I know that this sounds all rather Keegan-esque, but if we wanted to mix things up and have an attacking team (to please some of the supporters, me included), how do you think we would fare if we played all four of our attacking players, i.e Murphy on the left, Taylor on the right, and McG and Nouble up top - Providing all (especially Taylor) were all 100% match fit. I know it's the kind of formation gung-ho Keegan would probably have gone for, but i seriously think it could work against some teams in this division - it would certainly give the opposition defence a few things to worry about. Your thoughts? (or do i need to get my straight jacket out?)
I have seen a few comments on TWTD stating that Taylor should play on the right hand side... I'm not sure where these have come from as it would seem like compromising one of our best players just to get him on the pitch. In a front 3 then I would be delighted to see Taylor there but given who our manager is it's fairly safe to say that we'll be 442 for most if not all of the season As for Murph. I am not his biggest fan but I do think he's vastly underrated by a lot of fans. I've mentioned a couple of times that I think he'll be our leading scorer this season and stand by that claim. A lot of the success DJ had when he was with us was due to being paired with Murph and I genuinely think he's a very talented forward (for this division) and that played through the middle all season he will score his share of goals. I see where you're coming from stretch as our balance isn't right going forward as we look a little toothless but for me Murph and Taylor would both be wasted out wide and I fully expect them to be our main strikeforce for the majority of the season...... * *Cue the claims that McGoldrick is our best player and should play every minute of every game
its not something I would like to see but its really all about balance For it to work you would probably need more defensive full backs and steady CM's so you werent picked of when your attacks broke down, Murphy has shown defensive intelligence when playing wide in the past so thats not too much of a risk. Whether you would get Taylor to do the same Im not so sure as Ive not seen enough of him to be convinced. He looked good offensively before his injury. The other problem you have to face is the supply. Your widemen are normally creative and can get the ball in the box. When playing 4 then you have to make sure you have the creators to enable the forwards to finish. Your not ready for the asylum yet but its not something I would personally consider.
Certainly we need more attacking options in our team, although even if we did play those players in that formation I still wouldn't be overly confident we'd score alot of goals. As TB said Murphy was actually a fairly solid (i.e not overly offensive) LM, I actually didn't mind him there and still think he's probs our best option on the left, I like Tabb but I think he's better centrally but the problem is I also think he's our best targetman (Murphy) which I think shows the lack of quality in our team. Then I also I really wouldn't like Taylor wide right a) because I don't think he's played there in a 442 a b) because you probably loose what he's good at then I still look at McGoldrick (who I rate) and Nouble (who has definitely got to prove himself) upfront together and think I'm not sure where the goals are going to come from. I like McGoldrick but he's had a very average career, some would say poor at this level, so he needs to find consistency, he showed great form for Coventry last season but that was in a team which really played to his strengths, he was played just off the main striker (McSheffery) and they played through him, playing tippy tappy football as it were. I'd say looking at the players we've got at our disposal that actually we don't suit 442, I'd like to see us try 433/4321 or maybe even 532 (with wingbacks) or perhaps we could even try the diamond again, IMO due to our lack of creativity from midfield we need to really make the most of our fullbacks and then really on the solidity from the midfield: 4321/433 --------------Gerkin Hewitt, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell --------Hyam, Skuse, Tabb ------Taylor--------McGoldrick -------------Murphy 532 ------------Gerkin -------Chambers, Smith, Berra Hewitt-----------------------Cresswell ---------Hyam, Skuse, Tabb ---------McGoldrick, Murphy 41212 (diamond) --------------Gerkin Hewitt, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell ---------------Skuse -------Anderson------Tabb ------------Wordsworth ---------McGoldrick, Murphy This is of course all academic because I doubt we will change from the traditional 442
PTC’s first two formations, though Murphy should take the left attacking midfield slot in the 4-3-3. I’m not sure McGoldrick has been known for playing out wide, correct me if I’m wrong. And, we’ve have to keep it on the deck, with McGoldrick as a quasi-Spanish false striker – none of yer hoofing it up crap – I’m not sure we’re capable of that. The 3-5-2 (or 5-3-2 wing backs if that’s how you prefer to describe it) is something that Mick apparently used for a while a Wolves and, generally speaking, is something that managers might consider if they haven’t 100% faith in their full back’s defensive capabilities. The problem is, obviously, that we aren’t wildly well off with central defenders we can rely on. As for Taylor on the right just to get him on the pitch – that’s what Magilton did with Walters! The conversation merely highlights that while MM has done brilliantly with what he’s got, and is undoubtedly moving us forward, the squad lacks the necessary quality and depth for a proper push. This time next year when the younger players have an extra year’s experience and with a few additions we’ll be amongst it. At least this season will be a massive improvement on the hideous dross of recent years.
In the 433/4321 I didn't mean McGoldrick and Taylor to be wide players more so either side of the main striker. I'm yet to be convinced that McGoldrick can play as the main striker and given our lack of creativity I though we could play Taylor and McGoldrick slightly deeper picking up balls from midfield and supporting Murphy, so it would be quite a narrow formation and the fullbacks would have to do alot of running up and down the pitch. Agree with keeping it on the deck though to get the best out of McGoldrick, that's how Coventry got the best out of him. I recall Mick used 532 last season during the Hull game but it didn't work too well, looked fairly disjoined compared to when we played it under Burley, I think perhaps that's because we were really 'don't get beat' at that point so we were over cautious and our CB's weren't confident in bringing the ball out of defence and the fullbacks just looked isolated. I agree we lack players to cover the CB positions but first team players wise 2 have 3 great CB's we have midfielders who generally prefer to play central and our fullbacks look to be were most of our creativity could come from, so it could work. Yes and putting Walters on the right was a masterstroke, it might work with Taylor but i think it would be a waste, maybe in a 451 where he might be given more freedom but not so sure about a 442. i still wouldn't right us off competing near the top this year I just think it's a bit of a reality check to those who thought we've got a great squad when reality is, it's pretty average especially comparing it to other squads in this division and certainly I Mick (heaven forbid) was to leave, I think we'd be in trouble with the team we have. It's made up generally of misfits and players who weren't wanted by their own clubs. Micks built a Mick team on a budget and as always it lacks quality and that bit of spark but as always I expect he will get the best out of them and get us competing in every game we're in. We're less likely to thrash teams like we did West Ham but equally we're less likely to be thrashed.
