Against a midfield as good as Wigan's. Flicker got it very wrong today tactically. The first goal was a perfect illustration of the time and space afforded to quality midfield players in our 4-4-2 set up. I'm not saying we would have won with a 3-5-2, as they were a very good side, but I doubt we'd have been so over run in midfield if we'd played 5 across the middle. Also, I did not understand the strategy one bit. I do not see 4-4-2 as a defensive set up, yet we played two left backs, and our most creative midfield player on the right - shoe horned in to 4-4-2. If we were to play 4-4-2 then why not play Jennings and O'Brien from the off and attack them? Or if we wished to purely contain, then a 4-5-1 and sacrifice a striker. Flicker dropped a ballack today, but to be fair they beat us easily. They'll be top 3 at the end of the season. Quality everywhere. Plus points for me today: Cranie and Wiseman (despite one almost major mess up, he played well). Still think we'll do fine this season, but that was a tough opener. I'm just disappointed that we were humiliated in both our approach and performance today.
Much more to it than that mate. You must see it. We all know Dawson is limited, as is Perkins, and most of our team, so why expose him to the quality they had as one half of two in midfield. Flicker dropped a huge nugget today in my opinion.
It didn't work against shoddy teams like Rotherham, albeit a preseason fixture! Shame to say it but Flicker and co got it very wrong today, but we'll learn from it no doubt. I'd much rather we got it wrong early on so it can be worked on or fixed up than I would it happen mid season.
It's not a question of how limited Dawson is it's that we played the wrong system just so he could play. Shoving our best midfielder out wide. Dawson is an impact player, literally. We had two run around grafters in the middle today , who ran around and grafted… whilst Wigan pinged the ball about around them.
Completely agree about the shape. I find it hard to understand too, as to why Flicker pushed Mellis right and Daws in the middle. Not Dawson's fault though, any more than it was Wiseman's when Hill kept playing him centre half.
