Anybody else think that it's strange that Pilks stopped playing for us around the time of the rumoured Liverpool interest? I have suspicion he may have been sold. Alternatively he may be struggling with injury a little. He was one of our best players for the first 10 games then disappeared, sat on the bench, hasn't even been a sub and whilst Surman is playing well I think Pilks would be better. Thoughts? Also I think this is my first not606 post, tbh I'm more of an observer, was on 606 and 12 yards per-exodus. Nice to get involved every once in a while, beats working.
I doubt very much that he had been sold Bath. Especially given Lambert and Big Mac's comments over jan transfer policy. I think it's purely down to the form of Holt. Morrison has been on top form therefore difficult to drop despite Holtys goals. To accommodate both of them we need to play 4-4-2 and if wes plays then it can only mean one thing.... The diamond! And surman and crofts being a little more narrow than pilks and Bennett suit that role better. If we revert back to 4-5-1 then I think we will see more of both of them. Expect changes for the next few games though. Lambo said he would shuffle around
hi bath. no chance he's been sold. lambert simply changed the system back to the diamond. it really is as simple as that! there is no conspiracy!! i suspect he may well return over christmas as lambert will no doubt utilise his whole squad to keep things fresh during this manic period of games
Yeah fair point about the transfer policy, but then McNally also doesnt mind doing a bit of good business if the price was right. I acctually look at Holt's form as a reason why pilks should start. Our best crosser of the ball should play when our best header is sh*t hot.
He played the first few games after the Liverpool rumours and was poor - playing almost as though his head had been turned. I think he has been dropped due to form personally.
the problem with playing two wide men when you have two up top is that you lose the midfield battle. thats why we only play pilks and bennett when morison is up top on his own. thats all its down to really. it would be naive to play, especially away from home, with an out-and-out 4-4-2. hardly any team plays that way anymore and the reason for that is cos you lose the midfield. it might work better at home when the onus is on us to attack but even then it would probably only work against the weakest teams, but then they will only play one up front and dominate possession! catch 22 situation
I think he may have a slight problem with his ankle. A tweet the other day from him suggested this. Something along the lines of "time for training, hopefully will get the ankle going abit again" I very much doubt he has been sold. OTBC
I should say I'm not wishing him out the door at all, a great player in the making. I think your right about 4-4-2 superman. I really enjoyed seeing him attacking defences earlier in the season. Hopfully he gets another chance to prove himself in the team. If I was him I'd be desperate to play by now
We didn't win the midfield battle Saturday with the diamond. Pilkington and Bennet are not out and out wingers. Bennet played games for Brighton in quite a few positions apparently. And Pilkington is by no means an out and out winger. And Johnson has gone to the left when he's come on as well. And maybe Lappin would be a better bet than Surman if we are looking at a defensive diamond away from home.
By our increasingly high attacking standards, we were lacking something on Saturday in the midfield. It may have been a bit of pace. Whilst I like crofts I feel he can get lost in games that are fought in the middle. I think Johnson is the better player there. I think there will be changes for the wolves game. Give people a rest.
exactly. two up front rarely works away from home these days. the diamond is more solid than a flat 4-4-2 but exposes us down the flanks. we'd have seen much more of the ball playing bennett and pilkington in a 4-5-1 but then either holt or morison misses out. i think lambert will tinker over the next four games depending on who's fit and the opposition. the good thing is, we have the players in our squad to be flexible. i watched some of the qpr game yesterday and they are so stuck if their 'plan a' doesn't work. we have a plan a, b and c!
QPR were very lucky not to get thrashed yesterday, man u were cutting through their defence with ease. What was going on with Gabbadion being late out for the second half. they looked a bit of a shambles really. On Saturday I think (for perhaps the first time) lambo got the subs wrong. Wilbraham isn't a prem striker. although Johnson gave us more defensive grit, improving the midfield offensively may have been a wiser move try and match them in the center instead of absorbing pressure.
I think Pilks will come back against Spurs if Lambert opts for a 4-2-3-1 formation to contain their midfield.
Don't think his been sold to Liverpool for starters Bellamy who they've been playing wide has been on absolute fire.
Bath, I think the only reason Wilbraham was played the other day was to stick him in the shopping window.
Firstly a big welcome Bath. Secondly I think that whilst I take on your point about Crofts getting lost in games, I think it is because he is so aware of his team responsibilities that when the situation requires it, he puts in a defensively sound performance - may not be eyecatching but it is solid and clinical. I don't think anybody comes close to him on the right side of a diamond formation. The way he covers ground in the centre but also all along the right side of the pitch is phenominal. The guy has a hell of an engine plus he is a far better crosser of a ball than people give him credit for!
I will say though, i do find it strange that he has just not featured atall considering the form he was in...
was pilks in such good form though? personally i felt his levels had dropped for a few games. he failed to track back and help tierney in a couple of games and tierney's form dipped in those games too. as i said above, i think it is purely a matter of changing the system and he doesn't fit into it at the moment - not too sure why everyone is looking for a conspiracy in all this... we obviously have nothing to moan about!
I suppose, but he's alot better in my eyes than surman, even when struggling. Bit dissapointed with surman tbh, hes even struggling in his own position of the diamond. I think we may need abit of pace tomorrow night so this could be the right time to rotate them again...
i've criticised surman a bit on here before because i feel he lacks pace but he has played well the past two games! he has quality on the ball and has been getting stuck in. he fits into the diamond better than pilkington who would have to play in the hoolahan role if he were to feature in that system. its not necessarily about who the better player is - its all about the role they play and how they compliment the others selected. i don't think we will persist with the diamond much longer though as we effectively just give the opposition too much of the ball in this league and eventually we will be punished... heavily, like we were at man citeh.
