It's great to see Leon getting back to full fitness and playing well. He has something that our other central defenders seriously lack....pace!!! However, now Winfield is due back from his ban and Westwood is fit. I really do fear for LJ as it seems he is not a favorite of Waddock. Will Waddock bottle the decision and play Westwood at right or left back. Would be unfair on either Foster or McCoy as both have played well recently. Or will he take the likely, but in my opinion, unpopular route of leaving LJ on the bench? Long term it has to be LJ and Winfield. If we are fortunate to get promoted this season I believe these are the only two that can cope with League 1. Westwoods legs wont carry him much longer and although he reads the game well, he is coming towards the end of his career. Bennett has neither the pace, positional know how or strength to be considered in the top two at present (in my opinion) What are your thoughts?
totally agree leon has made a difference to our defence ,its a shame westy is coming to the end of his career cos he holds the defence together and i would stick to the same pairing for sat urday and leave winfield on the bench
Westwood and Johnson played well last night and Johnson has looked good since returning to the side. But Winfield is our best defender (IMO) and should come back into the side for Saturday. It's a tough choice, and not a popular one, but I would prefer to play Westwood with Winfield. I just think we look more solid, organised and composed at the back with him there. I agree with Slasher about him not lasting much longer though, especially at a higher level. The defence will need a lot of work in summer if we go up.
football is about opinions and i will beg to differ on this one ,i guess thats why waddock is manager and were not,but he does get paid well to make these decisions
I agree with rocky. In my opinion the most consistent defender is johnson and he has the better all round game out of the 4 defenders plus he is naturally left footed which provides a natural balance to any central defensive partnership. I do though think that winfield has developed alot particularly when playing alongside westwood and i can see him playing championship level later in his career but for now johnson has to be first choice with winfield alongside him. I do though think that waddock will drop johnson and revert back to westwood and winfield, which will again be another odd selection he makes to go alongside the several he has made, but at the end of the day he makes the decisions.
Got to be Westwood and LJ for me. I think something else we have to factor is Winfield's truly awful distribution from the back, which could be capitalised upon by a direct Stevenage team.
Why not play all three? The experience of Westwood will help Winfield and the added pace of Johnson would be a great benefit. This would set up a lot of tactical options with plenty of cover for injuries and such like. My idea may be drastic but it may just work.
I dont think its that drastic an idea MB i remember some time back under lambert when he first arrived he played three at the back with sam stockley in a sweeper type role and it worked i was never quite sure why he stopped playing it to be honest. Just think Bull Winfield Westwood Johnson McCoy Sandell/Foster Montrose Lewis Bloomfield Rendell Pitman Its quite narrow in the middle and relys on the fullbacks to push on and defend which could be tricky, but the energy in there with lewis and bloomfield would be very good
The two defensive midfielders would mean Montrose could drop in at centre back if one of the three get pulled out of position. Depending on which team we were playing Betsy and Ainsworth could replace McCoy and Foster/Sandell
GW is a 4-4-2 man so its a no go with 11 games to go he isn't going to change the system I like Leon admire Westy and big Dave reminds me of a young Mike Williamson and he will play at a higher level so as long as all 3 stay fit for the rest of the season I'll be happy and gordon can stay on the bench I would stick with Leon and Westy But I expect to see big Dave playing on saturday at some point
Guy is right he won't change it now with only 11 to go but i wouldn't say waddock is a rigid 4-4-2 man. But it does open up a possible formation for next season
