New CB Pairing

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

6 hours ago, Hales said:

Okoli needs to play

If only because he is actually an asset who needs his value protecting, unlike the other muppets 

[Tazfox]

We are too easy to play through. I also advocate a back 3...

 

                  Mads

    Coady Okoli Vesty

Justin.                       VK

         Ndidi.  Soumare

                 BEK

         Vardy.    Daka

 

 

I feel this gives us a better chance of being solid at the back whilst also maintaining a counter attacking chance. 

Edited 4 February by Tazfox

[jim5000]

Our problems conceding is not all on the defence. Yes, they are slow and Faes is error prone, but Soumare and Winks offer absolutely no cover for them, and we play a system which exposes their weaknesses, rather than plays to their strengths.

 

It does irk me though, how terrible Vestergaard is at headers considering he’s 6’7” or something

[Ghanaian Prince]

Has to go to back 3 but would be inclined to have JJ as part of the 3 like he did under Rodgers pre ACL surrounding Vestergaard with much needed pace

 

                                   Mads

             JJ                  Vesty           Okoli

Coulibaly        Soumare        Ndidi           VK

                                   BEK

                             Vardy   Daka

[Muzzy_no7]

23 minutes ago, Staffs Fox said:

As others have said I just don’t know why we’ve not even tried 3-5-2. It’s well known Coady and Vestergaard are much better in a back three and I think it compliments Justin and Kristianson as well. 
Personally I’d go with the below, let’s face it it can’t be worse than it is currently! 
 

                               Mads

             Okoli.       Coady.   Vestergaard 

Justin.                                              Kristiansen

                      Soumare.  Winks

               El-Khannouss.   Bounanotte

                                 Vardy

 

I was about to put this on here but you’ve beaten me to it.

 

For me the only option now is 3-4-2-1

[Torten]

25 minutes ago, Staffs Fox said:

As others have said I just don’t know why we’ve not even tried 3-5-2. It’s well known Coady and Vestergaard are much better in a back three and I think it compliments Justin and Kristianson as well. 
Personally I’d go with the below, let’s face it it can’t be worse than it is currently! 
 

                               Mads

             Okoli.       Coady.   Vestergaard 

Justin.                                              Kristiansen

                      Soumare.  Winks

               El-Khannouss.   Bounanotte

                                 Vardy

 

No Ayew? 

[Outfox the Fox]

When Wilf is fit (this week possibly?), I wonder if RvN might consider him and Okoli as a Centre Back pairing. He's done it before (pretty well) and I can't see him displacing Winks & Soumare in Central Midfield.

Edited 4 February by Outfox the Fox

[ronnup]

Ruuds never used or coached a 3 back has he? Cant see him starting

[The boy Linacre]

2 hours ago, MS0204 said:

Trouble is with everyone saying play Nelson, as soon as he has a couple of bad games he’ll be given pelters by the social media warriors and fall into the never good enough category.. faes granted, but has okoki really been given the game time to make that judgement? I don’t mean 10 games, I meant really given the time??  No. I say start Caleb because let’s face it, currently he could be the strongest we’ve got

Sadly its a tough school and you don't get much time from anybody, Cooper had twelve games (though it was a bad decision in the first place),  Khusanov didn't play Sunday after his howler vs Chelsea.

For me Okoli looks off the pace in the PL, but yes the other two are just disasters now, and his play on the ball looks awful currently, but he's worth a chance as he's staying.

This'll be a bigger recovery than the Great Escape if we stay up, if things go badly over the next 8-10 games and we fall away, I'd start to find next seasons partnerships and units. 

[Ghanaian Prince]

Just now, Outfox the Fox said:

When Wilf is fit (this week possibly?), I wonder if RvN might consider him and Okoli as a Centre Back pairing. He's done it before (pretty well) and I can't see him displacing Winks & Soumare in Central Midfield.

A big problem we have is stopping the balls at source - We need a harder working midfield and Wilf can help improve us in this area

[Trav Le Bleu]

So basically, we're screwed?

[Trav Le Bleu]

8 minutes ago, Ghanaian Prince said:

A big problem we have is stopping the balls at source - We need a harder working midfield and Wilf can help improve us in this area

We have no out... We start moving forward and lose the ball. It's constantly coming back at us.

No threat going forward let's the opposition commit extra players into attack.

[brookfox]

Just feel like we need to pick the CB pairing (and attackers) to match the tactics. Do we press teams in and break them down = faster CBs eg Okoli and players like Bounanotte up top. Or do we sit back and counter = Vesty for his passing through the lines and the likes of Dakas pace up top.

[chris2208]

43 minutes ago, Staffs Fox said:

As others have said I just don’t know why we’ve not even tried 3-5-2. It’s well known Coady and Vestergaard are much better in a back three and I think it compliments Justin and Kristianson as well. 
Personally I’d go with the below, let’s face it it can’t be worse than it is currently! 
 

                               Mads

             Okoli.       Coady.   Vestergaard 

Justin.                                              Kristiansen

                      Soumare.  Winks

               El-Khannouss.   Bounanotte

                                 Vardy

 

We need to try something. 4 at the back clearly isn't working anymore.

