Think we all agree it's fair to say the back 5 is a certainty and Miller will be up front. So will it be a 4-5-1, a 4-4-2, or even an all out 4-3-3 to get the right result at Oakwell? Bearing in mind we really need to win this to keep the cushion, should we be more adventurous and go for player/formation changes, or should we stick to more of the same, play it steady and try to pinch it? I know we've got a couple of CCS games to follow, but we don't want to go to Palace on the last day needing a win up there to make 6th spot. So be Malky for a minute, and pick the other 5 and the formation to win this one tomorrow.
I think Malky will not want to lose and his mid-field will be.. Lawrence, Mcphail, Whittingham, Gunnersson & Cowie. Subs (if fit) Heaton, Blake, Kiss, Mason & Rudy I'd have a diamond shape mid-field McPhail Witts, Gunnar,Cowie Mason Subs Heaton, Blake, Lawrence, Ralls & Harris
Don't know what's happened to Ralls. He hasn't even made the bench since he was subbed at half time in the Blackpool game 10 weeks back, and that includes the full 7 we were allowed for the CC final. Can't see him figuring again tomorrow. Bit strange it was exactly the time we took Vuckic on loan from Newcastle? Can't honestly see Malky going any more than safety first with McPhail starting again - unless he reads this board. Still think we should start Mason and set out to win it from the start. I'd go for a similar diamond to Rhonnda, though with Kiss in front of the back four. McPhail to come on later if we're in front - Gestede or even young Harris to join in if we find ourselves up **** creek with 20 minutes left.
i agreewith rhondda, i wouldnt really experiment as i think 2 wins will be enough, 2 wins and a draw will guarantee it. interesting to see whether MM goes for the win if we are 0-0 with 70 mins left or keeps things tight, these sort of games at this stage shape entire seasons..
Haven't heard the latest on whether Mason is fit to start yet but I agree with this. Will probably see Earnie and Kiss fill those last 2 subs places. 2 wins and a draw should be enough. Secure a PO place first then give Harris a run out at Palace. Not much to add to whats said above. Although they still need pts to be absolutely safe, Barnsley are effectively crap so I'll be pissed off with anything less than 3pts tomorrow. EDIT: Just watched MM's pre match and the only news on Mason and Rudy is they are "touch and go" for tomorrow
Cowie Gunnarson Whitts Mason Miller Rudy More or less the same system as the Cup Final. Subs Heaton , Ralls , Kiss , Lawrence , Earnie.
I agree with H, Barnsley are crap, we should play more wide than the last couple of months, give us more space for Macca & Whitts to do their stuff, make Barnsley chase and they'll fold.
Hilts - that's one hell of an attacking line up and I like it, but Whitts may need to play far too deep in that set up. As far as the challengers are concerned, we can beat Derby and Leeds, so those two are out of it - Burnley and Watford have got too much to do. That leaves Brighton, Middlesbrough, Leicester and Hull in with a shout if we slip up in any of our games. No real point in looking at the respective fixtures - anyone can beat anyone in this league, and I wouldn't be surprised if Leicester didn't win all their last four. No substitute for points on the board though, and we've got them at the moment over the others behind us, but one weekend can change all that. Win it and put pressure on the others - playing to keep it to keep it safe means you wont be. Ask DJ about the last game of the season at Hillsboro 3 years back. Went for the draw and the one point we needed for 6th spot and got beat 1-0 trying to play it safe with Rossco on the bench all match.
The way I see it Sparkey is that Whitts is getting heavily marked. That line up means we are a goalscoring threat across the midfield and up front. Time to go for it. I dont think we stand much chance with the present line up. My 2nd choiec would we Ralls in for Rudy and Mason in the hole in a 4-4-1-1. Barnsley are a team there to be hammered though. I still think we will beat them though if we stick with Mcphail and the present system. Its the other games and the play offs I worry about.
The way I see it Hilts is that if Malky starts with your suggested Cowie, Whitts, Gunnar, Mason, Gestede and Miller in front of the back four - we're looking at a 9 goal thriller. What wories me is that they will get the 5. Despite conceding the most goals at home in the division, Barnsley do score as well - more than Boro and Hull. With no defensive holding player in there, Huds & Co will have to be on tip top form all game unless we can play keep ball in the middle of the park. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see him go for it, but that would be a sea change in Malky's approach this last dozen games.
Sparky, combing this with your 'hour man', 4141 for the first hour, McPhail in front of the back 4, Mason, Gunnar, Whitts and Cowie across the middle and Miller up front. Givenm the usual lead at this point, 4231 with Kiss (replacing McPhail) and Gunner in front of the back 4, Lawrence on the right Whitts in the middle and Cowie on the left with either Miller or Mason up front. Either that or let rip with a 433, Cowie, Whitts and Mason the midfield 3 and Rudy, Miller and Earnie up front. **** or bust!
I think you sum it up there Swamp. I want us to be more attacking, but 9 points from the last 4 games will see us through I feel. 8 my bit a bit tight but probably enough. If MM changed to being more aggressive and we lost a couple of games in 3-2 thrillers or something, he would then be open to criticism. However, I believe that one reason that we need to start to play with a more attacking formation is that just making the playoffs isn't really what we want. The style we are playing now will make it difficult to get through any playoff games. We will concede in those matches. So a big reason I want MM to change style now is so that we are used to playing this way when we get to the playoffs!
Feel we have to go for it. Can't write off Barnsley at all, look at the Coventry game, stats siad a nailed on win and we bloew it! McPhail to start, hit them as much as we can and see the game out 5-0
I know we're all friends on here, so I can say this - our two moderators Swampy and Siam are a pair of tossers if they think two wins will be enough to get us 6th spot! There, I've said it now........... From Blackpool just above us in 5th down to Hull in 10th, nothing is decided. Failure to beat Barnsley and decent results for those just below us could drop us to 9th come Saturday night. We'd be back on our arses, and then it would be 9 points or nothing from the last 3 games in my opinion. We need a positive result at Barnsley - or should we just rely on others failing?
To fail to plan is to plan to fail. Or should that be to McPhail to plan etc..... Tomorrow is a must win, as is each game after until a play off place is achieved. I'm sure Malky has drummed the "each game at a time" philosophy into the squad. I hope Mason is fit tomorrow as he is a key player now Conway is out.
Anyone out there take 2 wins and 2 draws (8pts) right now? Not a bad haul considering the others behind us couldn't afford to lose any of their last games. Who's to say though that one of them (Leicester?) couldn't win them all?
Remember that Brighton and Boro have to play top 5 teams, both have to face the Hammers who will be gunning for it. If we ignore the Foxes for a min, I reckon that two wins would be enough. But I reckon Leicester have the ability to catch us so we need them to lose (Millwall, Burnley, West Ham and Leeds) or us to win all. The Hammers could do us a lot of favours.... Plus we want to be going into playoffs with momentum so the more wins the better. Its Malky choice to change it and I doubt he will. His approach has got us this far and to a Cup final... Just read Mason and Rudy doubts...
I'm not sure we have 2 wins in us sparkey. Four draws is not out of the question, and that's not nearly enough. Time to go for broke in my opinion. Go all out and try and win the next three. Leicester are certainly on a roll, and as you say, they could easily win the next four.
Yo Clingo. Yes, I can see where you're coming from - Malky needs to turn the recent spate of draws into 3 pointers for sure. Today would be a good place to start. I don't think a couple of wins are beyond us if we actually set our stall out with that in mind, but I wouldn't want the second one to HAVE to be at Selhurst on the last day to get over the line - I don't think I could take that mate.
