MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h)

[Snowflake Royal]

They're animals. Always will be.

Yeah, probably won't ever forget one guy frothing at the mouth while trying to climb the concrete wall to get to fans halfway up the East Stand while his ~12 year old daughter stood crying with a steward.

[Crowbar6753]

I think we should be more positive at home and take the game to teams from the off. I would be a bit more aggressive and go with a 4-3-3 formation and stick with the 4-2-3-1 for away games.

Southwood
Yids Morrison Holmes McIntyre
Rinhomota Swift TDB (Rinhomota as a holding midfielder in front of the back four)
Meite Joao Hoilett

[Zip]

I think we should be more positive at home and take the game to teams from the off. I would be a bit more aggressive and go with a 4-3-3 formation and stick with the 4-2-3-1 for away games.

Southwood
Yids Morrison Holmes McIntyre
Rinhomota Swift TDB (Rinhomota as a holding midfielder in front of the back four)
Meite Joao Hoilett

I’d probably go with this side although suspect Drinkwater and Ince will start. When I look at that side though I just worry about the opposition running through the middle of the pitch. Neither Joao or Swift do much defensive work and I can see the opposition managing to switch the ball from the middle of the pitch to the flanks far too easily.

I would certainly want Yaks in the side ahead of Ince.

[Snowflake Royal]

I think we should be more positive at home and take the game to teams from the off. I would be a bit more aggressive and go with a 4-3-3 formation and stick with the 4-2-3-1 for away games.

Southwood
Yids Morrison Holmes McIntyre
Rinhomota Swift TDB (Rinhomota as a holding midfielder in front of the back four)
Meite Joao Hoilett

Its basically the exact same team as 4-2-3-1 just drawn out slightly differently.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I think we should be more positive at home and take the game to teams from the off. I would be a bit more aggressive and go with a 4-3-3 formation and stick with the 4-2-3-1 for away games.

Southwood
Yids Morrison Holmes McIntyre
Rinhomota Swift TDB (Rinhomota as a holding midfielder in front of the back four)
Meite Joao Hoilett

Its basically the exact same team as 4-2-3-1 just drawn out slightly differently.

Yeah I don't really see the benefit of setting Swift up 10 yards deeper on paper when he would basically play as the 10 in the side anyway. TDB for me can't start in the middle. I don't think he works too well in a 2 man midfield. Again, he either plays as a 10 in front of 2 deeper midfielders to give some energy there or he plays out on the left. I quite like him, he's obviously a wiling player and technically he is quite good as well, I just don't know where he fits in above other players.

Southwood
Yiadom Morrison Holmes McIntyre
Rinomhota Drinkwater
Ince Swift Hoilett
Joao

Will be the team I expect to start potentially. I'd definitely want Meite starting in front of Ince though. Laurent and Dann still to come into the team here as well potentially when they are back fit again.

[Stranded]

I think we should be more positive at home and take the game to teams from the off. I would be a bit more aggressive and go with a 4-3-3 formation and stick with the 4-2-3-1 for away games.

Southwood
Yids Morrison Holmes McIntyre
Rinhomota Swift TDB (Rinhomota as a holding midfielder in front of the back four)
Meite Joao Hoilett

I’d probably go with this side although suspect Drinkwater and Ince will start. When I look at that side though I just worry about the opposition running through the middle of the pitch. Neither Joao or Swift do much defensive work and I can see the opposition managing to switch the ball from the middle of the pitch to the flanks far too easily.

I would certainly want Yaks in the side ahead of Ince.

The big unknown to everyone including Millwall, is what work has been done defensively this week especially with Colin Cooper coming in. We may see a very different defensive shape this weekend. Will be interesting to see.