[fazzyfox]

I'd consider Justin as one of 3 CB's with Coulibaly at RWB. A lot of his faults have been from being out of position, too far inside or too far upfield, at CB there would be less chance of that happening and he would bring some pace and mobility to the CB positions.

 

                                                      Mads

                       Justin                   Coady                         Okoli

Coulibaly                                                                                            Kristiansen

                                            Ndidi               Soumare

 

                                                      Bilal

                              Daka (or Buanonotte)   Vardy

 

The wingers are offering nothing so do away with them. Ayew can be an impact sub as a CF, maybe Eduard too. Winks has been sloppy and hiding from responsibility, he can hide on the bench. Skipp can get in one. We HAVE TO try something different 

[Tom12345]

3 hours ago, jim5000 said:

Our problems conceding is not all on the defence. Yes, they are slow and Faes is error prone, but Soumare and Winks offer absolutely no cover for them, and we play a system which exposes their weaknesses, rather than plays to their strengths.

 

It does irk me though, how terrible Vestergaard is at headers considering he’s 6’7” or something

Soumare and Winks could definitely be better, but look at the calamitous defending against Everton.

 

The positioning of Vesty was atrocious for the first two goals. He was standing too far left and outside their attacker. He should have been aware where our goal is and position himself accordingly. Evans was an expert on this. Plus Evans also positions himself to cover for his CB partner. Both Faes and Vesty are constantly out of position and do not cover for each other. We are so easy to play through (or lob through for christ’s sake) because of our CBs. I still remember we were a rock at the back with Morgan and Huth and also Fofana and Evans (until Fofana got his injury).

 

And then the third goal. The ball literally went through a tiny gap between Vesty and Faes.

Edited 4 February by Tom12345

[Tom12345]

3 hours ago, Staffs Fox said:

As others have said I just don’t know why we’ve not even tried 3-5-2. It’s well known Coady and Vestergaard are much better in a back three and I think it compliments Justin and Kristianson as well. 
Personally I’d go with the below, let’s face it it can’t be worse than it is currently! 
 

                               Mads

             Okoli.       Coady.   Vestergaard 

Justin.                                              Kristiansen

                      Soumare.  Winks

               El-Khannouss.   Bounanotte

                                 Vardy

 

I like this.

[Buzzell]

It’s not the answer but I wouldn’t mind trying Justin as a centre half as a back three, especially with Okoli and Coady. At least he has a bit of pace about him. Keep Vestergaard and Faes well away from the starting 11.

[LeePhilpottsBaldSpot]

Mads

Justin Ndidi Coady Okoli Woyo

Skipp Soumare Winks

Bilal

Vardy

[Buzzell]

I also wouldn’t mind seeing Kristiansen as a left wingback either. His defending is questionable but he loves bombing forward and can whip a ball in. 

[Will1981]

3 hours ago, Staffs Fox said:

As others have said I just don’t know why we’ve not even tried 3-5-2. It’s well known Coady and Vestergaard are much better in a back three and I think it compliments Justin and Kristianson as well. 
Personally I’d go with the below, let’s face it it can’t be worse than it is currently! 
 

                               Mads

             Okoli.       Coady.   Vestergaard 

Justin.                                              Kristiansen

                      Soumare.  Winks

               El-Khannouss.   Bounanotte

                                 Vardy

 

I would play this but Woyo at RWB and Justin as one of the CBs instead of Vestergaard, also Ndidi or any other fit midfielder over Winks 

[Outfox the Fox]

18 minutes ago, LeePhilpottsBaldSpot said:

Mads

Justin Ndidi Coady Okoli Woyo

Skipp Soumare Winks

Bilal

Vardy

I agree Ndidi in a back 3, but wouldn't have Skipp - I'd go with Mavididi switching between left and right (depending on which wing back is getting forward better).

[LeePhilpottsBaldSpot]

9 minutes ago, Outfox the Fox said:

I agree Ndidi in a back 3, but wouldn't have Skipp - I'd go with Mavididi switching between left and right (depending on which wing back is getting forward better).

I think Skipp could be OK in a 3. Lacks the physicality to be in a 2.

 

Tbh I'm struggling to muster any enthusiasm whatever way you manipulate this squad of players into an XI 

Edited 4 February by LeePhilpottsBaldSpot

[Hirsty The Blue 94]

Glaringly obvious none of our defenders are good enough at this level to play in a 2, particularly playing such a daft high line like we did on Saturday.

 

Once Fatawu got injured it was clear we had no competent wingers so should have gone 3 at the back then. 

 

Mads

 

Justin

Vestergaard

Okoli

 

Coulibaly

Ndidi

Soumare

Kristiansen

 

Bilal

 

Vardy

Daka

 

 

[izzymuzzet]

It's a competitive field but I actually think Coady is the worst of our centre backs.

 

It doesn't matter who's there if the midfield is as porous as ours has been this season. Soumare is good on the ball, rarely misplaces a pass and progresses well up the pitch. However he is unfortunately a passenger when we don't have the ball (which is often). Winks similar but takes fewer risks.

 

Ndidi walks back into the team once he's fit but the in the meantime we've got to try something different. Skipp has been really poor so far but perhaps as part of a 3 with Soumare and Winks he might be ok. I'd have a back 4 of Justin, Okoli, Vestergaard and Kristiansen for now. Then Buonanotte Vardy/Daka and Bilal up top.