When Moore was injured, Brown was played up front on his own. I'm sure Stendel didn't really want to, it's not ideal to play such an inexperienced player up against both opposition centre halves, but the decision was more or less forced on him due to injuries and few striker options. I wouldn't try to argue that Brown played great, but he didn't let the team down either. He battled well in a very difficult role. If we trust Brown to play up front on his own then surely we trust him to play alongside Moore? I couldn't think of a better strike partner for a young player. Someone who can occupy both centre halves, who can protect Brown and win knock downs for him. We started the season playing with two strikers. We won three, drew one, scored ten goals and didn't concede. We then sold Bradshaw and completely altered our formation and our style of play. Since the Peterborough game we've scored six and conceded seven. We've won the last two, but I'm sure even our most optimistic supporters wouldn't try to argue the performances were anything like as good as those against Oxford, Rochdale and Bradford. We've also lost two of the last four and we were beaten quite comfortably. Brown and Bradshaw are different players. I don't think Brown could offer the same energy as Bradshaw, certainly not for 90 minutes. But we do have a subs bench. But then I don't think Bradshaw has the skill to have scored the goal Brown did at Peterborough. I certainly don't think they're so radically different that we needed to alter our whole set-up. And when we were playing so well, destroying the opposition, I don't understand why we did it.
Now Woodrow is fit I doubt that will be explored, but we’d have been better with Chubby Brown up with Moore yesterday never mind Jacob, Bahre’s performance was one of the most bizarre, floating about bits of nothingness I’ve seen. I think there’s a player in there, but he relentlessly gave the ball away, didn’t seem to look interested and looked at parts to be in a ‘10’ position supporting Moore then dropped deep to receive the ball from the centre halves or McGeehan - to promptly lose it. As I say he looks to have ability but he was a liability yesterday. I’m not convinced about Cameron McGeehan either. Jacob Brown’s time will come but we need to get Woodrow up to speed, hopefully that will change us back to more of a pressing and attacking force.
After the Luton game which was 8 games since Bradshaw left we were top of the form table for the last 8 games. There was no better performing team in the League than us at that point. We scored 3 against Luton with one up front. Previously to that we scored 4 against Peterborough with one upfront. He was never going to change it for Charlton having been so prolific. We lost 2 games and it happens. No need for Stendel to make knee jerk reactions and panic like some would. We’ve gone on to win 2 on the bounce and now have the quality available to player either one up top or two which have both been very successful this season.
Been saying the same thing for a while. I'm no coach so I'm not saying a straight 4 4 2 is the answer but what we have been doing as made us look toothless in a lot of games. Though with Dougall out and our full backs pushing on we have also looked exposed in the middle.
Isn't Bahre a winger? We've got him running around between midfield and striker, Potts and Thiam in wide positions McGeehan can't play with Dougal. It's all a bit "square pegs in round holes", but for the most part, it's working. The good thing is there is room for improvement, but we're still right in there with a game in hand.
I agree. I think we need someone up next to Kieffer that isn’t a midfielder playing just behind him. I know he wont be up to match speed yet but I thought Woodrow showed some decent movement and it certainly changed it a bit for us. Hopefully him and Kieffer and have a good partnership. I also wouldn’t mind Brown up there until Woodrow is fully ready to play 90. We seem to be packing the game with midfielders that aren’t going to go beyond the striker. That said, we’ve won our last 2 games to nil so I can’t complain too much.
