I've thought this for ages, gives us a different dimension simply beat your man and whip the ball in maybe where hemir comes good.
I'm happy enough with the formation we play, we just need to tighten up on the transition. Ekwah's form seems to have dropped, so we need him to get back to where he was.
Manager has improved results on last season so far. Club are still developing the squad and building up our financial ability in transfer market. Excited to see what January brings, be it a defensive CM or otherwise. Even if it’s TM starting to work alongside a young coach again I’ve no problem with that. Don’t think we are going to make any major change in formation unless it’s already part of the plan. The recruitment and squad balance is being built to play football a particular way. No point buying square pegs and changing to round holes. Every window we seem to come out of it stronger. Results don’t always go our way, refs can be utter knackers, form can get dip especially with younger players but we seem to be buying players with class that will come good. Not worried, think making a play off spot would be a successful season and it’s still well in reach.
Comparing our start to last season is a bit of a dive in standards, we’d switched manager and had numerous first team injuries already - go and look at the 5 teams we’d beaten. Wasn’t it the reading game we had 8 midfielders starting or something daft like that.
Onien doesn’t even sit when he’s playing centre half mate he’s often further forward than the wingers.
Don't think Ekwahs has a good game since returning from injury, seems to want more time on the ball, rustiness? but he's had time now to be back on it. I'd try 09 as the holding midfielder everyone crying out for and maybe rest Ekwah or Jobe. All we need is a tweak not major surgery.
O’nien was poor as a midfielder that’s why he was moved to RB then eventually CB. Has to drop Ekwah then move Jobe back imo and get Aouchiche in.
Maybe practice hitting the ball hard with swerve and lower trajectory might help on corners, we win plenty.
Normally have your CB’s attacking corners/set piece because they’re generally the biggest players in the team but we concede that with our team selection. You’d fancy someone like Ekwah to be a decent distraction defending set pieces because of his size but you wouldn’t put money on him beating a CB of the same size in the air, it’s their bread and butter.
If played there his job would be protect the back four, put his foot in and give the ball to the other midfielders to get forward. He wouldn't need to move 20 yards in any direction. I know he's limited but he's intelligent and could easily handle that role then we wouldn't keep getting caught out like we appear to be nearly every single game recently. This role would suit a back 3.
You have to compare it to something. How else can you gauge progress? We have more points on the board because we are drawing fewer games, but also means we lose more. I'd rather win 23 and lose 23 than draw all 46 games. Simms started up front away to Reading BTW
I agree, O/9 might be the perfect answer, try Seelt with Ballard plus Alese Hume or Cirkin as a back three , spoilt for choice in midfield, then sort the two strikers out and Bobs your uncle .