[Hound]

Gone right off the 4-2-3-1 and don't think we'll stick with it. Especially when the 3 are very attacking players/poor at the defensive side

IMO the main reason for our defensive shitness this season has been a massive overloading of that '2' due to the '3' being in the wrong shape and not involved enough in the game. Big gaps on the wings and then the CMs being dragged out to cover leaving huge holes in front of the back 4, who aren't very mobile

[Zip]

Gone right off the 4-2-3-1 and don't think we'll stick with it. Especially when the 3 are very attacking players/poor at the defensive side

IMO the main reason for our defensive shitness this season has been a massive overloading of that '2' due to the '3' being in the wrong shape and not involved enough in the game. Big gaps on the wings and then the CMs being dragged out to cover leaving huge holes in front of the back 4, who aren't very mobile

Yep agree with this. The shape has even dreadful. It has been noticeable how much quicker opposition teams have managed to get the ball out wide into attacking positions down our flanks. It simply hasn’t worked between the two CDM’s and three in front of them.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Gone right off the 4-2-3-1 and don't think we'll stick with it. Especially when the 3 are very attacking players/poor at the defensive side

IMO the main reason for our defensive shitness this season has been a massive overloading of that '2' due to the '3' being in the wrong shape and not involved enough in the game. Big gaps on the wings and then the CMs being dragged out to cover leaving huge holes in front of the back 4, who aren't very mobile

Yep agree with this. The shape has even dreadful. It has been noticeable how much quicker opposition teams have managed to get the ball out wide into attacking positions down our flanks. It simply hasn’t worked between the two CDM’s and three in front of them.

It's by and large a squad that is suited to a 3-5-2 before Puscas left and we decided to flood our squad with wingers. Jose Gomes had the right idea to a degree with his formation, obviously that didn't work out though.

It should be the system we go for. CB has been the position where we've been able to develop some really good players, not least Dickie, Cooper, Holmes and McIntyre and now we have Dorsett and Abbey coming through as well, it's arguably our strongest area of development. 3 at the back, for me, should be the way to go. Yiadom and Rahman are capable of playing wing back, Laurent and Rino as the 2 holding midfielders, Swift just in front and Joao and Meite (would have been Puscas) up top.

[URZZZZ]

Gone right off the 4-2-3-1 and don't think we'll stick with it. Especially when the 3 are very attacking players/poor at the defensive side

IMO the main reason for our defensive shitness this season has been a massive overloading of that '2' due to the '3' being in the wrong shape and not involved enough in the game. Big gaps on the wings and then the CMs being dragged out to cover leaving huge holes in front of the back 4, who aren't very mobile

Yep agree with this. The shape has even dreadful. It has been noticeable how much quicker opposition teams have managed to get the ball out wide into attacking positions down our flanks. It simply hasn’t worked between the two CDM’s and three in front of them.

It's by and large a squad that is suited to a 3-5-2 before Puscas left and we decided to flood our squad with wingers. Jose Gomes had the right idea to a degree with his formation, obviously that didn't work out though.

It should be the system we go for. CB has been the position where we've been able to develop some really good players, not least Dickie, Cooper, Holmes and McIntyre and now we have Dorsett and Abbey coming through as well, it's arguably our strongest area of development. 3 at the back, for me, should be the way to go. Yiadom and Rahman are capable of playing wing back, Laurent and Rino as the 2 holding midfielders, Swift just in front and Joao and Meite (would have been Puscas) up top.

I think the main problem with that formation is the over reliance on the front three to score given there’s almost no goals elsewhere in the team

Would have been tempted to stick McIntyre in midfield if we had fit defenders to accommodate that change. I think he could excel in that role

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Yep agree with this. The shape has even dreadful. It has been noticeable how much quicker opposition teams have managed to get the ball out wide into attacking positions down our flanks. It simply hasn’t worked between the two CDM’s and three in front of them.

It's by and large a squad that is suited to a 3-5-2 before Puscas left and we decided to flood our squad with wingers. Jose Gomes had the right idea to a degree with his formation, obviously that didn't work out though.

