---Bettinelli--- Richards-----Bodurov--Hutchinson--Burns--Kavanagh--- ------------Hoogland--------Parker-------------- ------------------Ruiz-------LVC---- -------------------McCormack------------- There are not enough players in midfield willing to take the load of Parker, Parker always seems to be mostly facing his own goal when he receives the ball, he is easily marked and has to pass the ball back.
My thinking was not a million miles away from yours SuperBri. In fact the only difference was how they lined up and was about to post this: Whatever, he really must look to shore up that defence. And get some experience on the park, even if - or in this particular game, because - it slows the game down. In fact if I were Kit, I’d throw all the previous Plan A ‘diamond’ stuff out the window and go: ……………….Bettinelli…………… ……Bodurov…..Burn….Hutchinson… ..Richards……..Hoogland………Kavanagh.. ……..LVC……Parker…..Ruiz….. …………….McCormack….. We ought then to be able to defend set pieces in the air. And okay we’re not going to win the ball in the air up front - but we don’t anyway - and that group are in any event more liable to play the ball on the floor. Importantly the wing-backs (Richards and Kavanagh) can give us some width going forward without leaving the defence exposed. And perversely, allow us to properly play a ’diamond’. The downside of course is that the back three have never played in that formation before and obviously would have had little time to give it a go in training. Wishful thinking though. Kit will remain cautious and wedded to what he believes in. So, what we will see is the usual back four, a midfield of: LVC..Parker..Kavanagh And a front three of: Ruiz..Hugo..McCormack [Although, he might use the “needs a break“ excuse for Hugo and start with Woodrow. Or maybe not!]
In a 'pseudo' press conference this lunchtime, Kit said that Hugo is “struggling after a knock against Wolves” and is doubtful. Only other team news is that Nando Amorebieta might get a run out for the U21s tomorrow. Footnote: ”Struggling” seems to have become Kit’s favourite term of late. We’ve had Parker, Ruiz, Kavanagh, Amorebieta himself and a few others who actually played all suffering from that recently.
all too predictable from Kit. Every bloody team in the league now knows how to play against us. The team that he sends out week in week out to keep us entertained just doesn't work. I was and am a supporter of Kit. It's great he got the opportunity and I hope he is learning from this experience. The only drawback is he must see a completely different game to those on the terraces.
Steve Mc Claren as an astute manager would have already analysed our all predictable frailties, probe our defence for 10/15min, then attack on both wings with plenty of crosses to catch out our all over the place keeper. Score 3 : 1, / 4 ; 1 Derby. = 2month relegation dog fight.
The problem we have at the moment is confidence or lack off from both the players and supporters. I think there are very few fans that think if we go behind 1 or 2-0 that we will get a win. Even when in front there is no real feeling of keeping a lead. It also seems to me that the players give up and expect the inevitable. What I want to see tomorrow is a fight till the end, not giving up at the first setback.
Not saying we should fight dirty but got to be a tad more aggressive than against Wolves where we didn't commit one foul in the game.
Cottager I like the look of that team of yours.... In danger of boring myself I have said for a while that the personnel in our squad all point towards a wing back system, there's no harm in trying it as the current system isn't working
...and a second from Woodrow. I'm indulging my other love (rugby) today, but can any provide some feedback on whether we deserve a two goal lead?
I had been out all day so had no idea of the score, when I got home to check I said to myself "hopefully we've kept it respectable and not conceded 5 to Derby again". Imagine my surprise to find that not only had we not conceded 5, we had only gone and won!! And kept a clean sheet! Where did this come from?? Managed to put a bit of a gap between ourselves and relegation, been a good day.
It may sound harsh, but results like today do make me wonder if the problem is Hugo. I'm not convinced that the Hugo/McCormack combination works and it seems to push everything else out of joint... Anyways, we can discuss that another time. For now let's just be happy!
