"We've got four strikers, we're trying to find the right..."

[Vision]

Up until the last couple of games I'd have said that our playing style was a lot more pass orientated than previously. Not saying we're Barcelona or owt just that it seemed that we were at least trying be more accurate with our passing than before.As a result I thought on the whole the performances were improving even if we weren't getting the results this improvement in style might warrant.

That seems to have gone out of the window in the last couple of games where we've benched 2 of the few players (ALF/HRK) that want to put their foot on the ball. Now it seems our plan is to continously hook the ball over the top and let the workhorses Hunt and Church chase.turn and stretch the opposition for the first 70 minutes and hope that we can capitalise on any set-pieces that come our way via Harte's trusty left peg. Then we bring the two aforementioned players on,move McAnuff into the middle and all of a sudden start exploiting the gaps by passing the ball more. Lo and behold we've been utter mince for about 3/4 of the last two games yet managed to win them both.

I don't expect that to be a long-term winning formula to be honest but I doubt McD will change it until it does prove ultimately unsuccessful.

[melonhead]

I see today's events are even affecting the Reading line up...

??

strikers.....

[Ian Royal]

I'd be happy with

ALF on his own up front
McAnuff playing behind him to provide a bit of creativity (I think he plays better in the middle for us)
Karacan and Leigertwood as holding midfielders
HRK and Kebe down the wings, cutting inside like old fashioned inside forwards

Sort of a 433 that can then turn into a 451 as the need arises.

Don't think it's got much in the way of goals going for it, when you factor in a lessened return from ALF for being on his own. Put Sigurdsson behind him with two of McAnuff, HRK and Kebe and I'm with you. Shame we don't have Sig really.

ALF has to get his starting place back.

[Ian Royal]

Up until the last couple of games I'd have said that our playing style was a lot more pass orientated than previously. Not saying we're Barcelona or owt just that it seemed that we were at least trying be more accurate with our passing than before.As a result I thought on the whole the performances were improving even if we weren't getting the results this improvement in style might warrant.

That seems to have gone out of the window in the last couple of games where we've benched 2 of the few players (ALF/HRK) that want to put their foot on the ball. Now it seems our plan is to continously hook the ball over the top and let the workhorses Hunt and Church chase.turn and stretch the opposition for the first 70 minutes and hope that we can capitalise on any set-pieces that come our way via Harte's trusty left peg. Then we bring the two aforementioned players on,move McAnuff into the middle and all of a sudden start exploiting the gaps by passing the ball more. Lo and behold we've been utter mince for about 3/4 of the last two games yet managed to win them both.

I don't expect that to be a long-term winning formula to be honest but I doubt McD will change it until it does prove ultimately unsuccessful.

Agree, Mills allowed us to move the ball in more of a passing style because he could get up and down the wing, which Harte couldn't. As a consequence it's far more percentage hopeful hoofs into channels from that flank now.

Then remove Le Fondre's quality in linking play and my God we looked dire yesterday. He certainly made a massive difference coming on.

[Bandini]

But some of these obviously won't work in practice and so can be immediately eliminated.

Nice work Cube.

'greed.

[FiNeRaIn]

How about HRK and Kebe up front?