It should be the system we go for. CB has been the position where we've been able to develop some really good players, not least Dickie, Cooper, Holmes and McIntyre and now we have Dorsett and Abbey coming through as well, it's arguably our strongest area of development. 3 at the back, for me, should be the way to go. Yiadom and Rahman are capable of playing wing back, Laurent and Rino as the 2 holding midfielders, Swift just in front and Joao and Meite (would have been Puscas) up top.

I think the main problem with that formation is the over reliance on the front three to score given there’s almost no goals elsewhere in the team

Would have been tempted to stick McIntyre in midfield if we had fit defenders to accommodate that change. I think he could excel in that role

It's not as if we couldn't be strong at set pieces though. Having Joao, Meite as well as 3 CB's in the box at any one time with Swift over the delivery would always be a cause for concern for most teams in this division currently.

I think the biggest problem I would have is it would almost be solely reliant on Swift in midfield to create, obviously he is leaving in the summer. I still think it should be our preferred formation even when the summer is over, but we would need wing backs who play high up the pitch and have a good delivery on them to provide from those wide areas as well as a replacement for Swift somewhere.

[Snowflake Royal]

Gone right off the 4-2-3-1 and don't think we'll stick with it. Especially when the 3 are very attacking players/poor at the defensive side

IMO the main reason for our defensive shitness this season has been a massive overloading of that '2' due to the '3' being in the wrong shape and not involved enough in the game. Big gaps on the wings and then the CMs being dragged out to cover leaving huge holes in front of the back 4, who aren't very mobile

That and Drinkwater and Laurent both having no concept of defensive positioning or ability to tackle when in the 2.

Shit defensive midfielders, slow cbs and wide players who feel ill if they stand in our half isn’t a great mix.

[Snowflake Royal]

Gone right off the 4-2-3-1 and don't think we'll stick with it. Especially when the 3 are very attacking players/poor at the defensive side

IMO the main reason for our defensive shitness this season has been a massive overloading of that '2' due to the '3' being in the wrong shape and not involved enough in the game. Big gaps on the wings and then the CMs being dragged out to cover leaving huge holes in front of the back 4, who aren't very mobile

Yep agree with this. The shape has even dreadful. It has been noticeable how much quicker opposition teams have managed to get the ball out wide into attacking positions down our flanks. It simply hasn’t worked between the two CDM’s and three in front of them.

It's by and large a squad that is suited to a 3-5-2 before Puscas left and we decided to flood our squad with wingers. Jose Gomes had the right idea to a degree with his formation, obviously that didn't work out though.

It should be the system we go for. CB has been the position where we've been able to develop some really good players, not least Dickie, Cooper, Holmes and McIntyre and now we have Dorsett and Abbey coming through as well, it's arguably our strongest area of development. 3 at the back, for me, should be the way to go. Yiadom and Rahman are capable of playing wing back, Laurent and Rino as the 2 holding midfielders, Swift just in front and Joao and Meite (would have been Puscas) up top.

Problem is Gomes left us completely exposed down the flanks, so don't agree that shape would help.

[Hound]

Gone right off the 4-2-3-1 and don't think we'll stick with it. Especially when the 3 are very attacking players/poor at the defensive side

IMO the main reason for our defensive shitness this season has been a massive overloading of that '2' due to the '3' being in the wrong shape and not involved enough in the game. Big gaps on the wings and then the CMs being dragged out to cover leaving huge holes in front of the back 4, who aren't very mobile

That and Drinkwater and Laurent both having no concept of defensive positioning or ability to tackle when in the 2.

Shit defensive midfielders, slow cbs and wide players who feel ill if they stand in our half isn’t a great mix.

Laurent actually did - when Pauno first arrived, him and Rino were very disciplined. All went to shit when We started to try to be more ‘progressive’

[Snowflake Royal]

Gone right off the 4-2-3-1 and don't think we'll stick with it. Especially when the 3 are very attacking players/poor at the defensive side

IMO the main reason for our defensive shitness this season has been a massive overloading of that '2' due to the '3' being in the wrong shape and not involved enough in the game. Big gaps on the wings and then the CMs being dragged out to cover leaving huge holes in front of the back 4, who aren't very mobile

That and Drinkwater and Laurent both having no concept of defensive positioning or ability to tackle when in the 2.

