Team for Watford

[marbelladave]

I want to make use of King and Wellens incisive passing, but I think it is important that one of them does so from a deeper position.

King is pushed further backwards in the diagram to make it obvious that there is a clear difference in roles. In defensive terms, King is a sitter and a protector, making sure that the hole between our midfield and our defense that has been so gaping in the past few games dissapears. Wellens and Oakley are then left free to pressurise and close down. We can 'get into and fook them up' without being ripped to shreads.

This is the great advantage of a 3 man midfield over a 2 man midfield, you can close the opposition down without leaving large gaps for the opposition to move into and pass around you. You can also afford to have one of your central players out of defensive duty and not be left with a 2 on 1 situation in the midfield.

A designated holding player gives you better defensive shape, more opportunities to close down and press the opposition and greater license for your attacking midfield players to get involved as a two. Whether that man be King or Wellens I do not particuarly care, both have the passing range to bring other players into play from deep, but I know we need one. Flat midfields have been extinct for decades now, you only see them in footballing backwaters like the lower leagues of English football. They only work if you have two players who combine great engines and great attacking finesse, allowing you to cover the same ground with 2 men that your opponents can with 2. Sadly there are only one or two Michael Essiens in this world, and none of them play for Leicester City.

Wellens and Oakley are then, in this formation, breaking from a normal midfield position. I put Gallagher in the hole so that our midfield 3 have a target to pass to who isn't looking to run over the top, else we would constantly be pinging 40/50 yard balls that run through to the goalkeeper or is easily dealt with by the defense. This player could be a wide player who is able to hold onto the ball, in which case N'Guessen would be our best bit, but I picked Gallagher because he looks like he has a bit of poise and quality to me. The most potential to get Wellens and Oakley playing triangles and Fryatt slipped through.

Firstly, I have been advocating a 3 man midfield since the second or third game of the season, so you are preaching to the choir on that one.

Secondly, though King is good defensively, he has other skills as well, as 11 goals and numerous assists will testify. His natural game will give us all the defensive cover we need so long as Wellens and Oakley do the pressuring as you describe. Why cut off half his game?

Having a playmaker in the hole is a reasonable enough tactic, but it comes at the cost of width and/or pace. Your choice.

However both options would be an improvement over the pedestrian and predictable efforts we have seen recently.

[martyn]

Weale

Neilson

Tunchev ©

Hobbs

Berner

N'Guessan

King

Wellens

Adams

Gallagher

Fryatt

Subs: Howard, Waghorn, N'Guessan, Brown, McGivern, Oakley, Logan

[TrickyTrev]

Firstly, I have been advocating a 3 man midfield since the second or third game of the season, so you are preaching to the choir on that one.

Secondly, though King is good defensively, he has other skills as well, as 11 goals and numerous assists will testify. His natural game will give us all the defensive cover we need so long as Wellens and Oakley do the pressuring as you describe. Why cut off half his game?

I can tell we are pretty much on the same page here, but you can pressurise much more effectively if you know there is someone behind you who has the designated role of filling in the gaps. King may carry more of a goal threat than Oakley and Wellens, I'm not convinced he does at this level other than in the air at set pieces, as such you may want to slip one of them in there instead. Wellens in particular probably has the range of passing to perform the deeper role effectively. Somebody may have their 'natural game' curbed by the system, but if it is for the benefit of the team then I don't particularly care.

Having a playmaker in the hole is a reasonable enough tactic, but it comes at the cost of width and/or pace. Your choice.

The player between the midfiled and the attack could be a wide player or could be a number 10, pay your money and take your choice. I just fancy that Gallagher is a better player than any of our wide men. Probably a good argument that we'd be better off with N'Guessen holding the ball wide right given that Nielson can't carry the football.

However both options would be an improvement over the pedestrian and predictable efforts we have seen recently.

Pearson has understated tactical nouse. I'm sure he is married a bit to the 442, but last season when things were going wrong he jigged around with the midfield set up and the full backs just enough to win us lots of games. I believe we'll see changes in the next few weeks and that Big Nige will get it right.

