Change of formation

[midshipman]

Every manager in league 2 knows how to beat Notts present formation with our very poor defence. We need to go with 4 at the back either 4-3-3 or4-4-2. For this we need 2 strong and tall center backs, our full backs can be Brindley on the right , Chicken on the left and Macari can play both right or left as required. We can then . have our midfield of Robinson and Palmer with Crowley further up the field. Our present wing backs are very good going forward but poor defenders (they do their best but are not suited to be defenders) they of course need to drop back and and help the defence when Notts do not have the ball. I know they both perfer to just to be winger. The 2 up front can be from Macca Jetta and Scott. We can still play an pressing style and be much more strong in defence.

[jackal2]

I tend to agree. The wing-back system worked in the National League because player for player we were so dominant, but in this division where the opposition are as well resourced (if not better) than us, the defensive weaknesses of our "wing-backs" has been ruthlessly exploited.

In fact let's face it, players like Nemane and Jones are not wing-backs at all, they're wingers being asked to do a part-time defensive job they're not equipped to do. And looking at Will Randall's pathetic failure to stop the cross for the fifth Stockport goal, he's another in the same category!

[jacobncfc]

I tend to agree. The wing-back system worked in the National League because player for player we were so dominant, but in this division where the opposition are as well resourced (if not better) than us, the defensive weaknesses of our "wing-backs" has been ruthlessly exploited.

In fact let's face it, players like Nemane and Jones are not wing-backs at all, they're wingers being asked to do a part-time defensive job they're not equipped to do. And looking at Will Randall's pathetic failure to stop the cross for the fifth Stockport goal, he's another in the same category!

It's definitely both a personnel and a system issue. Obviously the number of individual errors we've conceded is ridiculous, but even if that was zero then we'd be conceding too many.

If you think about our most common xi from last season to this, every change we've made has directly made us weaker defensively. Jones replacing Chicksen at left wing back is obviously a huge upgrade in talent and creativity, but the trade off has been the opposite - we've gone up a league and made that position far less defensively solid. Then the other big changes have been in the two 'number ten' positions, where it was generally Rodrigues and one of Austin or Scott last season, and Crowley and McGoldrick this. Again I think that's probably an upgrade in pure technical quality, but IMO it significantly moves the balance of the team. It's far less physicality and pressing in an area of the pitch where our system relies on winning loads of second balls.

Add in losing Palmer who covered so much ground a bit deeper and neither of the two who shared the third centre back duties last season (Rawlo and Brindley) making the step up very well and it's not hard to see why what has happened has happened.

Good news is it's fixable without too many changes IMO. Jatta will help (and already is), he's really physical and works like mad off the ball. With him and Macca doing that, you can probably afford to build around Crowley as the main creator. Palmer and Robertson looks a far more solid midfield pairing than anything we've fielded all season.

Jones is the elephant in the room - he's been brilliant and deserves the individual awards, but he simply can't defend at all. Add Nemane on the other side who has had a good season but is only okay defensively to all the other issues and the team just looks so open. Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to cash in and then focus the money on a real wing back to challenge Chicksen, a more defensive option on the right to replace Tobi and challenge Nemane, a couple of centre backs and an actual first choice goalkeeper. Easy.

[uysapie]

It's definitely both a personnel and a system issue. Obviously the number of individual errors we've conceded is ridiculous, but even if that was zero then we'd be conceding too many.

If you think about our most common xi from last season to this, every change we've made has directly made us weaker defensively. Jones replacing Chicksen at left wing back is obviously a huge upgrade in talent and creativity, but the trade off has been the opposite - we've gone up a league and made that position far less defensively solid. Then the other big changes have been in the two 'number ten' positions, where it was generally Rodrigues and one of Austin or Scott last season, and Crowley and McGoldrick this. Again I think that's probably an upgrade in pure technical quality, but IMO it significantly moves the balance of the team. It's far less physicality and pressing in an area of the pitch where our system relies on winning loads of second balls.

Add in losing Palmer who covered so much ground a bit deeper and neither of the two who shared the third centre back duties last season (Rawlo and Brindley) making the step up very well and it's not hard to see why what has happened has happened.

Good news is it's fixable without too many changes IMO. Jatta will help (and already is), he's really physical and works like mad off the ball. With him and Macca doing that, you can probably afford to build around Crowley as the main creator. Palmer and Robertson looks a far more solid midfield pairing than anything we've fielded all season.

Jones is the elephant in the room - he's been brilliant and deserves the individual awards, but he simply can't defend at all. Add Nemane on the other side who has had a good season but is only okay defensively to all the other issues and the team just looks so open. Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to cash in and then focus the money on a real wing back to challenge Chicksen, a more defensive option on the right to replace Tobi and challenge Nemane, a couple of centre backs and an actual first choice goalkeeper. Easy.

You want to get rid of 25 assists? Go 4-3-3 and play Jones on the left?

[uysapie]

4-4-2 or 4-3 -3 would better

[nw6pie]

4-4-2 or 4-3 -3 would better

Even more important than the formation is the need to sign defenders (and midfielders) who can actually defend and see that as a priority. I’ve just read on some site that we’ve conceded 17 penalties this season (13 converted), which is the most in 60+ leagues across Europe. From memory, Bostock and JJ have given a few of those away with their inability to tackle.

We’ve conceded 16 from set pieces, which is average for the division (Stockport have actually conceded 17), and scored 13 ourselves, so we’ve conceded 56 from open play. I wonder how many of those were from when we let the opposition cross the ball into the box far too easily (like Stockport’s fifth, but the one that stands out for me is Gillingham’s equaliser at ML in February - a powerful header from about 10 yards out when their player won the battle for a ball into the box).

[Lullapie]

4-4-2 or 4-3 -3 would better

4-4-2 is the way to go. However of the two central midfield players, one is a defensive midfielder and the other is a holding or attacking midfielder.

This gives the opportunity to have an extra defender when necessary, without impacting on any attacking potential. The roles have to be defined though - not wishy-washy as they are currently.

Defenders are defenders

Midfielders are midfielders

Forwards are forwards

Any forward who comes back into his own half more than 3 feet over the half way line, should be subbed, until he learns better !

[since41]

Obvious to everyone but the statisticians. Was it the Bro's telling LW to play three at the back or just the way he likes to set his teams up?
When it works its a pleasure to watch.
It depends who we buy or sell we might end up having stronger defence and weaker attacking options.
Hopefully we get both areas right.

[i961pie]

Every manager in league 2 knows how to beat Notts present formation with our very poor defence. We need to go with 4 at the back either 4-3-3 or4-4-2. For this we need 2 strong and tall center backs, our full backs can be Brindley on the right , Chicken on the left and Macari can play both right or left as required. We can then . have our midfield of Robinson and Palmer with Crowley further up the field. Our present wing backs are very good going forward but poor defenders (they do their best but are not suited to be defenders) they of course need to drop back and and help the defence when Notts do not have the ball. I know they both perfer to just to be winger. The 2 up front can be from Macca Jetta and Scott. We can still play an pressing style and be much more strong in defence.

Chicksen maybe but not Brindley

[OP67]

We need those strong tall center backs to be able to use their feet though as our style is to play out from the back. Not an easy combo to find.