Originally Posted by
AucklandRover
The absence of a Tugay or even a Cairney/McGinn is the key to me. Unfortunately, I don't think we can afford one. That's why I would give Rothwell a go in the "easier" games, although I doubt that he's the answer. More likely (although not certain) is that either Buckley or Rankin-Costello (both?!) will develop into the type of classy midfielder we need. Johnson and Travis are both good, but the evidence is that they are accomplished "holding" midfielders, rather than players who can split defences apart.
In the short term, it might be that our best chance of some creativity is to risk playing Chapman as a genuine winger - knowing that will also create even more defensive frailty down that flank.
Perhaps the answer is just to keep trying to grind out 1-0 victories. Not very exciting, but I suspect three of those in a row would shut the Telegraph moaners up, despite the fact that they are demanding flowing football.
I don't remember too many complaints during that bizarre sequence under Howard Kendall!
I keep thinking that 4-4-2 might suit us better, but we have an awful lot of forward players to fit in!