Idea for Saturday

[Southern Fox]

Is it such a crazy idea but to play one of the centre backs up top on Saturday with Howard suspended ala Walshy???

When he has been missing in the past the team has been a shadow of its former self and we still hit the ball long when there is no one to win the headers

Just an idea but something I wouldnt mind seeing tbh

Your thoughts?

[Guest]

Personally I'd have to say no. I can understand where the train of thought came from but we've got Bazza, Chambers and Dickov, or the option of changing the formation so I can't see NP even contemplating the idea

[Fez of Mahrez]

I'd see it as an admission that we need to hoof it. When we played Fryatt and Campbell at S****horpe, we were playing some nifty football at times and both goals involved both strikers setting up midfielders running from deep. I'd prefer to see Barry play. He's done well recently as a sub, working the channels and holding play up in the corners.

[Southern Fox]

Agree - but when we have changed shape or played Dickov/Fryatt or Hayles/Fryatt - it hasnt worked

[Unit]

Didn't we do that a couple of times last season? I'm sure we stuck mcauley up front for the last couple of games.. not that it helped

[Southern Fox]

Didn't we do that a couple of times last season? I'm sure we stuck mcauley up front for the last couple of games.. not that it helped

Only towards the end of the game when we were chasing a result as my memory recalls - i cud be wrong

[Sir Fynwy]

If you read Dickov's recent interview you will note he is now 'fully fit', implying he's not been think he might be pushing NP for a starting place on Saturday. Hayles is a better option imo.

[Unit]

Only towards the end of the game when we were chasing a result as my memory recalls - i cud be wrong

Yeah that's right, always seemed a bit odd but who knows, could work.

[ACF]

Didn't we do that a couple of times last season? I'm sure we stuck mcauley up front for the last couple of games.. not that it helped

And then he hit the bar against Stoke?

EDIT: It was on TV over 'ere, 12am mind you

[Sir Fynwy]

And then he hit the bar against Stoke?

Unlike the rest of us who hit the bar after stoke.

[Thracian]

The obvious thing to me is to go 4-5-1 with Gradel and Dyer on the flanks and use the passing trio of Cleverley, Oakley, Porter in midfield.

It won't happen of course.

We'll doubtless continue to do without our best striker option (DJ) and will use one of three indifferent striker options alongside Fryatt. Or, if we do go 4-5-1, we'll somehow opt for Berner in midfield as the defensive option.

For me though even Oakley, Berner, Cleverley/Porter would be preferable to going 4-4-2 with the choice of strikers available to us.

And as a striker option I'd chance Billy Kee on the bench. At least he's consistently shown he knows the way to the net since Christmas and I cannot imagine he's so much less fit than the others.

Our shortage of worthwhile hands in the striker department is woeful.

None of our centre-backs have given any indication that they have the faintest idea how to attack. Kingy is the best option to play a more forward role but then you'd lose his influence as the fulcrum and, as Tranmere indicated, there's no sense making more changes than necessary.

We don't have the most adaptable team.

[ACF]

The obvious thing to me is to go 4-5-1 with Gradel and Dyer on the flanks and use the passing trio of Cleverley, Oakley, Porter in midfield.

It won't happen of course.

We'll doubtless continue to do without our best striker option (DJ) and will use one of three indifferent striker options alongside Fryatt. Or, if we do go 4-5-1, we'll somehow opt for Berner in midfield as the defensive option.

For me though even Oakley, Berner, Cleverley/Porter would be preferable to going 4-4-2 with the choice of strikers available to us.

And as a striker option I'd chance Billy Kee on the bench. At least he's consistently shown he knows the way to the net since Christmas and I cannot imagine he's so much less fit than the others.

Our shortage of worthwhile hands in the striker department is woeful.

None of our centre-backs have given any indication that they have the faintest idea how to attack. Kingy is the best option to play a more forward role but then you'd lose his influence as the fulcrum and, as Tranmere indicated, there's no sense making more changes than necessary.

We don't have the most adaptable team.

Of course Porters GOT to be in there.....

I agree.

[Sir Fynwy]

The obvious thing to me is to go 4-5-1 with Gradel and Dyer on the flanks and use the passing trio of Cleverley, Oakley, Porter in midfield.

It won't happen of course.

We'll doubtless continue to do without our best striker option (DJ) and will use one of three indifferent striker options alongside Fryatt. Or, if we do go 4-5-1, we'll somehow opt for Berner in midfield as the defensive option.

For me though even Oakley, Berner, Cleverley/Porter would be preferable to going 4-4-2 with the choice of strikers available to us.

And as a striker option I'd chance Billy Kee on the bench. At least he's consistently shown he knows the way to the net since Christmas and I cannot imagine he's so much less fit than the others.

Our shortage of worthwhile hands in the striker department is woeful.

None of our centre-backs have given any indication that they have the faintest idea how to attack. Kingy is the best option to play a more forward role but then you'd lose his influence as the fulcrum and, as Tranmere indicated, there's no sense making more changes than necessary.

We don't have the most adaptable team.

