Match Day Thread Derby County vs Saints, Sat 4th October, 15:00

Agree. Said this last night on way home from the game. We have a decent run of fixtures now so give it a go.

 

Was just lying in the bath and had the same thought! It's worth a punt, can't be any worse than Downs ( who I feel a bit sorry for, been thrown in the deep end and I'm sure he's trying his best but unfortunately he's just not up to scratch )

 

I don't disagree. But the "small sample size" is the key part there. I think it's just the two games - Pompey and Hull.

Wood didn't start either match (and nor did McCarthy), who has easily been our best CB this season. We spent the first game stupidly lumping balls up to Archer, and we decided to go with Downs in the second game who is currently some way off being a starting striker in this division. Armstrong started both matches on the bench, despite being our best goalscorer at this level. And Fraser started both matches, who in my opinion is someone who should be used as a squad player.

I really wouldn't be looking at those two games as a reason not to revert to a back four.

 

As for taking a punt, I would still favour Azaz over Aribo.

Fellow and Armstrong either side of him. And then maybe Scienza in the Stu role. Something akin to 4-3-3, but in an unconventional sense. I wouldn't have much faith in it working, but I'd prefer it over starting Downs or moving Armstrong centrally.

Preferably though I'd go with Archer in a 4-2-3-1 - but not then just bang balls up to him!

 

Yeah agreed. Just pointing out that I don't think the back five has made us worse going forward so far this season.

On paper Swansea at home is a good fixture to try out the four again.

 

Yeah. And if Stewart was fit, I'd be open to continuing with the back five. I just wouldn't be asking Fraser to play RWB. You need a right footer at RWB, and for 1.5 games Fellows was playing fine there.

I'm looking at moving to a back four primarily as a way to try and overcome not having Stewart, by getting an extra body higher up the pitch..

 

He’s also from Derby which would be ironic

 

How do you know there isn’t grass up there?

 

Never seen any every time I have been up there in a airplane.

 

We've had a false No1 a few times

 

I expect a few of us have had a hand in falsies.

 

Indeed. It reminds me that Dundee once got to the semi-finals of the European Cup.

 

On paper if we went 4-2-3-1 it’s gonna have to be

Arma
Scienza - Azaz - Fellows

which we know won’t work, but I don’t see what else we can do now, really. They’re all good players, so need to work out a way to get them linking up together.

My guess is Stewart will be out until after Christmas at least based on how serious it looked.

 

I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see Stewart in a saints shirt again.