Let's start it off then. Given the Preston game (Ciaron Brown ), who would make up your 3 CB's? McGuinness surely has to come back in, but that would mean 2 from Morrison, Flint and Nelson. Who's going to sit this one out on the bench?
Would Morrison, Flint and McGuinness work? McGuinness can play on the right of CB and with Nelson currently occupying the left side I suspect it will be Mozza on the bench.
Given our only genuine WB has gone and our target man is out / on his way maybe a change of formation is needed. 4231 anyone? Wintle and Ralls in front of the back 4, colwill in the centre of the 3 then perm the rest from the rest, excluding Baccuna, Vaulks and Collins.
And Moore who is still out with Covid. Watters on bench at best. Looks like Collins then unless we just use youngsters. Not recommended v Blackburn. Saw them at Bournemouth before Christmas. A big, strong, physical side with 3 monster cb's. Would be difficult with Moore. Without him........ I would go 4 2 3 1 as Remote suggests. Until they bring on their other big striker, Gallagher???, they just keep Brereton Diaz up front. He's a handful on his own, quick, mobile and good in the air. Going to be tough so a flexible 5 across the middle is our best bet.
I am an old school 4-4-2 man. I thought they looked better with a back 4 last Sunday after Brown was subbed. Ng is not effective as WB but better in a back 4. A back 5 is not cast in stone and without Giles we just don’t have an effective WB set up. So why shouldn’t he ditch it and try a 4-4-2? In answer though to your question; it’s difficult. Morrison for me is just not the player he was, he’s lost whatever pace he has and is not much of a goal threat so for me it’d be him. Whatever he does he can’t start with Vaulks.
I'm not sure what the alternative would be and I say this with the greatest regard to one of our stalwarts, but I would prefer it if Sean Morrison didn't start today. He seems to have lost most of what has made him effective in the past. I see him unable to kill the ball when passed to him with it bouncing off his shins or other poor touches. I think it has a detrimental effect on the youngsters around him who now seem to play with more calm than he does. Seeing the man they're supposed to look up to unable to control the ball, won't be doing them any good. As I said, I really hate being quite so negative about him.
I think you're just being fair rather than negative. A large part of what he brought to the side has waned this past 6 months and seems to have coincided with the spate of injuries he had at the back end of last season. He still retains respect for his leadership skills but that doesn't compensate for his lack of pace and control. Time to move on with the likes of McGuinness - there are others out there and already in our current under 23 squad who can do as good or better.
So, Drameh is strait in and Wintle gets a start. With Wintle and Ralls in there I thought Pack instead of Vaulks might be a better balance. Watters not even on the bench. A game too soon?
I thought Pack might get the nod with Ralls and Wintle as well. Having said that, Pack was never quick but has looked particularly slow recently. Watters is clearly not match fit - I just hope he gets to that stage quickly and features to provide a different option to Collins.
Not overly worried about Packs (lack of) pace if he's doing the defensive role with Wintle and Ralls doing the running. Just wonder of the 3 picked who will have the discipline to sit. Has to be Vaulks as Wintle and Ralls seem to offer more at the top end of the pitch.
I think Ralls will play at No.10 with Wintle holding. That leaves Vaulks to take on his usual role of midfield mugger.
Funny how many different ways a line up can be interpreted. Suppose Morison knows what he's trying to achieve, but can the players execute? I was looking at it more with Vaulks holding allowing Ralls and Wintle to go box to box with Harris buzzing around Collins.
Uninspiring team selection in midfield. No Colwill to create something going forward through midfield. Vaulks & Collins - really
GET VAULKS OFF NOW The team is handicapped by only having 10 men. Their central midfielder picks up the ball, runs with it and scores.
