Hi Ski! I see why you prefer 4 2 3 1 to the other formations you mention. All the others only have 9 outfield players so I do agree! Or am I drunk. I'm totally lost about Barbet being slow. He is by far our quickest CB over short distances, and why he is able to regularly makes amazing goal saving tackles and blocks when it looks like the striker has only to beat Dieng to score. For me he is by far our best consistent central defender, can play Back or WB, never injured and no wonder Warburton plays him every game. My player of the season last season by a country mile. Think I put this up before on another thread but my team would also be : Dieng Dickie Jordi Barbet Adomah Field Johansen Wallace Willock Chair Dykes Or Chair making a 5 man midfield the most forward one. When they are all fit. Think someone else has put up the same. Dozzell showed he can fill Field's position if he can continue that form he showed against at Forest. Moses is good back up for either WB, Kakay can do a job at RWB and McCallum at LWB if we can get him fit. Amos would provide a different pressing option to Chair or Willock when he's 100%', and Austin of course for Dykes. Think we are short at DCM without a fit Field, at CB if Jordi is out again, not convinced by Dunne yet and we have noone else qualified, though Kakay and Ball could play there. Duke McKenna looks promising. Still think we can make top 6 if we can get our attacking game zipping forward again and dont get too many injuries.
You're not the only one with that opinion about Barbet. I think a lot of people have been awe struck by Dickie's runs and his goals (that have dried up). But, as you say, Barbet is by far the player who has ultimately prevented the most goals, this season and probably a good chunk of last season. And preventing goals is what defenders are for! You also rightly point out that he's the fastest at the back. Dickie gets things wrong, just like the others. But he has not been in form (although is maybe returning to form now?). I actually think that all 4 of our CBs are good players, which is why I think the others can cover a Dickie short spell on the bench to get his head together (which may be irrelevant now if Dickie is returning to form). I don't think we have an issue with the talent in that 4, but the pace isn't there and I believe Warburton is not getting the best out of them. In that respect, maybe a different formation is the right call? Sadly, we've transferred our way into a corner as we haven't looked to find proper fullbacks, making it hard to now play anything but 3 at the back. If we did go back to 4, I'd make it McCallum - Dickie - Barbet - Wallace. Until certain players are back, I'm not sure Kakay and Odubaju can hold that formation well enough? For me, having Adomah on the pitch is essential, until something else can change. We need to provide crosses, because walking the ball into the opposition box isn't working (duh!). We just need to make defences sweat and work, rather than allowing them back into position and to get a breather. With that said, we may be able to play without Adomah effectively if Warburton gives specific instructions to Chair, Willock and Johansen to have an eagle eye on when the striker/s call for the ball, and to take a chance on putting balls through, either on the ground or by looped through balls. We play too safe and try to keep possession to much in the final third. Mods, can we not make this a sticky? My ambition for the thread was for it to be an ever changing thing, where we discuss tactics in response to how things unfold over the season (because I'm sure Warburton will be trying different things throughout the campaign, as well as there being injuries and other things that change our thoughts on best tactics).
Yeah...get back over to your poncey "what I cooked for me tea last night" thread. Far more relevant on a football forum.
That's actually brilliant. Wouldn't work all the time, though. On a serious note, what does everyone reckon for tonight's match, tactics wise? We surely have one of the physically weakest teams in the league. Cardiff typically like to go in strong. Perhaps this calls for a more direct form of defending? Perhaps 4 at the back with Ball in front (my thinking here is that Dom Ball would be an additional player to get up for headers/aerial attacks when Cardiff do their long ball routine). Kakay and Odubajo is RB and LB for a bit more of a physical tussle? Kakay - Dickie - Barbet - Odubaju Ball And then: Johansen Adomah - Chair - Willock Dykes Thoughts?
I'd prefer to have Dunnne in a back 3 with Jordi out. WB's Albert and Moses. Dozzell partnered Stefan better than Ball or anyone else this season so I'd play him again. He did ok in the physical battles too. Chair and Willock in front of them. With Dykes up front if he's ok, otherwise Austin.
Yep, same. Maybe give Gray another chance as he's more mobile than Austin, although he's been awful thus far.
Hopefully Dykes is fit. Otherwise, for me, it’s a start for Austin over Gray - 45 mins each. Just need 1 goal from each of them please.
I'd be surprised if Lyndon starts tonight, more likely keeping him for Blackpool, apparently team and several supporters are going direct from Cardiff to Blackpool, making a very looooooong weekend of it..... the fans not the team...... well hopefully not the team
I understand your desire to keep Dykes fresh but at what point did we move into this frame of mind where players can only play once a week without running them into the ground? Why can't Dykes start every single game because he is our best striker? In fact, why can't we start with our absolute best 11 and best system in every game, control the match, get ahead and then bring in fringe players with a point to prove? Am I missing something? P.s. I don't mean to sound so critical of your view but more the illusion that Warburton's obsession with tinkering has brought on. I feel we've started to buy in to the idea that you can't get through a Championship season without changing half your squad each game. Why are other more successful teams keeping their best side in each match bar injuries?
The bit you were missing ajwm was that Dykes had his foot in a precautionary boot thing over the weekend and was only passed fit to play yesterday morning. So it was a bit of a surprise he played...and played for so long too ( probably only because Gray got injured). We accuse Warbs of tinkering, but we didn't know Chair had Covid, or that Charlie's much loved grand mother was dying. I do not think he tinkers as much as some people think he does Dykes might not make Saturday, which might be a pain if Gray is out too...and Willock has a personal problem..
Oh at least one or two. So the gossip I have is ...Thomas, Field, Owens, Wallace are working their way back...Amos obviously is also being careful. DeWisj and McCallum are out for a few weeks. Dykes is carrying a knock to his foot Last night Gray and Chair finished up with knocks and possibly Johansen although that might have been a bit put on Willock has a personal problem So we have 12 possible first teamers carrying some sort of problem. And we have a small squad.. So Saturdays team from people I think are fully fit (+ Amos) Dieng Dickie, Dunne, Barbet, Moses Dozzell, Ball, Kakay Amos, Adomeh Austin
Absolutely my point too. Latest, via an unofficial source, is that Willock will be back ...which may put a little creativity into the attack
