The dilemma with Roberts

[kill_the_drum]

The current system doesn’t get the best out of him. 3 games ago I was of the opinion the system was more important.
After taking 1 point from 9, and seeing that Cal looked the only player that was going to cause damage today, I’m starting to think we should be changing the system to accommodate him.

[jackal2]

The current system doesn’t get the best out of him. 3 games ago I was of the opinion the system was more important.
After taking 1 point from 9, and seeing that Cal looked the only player that was going to cause damage today, I’m starting to think we should be changing the system to accommodate him.

I think we kind of have, although our system is quite fluid so it's difficult to tell at times.

A few games ago we seemed to be playing 3-5-2 with Roberts as one of two attacking midfielders, which made him look a bit ordinary, but today we seemed at times to have gone more 3-4-3 with Roberts in one of the wide forward roles, which probably suits him better, but then it leaves us looking very lightweight in midfield. We definitely seem to be straining to find the way to accommodate him, but it's understandable when you see goals like the one he scored today.

[matt_magpie]

After seeing the performance today it’s not Cal we need to worry about. I know he naturally wants to be on the wing but for me he is our best player and he needs to believe wherever he plays he’s going to effect the game.

[sidders]

After seeing the performance today it’s not Cal we need to worry about. I know he naturally wants to be on the wing but for me he is our best player and he needs to believe wherever he plays he’s going to effect the game.

The many people who don't know the difference between effect and affect...

[countygump]

After seeing the performance today it’s not Cal we need to worry about. I know he naturally wants to be on the wing but for me he is our best player and he needs to believe wherever he plays he’s going to effect the game.

This^^^

Woots, Roddy and Brunt are far more of a worry.

Has Woots head been turned?
What the flook has happened with Roddy?
Brunt? Why???

[freemuzzy]

I think we kind of have, although our system is quite fluid so it's difficult to tell at times.

A few games ago we seemed to be playing 3-5-2 with Roberts as one of two attacking midfielders, which made him look a bit ordinary, but today we seemed at times to have gone more 3-4-3 with Roberts in one of the wide forward roles, which probably suits him better, but then it leaves us looking very lightweight in midfield. We definitely seem to be straining to find the way to accommodate him, but it's understandable when you see goals like the one he scored today.

Exactly right, the reason Cal looked so much better today was he was effectively back in his position not the centre midfield position he’s been utilised in all season. The issue though is that either him or Rodrigues seems to be out of position; Ruben was quiet in a deeper role to the left of Wootton (that said he hasn’t really been pulling up any trees in his preferred position lately).

The other issue was as you say we then looked lightweight in midfield being a man lighter than usual there; early days but looks like Brunt’s in the ilk of Ruben/Cal and would be better higher up rather than in a deeper orthodox midfield two and we probably need someone stronger defensively there if we’re to play this system. Palmer again had to get through a lot of work today.

Bit of a balancing act overall but hard to shake the feeling that to get the best of our current personnel it has to be a 4-2-3-1, with Roberts, Ruben and possibly even Sam (good today) or Brunt/Nemane behind Wootton, and Palmer and Vincent as the deeper two.

[jackal2]

Bit of a balancing act overall but hard to shake the feeling that to get the best of our current personnel it has to be a 4-2-3-1, with Roberts, Ruben and possibly even Sam (good today) or Brunt/Nemane behind Wootton, and Palmer and Vincent as the deeper two.

I agree.

I must confess I haven't liked the 4-2-3-1 formation ever since the days of Keith Curle, but it does seem to me to be the one best suited to the personnel we currently have. In fact I thought it was the plan when I saw our signings last summer. The key to its success is that the three attacking midfielders have to be genuine goal threats, which they were not under Curle, but I'd say we've got that goal-scoring ability in the likes of Roberts, Sam, Rodrigues and maybe Nemane and Brunt too if they were deployed in that formation.

IB certainly needs to try something different, because trying to shoehorn certain players into a 3-5-2/3-4-3 formation isn't working consistently. One way or another we always seem to have at least one of our best players looking out of sorts.

[the_anticlough]

I agree.

I must confess I haven't liked the 4-2-3-1 formation ever since the days of Keith Curle, but it does seem to me to be the one best suited to the personnel we currently have. In fact I thought it was the plan when I saw our signings last summer. The key to its success is that the three attacking midfielders have to be genuine goal threats, which they were not under Curle, but I'd say we've got that goal-scoring ability in the likes of Roberts, Sam, Rodrigues and maybe Nemane and Brunt too if they were deployed in that formation.

IB certainly needs to try something different, because trying to shoehorn certain players into a 3-5-2/3-4-3 formation isn't working consistently. One way or another we always seem to have at least one of our best players looking out of sorts.

Regarding 3-5-2....even with the right wide CBs, proper wing-backs and a good holding midfielder...it's still bloody hard to perm 4 of our creative/attacking players to complete the team. That shows you just how tough it is to pull off a good 3-5-2.
I've been wanting 4-2-3-1 from the start...
I still think you'd get good attacking contributions from Richardson/Taylor/Chicksen/DKE etc as full backs because they'd be coming on to the ball from deep with space ahead rather than receiving it tightly marked further up the pitch.

But the players have had drills and patterns based on 3-5-2 for ages now. Are we desperate enough to throw that away for something new? Maybe not (yet)

[jackal2]

But the players have had drills and patterns based on 3-5-2 for ages now. Are we desperate enough to throw that away for something new? Maybe not (yet)

But if not now, when? We're getting into 'crunch' time.

Earlier in the season I was willing to tolerate us dropping some silly points, mostly to lesser opposition, on the grounds that the players were still learning to adapt to IB's system, but if the last three games have proved anything it's that the players either aren't learning from those earlier lessons, or more fundamentally that the formation just isn't betting the best out of them consistently enough.

[kill_the_drum]

This^^^

Woots, Roddy and Brunt are far more of a worry.

Has Woots head been turned?
What the flook has happened with Roddy?
Brunt? Why???

My original post wasn’t suggesting he is a worry.
My point was he looked the only player capable of causing damage today. However, playing in a central 3 he can’t influence a game nearly as much.
For me, he needs to be higher up the pitch, cutting in from the right. And after the last three games, I’m starting to think changing the system to accommodate this, is worth it.