Daryl Clarke - which formation?

We seem to keep constantly changing formation from game to game and half to half at the moment. That's never gonna work as the players dont know from one half to another where they are gonna being playing, therefore they are expected to change their role and understanding between players is never going to be established. We are 10 games into the season and have done nothing but constantly chop and change. The headcoach chooses the side and he needs to stop blaming the players but look and himself and his coaching staff which we have in abundance (some would say too many). Many complained about Collins(including myself) and his windowwiper style of play but Jon Stead and Martin Devanny were coaches under him too. Now we have Connor Hourihane (who we all thought was gonna be player coach not coach player and who has no experience as a coach) and we still seem to seem unable to play 90mins, have no set piece plays and defensive plan which is to pack the box with as many bodies as possible. Sorry folks rant over but totally peed off after Stockport, Wycombe and Huddersfield performances.

 

The other big problem is we have no identity! Are we a counter attacking team? Are we a possession based team? Are we a long ball side? Are we a pressing team? What are we, what's our intent and what's our style?

Clarke said he intends to play front foot football that will get us off our seats, we haven't seen this yet and the only times we have got out of our seats is to head for the exit.

We were previously known as a pressing and attacking team, that was our identity. Under the foreign coaches of Stendel, Struber and Ismael we pressed relentlessly, we were difficult to play against and in the majority we were effective.

We have in the past said we don't want another Austrian PE teacher as manager/head coach and would prefer a British coach but neither Collins or Clarke have given us what we wanted and the identity of a playing style has faded.

 

Couldnt agree more.It's also causing the fans to lose faith in the club too.

 

10 games 6 starting formations plus in game changes no wonder the team dont know what they are doing

 

The worst thing about yesterdays substitutions was that they actually put us on the front foot for a little spell but we couldn’t make it pay.

Huddersfield easily had the better of the first half, but somehow we were still level. They weren’t great yesterday themselves , and wasted umpteen corners, sailed crosses directly over our bar and over hit passes that ran through for goal kicks, but we offered little in response.

First goal would possibly have been curtains for either team given our respective poor form and fragility , but Cosgrove fluffed his lines, Luca ran half the pitch then refused the shot, Humphrys scuffed one wide, Jalo got a 4.6 for his dive and the game then went the other day.

Must be frustrating for Clarke. Made the changes but the players weren’t up to the job in hand.

 

Tbf, some fans don’t take much.

 

But we seem to be making multiple formation changes and getting worse not better.

 

The 4-4-3

 

And maybe that's why he's having a go at them in his comments. If he's trying to do his job, by making changes and giving them instructions.
But they aren't listening to him, or just aren't understanding it ?.

 

3-4-1-2 with DKD linking as the 1.

 

His tactics are completely impossible to understand.

 

Yeah that might be right, Clarke might not be good enough after all, in the long run.
But I think hes the one being 'thrown under a bus' here at the moment, by his players, and by those who run the club.
The players have got to take the blame here as well for lacklustre performances, where they don't even look like they are bothered!.

 

I think recruitment was poor but he doesn’t have to keep playing Cosgrove or both Craig and Connell.

all aspects of the. club from the owners to the club shop need to improve let’s face it the whole shebang is rubbish

 

Yeah, and as we know, its all Conway's fault isn't it. Damn him!!.
I agree that the management thing goes both ways, and Clarke is making some poor looking choices.
I had better expectations of Cosgrove this season, who I thought with regular games would do much better.
And it does seem disappointing that Clarke doesn't want to drop him, or D.G either. Despite their awful form and obvious looking low confidence.

 

Clarke has to pick a settled side now, has to pick a settled formation and has to fix on a specific tactic/tactics He's been here long enough to know his players so he has now got to stop constantly changing everything every match.
He has to try and instill his philosophy on the team and make it stick.
If he can't do the above or he wont then he should hold his hands up, say 'I can't do it' and resign. Good managers would have this team playing better by now even if there were some defeats along the way. Its now that he should show us what he can do. Talking the talk no longer cuts it.

 

The squad is set up to play with wingbacks, we have the following, not including loaned out players.

5 Centre halves (Roberts, Pines, MGD, McCarthy and Earl)
1 winger (Jalo)
3 right wingbacks (Cotter, O’Keefe and Lofthouse)
1 left wingback (Gent)
3 defensive midfielders (Craig, Connell and Russell)
2 Box to box Midfielder (Benson & Yoganathan)
2 Attacking midfielders (DKD and Philips)
4 Strikers (Watters, Cosgrove, Marsh and Humphries)

The squad is so unbalanced, it’s almost criminal!

One less centre half and right wingback, add 2 wingers and a left back and we might have a chance of having a plan B!

 

Million percent true, I hate the 352 were s**t at it and get ripped apart down the sides but there isn't the alternatives for Clarke to be tinkering about with, we just don't have the personnel as you've brilliantly highlighted.

Mr Clarke may have to drop some of his personal preferences to put results on the board and ease the pressure.
We need to set up with a back 3/5 he can play okeffe as a LWB if needed I'd personally give Gent a run, a settled side and a settled formation is really needed.

 

Could we not at least try the 4 2 3 1. Earl, roberts, pines and Okeffe as the defenders. Then benson and Connell. Connell sitting deep and benson pushing on. Use jalo on the left and cotter on the right as wingers/inside forwards. DKD sat in the middle with Humphries ahead of him?

The defence scares me but we can’t keep clean sheets as it is so I couldn’t get worse!

 

I don't think he could

I don't think he could get a formation on his dinner plate