Match Thread: Forest Vs Birmingham Sponsored by Steve Cotterill's P45
- Thread starter Pope John XXIII
- Start date
Old Red Fart
Vital Champions League
Hope you fellows are right otherwise we have a quite expensive problem.
PsychoTheLegend
Vital Football Hero
We do need another striker imo.
Like to see Fuentes at LB when match fit.
Another centre half to replace Mancienne should also be a priority.
Like to see Fuentes at LB when match fit.
Another centre half to replace Mancienne should also be a priority.
mao tse tung
Vital Champions League
We have this one covered chaps!
Its patently clear to see exactly who bothered their arses to go yesterday; Popes summation would be closest to my assessment.
We now have a solid spine to the team and Watson and Colback are an integral part of that; there is nothing remotely negative or defensive about playing a double pivot, in fact the solid platform that it gives is a massive positive.
The two full backs are incredibly weak; Darikwa is not improving with games and Osborn is clearly out of position; thankfully we have not played anyone who has managed to take advantage of these frailties, that will change over our next run of games.
Our big problem yeterday was up front; neither Brereton or Murphy managed to hold the ball up and link play with the three playing behind; Birmingham held thier shape and looked solid which made life very difficult.
The three playing off of the forward have been a breath of fresh air; they have a great understanding and link up well, cover a lot of ground defensively and are all weighing in with goals.
We now have three players who are getting into positions to score goals and that is what we have badly missed; not a second forward.
To think that in the very recent past we had one of our bretheren slating Karanka for not playing Lolley on the right instead of Cash, this was on the basis that Joe is a naturally right sided player; you can imagine my amusement to see Joe drifting left at every given opportunity, tackling and passing with his left foot and to top it all off, scoring two goals with his left foot.
He needs to get on message pretty sharpish before he ends up being a pariah like Ben, Ben, Matty and Joe W.
Its patently clear to see exactly who bothered their arses to go yesterday; Popes summation would be closest to my assessment.
We now have a solid spine to the team and Watson and Colback are an integral part of that; there is nothing remotely negative or defensive about playing a double pivot, in fact the solid platform that it gives is a massive positive.
The two full backs are incredibly weak; Darikwa is not improving with games and Osborn is clearly out of position; thankfully we have not played anyone who has managed to take advantage of these frailties, that will change over our next run of games.
Our big problem yeterday was up front; neither Brereton or Murphy managed to hold the ball up and link play with the three playing behind; Birmingham held thier shape and looked solid which made life very difficult.
The three playing off of the forward have been a breath of fresh air; they have a great understanding and link up well, cover a lot of ground defensively and are all weighing in with goals.
We now have three players who are getting into positions to score goals and that is what we have badly missed; not a second forward.
To think that in the very recent past we had one of our bretheren slating Karanka for not playing Lolley on the right instead of Cash, this was on the basis that Joe is a naturally right sided player; you can imagine my amusement to see Joe drifting left at every given opportunity, tackling and passing with his left foot and to top it all off, scoring two goals with his left foot.
He needs to get on message pretty sharpish before he ends up being a pariah like Ben, Ben, Matty and Joe W.
Agree 100%.... his age is affecting him nd for his role...especially being the lone striker we cannot afford passengers...its not our fault that it takes him 3 months to get up to speed...if we are aiming higher for next season ...Murphy is not the solution...as things stand...let Ben get as much milage as much as possible...he is young he will makes mistakes..but he will learn from them...by playing an unfit aging striker ...we r gaining nothing...
LyttleByLyttle
Vital Football Hero
I think Darwika is improving but that’s not hard given how low the bar was set.
I also thought that most of the balls into Brereton were right into his feet whereas it seems with Murphy we use the dustbin lid rule.
Apollyon
Vital Football Legend
Would be a perfect set up for Dex. Maybe we should offer him a 5 year contract (again)?
I would think Karanka has already identified his forward targets for next season. A win over drearby and Norfolk could see us within single figures of the play offs :19:
Blunts have Fulham, Ipswich then us
Preston have Bristol, Fulham then Sunderland
Boro have Brum who interestingly could be managed by Monk, followed by Barnsley and Brentford
And Bristol have the 2 games above plus Burton away
Toodlepip
Poor performance, poor game. Two holding midfield players, a lone striker with at times three sitting on him, two fullbacks that only just past the halfway line means more performances like this. Fortunately Brum were worse. Away is likely to be a better stage for performances. As is Derby in next home game, as they could be needing 3 points to stay in top 6. After that I fear more of the same dross. We need to support the striker to score goals. Having six at the back is embarrassing at home. AK needs to watch the Cloughie film. Sacrilege on our own turf. No good blaming BB and Murphy for lack of effort. Harry Kane would have struggled with that set up.
Apollyon
Vital Football Legend
Polly we dont sit that deep to call it 6 at the back. Both Watson and Colback were involved in yesterdays goals and Watson is playing box to box. When we are attacked we arrange the defence better than I have seen for 3 seasons. Equally the attacking presence of Lolley,Tomlin and Cash with Colback and Watson pushing them on is a great set up. Its not at all negative. Yesterday it didnt fully click but when it does, we will have more QPRs then Brums in terms of goals scored
Ah let’s see. Worrall is not in the team. BEn o is not in midfield. He can’t get i despite you implying he was amazing and should be in midfield..Ben b has scored maybe 5 in 30. Cash is having a decent run. All of these players are good squad players but won’t get us promoted. They are predominantly excellent in a supporting role. We need a proper goal scorer. They stay in the team for now and whilst they perform to karankas standards
Pope John XXIII
Vital Football Legend
Were you saying this when MW was playing Vaughan and Bridcutt as two defensive midfielders?
Or switching one for Osborn?
Because we played 4-2-3-1 pretty much every single game under MW.
Almost every team in this league plays 4-2-3-1 with a double pivot.
Are they committing sacrilege too?
We are mostly playing 4-1-4-1 with one of our 'defensive' midfielders more advanced and operating up and down the pitch. That's more positive than most teams play.
The whole purpose of the system is that in attack you can have a defensive team of between 3-6, so the front four can just let loose and when things are going right the Fullbacks can join too.
Mao and the others who say the lone striker was the problem are spot on. People couldn't get forward because neither striker was able to hold the ball for them to get there.
This idea that Karanka is playing a more negative formation is an absolute fiction and even more ludicrous considering the same players and tactics brought 5 away from home last week.
