsa Hause MingsCash McGinn Luiz Sanson/Ramsey Targett Davis WatkinsNice and solid in the middle, McGinn has more of a licence to get forward, and Cash and Targett both have the energy levels and class to be great wing backs. And not a shite wide player in Trez/Traore/El Ghazi to be seen.As it is, it really does look like this season is going to end in a complete tailspin.
I think my biggest problem with Dean, when it comes to these runs of poor form, is that I get the impression he waits for things to improve rather than proactively seeking the answer to arresting the slump. Clearly trying to adjust doesn’t mean you’ll successfully arrest the dip in form, but I feel like we just wait and hope that the players come back into form.
because we haven't played or trained as a back 3, because most teams play with wide players and attacking full backs which would mean they double up on the wingbacks, both of whom would be playing a role they've never played before. On top of all that adding an extra defender into the team when we've been decent in defence but poor going forward doesn't seem like a great idea. You give a benefit as McGinn being able to get further forward but the formation on Wednesday already did that and led to him scoring in the first 30 seconds of the game.
Seemed baffling at the time not hooking, say, Jack & Ollie after an hour or so in a few games where we were home and dry.
I don't get some of the anger to be honest. Disappointment, yes because it could have gone better but I think overall this season has been a positive one.
Hopefully I'm wrong but my prediction is:Jack won't play again this seasonWe'll get three more points. Once each from draws against WBA, Palace and one of the Everton games.
Quote from: Risso on April 23, 2021, 01:16:12 PMHopefully I'm wrong but my prediction is:Jack won't play again this seasonWe'll get three more points. Once each from draws against WBA, Palace and one of the Everton games.Even I think we are better than that even without Grealish
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Topic: Dean Smith - Confirmed (Read 1821552 times)
