[Archived] What formation? Which players?

[47er]

I'm hoping we go for 4-4-1-1. The problem is, that while we have a lot of players, they don't necessarily complement each other. At least, no-one has made it work so far.

Front 2 is easy I think--------Rhodes up-front with either Dunn or Gomes behind him. Rochina might also grow into that role with the right coaching.

Midfield is hardest. I'd start with Ollson wide on the left because he has pace and can get the crosses in. Clearly he needs remotivating and that's where Henning comes in.

Same applies to Murphy who should start with a clean slate. Who for the wide right spot? Vukevic? That Leaves a multitude of players fighting for that 4th spot-----Lowe/Etuhu/KR/Pedersen?

Back 4------Has to be Givet at left-back, he will complement Ollson perfectly and it allows Hanley in at centre-back. I like Hanley, has that aggression and desire. Dann is looking better so that leaves right-back.

That is a problem because Orr is not that good. Maybe Henley will be promoted?

Thoughts?

Having written that, I feel better about the squad. It clearly couldn't function to anything like its ability levels with Kean in charge. For example it only took a couple of weeks for Black to plug the gaps at the back.

If Berg is good enough we should have lift-off!

[Josh]

No way is 4-4-1 the right formation to use when Rhodes is upfront. During his time at Huddersfield he played with a partner, usually Lee Novak. We can't rely on Rhodes to hold up the ball, he needs to be running behind defenders not chasing the ball out wide leaving a massive hole in the middle that neither Dunn nor Rochina could fill, Dunn mainly because he would probably get injured on the way into the area.

[Amo]

No way is 4-4-1 the right formation to use

It would leave us at a slight disadvantage.

[Silencio]

We have some good players but we have bought so badly over the last couple of years that whichever formation you put them in it doesn't look right. The main issue is that we have so many who play between the midfield and strikers but don't have the pace to play wide.

I expect Henning will go 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1. Olsson has got to come in on the left wing. We should take another look at Henley and we need to do what we can to get as much service to Rhodes as possible. It's a shame Rochina hasn't learnt how to play 90 minutes yet because he's our most talented player.

[Salgado Is A Hero]

I don't think our squad is too unbalanced or lacking pace as long as we get the first 11 right.....For the time being I'd go with:

Robinson

Henley Dann Hanley Givet

Vukcevic Murphy Etuhu Olsson

Nuno Gomes Rhodes

or

Robinson

Henley Dann Hanley Givet

Kazim Vukcevic Etuhu Olsson

Nuno Gomes Rhodes

But when Best is back I'd start him up top with Rhodes.........Rochina, Fabio Nunes to come on.....someone else if needs be.

[LeChuck]

............. Robinson

Lowe Dann Givet Olsson

....... Murphy Etuhu

Richards Dunn Pedersen

.............. Rhodes

Dunn can be swapped for Gomes or Rochina depending on the opposition.

[JAL]

............. Robinson

Lowe Dann Givet Olsson

....... Murphy Etuhu

Richards Dunn Pedersen

.............. Rhodes

Dunn can be swapped for Gomes or Rochina depending on the opposition.

With the exception of Olsson that team seriously lacks any kind of pace

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

............. Robinson

Lowe Dann Givet Olsson

....... Murphy Etuhu

Richards Dunn Pedersen

.............. Rhodes

Dunn can be swapped for Gomes or Rochina depending on the opposition.

Yeah that's a good side, only one crock , two pensioners, a left back who doesn't want to be there and a secondary striker trying to lead the line. That just about sums up our predicament.

[Amo]

Where's Bruno at?

[Hasta]

Robinson

Henley - Dann - Givet - Olsson

Vuckevic - Etuhu - Dunn - T'other Olsson

Gomes - Rhodes

Our midfield is the weak link with our squad. When is the inferior Olsson back? His delivery is poor but by all accounts he ran Leeds ragged for 45 minutes and I'd rather try and get pace into the team from the full backs / wings.

[Puffsan]

Based on his former managerial career he started in a 4-4-2 in about 70-80% of his games. Rest he played a 4-4-1-1.

On players it all comes who plays left back IMO. I know berg likes pace so maybe he would want to have olsson as winger. Murphy and gamst Pedersen won't play together on central midfield IMO so If Olsson plays winger he would have to bench one of them. Etuhu will probably play, we don't have many options at right back, right winger probably CKR and dunn/gomes/Formica/rochina/portugal youth will have to fight for the spot behind or next to rochina

[Sparky Marky]

Vuckevic must be allowed to play.

[BuckyRover]

Vuckevic must be allowed to play.

Even if he has a terrible attitude in training?

[Kelbo]

Based on his former managerial career he started in a 4-4-2 in about 70-80% of his games. Rest he played a 4-4-1-1.

On players it all comes who plays left back IMO. I know berg likes pace so maybe he would want to have olsson as winger. Murphy and gamst Pedersen won't play together on central midfield IMO so If Olsson plays winger he would have to bench one of them. Etuhu will probably play, we don't have many options at right back, right winger probably CKR and dunn/gomes/Formica/rochina/portugal youth will have to fight for the spot behind or next to rochina

I thought he played 4-2-3-1

[Sparky Marky]

Even if he has a terrible attitude in training?

