Three at the back would be fine and blanket the midfield with two quick ball carriers up front, playing on the break would be my solution with the current squad and the loss of Cirkin.
We're clearly worse without Ekwah, you would be though...he's mint...but we're still good enough to beat most in this league, I reckon. Canny innit! Not like you can say teams will get used to the way we play...we played the same all last season. We really need Mason to do the business for our long term aspirations. He was very quiet today, will let him off, first game. Another great day. HTL
I actually think a 3-4-2-1 formation would work well for us Patto Ballard ONien Seelt Hume Neil Ekwah / Jobe depending on injury Clarke Roberts Pritchard Burstow
I’d only like 3 at the back if it was WITHOUT proper wing backs and I genuinely think we’re one of very few teams with players good enough to do it. Unfortunately because it’s not common none of the team selectors with our players on have the formation as an option it on so I’ll use City against Inter as an example. O’nien Ballard and Hume at the back with Ekwah and Neil in front of them. Roberts and Pritchard centrally behind Burstow with Clarke and Ba wide.
Good that today. Mowbray got it spot on at half time. Coaches can win points and he won 2 today with those changes. I thought Pritchard was brilliant. With Ekwah off I thought he came on and got us higher. I thought Neil played with great maturity once he was the only recognised CM. Jobes movement is something to behold as well. I thought Huggins did well to be honest and no doubt he will be back in Wednesday as I dont see a back 3 without Cirkin oddly. If we play a 3 Hume has to play as one of them with Cirkin and Pembele as the wing backs. I dont see Hume as a wing back, but I do see him as a CB. Although obviously today proved something. One thing for me already this season is we look much more solid when countered against. We really do seem to have learned about off the ball positions more. We would be vulnerable to a quick ball into midfield last season if we lost it, but we seem much more alert to that now. Good signs.
I’m in shock at the QPR fans on twitter claiming it wasn’t a red and that the ref gave them nothing. Clarke should’ve had a pen at 0-0, it should’ve been a foul instead of a throw for their goal, they should’ve been down to 10 before the red for the foul on O9, ref got his only decision correct with the red, Sinclair Armstrong should’ve been given a second yellow for 4 fouls after his card and also standing infront of a free kick (O9 was carded for that last game). Im struggling to see their point. Clowns
3 at the back with Pembele and Cirkin is far too defensive for me like even though I appreciate they will get forward. Means we’ll play Neil and Ekwah in the middle and that’s your GK + 7 players already in the line up and none of them are really attack minded or creative. Not saying it’s right or wrong just think we have so many players who’ll miss out because of the squad we’ve assembled to play good possession based attacking football. You’ll basically have Clarke left as a given then 2 of Roberts, Ba, Pritchard, Jobe, Dack, Aouchiche, Rusyn, Burstow, Hemir, Mayenda, Bennette or Rigg.
Just seen that Ba goal form the stands. What a goal that is. The speed he come in at and controlled the strike. Unbelievable.
Options are the thing. Play only one way and you can be more easily stopped. But we'll have injuries, form issues, different challenges and a long season. They'll all get games. It is very encouraging that we have these options. Mature second half today. Always looked likely a couple of minutes into it.
Whatever is wrong he couldnt wait to run onto the pitch at the end ... ... I doubt Mowbray would allow that if it was serious.
Glad Ba is finally getting some recognition I really don’t think anyone at the club other than maybe Rigg has a ceiling as high as him. Other than the other players saying he’s the most skilful at the club he just looks to have something special about him but his game time has been limited, I think we have an absolute gem on our hands with him.
He said he got a dead leg during the week and got a knock exactly the same place today. So nowt to worry about long term.