[Mikey]

Weale

Neilsen - Tunchev - Hobbs - Berner

Oakley - Wellens - King

Gallagher

Howard - Fryatt

[milan_foxes]

Weale

RB.Morrison

CB.Hobbs

CB.Tunchev (If Brown is Injured)

LB.Berner

CM. King

CM. Oakley

CM. Wellens

AM. Waghorn (Just Behind The Front 2)

FW. Fryatt

FW. Gallagher

SUBS; Logan McGivern Nielson N'Guessan Adams Gradel Howard

[dimmerchant]

Weale

Morrison

Tunchev

Hobbs

Berner

Adams

Wellens

Oakley

Gradel

Fryatt

Gallagher

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Changes are needed.

Weale

Neilson

Hobbs

Tunchev

Berner

Oakley

King

Wellens

Dyer

Howard

Fryatt

Subs: Logan, McGivern, Morrison, N'Guessan, Adams, Gallagher, Waghorn

[TrickyTrev]

Changes are needed.

Weale

Neilson

Hobbs

Tunchev

Berner

Oakley

King

Wellens

Dyer

Howard

Fryatt

Subs: Logan, McGivern, Morrison, N'Guessan, Adams, Gallagher, Waghorn

I wouldn't be surprised to see something close to this. Moving Oakley to play narrow off of the right was Pearson's solution to our midfield problems last season. Oakley played his best football out there as well. I still think we would end up with only Fryatt in the box.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

I wouldn't be surprised to see something close to this. Moving Oakley to play narrow off of the right was Pearson's solution to our midfield problems last season. Oakley played his best football out there as well. I still think we would end up with only Fryatt in the box.

Watfor play quick football and away from home I feel we need King to sometimes sit back and help protect defence. Oakley cuts inside and can do a good job too, but if we are chasing the game we can alwas bring on N'Guessan on the right.

[samjohnson]

Weale

Neilson

Hobbs

Tunchev

Berner

Oakley

Waghorn

N'Guessen

Gallagher

Fryatt

Howard

Ive always wondered what Waghorn and N'Guessen's pace would be like together...

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Weale

Neilson

Hobbs

Tunchev

Berner

Oakley

Waghorn

N'Guessen

Gallagher

Fryatt

Howard

Ive always wondered what Waghorn and N'Guessen's pace would be like together...

You want too play Oakley on the right with Waghorn and N'Guessan in the middle?!?!?

Waghorn is a striker and N'Guessan is a winger.

[samjohnson]

Not neccisarily in that order... I just quickly put it together

I would possibly put Waghorn and N'Guessen on seperate wings and Oakley in the centre.

[the buckwheat]

Weale

Neilson

Hobbs

Tunchev

Berner

Oakley

King

Wellens

Dyer

Kermorgant

Fryatt

Subs:

Logan, McGivern, Morrison, N'Guessan, Adams, Gallagher, Howard

[Joe.]

Where's this myth about King being good defensively suddenly spurung from? I've seen very little to suggest this is the case in any way, as demonstrated last night by two individual pieces of poor defensive work. I thought he was dreadful against Peterborough, but hopefully that's not the pattern he'll continue to follow.

[Bert]

Where's this myth about King being good defensively suddenly spurung from? I've seen very little to suggest this is the case in any way, as demonstrated last night by two individual pieces of poor defensive work. I thought he was dreadful against Peterborough, but hopefully that's not the pattern he'll continue to follow.

Thracian, that's where.

To be fair to King, he did make us look that little bit more solid last night, the midfield wasn't getting overran as much as it was in the first half.

[marbelladave]

Where's this myth about King being good defensively suddenly spurung from? I've seen very little to suggest this is the case in any way, as demonstrated last night by two individual pieces of poor defensive work. I thought he was dreadful against Peterborough, but hopefully that's not the pattern he'll continue to follow.

King is an excellent defender though he does most of his work by closing down players, shutting off angles and making it difficult for the opposition to play the ball around in front of our back 4. He rarely catches the eye by sprinting 20 yards and putting in thumping tackles mainly because he is rarely 20 yards out of position!

He has not played much this season and is (understandably) a bit off the pace but even at his best it is difficult for a player of his type to come on as a sub and influence the game where the pattern is already set. He is far more influential as a starter and should be one of the first names on the team sheet.

[Salieri]

Weale

Neilson Hobbs Tunchev Berner

Gradel Wellens Oakley Adams

Fryatt Howard

The only doubt there for me would be whether Gradel is fit enough to start a game. If so, he's worth a shout with Adams because it's down the flanks that seems to have been a bit of a problem so far this season. Tunch for Brown is surely a must.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

King is an excellent defender though he does most of his work by closing down players, shutting off angles and making it difficult for the opposition to play the ball around in front of our back 4. He rarely catches the eye by sprinting 20 yards and putting in thumping tackles mainly because he is rarely 20 yards out of position!

