I reckon we should start with this team on Saturday ... please log in to view this image Experience in midfield and defence and plenty of fearless pace up front. Sunderland who are really struggling and usually play with three at the back have only one fit central defender.
Very similar to the set-up that I posted on the Derby matchday thread... ---------------------Smithies--------------------- Furlong--- Onuoha--- Robinson--- Bidwell -------------Scowen---------- Luongo---------- -------Smyth------- Eze------- Freeman------- -----------------------ANO-------------------------- I'd prefer Eze central and Freeman wide. I really don't like starting with Smith, though. Why don't you do the matchday threads anymore, Nines?
I think the three behind Smith (or whoever plays up top ) will be pretty fluid. Smyth seemed to be everywhere on Tuesday night. In fact I thought there was two of him playing.
You are spot on there! We need a song to reflect that. 'He's here, he's there, he's every (insert expletive of choice) where, mighty Smyth, mighty Smyth'. Really sad about Connor. I thought he might come good in the end but it ain't going to happen for him at QPR. Did he sign a new contract??
Meant to also say that it is yet another six pointer. They will view this as a winnable game so Olly needs to get it right.
I don't know what's happened to Conor. He looks bereft of confidence and sometimes not interested. Maybe going on the bench and coming on as a sub will help him. I don't know what his contract situation is, but I'm guessing no, he hasn't signed. When I've met Holloway I got the impression that he wasn't keen on him as he couldn't believe how much we paid for him.
I agree..with team...I cannot think of any other possible team ( barring injuries). My only change would having Sylla on bench if fit enough. Big Smith had given his all by 70 minutes...and we needed a like for like substitution. Lynch was best we had on Tuesday. I am sure if Sylla was given that opportunity at 94 minutes it would have been a goal. Sent from my STF-L09 using Tapatalk
Nines, that is my starting eleven. I am not sure what your formation is, but mine would be fluid, I.e. 4:2;3;1 in defence and 4:3:3 in attack. I would encourage the wingers to switch, plus I believe Freeman and Eze could also rotate.
I have been pondering what set up I would play if we did not play Smith, i.e. a big forward. Smyth really reminds me of Michael Owen in style. What position did Owen play? Did he not play a the central forward? Could this be an option for us?
If no Smith or Sylla we push Luongo up as well and Manning plays in the middle If Man City can do it's good enough for me
watching qpr against derby county ,it was obvious that to start the game with matt smith up front just wont work because teams only have to stop these long high balls to render qpr useless,but thyere was the new stan bowles his name is eze he effortlessly walks around the pitch beating players for fun try to imagine what this player could achieve if given the starting place as a striker,hes our future and needs to start games to create the type of player we need i would start washington and eze as a starting striker duo ,we can bering on for the last thirt mins
Same back four and keeper, but 442: Smyth- Scowen- Luongo- Freeman Dr. Who- Eze (with Eze having a free role i.e. #10) Sunderland is going to get a good spanking (if Ollie gets it right).
Sylla won't be available this weekend if the Official and WLS are to be believed. He's scheduled to play for the development side next week. Travel stopped me seeing the Derby game live, but the 10 minute highlights show Smith hitting the bar with a great left foot shot, and causing them a lot of problems without us playing wide enough. Think he should start again no doubt, with Eze in for Washington, and I'd like to see Pawel in an attacking 3 5 2 with Pawel and Freeman the wing backs to give more attacking width to our game, Scowen and Luongo protecting the back three in the channels between them and the wing backs when necessary, and attacking when we have possession, and Eze behind Smith and Smythies up front; Smithies Ned Lynch Robinson Pawel Luongo Eze Scowen Freeman Smyth, Smith
For the time being IMO 352 should be dead in the water until we get proper wing backs...... Go to a flat back 4 that worked well on Tuesday, then either 231, 42 or 33. Whatever it is we have to attack Sunderland from the off and pressure them as they are bound to make mistakes with their fragile confidence.....Don't give them a foothold in the game and playing 3 at the back could do just that, look at how Forest opened us up not once but twice playing that formation. Tomorrow is a game that we really need to win to give us a bit more wriggle room what with trips to Villa & Fulham in the coming week, now is not the time to experiment again, 442, 4231 worked well on Tuesday lets not bugger it up again...... If Holloway really wants to play 352 do it after we are safe then he can do what he wants.