So would you if you were treated like a twaat for 2 years. By far our most talented player.

[alexanders]

So would you if you were treated like a twaat for 2 years. By far our most talented player.

If he is a brat it doesnt help. He is paid a shitload to do his job. Not the first time he has fallen out with his coach / team.

I would like to see a 4-2-3-1 because I think that is what suits our personnel best.

Orr - Dann - Hanley - Givet

Etuhu - Lowe

Kazim - Rochina - Olsson

Rhodes

[braddock]

It is up to Berg what he feels of Vuckevic. I certainly don't expect him to be playing just yet. He won't be match fit, for one. Personally I think that he isn't being played because of his attitude but the conspiracies will start if he isn't played about Berg being a puppet. However, if Berg doesn't pick him then I'd be more inclined to believe that the whole thing IS about his attitude.

People are too close minded with players they don't like personally. Nobody should be dropping CKR as he's the best right winger at the club. Likewise Orr is not a bad defender. He's no world beater but he has his good points. Whether he is good enough to start week in week out is another matter, but to disregard him completely would be foolish.

[Majiball]

Even if he has a terrible attitude in training?

The horses mouth says that's untrue.

This league clearly isn't what it used to be so I'd favour a very attacking formation. 4-3-3.

Robbo

Henley(?) Hanley Givet Olsson

Etuhu

Murphy (if fit, if not peds) Dunn

Vuckevic Rhodes Rochina

CKR is pants always has been always will be, he can be more of an impact player. I see little point in playing a loanee when we have Vuckevic who has played wide right plenty of times. CKR is a poor mans Lennon, pace but no end product, just look at the Watford game, sums it right up for me. I want it it's mine even though the best finisher Rhodes is down for them, he knows best and misses, it's not about individuals. Wide men move in dependent on where the ball is and we have some serious creativity playing around Rhodes. Both Rodhina and Vuckevic love running with the ball and with strong movement between the CB and FB will create space for our predator. Ollson and Henley (the united game lad) will bomb on and effectively act as wing-backs. Get back to passing the ball with pace combined iwth quick movement off the the rest of the team and we'll score goals for fun. Although fitness will need a serious hit and quickly it is doable provided they consider all aspects IE nutrition, psychology and the training mode. Givet and Hanley together, it will be much better for Hanleys development and Givet is wasted at full-back. Dann scares me at times and looks so uncomfortable on the pitch. Three brutes marshaling the back lead by the french international and champions league finalist rings true for me.

[krypton1980]

Givet and Hanley together, it will be much better for Hanleys development and Givet is wasted at full-back. Dann scares me at times and looks so uncomfortable on the pitch.

Exactly Givet has always looked out of place at left back, but in the centre is twice the player Dann will ever be.

Vukcevic has to be given a chance, having seen him play before he is just the sort of player we need on the pitch. Strong, talented, has vision to see a pass, can take on players and beat them, plays with passion.

I think his rumored attitude in training stems back to cocos lack man management skills. if you questioned him you were frozen out with no chance of reprieve.

Give Simon a run of 6 games and the ewood faithful will see just how good he really is. if he fails to impress the ship him out in January.

[rickard]

It is up to Berg what he feels of Vuckevic. I certainly don't expect him to be playing just yet. He won't be match fit, for one. Personally I think that he isn't being played because of his attitude but the conspiracies will start if he isn't played about Berg being a puppet. However, if Berg doesn't pick him then I'd be more inclined to believe that the whole thing IS about his attitude.

To be fair, which player is currently match fit in our squad? The entire squad would ideally need a second pre-season just to get in shape.

[LeChuck]

With the exception of Olsson that team seriously lacks any kind of pace

CKR isn't slow, so if we get Olsson overlapping Pedersen then we can have pace down both sides. Marcus Olsson is on the bench if needs be as well.

I admit it's far from ideal though, we definitely need to add pace in the January window. One of Kean's biggest failings as a manager was to treat the wide positions with contempt. He didn't really appreciate it as a specialist position and thought he could get away with sticking any old player out there as long as they could run a bit - Goodwillie, Ribeiro, Formica, Lowe etc.

Apparently Berg likes fast wingers so hopefully he'll sort it out in January, but until then we don't have many options. I'm not keen on playing Martin Olsson on the wing back that means Givet will probably end up at left back, and we need him in the centre.

[The Gull]

_{Vukcevic has recoverd from injury and is available for selction tomorrow. Who'd ave thunk it!}

[LeChuck]

Yeah that's a good side, only one crock , two pensioners, a left back who doesn't want to be there and a secondary striker trying to lead the line. That just about sums up our predicament.

I think you're still judging them by Premier League standards. This is Cardiff City that trounced Burnley 4-0 and sit top of the table:

Marshall

Connolly Hudson Turner Taylor

Noone Cowie Whittingham Bo-Kyung

Helguson Mason

How would many you take out of that team? Four, maybe five?

If Berg can get us organised we have the personnel to get promoted.

[hesfromburn]

I would go:

Robbo

Henley, Hanley, Givet, Olsson

Etuhu, Pedersen

Kazim, Gomes, Olsson

Rhodes

[J*B]

Robinson

Orr Dann Givet Olsson

Lowe Etuhu Murphy

Rochina

Rhodes Gomes

4-3-1-2