Kit seems to like his 4-3-3 and isn't going to change anytime soon, but am the only one who thinks this current squad is perfectly bully for a wing back system???? 1. We have a plethora of centre backs, they are coming out our ears 2. Full back is our problem area, in Hoogland and Stafylidis we have a right and left back who love getting forward but are not particularly good at the defending part of there game 3. In Amorebieta we have a good player who isn't quite a centre back but not a left back either in fact he looks perfect as a left sided centre half in a three man defence ........................... Bettenelli.................................... ............. Bodurov...... Burn......... Amorebieta............. Hoogland ................................................... Stafylidis ................... Christiansen ....... Parker...................... ............ Ruiz ................................... McCormack...... ............................... Rodellega.................................
For me it's no use having attacking fullbacks who can't cross the ball properly. If Fulham are going down this route then I hope they are practicing this during training. You need fullbacks who are capable of tackling with both feet and comfortable crossing a ball with both feet. Personally I'd rather have a back 4 who can defend and a Defensive midfielder who will sit in front of the back 4 this why I think we need to seriously get more defensive minded players than we have a present ........................... Bettinelli.................................... ......Hoogland....... Bodurov...... Burn...........Amorebieta... ......................... Parker...................... ..........Christiansen............... McCormack...... .............................Ruiz............................ ..................Woodrow............. Rodallega............
I understand where you are both coming from, especially the point BMcB says about crosses, as said this can all be done in practice, but only if implemented to the managers instructions, but I understand that Kit is still tied up with the Welsh team. How much time does he spend with them, ? surely a manager with any league team irrespective of what division is a full time job, and as such should concentrate exclusively.
I like the idea of the wing back system Cookie. For me you could mold someone like George Williams in to that role as well given time. Not sure Hoogland has the pace.
You could say the same of the players who go off on international duty. Is this the first "Kit out" post?
Not at all. I just don't think Kit is at that level he can hold two positions. More experienced managers have rejected similar offers. The manager is totally different... He can stay and work with the rest of the players we have available! Study some of the teams we are competing against, etc... The breaks are an opportunity to work with the players that need improvement.
I think during the last international break he said he was away for two days. And these are days the players who don't go away may well have off anyway. Another way to look at it is that Kit is gaining additional valuable experience by going away with the Wales side. It may be that he's using his allocated 'free time' to coach the Wales team. We don't really know the ins and outs, this is the thing. I do see what you're saying, but I think our results speak for themselves.
Yes, young Georgie is worthy of the overused epithet "starlet" - he's only little as well as young. Don't yet know how good his tackling and defensive positioning is, but he has not only speed, but great fitness and tenacity. Probs worth a bit of coaching/experimenting in defensive roles. I remember Duffer being an adequate full back (not just wing back) in the prem in an emergency.
And wee Georgie has quite a leap. I've been surprised how often he manages to win headers for us (and there was, of course, that well reported one in last week's Wales game!)
That well reported one he failed to out-jump a smaller man than himself in Dries Mertens. I do agree though that he has the attributes to become a top class wing back but for now I'm happy to see him as a winger/forward. I quite liked the idea of 3 Centre Backs with 2 wing backs idea at the start of the season and with the signings of Voser and Stafylidis combined with the amount of CBs we had I was sure that was the formation we were going to adopt. The back three need the RCB and LCB to double up as a RB & LB at times which Bod & Amore can do. Then you need wing backs who can get up and down, defend and attack and play as a RB, RM & RW at any given stage during the game. The key to this formation working though I think is the CDM. He needs to be able to drop back into CB when we get caught in possession and are facing a counter attack to change the back three into a back four (ie Bodurov - Burn - Amore would change to Bodurov - CDM - Burn - Amore). This is the position we are currently lacking in the squad to make this formation work in my opinion. If we signed someone that can play this role in January then I'd be all for it, until then though I don't think we should be trying it.
Solly Sambou ? I think he needs another year or so, but I think he's gonna be good. My only worry is his height.
Yeah I've mentioned on a couple of occasions that we need a midfield enforcer and the only player that fits the bill in our current squad is Sambou. I like him but he's far too raw at the moment. He needs another year under age and maybe a loan spell before he's ready. He's got the potential and is a beast. Right player, wrong time.
A few years ago I stumbled across a series of videos online where Roy Hodgson talks through the strengths and weaknesses of various formations. His take on three centre-backs was that the wing backs should be wingers whose job is to attack, rather than falling between two stools by trying to be wingers AND defenders. To make it work the two outside centre-backs need to be comfortable moving outside when needed to take the full back role, and the holding midfielder then drops in as an extra centre-back. That being the case, Hoogland is probably better suited to the holding role than Parker, with maybe Williams and Roberts in the wide roles.
I don't know about new formation but trying something different in defence might be something we need. Would consider giving Voser another chance. Can't be worse than Zverotic. Try Amo as CB again?
I agree with that, he is not happy at fullback, he likes midfield and is like Sidwell in scoring goals which he doesn't get the opportunity being at fullback. At the moment with our defense the way it is, we need to score two goals a game or more to be in with a chance of getting 3 points. Was also thinking about Amorebieta as a Defensive midfielder, good tackler (sometimes rash)need someone to break play up.
I think that Kit can fiddle with the defensive line up as much as he wants, but all have limited ability 5 more weeks or so then he can hopefully acquire a couple of solid defenders of his choice.
At the moment we’re not working as a unit, certainly not on a consistent basis. And “for sure” (sic) Kit has no Plan B. So something needs to change. Both full back positions are clearly a worry but our defensive frailties I’d argue, are as much because our midfield lacks a ball winners and, generally, cover for the back four. Up front in McCormack and Hugo we’ve got players who can frighten the opposition but too frequently McCormack ends up deep and we lose his predator skills. Given our current squad (and like rosc I’m assuming this is it till January when hopefully we’ll see changes in personnel) I’d go a different route from Cookie. I’d go for the Man City formation. That is 5-3-2 and ideally the following line-up; ..Zverotic..Bodurov..Burn..Amorebieta..Stafylidis.. …….Christensen…Hoogland…Parker… ……………Hugo…McCormack… My main argument is that this formation while (hopefully) more defensively sound allows more scope to; a) close the game down (if we take the lead and especially away from home) b) adopt a Plan B (if we go behind and need to chase the game) c) adopt a Plan B (if we want to build on a lead, say at home, or someone gets injured during a game) In whichever scenario Kit can use the bench to change the shape/formation more effectively.
The honeymoon period is closing to an end. Kit's managerial experience was the biggest pitfall highlighted by everyone here. He desperately needs a good assistance coach with the ability to focus on the detail and swift action... The performance against Brentford is in contrast to his interview that certain players do not fit in the "team"...
