Like many of you, I’m not exactly in a positive place at the moment. The man at the tiller of HMS QPR has decided we need to change direction (yet again) and seems to be having a little trouble chartering a new course. My nose tells me that Mr Fernandes isn’t finding hiring a replacement to Harry very easy and that while many of us would like a young, progressive manager with new ideas (see Mark Warburton at Brentford), we will end up with a young manager with old ideas (see Mr Sherwood). The icing on the cake is the injuries to Mr Dunne and Mr Austin, although the latter is not as bad as initially feared.
Putting the turbulence to one side, I think an opportunity looms, which has given me (almost certainly false) hope.
With Charlie out for a few games, I think we have a chance to try something new. Our problem so far this season is that Charlie needs someone to feed off, and for all the skills he possesses (work-rate, clinical finishing and aerial ability to name three), he has only been at his best when he has had Bobby Zamora alongside him to make space and provide lay offs. This has meant that we have not been able to play Vargas or (for the few games that he has been in favour) play Taarabt in an effective partnership. While Taarabt was very good (in my opinion) on Saturday until subbed, we looked better when he went off because Zarate played further up the field and had more of a partnership with Charlie. Taarabt and Austin looked like strangers.
Here comes the opportunity; we have a number of ‘flair’ players that have not had their chance. Vargas has not had a chance up top; Zarate has not had a start; Taarabt has been out of favour; Phillips has not been given a consistent run in the team; and Fer has been played out on the left. In fact, the only ‘flair’ player given a decent chance has been Hoilett!!!
I think that effective use of these players, combined with Charlie’s injury and a new coaching staff, gives us a chance to try something radically new that could surprise Sunderland and allow our players to enjoy playing football again. I’d start by playing Vargas and Zarate up top together, giving them freedom to bring some South American flair to the team. Support them with Taarabt on the left and Phillips on the right, asking them to cut in and place crosses along the ground early to utilise the pace of Zarate and Vargas. (Naturally crosses to height don’t feature in this plan!!)
We would need to anchor this team with Barton and Henry to give freedom to the other four. Henry would be asked to do what he does best, and break up play, with Barton given more freedom to go box-to-box, but bearing in mind that he will need to drop back when both winders are bombing forward.
Fer would be the first sub; replacing Taarabt if he’s tired, or Henry if we need to chase the game.
The back four would (due to injuries) have to be Yun, Ferdinand, Caulker, Isla. Isla given the most freedom, Yun and Caulker warned about the dangers of their forays forward, especially considering Ferdinand’s lack of pace.
Greeno keeps his place, despite his distribution continuing to annoy me, McCarthy hasn’t enamoured himself to me yet in the little I’ve seen from him.
We would end up with the below. Thoughts? I know it’s attacking, and dangerous, but it’s not like anything else has worked so far.
Green
Isla, Ferdinand, Caulker, Yun
Henry Barton
Phillips Taarabt
Vargas Zarate
Fer could be used to impact the game, or change formation, in quite a number of ways. Useful sub.
Putting the turbulence to one side, I think an opportunity looms, which has given me (almost certainly false) hope.
With Charlie out for a few games, I think we have a chance to try something new. Our problem so far this season is that Charlie needs someone to feed off, and for all the skills he possesses (work-rate, clinical finishing and aerial ability to name three), he has only been at his best when he has had Bobby Zamora alongside him to make space and provide lay offs. This has meant that we have not been able to play Vargas or (for the few games that he has been in favour) play Taarabt in an effective partnership. While Taarabt was very good (in my opinion) on Saturday until subbed, we looked better when he went off because Zarate played further up the field and had more of a partnership with Charlie. Taarabt and Austin looked like strangers.
Here comes the opportunity; we have a number of ‘flair’ players that have not had their chance. Vargas has not had a chance up top; Zarate has not had a start; Taarabt has been out of favour; Phillips has not been given a consistent run in the team; and Fer has been played out on the left. In fact, the only ‘flair’ player given a decent chance has been Hoilett!!!
I think that effective use of these players, combined with Charlie’s injury and a new coaching staff, gives us a chance to try something radically new that could surprise Sunderland and allow our players to enjoy playing football again. I’d start by playing Vargas and Zarate up top together, giving them freedom to bring some South American flair to the team. Support them with Taarabt on the left and Phillips on the right, asking them to cut in and place crosses along the ground early to utilise the pace of Zarate and Vargas. (Naturally crosses to height don’t feature in this plan!!)
We would need to anchor this team with Barton and Henry to give freedom to the other four. Henry would be asked to do what he does best, and break up play, with Barton given more freedom to go box-to-box, but bearing in mind that he will need to drop back when both winders are bombing forward.
Fer would be the first sub; replacing Taarabt if he’s tired, or Henry if we need to chase the game.
The back four would (due to injuries) have to be Yun, Ferdinand, Caulker, Isla. Isla given the most freedom, Yun and Caulker warned about the dangers of their forays forward, especially considering Ferdinand’s lack of pace.
Greeno keeps his place, despite his distribution continuing to annoy me, McCarthy hasn’t enamoured himself to me yet in the little I’ve seen from him.
We would end up with the below. Thoughts? I know it’s attacking, and dangerous, but it’s not like anything else has worked so far.
Green
Isla, Ferdinand, Caulker, Yun
Henry Barton
Phillips Taarabt
Vargas Zarate
Fer could be used to impact the game, or change formation, in quite a number of ways. Useful sub.
