We cannot keep playing both 3-5-2 and Matt Smith. His type of players i.e tap in specialists (also included in this category are Becchio, Zigic and to a lesser extend Andy Carroll he's half decent with his feet) need much more support than a strike partnership can bring him. Every time the ball is moved forward if it ends up at Smith's feet possession is nearly automatically lost and McCormack gets pushed out of the game because it is him vs an entire defence. We need to go 4-3-3 and get some at least 1 if not 2 quality wingers who are able to get the ball into the 6 yard box for Smith to smash it away OR we need to drop Smith and bring in a striker than is capable of creating chances (similar to Blackstock) rather than just finishing them off. Notice how since Smith has come back in Ross's goals have dropped off? IF we continue playing games with Smith 30 yards away from goal with his back to it and Ross out on the wing trying to create chances for Smith which are never going to happen we WILL miss out on promotion. New winger-MS-RM AM-RA-LM DP-JP-MZ-SB I genuinely don't think we need an entire new squad. Maybe 1 or 2 multi million pound quality forwards (winger if 4-3-3, striker if 3-5-2) and maybe a younger high quality midfielder with bags of potential for another million to provide cover to prevent our current midfielder from suffering burn out.
Change the formation on a regular basis. Don't let our opponents sus out how we work. We need two winger that for sure but we need decent ones. As for strikers, one name Billy Sharp. As much as I like Wells he's not been tested in this division. As for the 4th signing I've got no preference. Don't think we need another midfield.
So you want to play 4-3-3 with one or 2 wingers. Where in the formation are these wingers going to be? Front 3 or midfield 3? If front 3, that leaves 1 striker to get marked out of the game. If in the midfield, that leaves one midfield general up against up to 5 midfield opponents. I somehow don't think it's as simle as that.
I want us to BUY one top Championship/Low Premier League winger (I think Poleon, Varney and the lad from Southampton will provide adequate cover) if Smith is in the middle we can put McCormack out wide as well since he's practically playing on the wing in the current formation. If Smith gets marked out use McCormack to cut inside and cause them problems. If McCormack gets marked out the game use the new winger to send some crosses into Smith. I simply don't see how we can use Smith effectively in any other formation he's a poor dribbler and has poor ball control skills so if he gets the ball anywhere outside the 6 yard box he's almost guaranteed to lose possession, either get him enough support up front or drop him and buy a striker who can create chances.
How the hell do we buy any players when we haven't got any money and what money we did have has been wasted on Murphy and Wootton?
As cover and even then I'd rather we went with Poleon. No point buying **** loads of wingers for 800k each and have them sit on the bench while Varney (who in defence off on his day such as vs Sheffield Wednesday can be a half decent player) is been paid to play in reserve matches.
Wasted is very harsh. They are young players with little to none experience off the Championship been expected to perform well in a play off hopeful championship team. Murphy have shown on several games he is very talented although he has yet to fully adapt to be able to perform at that level each game and Wootton was very solid prior to today in which was his first return from injury and no doubt if he hadn't of got injured he wouldn't of lost his place.
It's wasted when that's all we had to spend. Wasted when we need wide players. Wasted when there's talent out there like Zaliukas for free.
But MZ is an exception to the rule do you really want to go back to the days of freebies? We didn't need wide players in the summer because we had no room for them on the starting 12 formation we was playing, and tbh we haven't really needed wingers until our form has dipped off at the end of December, start of January.
Hunt, Smith, Murphy - Wasted wages and fee's on all three. I am starting to wonder about the manager, add to that he only used Pugh as an absolute emergency cover and now he is a fixture in the first team and how many games did the manager have to watch Varney play before deciding he wasn't good enough and don't even start on substitutions.
I did trust him but starting to lose that trust, can't say I have much trust in anything at Elland Road these days. Twitter is full of snippets and Haigh, Verdee and co teasing the fans with hope, it really gets me, maybe they should spend less time on twitter and more time pushing this deal through and getting in some players that can win us games. If/When we get Stewart I will really lose it if he sits on the bench or plays and is about as much use as Hall was. You just don't know if players like Smith, Hunt and Stewart are the managers first choice or all he is allowed to sign as they are cheap. We need a signing that will show the fans, the rest of the division, the agents and players that we mean business. Bit like when we signed Strachan many moons ago.
Get a grip ristac we've lost the last 3 games after one of the best runs we've had in a long time and your already criticising McDermott. Could you imagine if Man U had sacked Fergie after his awful start to his managerial career at old trafford? Pugh has done well to get his spot in the team and before today most of the fans were congratulating him not criticising his selection. We're ONE point away from the play offs this isn't the time to be making managerial chances. Otherwise we'll end up with another manager wanting to replace the entire squad and get his transfers in during the summer and we'll end up adding an additional year onto the 2 year plan.
Were on a run of five games without a win for the second time since October so it's not our first blip. Points wise were no better than last season and already out of both cups and playing hoof ball. Improvement?
One win in 7 games and no wins in 5 as Eireleeds1 points out.. McDermott deserves criticising, he has made some very poor decisions and he needs to pull this around this month. I am not the only one losing patience looking at the video in this thread http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/244184-Crowd-reaction-today
Rochdale got at us too easy, they got round the back with ease and made us look second rate, Austin as the captain, should of told the players what was happening, never saw him opening his mouth......sorry not a captain. BMD should call them all in today and ask for an open discussion on what went off yesterday, i think they all need to have a good look at themselves in the mirror and ask the question of doing the club , fans or themselves justice on the pitch, i would love to listen to that debate.
Not going to disagree but from where I was sat I could clearly see Austin shouting and waving his hands for the players to get forward at the start of and during the second half.
Another bad day at the office. But unlike last season, I have faith in BMD putting things right. Some incomers will help.
Remember, Austin was as surprised as anyone when he was appointed Captain. He didn't ask for it. Don't slate him as though he demanded it.