He has not played much this season and is (understandably) a bit off the pace but even at his best it is difficult for a player of his type to come on as a sub and influence the game where the pattern is already set. He is far more influential as a starter and should be one of the first names on the team sheet.

My thoughts exactly. I think he more than helps out defensively and was usually the midfielder last season who got told to mark the opposition play maker.

Think he should play away from home so we are less vulnerable on the break, but he does get forward to and he can score goals as proved last year.

[Manderic's pants]

Weale

McGiven

Hobbs

Tunchev

Berner

N'Guessan

Oakley

Wellens

Dyer

Gallagher

Fryatt

[clazkel]

Weale

Morrison Tunchev Hobbs Berner

Oakley Wellens King Adams

Howard Fryatt

or

Weale

Morrison Tunchev Hobbs

Adams ------------------------- Berner

Wellens Oakley King

Fryatt Howard

Gallagher played well but i think we need a more balanced team, which is why i think Adams should play. I thought Gallagher behind the front 2 worked towards the end of the Peterborough game but i dont think Pearson would start a game with that shape to the team. Adams deserves to be playing, same with Morrison really, he always seems to get dropped but doesnt do anything wrong, so i would like to see him back in the team

[dogadug]

Weale

Morrison Tunchev Hobbs Berner

Oakley Wellens King Adams

Howard Fryatt

or

Weale

Morrison Tunchev Hobbs

Adams ------------------------- Berner

Wellens Oakley King

Fryatt Howard

Gallagher played well but i think we need a more balanced team, which is why i think Adams should play. I thought Gallagher behind the front 2 worked towards the end of the Peterborough game but i dont think Pearson would start a game with that shape to the team. Adams deserves to be playing, same with Morrison really, he always seems to get dropped but doesnt do anything wrong, so i would like to see him back in the team

Play Gallagher instead of Howard. Howard's done nothing all season, and he was even struggling to win the headers agauinst Peterborough, so if he can't even do that, bring Gallagher in, who is much better at finding passes, and is a very inteligent footballer.

[davieG]

Tunchev looks to start:

From OS

City defender Aleksandar Tunchev was delighted to, at last, see some League action for the club when he replaced the injured Wayne Brown at half-time in the home clash with Peterborough United on Tuesday night.

Having had some second-string outings and a game in the Carling Cup at Preston a full-fledged Championship battle was just what he had been hoping for.

And as City not only managed a clean sheet after the break but also notched an equaliser to earn a point, it was a happy return for the Bulgarian international who has now come back from cruciate knee ligament damage.

He said: "I was happy to be back. This was the first game for me in the league although I had played 90 minutes at Preston in the cup game and for the reserves, but it is very different so I am delighted to have played for the first team again in the league."

"After the first game, my knee was swollen and I had to rest for two or three days but now it is very good. There is no problem with it."

Tunchev could now be in line for Saturday's trip to Watford as Brown is being treated for a shoulder injury and even though he had to come off for a head gash, he will be fit and ready.

He said: "I touched my head and could see the blood but it was OK and I will be ready."

[dogadug]

Tunchev looks to start:

From OS

City defender Aleksandar Tunchev was delighted to, at last, see some League action for the club when he replaced the injured Wayne Brown at half-time in the home clash with Peterborough United on Tuesday night.

Having had some second-string outings and a game in the Carling Cup at Preston a full-fledged Championship battle was just what he had been hoping for.

And as City not only managed a clean sheet after the break but also notched an equaliser to earn a point, it was a happy return for the Bulgarian international who has now come back from cruciate knee ligament damage.

He said: "I was happy to be back. This was the first game for me in the league although I had played 90 minutes at Preston in the cup game and for the reserves, but it is very different so I am delighted to have played for the first team again in the league."

"After the first game, my knee was swollen and I had to rest for two or three days but now it is very good. There is no problem with it."

Tunchev could now be in line for Saturday's trip to Watford as Brown is being treated for a shoulder injury and even though he had to come off for a head gash, he will be fit and ready.

He said: "I touched my head and could see the blood but it was OK and I will be ready."

Shows how tough the guy is. Lots of other players would have went down clutching their head, but he just went off to bandage the wound, and came straight back on. Great to see that the Tunch is back and fully fit.