Team v Maidenhead

[the_anticlough]

IB likes to keep a pretty settled team, but we have so many options (at most positions and choice of formations) that fans' picks could be all over the place. I'd go for

.................Slocombe
DKE.....Lacey.....Cameron....Taylor
.....Palmer....Francis....O'Brien
....Roberts...Wootton..Rodrigues

subs: Brindley, Chicksen, Vincent, Nemane, Mitchell

Fans are split on formation. Only team insiders have a clue what he's going to send out tomorrow. I like 4-3-3.
I see Brindley as our long-term RB if we go to a back 4, but DKE has had more chalk on his boots and will be more ready for it now. Palmer and O'Brien provide a good balance either side of Francis. If we need to chase, drop Ruben back to get more of the ball and bring Mitchell on for JO'B

[jacobncfc]

IB likes to keep a pretty settled team, but we have so many options (at most positions and choice of formations) that fans' picks could be all over the place. I'd go for

.................Slocombe
DKE.....Lacey.....Cameron....Taylor
.....Palmer....Francis....O'Brien
....Roberts...Wootton..Rodrigues

subs: Brindley, Chicksen, Vincent, Nemane, Mitchell

Fans are split on formation. Only team insiders have a clue what he's going to send out tomorrow. I like 4-3-3.
I see Brindley as our long-term RB if we go to a back 4, but DKE has had more chalk on his boots and will be more ready for it now. Palmer and O'Brien provide a good balance either side of Francis. If we need to chase, drop Ruben back to get more of the ball and bring Mitchell on for JO'B

I’d go the same, I think. Quite like the balance in that side.

[ncfcog]

I should just add that if it was me I would have JOB start every game, unfortunately it's not that simple!

[ncfcog]

Maidenhead have favoured a 4-1-4-1 formation this season. That would suggest a pretty condensed mid block from them with reliance on the likes of Sam Barratt to capitalise on any counter attack. If we go 3 at the back I would worry we end up panicking a bit if Maidenhead are having success overloading the flanks and we will retreat into a more defensive 5-3-2 so a 4 at the back again would be a good shout for this game.

The only problem with AC's 4-3-3 above that I can see is that JOB will more likely play in a more advanced position on the left and we essentially become a 4-2-4. We saw what happened with that against Wealdstone, it just opens up space for the opposition in the middle of the park and we end up looking for deep passes from the back which worked great against Barnet but probably not against Maidenhead with their expected formation.

If we go for a 4-3-3 then I'd be tempted to put Chicksen in at LB with Taylor in front of him and then maybe leave JOB out of the starting 11 with a view to using him if needed second half. This gives us some sense of defensive security but with an option for the overload when attacking allowing us to work the 4-2-4 strategy to greater affect.

[the_anticlough]

.

The only problem with AC's 4-3-3 above that I can see is that JOB will more likely play in a more advanced position on the left and we essentially become a 4-2-4. We saw what happened with that against Wealdstone, it just opens up space for the opposition in the middle of the park and we end up looking for deep passes from the back which worked great against Barnet but probably not against Maidenhead with their expected formation.

If we go for a 4-3-3 then I'd be tempted to put Chicksen in at LB with Taylor in front of him and then maybe leave JOB out of the starting 11 with a view to using him if needed second half. This gives us some sense of defensive security but with an option for the overload when attacking allowing us to work the 4-2-4 strategy to greater affect.

Interesting idea, using Taylor as a winger essentially, because he wouldn't have much to do defensively with a player as solid as Chicks behind him in a home game against M'head. Does he have experience of playing anything other than LB or LWB? Even if not, it could work

Re: JOB... If you can't play him in a 3-man midfield in a home game v M'head then when can you play him? And if you want to pick him for every game, then who would be dropped to accommodate him?

[ncfcog]

Interesting idea, using Taylor as a winger essentially, because he wouldn't have much to do defensively with a player as solid as Chicks behind him in a home game against M'head. Does he have experience of playing anything other than LB or LWB? Even if not, it could work

Re: JOB... If you can't play him in a 3-man midfield in a home game v M'head then when can you play him? And if you want to pick him for every game, then who would be dropped to accommodate him?

Yeah, JOB's a real conundrum. You could play him instead of Francis I suppose and ask Palmer to play the deeper CM role with JOB given the freedom to play anywhere he likes in behind the front 3. Would probably work quite well now you mention it!

[the_anticlough]

Yeah, JOB's a real conundrum. You could play him instead of Francis I suppose and ask Palmer to play the deeper CM role with JOB given the freedom to play anywhere he likes in behind the front 3. Would probably work quite well now you mention it!

Yes, I think there's already a fairly big constituency wanting Francis out and O'Brien in, but that forces Palmer to hold...
Fans need to give Francis a fair chance to show what he can do. Hopefully he's on a steep improvement curve but he'll never make those steps without the game time...this run of fixtures is the perfect opportunity.

Back to J'OB, he's got to be earning his corn as midfield player, right? We know his strengths and weaknesses but he's got to do his part defensively. We know he's not one for a chase, but he can still tackle and cover well and knows the game. It'd be madness to regard him as an attacker and want him replacing other attackers we have. In a good team, he scored in just 1 of 42 NL league games last year. He could get close to 10 this year, but from a midfield position...we have Ruben, Cal, Woots, Kairo, Nemane, Sam, Tyreace, Knight....an embarrassment of riches for the attacking slots.

[ncfcog]

Yes, I think there's already a fairly big constituency wanting Francis out and O'Brien in, but that forces Palmer to hold...
Fans need to give Francis a fair chance to show what he can do. Hopefully he's on a steep improvement curve but he'll never make those steps without the game time...this run of fixtures is the perfect opportunity.

Back to J'OB, he's got to be earning his corn as midfield player, right? We know his strengths and weaknesses but he's got to do his part defensively. We know he's not one for a chase, but he can still tackle and cover well and knows the game. It'd be madness to regard him as an attacker and want him replacing other attackers we have. In a good team, he scored in just 1 of 42 NL league games last year. He could get close to 10 this year, but from a midfield position...we have Ruben, Cal, Woots, Kairo, Nemane, Sam, Tyreace, Knight....an embarrassment of riches for the attacking slots.

Very true regarding JOB. The difference this season is the positive way his third man runs have been utilised, but this does often mean he ventures into a more advanced role which was my original concern. Either way it makes for really interesting debate . . . especially between us so called experts

[BanjoPie]

Too many experts?

[ncfcog]

Too many experts?

Not at all, just people who have an interest in football tactics, stats and analytics and have an opinion they would like to share with like minded fans on a football forum!