Assuming Trollope wants to stick to his preferred wingback system, does he have any real idea yet about the optimum 10 players to get it to work let alone get the best out of them? It clearly hadn't happened before last night and the starting 11 he chose reflected that. Switching things around and even playing players out of their natural positions in the hope he'll strike it lucky seems a bit reminiscent of OGS playing Le Fondre on the wing. There again, from being probably the worst midfield combination of last season, Whitts and Gunnar looked far and away the best of this season. Pilks is clearly no striker and it showed again last night, but are Fred and Ken any better? Experimentation with what we've got given Tan's clutch on the purse strings is probably his only course at the moment but I wonder at what point he'll run out of options. If that happens and he still can't put a convincing side together to do a job, there could be serious calls for a change and not just the present grumblings. Fortune favours the brave they say but last night we got lucky with those two own goals against what was a very average side. OGS got only 8 games at the start of his Championship season before he was turfed out and I don't see Trolls doing any better job up till now - in fact we've probably been worse from what I remember. He needs to settle on a preferred lineup and stick with it for a while or this is only going to go one way.
Short answer... No I think unless Freddie becomes the next Michael Chopra from here on out, we are definitely going to be fighting a relegation battle. We are currently playing strikers who cant score alongside a midfielder out of position. We have ALF and Macheda at the club as well.. Do we have anything to lose by giving them a shot?
Well the shuffle brought one unexpected bonus in Kadeem as a wing back. A revelation going forward from a deeper position allowed him to build up a head of speed although as someone (Stevo I think) said elsewhere there must be defensive doubts against better teams. Gunnar ensured he had cover against Conway whenever he got the ball. By the way, great respect from Craig Conway last night even doing a sneaky Ayatollah when taking a corner at the Canton end second half. Always good to see former players acknowledging the fans - and vice versa. He clearly enjoyed much of his time at the club.
Probably not but they haven't been given squad numbers. Not sure what the rules are for registering players to take part in the league so perhaps we have our quota and they aren't part of it. I don't think they are training with the first team so unlikely to be at match fitness - if Macheda (I've got a bad back) ever was.
There have been calls in the media for ALF to be given a shot again. Likewise I don't know the position with being able to play him.
Good to see Harris getting a run out last night even though not in his usual position I don't really want see him as wingback much because he can't really defend, but will the manager given him the chance to play up the field? the team is screaming out for some pace and he's got it in bucket loads
I mentioned Harris last season as an option for Slade to get some pace in the side but was shot down in flames by others who thought he was pants. Funny old game innit?
Yes Saint. The difference last night was he started his runs from deep and from being unmarked. As a result he was able to work up some pace before being challenged. If used as a traditional winger he doesn't get that space. Point taken about possible defensive frailties but useful to have the flexibility of using him in that position in the right matches.
There is no way on earth Alf wouldn't be a better option off the bench than what we have. Almost all the way through his career he's been an impact sub and we should try him as that. I don't know the position with regards to fitness/attitude though to be fair to Trollope. In other news..... DID SOMEONE WHO ISN't ME JUST SUGGEST PLAYING MACHEDA??!!!! **** me we must be desperate!!
In other news..... DID SOMEONE WHO ISN't ME JUST SUGGEST PLAYING MACHEDA??!!!! SHOCK!!! HORROR!!!! PROBE!!!!!
I've said a few times that I'd like to see ALF given a chance in a formation other than 442. Play him centrally with 5in the middle and he'd get us goals. Read the other day that if you look at goals per minute he's ranked 3rd top scorer of all time in the PL. Heard it said he has the same off field problems as Chops. Might be a reason he's out of favour.