Thracian, I love the fact you remain convinced that Porter is one of the best options for our midfield but I do have to ask how you think he's going to have match sharpness having not played any real football for any of this season, by continually adding him into starting line-ups you make those who don't know you well discount the good points you are making.

[Southern Fox]

The obvious thing to me is to go 4-5-1 with Gradel and Dyer on the flanks and use the passing trio of Cleverley, Oakley, Porter in midfield.

It won't happen of course.

We'll doubtless continue to do without our best striker option (DJ) and will use one of three indifferent striker options alongside Fryatt. Or, if we do go 4-5-1, we'll somehow opt for Berner in midfield as the defensive option.

For me though even Oakley, Berner, Cleverley/Porter would be preferable to going 4-4-2 with the choice of strikers available to us.

And as a striker option I'd chance Billy Kee on the bench. At least he's consistently shown he knows the way to the net since Christmas and I cannot imagine he's so much less fit than the others.

Our shortage of worthwhile hands in the striker department is woeful.

None of our centre-backs have given any indication that they have the faintest idea how to attack. Kingy is the best option to play a more forward role but then you'd lose his influence as the fulcrum and, as Tranmere indicated, there's no sense making more changes than necessary.

We don't have the most adaptable team.

Just come back to look at the topic i started and nearly choked on my biscuit at the inclusion of Porter!!!!!!!!

Silly boy

Hayles/ Dickov are no more than usual impact subs and I await to be proved different and i worry for their inclusion Saturday.

I agree DJ would have been good to recall but that hasnt happened

Hobbs and Morrison have good feet and good in the air but whether they have the know how and the ability for a soft touch flick on i dont know

I would have had the centre backs training this week up top and give one a go and keep the shape

Probably why im not NP

[Bert]

We don't have an option to recall DJ, nor does he want to come back.

[Southern Fox]

We don't have an option to recall DJ, nor does he want to come back.

That was clever of us then wasnt it!!!!

[Dr The Singh]

We don't have an option to recall DJ, nor does he want to come back.

That's not what he told me...........

He said he would only come back if Porter plays as the passing master in midfield as stated by his uncle Thracian, as that's never gonna happen, DJ is never comming back!!

[Guest]

That was clever of us then wasnt it!!!!

Well it was if he was never going to figure at this club ever again.

[maddog]

How many league games has Howard missed this season, 2, 3

The Fryatt/Hayles or Fryatt/Chambers or Fryatt/Campbell etc would work very well IMO, but we need more practice at it to get used to playing that way.

At the moment we are relying on a statue like target man, not a great footballer in Howard, to help us with the hoof ball game.

Of course Howard does help the hoofball game, but that can be seen as a negative, as we want to play football, not hoofball.

I really hope Pearson totally changes it for the last 4 games or so when we are promoted, to see how it goes.

Chambers, Porter, Adams, all the reserves getting games.

[Bert]

How many league games has Howard missed this season, 2, 3

The Fryatt/Hayles or Fryatt/Chambers or Fryatt/Campbell etc would work very well IMO, but we need more practice at it to get used to playing that way.

At the moment we are relying on a statue like target man, not a great footballer in Howard, to help us with the hoof ball game.

Of course Howard does help the hoofball game, but that can be seen as a negative, as we want to play football, not hoofball.

I really hope Pearson totally changes it for the last 4 games or so when we are promoted, to see how it goes.

Chambers, Porter, Adams, all the reserves getting games.

Not this season, certainly not here anyway.

[Southern Fox]

.

Of course Howard does help the hoofball game, but that can be seen as a negative, as we want to play football, not hoofball.

We want to get promoted - if the football comes with it great - if it doesnt who cares for now

[Southern Fox]

Well it was if he was never going to figure at this club ever again.

Why does that make it clever. With our small amount of options available up top - to put dj on loan and not put in a clause to recall him is pretty daft

NP has never said he was never going to figure at the club again has he?

[Sir Fynwy]

Why does that make it clever. With our small amount of options available up top - to put dj on loan and not put in a clause to recall him is pretty daft

NP has never said he was never going to figure at the club again has he?

NP doesn't need to make a statement to this effect, it's just fact. DJ has sulked for most of his time at city and is one of the highest wage earners, a succession of managers couldn't get him to play here so he's as good as gone. We should be relieved that someone is paying at least some of his wages and he is scoring again so might attract a transfer fee. No amount of calling for his return is going to change the situation and I trust NP's judgement over anyone calling for him to return.

[Corky]

Why does that make it clever. With our small amount of options available up top - to put dj on loan and not put in a clause to recall him is pretty daft

NP has never said he was never going to figure at the club again has he?

Campbell doesn't want to be with us and doesn't want to play for us- I'd rather have players that wanted to.

[Thracian]

Campbell doesn't want to be with us and doesn't want to play for us- I'd rather have players that wanted to.

Lots of players might not particularly want to play for someone at a particular time in their careers. But that doesn't mean they wouldn't give of their best. I'd rather have people who can give us what we need than people who can't and we do some pace.

When I look at the standards set by some of our alternative strikers this season I'd hardly be surprised at DJ getting pissed off considering how few opportunities he's had here.