Phillips/Nwakali/Connell/Russell

Which three start at Peterborough?

for me Connell gives way

 

Usually id say Russell but thought he played very well today
Maybe Phillips? He looked injured at end kr maybe just tired
But if.all 4 are fit id say Connell misses out

 

My thought process:
Nwakali is too good not to play so he has to start. Phillips while he does go missing contributes goals/assists which win you games so has to start. So it’s a choice between Connell and Russell. Connell is the better player but Russell is easier to accommodate if Nwakali is sitting in the deeper role. I also think Russell is playing abit better than Connell at the moment.

 

The bloke who scored and created a goal in the last 10 minutes?

 

I would say all that is spot on.

 

My thought process is that Nwakali, Connell and Phillips are all very good at football and Jon Russell isnt very good at football and for that reason I would play Nwakali, Connell and Phillips.

 

I agree, right up to the last point. Russell and Connell are both having seasons best summed up as 'inconsistent.' As well as I think Russell played today, I can't erase from my memory just how much we missed Connell on Saturday - especially when we were crying out for someone to show some leadership and take the ball short in tight areas. That's what Connell does and it so often goes unappreciated, until it isn't there.

I keep seeing people saying Connell should be dropped because he isn't hitting the levels we've seen from him before (which I agree, he isn't). But for me he's pretty much undroppable, because he's the only midfielder we have who will *always* show for the ball.

 

I can’t disagree with that.

 

Again can’t disagree. Luca never stops trying whatever he is playing like. I guess you base it on opposition. Great problem to have. If only we had the same quality up front!

 

Connell, Nwakali and Phillips.

 

Connell, Nwakali and Phillips for me. Russell is too flat footed and no pace.

 

Apart from Russell's gaffe in the Birmingham game he's been head and shoulders better than Connell. On his game Connell is a leader and decent player who might be rediscovering some form but Russell mullers him.

Nwakali is giving people things to think about that thankfully I'm not qualified for.

Maybe the mass debate is Connell or Nwakali? Its so difficult.

Over to Clarke-P45.

 

I actually think Russell when he's on form is also a game changer. But when he's bad, looks very very bad. Maybe it's just perception. Some players go missing when they're not playing well. You can't accuse Jon Russell of that. Maybe it would be better if he went missing, because an off-form Jon Russell gets transformed into the most uncoordinated kid in your school PE set trying to participate in a professional football match, whilst wearing a flipper on one foot and a clown shoe on the other.

 

This is why he should always be in the '10' role, as far away from our defence as possible. He's unpredictable.

 

The only issue with that is he then also misses absolute sitters and blasts them over the bar instead. Awful miss

 

Play 5-4-1 and lose DKD for a few games. I think playing Nwakali and Philips behind a central Striker would work. Just means Luca and Russell would need to provide the legs/defending in midfield. Also as are playing with wing backs maybe this way we could actually play them as wing backs and not as defenders who occasionally find themselves in forward positions. I think Barry and Gent could do that. I just think Russell needs to be a little more defensive minded as he is either told to or just chooses to drift forward too much. For a big lad he should be winning balls in deep midfield and not getting bypassed in the final third.

 

Well yeah! I'd rather him miss a sitter than balls it up on our 18yd line!

 

DKD has 8 goals, dropping him will not and should not happen.

 

8 goals for someone playing up front is hardly prolific.