Shit defensive midfielders, slow cbs and wide players who feel ill if they stand in our half isn’t a great mix.

Laurent actually did - when Pauno first arrived, him and Rino were very disciplined. All went to shit when We started to try to be more ‘progressive’

Yeah that was over a year ago at this point, so not really counting it any more.

Laurent has got too excited by running the ball forward and wanting to score imo. Lost all positional discipline.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Yep agree with this. The shape has even dreadful. It has been noticeable how much quicker opposition teams have managed to get the ball out wide into attacking positions down our flanks. It simply hasn’t worked between the two CDM’s and three in front of them.

It's by and large a squad that is suited to a 3-5-2 before Puscas left and we decided to flood our squad with wingers. Jose Gomes had the right idea to a degree with his formation, obviously that didn't work out though.

It should be the system we go for. CB has been the position where we've been able to develop some really good players, not least Dickie, Cooper, Holmes and McIntyre and now we have Dorsett and Abbey coming through as well, it's arguably our strongest area of development. 3 at the back, for me, should be the way to go. Yiadom and Rahman are capable of playing wing back, Laurent and Rino as the 2 holding midfielders, Swift just in front and Joao and Meite (would have been Puscas) up top.

Problem is Gomes left us completely exposed down the flanks, so don't agree that shape would help.

It probably did have something to do with the midfield though, it ended up being either Pele or Rino at the time alongside both Swift and Ejaria. Potentially having Rino and Laurent in midfield could have the legs to cover the ground the full backs would leave, as well Holmes and McIntyre having experience playing at full back so they should be competent enough to cover those areas as well, particularly when the ball is down that side.

[Snowflake Royal]

It's by and large a squad that is suited to a 3-5-2 before Puscas left and we decided to flood our squad with wingers. Jose Gomes had the right idea to a degree with his formation, obviously that didn't work out though.

It should be the system we go for. CB has been the position where we've been able to develop some really good players, not least Dickie, Cooper, Holmes and McIntyre and now we have Dorsett and Abbey coming through as well, it's arguably our strongest area of development. 3 at the back, for me, should be the way to go. Yiadom and Rahman are capable of playing wing back, Laurent and Rino as the 2 holding midfielders, Swift just in front and Joao and Meite (would have been Puscas) up top.

Problem is Gomes left us completely exposed down the flanks, so don't agree that shape would help.

It probably did have something to do with the midfield though, it ended up being either Pele or Rino at the time alongside both Swift and Ejaria. Potentially having Rino and Laurent in midfield could have the legs to cover the ground the full backs would leave, as well Holmes and McIntyre having experience playing at full back so they should be competent enough to cover those areas as well, particularly when the ball is down that side.

It was more to do with the fullbacks being instructed to play the entire match halfway inside the opposition half.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Problem is Gomes left us completely exposed down the flanks, so don't agree that shape would help.

It probably did have something to do with the midfield though, it ended up being either Pele or Rino at the time alongside both Swift and Ejaria. Potentially having Rino and Laurent in midfield could have the legs to cover the ground the full backs would leave, as well Holmes and McIntyre having experience playing at full back so they should be competent enough to cover those areas as well, particularly when the ball is down that side.

It was more to do with the fullbacks being instructed to play the entire match halfway inside the opposition half.

Well yeah that's what I mean, it was more down to manager instruction rather than a general shape that could be different under another manager. Again, the wing backs probably could be high with Rino/Laurent and Holmes/McIntyre covering that area down that side, it has been done before, it just means we don't have a static midfield really that's the important factor.

[Stranded]

Millwall apparently down to the bare bones due to injury and illness, so will have to see if that ends up being helpful or not.

[tidus_mi2]

Millwall apparently down to the bare bones due to injury and illness, so will have to see if that ends up being helpful or not.

Barebones probably still means half the injuries we had at the peak of our injury crisis.