I think Justin was a bit at fault on Saturday. Personally, the formation clearly wasn't working so I'd have gone 4-4-2 but with a CDM (Houghton) and an CAM (Loft/ Osadebe) and put McGlashan and Dickenson wide as we were relying on Jackson and Dickenson/ Garmston to get up and down the pitch which in the first half they weren't doing. In the second half they tried but we were still lumping it up the field so the 4-4-2 with 4 'central' players didn't work. I'd like to see us play one of two ways, either a 5-3-2 or a 4-4-2 with wingers. If we are going to play on the ground, like we did against Sheffield, then my perhaps 'favourite' formation is the 5-3-2 (when used properly i.e. the wing backs are attacking not Peter Taylor 5 at the back style). The 5-3-2 gives us the 'extra' man in the middle as we have 3 whereas some will play with 2, it gives us good defensive stability with the 3 central players but also width going forward. Furthermore, we also have two up top to provide attacking intent to the opposition. If we are going to keep lumping it up the field (which without Norris in my mind, doesn't work) then I would play a 4-4-2 wide. When we do this using 4 central midfielders, the defenders can just clear the ball to the flanks and as we have no wingers the full backs of the opposition are clear to do what they like. That's what I would play a 4-4-2 wide, because the wingers will put pressure on the full backs which when we 70% of the time lose the header, at least means the opposition won't have a lot of time to get rid of the ball. We are only allowed 5 changes I think to the team and we are only allowed 5 subs. This means that if Oshilaja is fit, 4 players will definitely be missing out (plus Norris). I'd play either: 5-3-2, GK: Nelson, RWB: Jackson, CB: Egan, CB: Lennon, CB: Oshilaja, LWB: Garmston, CDM: Wright, CDM: Houghton, CAM: Dack, ST: Cody, ST: Donnelly. Subs: G.Morris, Ehmer, Osadebe, McGlashan, Williamson/ M'Bo Miss out: Dickenson, A.Morris, Loft, Hessenthaler (+ Williamson) 4-4-2, GK: Nelson, RB: Jackson, CB: Egan, CB: Oshilaja, LB: Garmston, CDM: Houghton , CAM: Dack, RW: McGlashan, LW: Dickenson, ST: Donnelly, ST: M'Bo Subs: G.Morris, Lennon, Wright , Osadebe, Cody Missing Out: Ehmer, A.Morris, Loft, Hessenthaler, Williamson If we are going to play a 4-4-2 and carry on lumping it up the pitch then I think M'Bo deserves his chance as he looked a fairly big lad and has scored 15 already in youth football so it seems like the perfect opportunity to give him his chance.
Dickenson cannot play tonight as he has picked up 5 yellow cards this season. I think he was probably due to he dropped anyway on Saturdays performance.
Yes that is a good point! I keep forgetting! Ok then, from my 4-4-2 I would have Cody up front with MBO and Donnelly wide on the wing.
Personally I feel that after Saturday's game, tonight is not the time to experiment but to get the team back on track with an emphatic win in preparation for the Bury game which is a 'crunch' one. Coventry now have a home record equal to our own and we need to maintain our fortress at Priestfield as it is away that we seem to be extra vulnerable (Southend aside.....). We were a couple of points clear two weeks ago and it would be nice to be able to assert ourselves once again and strike 'terror' into the hearts of opposing teams... . We need to open the box of magic we used for the Sheffield game again and play decent football.
