with routledge having a fantastic game on the wing at Liverpool should he keep his place there against Man utd and move Sinclair to a more central role behind Danny, It could work a treat and worth a try,
Don't know, but do you mean move Sinclair into the role that dobbie normally plays ? I think that both can have a role, hope his match at Liverpool ain't a one off.
I tend to agree with Dai & been thinking along those lines all week, he seems to have had a stormer, but as Jager says can he keep it going. Sinclair so far this season seems to be less effective than last, apart from the penalties. Put him in the slot behind Graham, so that when the speedsters get behind the defence, Sinclair is there to slot it home. That would be my plan anyway, if it does`nt work, try something else.
Excellent question. My first reaction when Routledge was acquired was that he was going to be slotted into Dobbie's position. He has shown glimpses of being effective, but not as potent in the goal scoring area as a fully gunning Dobbie can be. After his showing against Liverpool, he looks the part out wide too. In fact against Liverpool, he was as creative as Sinclair typically is if not more so. The key questions are: can Routledge produce goals (not on a par with Sinclair from last season but contribute); b) is Sinclair going to continue to disappear in games or is he going to get busy and start hunting for the ball (i.e. be more like Dyer in getting the ball deeper and running at defenders); c) is Sinclair going to start scoring. The line of Sinclair, Routledge, Dyer could (should) be an effective force behind Graham and in front of Allen and a partner; with the threesome being given license to switch positions at will with speed they would cause any defensive line problems. But at the moment choosing between Routledge or Sinclair, it's a bit of a toss up for me on the left wing and I don't think Sinclair would work hard enough or be effective defensively in a fixed central role.
I like the idea of Allen, Britton and Sinclair in the middle of the park working in tandem but it may be a bit much trying it against Man U. Start with the same line up that played against Liverpool and if it doesn't appear to be so effective ir it turns out Routledges good game was a one off, then try that formation against Villa perhaps
The terrifying prospect is what happens if we get a penalty with Sinclair off the pitch? If it was any other game of the season I'd probably say continue with Routledge, but I think the Man Utd game is going to be a tense, terse affair that could be settled by the odd goal which could well be a penalty, so for me Sinclair should start. That's probably as close to a "Stoke mentality" as I'll ever allow myself to get
I think Sinclair will probably get his place back, and fairly so...He has had a number of shots this season, hit the woodwork more than any other player in the prem (5) His pens are of course crucial. And considering we do get pens at home more often. Also Sinclair draws in defenders and takes them on, sometimes it works sometimes is doesn't. He does need to be on the pitch, and would like to see him tried in that central attacking role...The only problem is that it is a Central Midfield role, which does require more defending - this is not Sincairs forte. We have problem enough when Dobbie is there in that he really has to try hard to defend, Sinclair would be another step up from that. As opposed to Allen in that role, or Gower, who maybe can play a bit more all over the middle
I'm not so sure rhys, i agree that Sinclair must play but not necessary on the left wing, routledge to me has more than earned another shot in that position, don't forget Sinclair was originally a striker and I'm sure we would get more goals from him in a more central position, i use to love the sweeper role where the player has free reign just behind the striker and in front of the midfield. I just think with his talents he is slightly wasted out wide and now we know routledge can play that position well then brendan now has a great option if he wishes to give it a go....
I've also considered the prospect of Scottie starting in a more central role when we've had problems opening teams up, both last season & this. It's a position where his pace, directness, give & go's & shooting could really effect the defending of opposing teams. But not sure how that would effect us as a defensive unit though??!! At the moment, our midfield three are really holding their own, so not only would one have to go, I would be worried about how Joe Allen could possibly be affected by such a change. Obviously he couldn't be the one who is dropped & he'd have to be more focussed on defensive cover again, rather than giving him license to roam. We're really getting the best out of him in the advanced attacking role & wouldn't want to inhibit him again. Then there's Kemy to come back, but it's certainly nice problems to have for us!! It's something I'd possibly like to see, but not at the expense of Joe Allen's progression!! Sinclair has to play for his solid penalty return alone, so it's a nice problem for Brendan whether Routledge is on the pitch at the same time & if he is, whether he's out wide too!!........
One burning question tho to Scottie playing in the hole behind Danny, i asked if this could work ages ago as it could give Scott more space. Who do you take out as joey has been playing "in the hole" and forgive me if this statement is incorrect but he has been a class apart in my eyes albeit i didn't see the whole game at anfield. gower has been playing well also with lil Leon in the middle. Mind you it is a nice conundrum to have
Problem with playing Sinclair in the middle is we'd lose midfield domination. For all of Joey's bombing on forward, he does a lot of work harrying people defensively and Scotty, while he tracks back, isn't that type of player. If we had Yaya Toure and Roy Keane sitting deep, then fine, give Sinclair a central role and tell him to have fun! In a system where our competitiveness is based on our midfield's ability to retain possession, though, I'd say it's dangerous to put such an out and out attacker in a more traditional midfielders role.
Would Sinclair get marked by 2 opposition players if he switched positions to the 'Dobbie' role like he does when out wide? or does that only happen becuase he is hugging the touchline. After the Liverpool / Routledge performance i started to think (yes it does happen from time to time) if we could use Routledge out wide and Sinclair in the 'Dobbie' role, would Sinclair still suck two deffenders out of position to mark him?? That may free up the wingers / striker and create lots more space.. Alternitivly they may not want to double up on him if he was in the centre which would allow him space and time to punish them..
whatever until you try these things we will never know, you cant say it would work to our advantage or not but if it was me i would give it a go....
