Still lack of wide players in the squad but I wouldn’t mind seeing us attempt a 4-1-3-2 formation. Slonina (Killip) Cotter (O’Keeffe) Pines (MDG) Roberts (McCarthy) Earl (Gent) Craig (Hourihane) Connell (Russell) Phillips (Nwakali) DKD (Benson) Watters (Jalo) Humphrys (Cosgrove) Marsh Yonganathan Lofthouse Smith Bland James We’ve real league one strength in depth now!
Attack. ————————— Slonina ———————— Lofthouse —— Pines ——— Roberts—— Earl ——— Phillips ———Craig———Connell——- ——-Humphries—- Cosgrove——DKD———-
Does anyone else think that MDG could play in front of Pines and Roberts in a defensive midfield role. I think he’s got good distribution and likes to come out with the ball, It may take away the likelihood of the odd gaff that’s in his game. Bits less pressure and may help the Pines a bit too. I get the sense that Pines struggles when on the ball and there’s no out ball to a midfielder. In his first few games you could see he always looked to play it into Luca. I think MDG in a holding role might work.
It's not a bad shout. I am not the biggest fan of him as a CB, but thought he did well as a RB against Northampton for similar reasons as you mentioned in your post. He was able to move forward with the ball but there was less jeopardy as we had others back to cover it. Certainly could be tried there if Craig is injured etc.
Are the new lads natural wide players or can they ‘do a job’ there? The biggest issue for me late last season was that once we were found out we couldn’t adapt as all of the squad was built for 3-5-2 & there were no wingers or even forwards that were comfortable out wide to change things up. My one hope this summer was that we would come away from wing backs & be able to comfortably play a 4-3-3 type system. Is that feasible with who we have signed?
I think 5- 3- 2.. .......................Slonina..... ..........Roberts.....Pines........Earl........ ..Cotter..............................Lofthouse ....Phillips.......Connell..........Craig..... ........Dunn...................Cosgrove....... Roberts on right side. Humphrys and Watters on after 65 minutes if needed. Gent and O'keefe to freshen up the wing backs.Mael and McCarthy for back line support...Nwakali. Houriane and Benson (If fit) for centre..going to be exciting.