We can't play defensive football on Saturday against Man City, it won't work and the space our midfield leaves means Silva and the likes will be taking shots from the edge of the box all afternoon. So with that in mind I think we need to be a bit gun'ho and go for it! 3-5-2 formation Mcgregor, McShane, Dawson, Davies Elmo, Livermore, Quinn, Ramirez, Robertson Jelavic N'doye Team is attacking minded but has a bit of bite. Will get shot down by some but could really do with Alex Bruce back. In place of Quinn, Just to sit in front of the back 3 breaking up play.
I'd like: ------------------Harper ---McShane---Bruce---Davies Elmo-----------------------------Brady -----------Meyler-----Livermore ------------------Quinn ----------Jelavic------Hernandez N'Doye in for either Jela or Hernandez if they're not fit, which they didn't appear to be on Saturday. I expect: -----------------McGregor -------Dawson--Bruce--Davies Elmo------------------------------Brady ------Livermore--Hudd--Meyler --------------Jela-----N'Doye Can see us getting a bit of a spanking.
That's practically a 4-2-4, and even then the full-backs can barely defend. We'd do well to keep them in single digits.
So with everyone referencing The Dame, has he got clearance to actually be part of Saturday's squad? There used to be a bit of a wait between signing and playing for non-EU nationals but has all that gone out of the window?
You'd drop Dawson?? kinell McGregor Dawson Bruce Davies Elmo Robbo Meyler Quinn Jake Jelavic Hernandez Any other game and Damo would be straight in. Abel needs the match practice, get him running.
How many goals do we concede on average when Dawson plays? How many when he doesn't? I don't actually know but I suspect the stats would be rather telling. He's always deeper than the rest of the backline and it causes real problems, he's also slower than Harper. I'd drop either him or Davies as they're appalling when playing together and personally, I think we're better off dropping Daws than Davies.
I swear only our fans approach games like this. Plenty of teams take points off the big teams. Playing 2 midfielders and 4 wingers/forwards wouldn't see us just attack them anyway. It'd see us just never get the ball and get battered.
I'm liking the Bruce inclusion. I thought he was still injured. So I'm going for. 3-5-2 formation Mcgregor, McShane, Dawson, Davies Elmo, Livermore, Bruce, Ramirez, Robertson Jelavic N'doye Bench Hernandez Aluko Brady Diame (if fit enough for bench). Clark Harper Meyler Stats wise we did ok on Saturday we just need to cut out the defensive mistakes. Half tempted to drop Davies for Maguire too... (maybe a bit much)
----------------------Harper---------------------------- -------Dawson-----Bruce-------Macca------------- Elmo-------------------------------------------Robertson --------Livermore--Quinn---Meyler---------------- --------------Jelavic----------N'Doye---------------- However Bruce will start with N'Doye on the bench, and McGregor, Davies, Huddlestone and possibly Brady in the starting eleven
Greegsy Elmo Bruce Dawson Figueroa Brady Meyler Huddlestone Ramirez Robertson Jelavic Fingers crossed Bruce is fit, Ramirez would obviously be the most advancing of the midfield.
Thats a fair point Rosy i criticised Dawson early on. Think i was the only one and got shot down a bit. If anyone remembers i said he makes far too many sliding challenges for my liking, which fits in with your dropping deeper. Very very slow.
The stats don't look good, in the 13 games he's played in we've conceded a total of 26 goals W/1 D/5 L/7.
