With Bothroyd in the bag and DJ Campbell looking a real possibility, are we going to have to play a different formation? I can't see how we can fit two out-and-out strikers into the team without playing 4-4-2, which means dropping a holding player like Derry, who proved so important last year? Taarabt leaving has been met with mixed response, but I'd love to see him dazzling in the Premiership (preferably in blue and white hoops). With Naughton also on the cards, I can see it looking something like this.... Kenny Naughton Gorkks Connolly Hill Dyer Faurlin Taarabt Smith Bothroyd Campbell And that's omitting players who probably deserve a shot in the Premiership, like Derry, Helguson, Orr, Buszaky and Mackie. If Campbell and Webber come in, we'll have a strikeforce of Helguson, Hulse, Webber, Campbell, Agyemang, Bothroyd, Mackie and Hewitt - eight strikers?!! Dyer, if he finds his form of old, and that's a big if, will fill the Routledge-shaped void on the right wing, but I'd still worry about Gorkks, Connolly and Hill. Still, feeling much more positive now than two days ago.
I think it will be imperative that we keep the two defensive midfield players to protect the back four. From what I saw of Campbell last season, I'd have thought he would also fit into one of the attacking midfield roles. If not, we will need strength on the bench as well as one the field, and cover for injuries, suspensions etc.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a bid put in for Clyne to solve the left back problem, Hill may end up in the centre. We'll stick with 4-2-3-1 if Taarabt stays.
I'd say zero chance of us changing a system that worked so well for us. Bothroyd will do the Helguson role, Campbell will do the Routledge role. (If Campbell is confirmed that would be two very good signings). I'll wait and see how many games Dyer manages before i make my mind up on him but he can do a good job in a Routledge/Smith role or stay central as attacking mid if there is no Taarabt on the pitch I reckon Bullard more likely to play deeper alongside Derry or Faurlin like he did against us so well in 1st half of game for Ipswich at our place last season. Good CB add Naughton and keep Taarabt and we have a good 1st team at the very least
Im pretty sure there is 0% chance of us playing that team in any game next season lol..... Where's the midfield? Ali would be super exposed. Kenny Naughton Gorkss Hall Hill Derry/Bullard Faurlin Dyer Tarbs DJ Bothroyd Ahhh, thats more like it
would mackie not be playing on the right, i think if he is fit he would be in the starting eleven over dyer
I wouldn't want to see that team and can see the weakness, but our current system doesn't support playing Campbell and Bothroyd. Campbell and Bothroyd haven't been bought to sit on the bench, and I can't see Campbell in the Routledge role - he's a poacher, not a winger. So to play both we have to lose someone in midfield in my opinion. The only thing we really lacked last year was goals up top, which we won't be able to get away with in the Premiership, especially if we lose Tarbs. Warnock will no doubt find a solution though....
Diamond formation maybe? But that stops width which is not very handy at premier league level! If it is diamond something like this? Kenny Orr hill gorkss naughton Derry Faurlin Bullard Tarbs Bothroyd DJ
Whichever way I look at it, I can't see a team like that surviving (decent looking side though it is). With another couple of signings however, I would be quite confident.
I definitely think we should have more than one plan of attack. All the best teams can play several when required so let's progress to two first and see how we go..
--------------Kenny Orr---Connolly---Gorkss---Hill -----------Derry - Faurlin Mackie -------------------- Dyer -------Bothroyd - Campbell It will work, trust!
Honestly, I think we'll stick with the same formation of 4-2-3-1. Campbell on the right (which I think he played at Blackpool) and Mackie on the left......
Nobody has mentioned Foggia or Parr yet, that's IF we buy them. IMO a LB is more important than a RB so there we should be signing a new LB. We will probably end up playing a 2,2,2,4 formation, why not?
I think our formation may vary depending on home or away and who we are playing against . Warnock is a canny old fox and he will approach each game with a specific game plan. I could see us keeping the 4-2-3-1 system at home and away i could see us going into more of a 4-4-2 or 4-5-1. Derry and Faurlin are great foil for one another but not much in the way of mobility. I fancy on the bigger pitches they would do with another pair of legs in there. Bullard perhaps. Also if we go with the old formation orr and hill will get massively exposed We will definitely see different formations next season , and possibly them changing during a match depending on how it is going. I think Warnock will be parking a few buses away from home.
