Last season and at the beggining of this season Warnock was employing a very successful 4-2-3-1 formation but it seems during our recent run of bad form we have been playing a more rigid 4-4-2 formation without a specific gameplan and I think this maybe where we are being exposed at this level. Lets face it Norwich are attacking everyone home and away and conceding alot but also scoring and picking up points along the way and although Swansea havent set the world alight they have employed there methodical possession and passing game with a settled back four counter attacking with pace which has seen them progress and improve as the season has gone on. But Warnock has chopped and changed the formation and peoples positions and although he said we would attack teams its seems the change in formation brought a more defence minded approach and confused the players. I think Warnock needs to get a settled formation with a clear gameplan and then and only then will we see the teams form pick up and points total grow.
I actually think the problem is that NW has NOT chopped and changed the tactics enough. Ever since he arrived he has basically focused on one up front in various combinations only switching to more attacking line ups when forced into it. It worked when Taarabt and Mackie were on fire in the first half at 2010/2011 but since then he has faced an ongoing and incresaingly difficult struggle to produce results using his dogmatic approach. To me he looks like the proverbial old dog who doesn't have the capacity to try new tricks.
The problem with 4-4-2 is you need an out and out striker as one of the pair, we haven't got a Defoe or Bent to play off HH or Bothroyd so it's not working and without a central playmaker the one up front system doesn't work either. We need to set the team up in a way that addresses that, sadly we don't have the right players at the moment...
warnock has tactics? He seems to not really know what hes doing. For example SWP on the left (where hes useless) to accommodate Mackie of all people on the right. hes reminding me of Holloway, so pig headed that he cant see whats going on and wont change it despite a game crying out for a sub. Then when he does it, its 15 mins too late and often he doesnt even use all 3 subs when losing. Its so frustrating watching him throw points away.
DJ Campbell was supposed to be that player but Warnock had him playing up front on his own yesterday with a target man in Macheda on the wing. He did the same having a 6ft4 Bothroyd ping in crosses to a 5ft5 DJ before, it makes no sense.
Whilst it's always nice to bring in new and better quality players, if things are allowed to continue as they are I can't see reinforcements changing much. I'm becoming increasingly concerned about the number of current players misfiring. Yet another sign of the level of discontent and frustrations with 'system' (singular) and ultimately management. Players need to believe in these things to find their best form. I wouldn't be surprised if a new broom with tactical nouse suddenly found a lot more quality and effectiveness in the players we've already got. So disappointing. Been a Warnock man from the outset. He pulled us out of the mess we were in. So wanted him to succeed at this level but if he can't learn from his mistakes, it's a fatal flaw that must not be ignored.
Totally agree with this. I recognise that players are spoilt brats and should, in some ways, just get on with things!! But in reality, if a manager has lost the players in this day and age, he has to go!
Totally agree, I'm in the same boat. We really seems to have lost the plot in recent games, with team selections, substitutions, and the dressing room, almost beyond the point of no return. Certainly, the possible mitigating factor of good luck has also not played in our favour.
Agree with this Brix. MON has the same squad that Bruce assembled but has 'got their heads sorted'. We urgently need this to happen. TBH if we think signing 4 or 5 new players will be the quick fix we need then someone is missing the point completely
