Having apparently settled on a 4-4-2 formation and Woodrow out, there are only two issues facing Slavi for this game. The first is, which CB pairing to go for? He tried a different one of Hutchinson and Burn at the weekend (well, different in that you have to go back a while since they played together in a League match – although technically guess the last time was when we beat Watford 2-0 in a friendly only a couple of months ago). Whether the change was experimental or to give Stearman a rest is open to debate. To be honest the two positions are between those three – Ream just isn’t cutting it at the moment. For me, Stearman and Burn are very similar in style; flying forward, across and backwards - following the ball but not always the play or the loose player. Hutchinson in contrast is more a ‘straight up and down’ type, holding his position covering his oppo. Mentioned that before and his flaws, of which weak passing is one – but then accurate passing is not exactly a strength of any of the three. I’d stick with Hutchinson. Stearman is the experienced one of the other two but hasn’t impressed of late, so stick with Burn as well. The other dilemma for Slavi is midfield. I believe he’ll opt for the defensive qualities of Matilla over the likes of O’Hara and Parker. Hyndman missed the Cup game with a slight knock and should be back. That leaves LVC, Kaca and Cairney fighting for the other two, wider positions. Rues me to say it, but I’d leave Cairney on the bench. He’s wasted on the wings and I just can’t fit him in the central midfield. With Wolves losing striker Afobe (to Bournemouth) and flanker Ojo (recalled by Liverpool) over the weekend, they’ll stack the midfield and our best bet is to have the energy of LVC and Kaca running at them on the outside. So, the starting line-up: ……………….…Lonergan…………………… ..Richards…Hutchinson…Burn…..Garbutt…… ….LVC……Matilla….Hyndman….Kaca… ……………..Dembele..McCormack..
Until we can bring in at least another 3 players, I don't feel that any amount of jiggling about with what we have got in the defence will give us winning results.
Slav seems to be a tickerman so here's my tinkering ………….…Lewis…………………… ..Fredericks…Stearman…Burn…Hutchinson..Kavanagh…… ….…..........…Mattila….….… ......Hyndman... ......Cairney............... ……..Dembele...McCormack..
Love your lateral thinking. Garbutt for Kavanagh and you're on a winner SuperBri. [Think Lonergan might also keep his spot]
We need to keep a clean sheet so: Lonergan Fredericks - Stearman - Ream - Burn - Hutchinson - Garbutt - Kavanagh Matilla - LVC McCormack Too defensive?
This is a good time to play Wolves. The sale of Afobe, a number of injuries have weakened their side. Wolves fans always like a moan but they are more despondent at the moment. If we play like on Saturday and get the first goal we will win this game and gain a lot of confidence. I'd have Stearman playing against his old club and have Cairney start. Cairney had a good game Saturday and I think we play better when he's in the team.
Is George Williams anyway near first team fitness, does anyone know? I like Cottager's line up, but I'd love to see Williams paired with either Kacaniklic or LVC in the wide positions. I suspect when he gets his chance it will probably be as a sub at first.
Richard has just tweeted: " Big game back at the old stomping ground tonight. Looking forward to being back and seeing some familiar faces ". Kind of looks as though he will be playing COYW. Another player returning to his old stomping ground is of course Jamie O'Hara. He has also mentioned about going' back but couched more in terms of " a game we need to win " so I'm less sure that's an indicator he'll start. Wee Georgie has only had one full game with the U21s Captain - the 3-3 draw with Brighton just before Christmas. He did well getting a goal and a couple of assists but think it's still too early for him.
Slavi is also considering the role of Tim Ream, the local paper reports: Fans are divided on how good Ream has been at left-back, and his manager is likewise pondering the next move for the 28-year-old. “We can occupy (the spot) with Tim and Luke Garbutt,” said Jokanovic. “I am completely agreed he can play left or centre back. But now it’s my work to find more benefits (for the team). This is not chess, and I understand what you’re saying but I need to find the best solutions.” Reading between the lines Ream won't be a left back in this game and I doubt if he'll start in one of the CB slots either.
Wild, wet and windy at the ground and lots of travel problems because of a traffic accident in the area. The lads arrived safely though and Slavi, rather surprisingly, has only made the one obvious change - Dembele for Woodrow - from Saturday. Tonight's team is: .....................Lonergan................ ..Richards.. Hutchinson.. Burn.. Garbutt.. .....LVC....Cairney ..O'Hara....Kaca ..........McCormack..Dembele.. Quite a different bench however, and the Captain will be pleased to see wee Georgie included. Subs: Lewis, Stearman, Ream, Fredericks, Hyndman, Smith and Williams.
please log in to view this image Says it all really. [Would add, we are so weak down the right hand side - you do not want to watch their first two goals.]
So frustrated. We really are making hard work of this. 64% possession again, highest goals scored in the league, quality championship players (imo) and near bottom. Next on is Huddesfield who I see won 5 nil away from home tonight ! My optimism is draining after tonight. I really thought we'd get a least a point. Slavi and the gang are really going to have to earn their money to crack this one. I can't make it out. Is it defence, midfield, balance, ruthlessness, confidence, leadership, physical strength, fitness, tactics, motivation, hunger, lack of width, too intricate - probably a bit of everything ? Possession and goal scoring is not the problem. Individually we've got quality players - I sort of feel we're like a really good skilful academy side who get out thought each time by seasoned professionals who find us easy to play against. I've lost count of the times teams against us have said that that was the best performance they've put on all season or for a number of games. I don't know - I'll sleep on it and see if it is any clearer tomorrow.
I've said it more times than I care to mention, our slow monotonous possession football is our downfall, that allows the opposition to fall back and easily defend in numbers and attack us on the break. Our fullbacks and wingers seem so slow that the linesmen run quicker then them. If they gave League points for possession I'm sure we'd get promoted automatically. Does Lonergan have short Arms ? Can we get someone to train him to kick balls to his own players? I have a cunning plan, instead of releasing our fullbacks to maraud forward at will, we put Smith as the 3rd Center Half between Stearman and Burn and allow any one of them to maraud forward at will while the other back 4 stay put. That's not going to happen because Slav has just said he wants more possession and take risks.
Depressed. Need more quality at the back. I thought the signings of Stearman and Ream, both players of the year at their previous clubs I think, were the quality we needed. Clearly not. Agree about the slow build up. Very frustrating and just plays into oppos hands. Aaaaaarrrggggghhhhh!
I get this, in that he wants us to take a higher line and 'defend from the front'. Trouble with his thinking is we have too many so called creative players and none that can break up play when the opposition have the ball. Sure we can criticise our defenders but the for and against goal stats demonstrate that there is no balance to the side.
Having slept on it I feel a bit better ! I suppose we cannot expect miracles from Slavi after such a short time and we are actually playing better. I agree with Super Brian that our build up play in attack is so slow and allows the opposition time to get men behind the ball and then catch us on the break. At times it's like trying to pass the ball into the net. I'd like to see more width, crosses and fast break aways and I think that would help. Balance is definitely something to do with it and I think we may have to wait till the end of the season to address this properly. I suppose we just need to be patient and keep behind the team and Slavi. I think he'll come good.
