Reflecting on Setdi's game

We didn't lose, which was good. We kept a clean sheet, which was good. We were crap, which was bad. Almost half the team were playing in the wrong position, which was very perplexing. We had a right winger on the left wing. A left winger at fullback. A fullback in central midfield. And a central midfielder on the right wing. All the individuals were there to play a balanced team, but it was as though they'd drawn lots on what position to play.

I posted last week that a manager will often pick a player in an unfamiliar role and that is not necessarily a bad thing, but I've got to question the randomness of how we lined up in the second half on Saturday. It's early days for Robins and already I've seen an improvement in passion and desire from a lot of the team, but it's going to be a long hard season if we leave a strolling Anderson De Silva out on the right wing while a young inexperienced fullback takes his place in a central midfield that hasn't an ounce of creativity.

 

Agreed

http://www.barnsleyfc.org.uk/bbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=152000&mid=1026662#M1026662

 

De Silva on the right wing?

I have to beg to differ.

It looked to me like we were lined up in a 4-3-2-1 formation, with Hammill and Hume effectively playing as wingers cum strikers. The only time I saw De Silva on the right wing (or the left wing come to think of it) was when he actually drifted out there.

He was playing central midfield, with Butterfield and Colace.

I pretty much agree with all the rest though.

 

It was 4-4-2 form about 30 minutes in to the first half and all the second half

De Silva was right side of midfield

 

Can't disagree with that...

the squad is threadbare in reality and I'm sure it is far from his first choice 11 or first choice setup. Needs must on Saturday in a way.

He needs one, maybe two centre halves, a ball winning midfielder that can impose himself of the game, I'm sorry Colace just does not do that for me, and that elusive attacking midfielder, that perhaps Halfredsson is shaping up to be.

 

After the way he played at Derby

Hallfredsson was a big miss on Setdi.

 

I don't for one second believe that's his first choice side.

I was just confused by the fact he didn't play a lot of players in their natural positions when he had the chance, especially considering it's a new team to him.

 

Perhaps

Robins asked them all what their position was and they told him wrong cause they faniced a change or Davey amended the dosier on the squad before he left!Think yersen lucky that Preece didn't say he was a midfielder!

 

RE: Perhaps

well to say we had such a makeshift team, I'm more than happy with a point, we need to get players like hallfredson, boggy and jcr back quick though

 

slightly agree, however

Here’s my take for what it’s worth.

I assume that Gray played full back rather than left midfield to combat the pace of Dyer on their wing; therefore a number of alterations had to be made. If Hammill had played on the right wing a central midfielder would have had to fill in at left midfield, which is much more difficult if you’re right footed, whereas Hammill could do a job since he is a natural winger.

When Butterfield went off Doyle came on in his place, a naturally defensive player. If Doyle had gone to right back, Kozzy to left back, Gray to left wing and Hammill to right wing we would have been balanced and playing 2 wingers (this was my starting line up by the way – before I knew Dyer would be on the wing with bags of pace!) however that would have required 4 changes, 2 of which from a defence which had been relatively solid all game. I wouldn’t have completely changed the defence for the last 30mins just to accommodate 1 player.

I agree that we looked a bit mismatched, but honestly believe there were football reasons for this. Had we had other players available or even a left back with pace to free up Gray, then I think the team would have been very different.

 

RE: slightly agree, however

Spot on there J,B - the two stickin points were nathan dyer's pace, and the multiple changes needed to re-place half the team, in the end robins decided to stick not twist on this occasion and take the point...game gone and move on

 

Who was the right winger on the left wing? nt

 

It sounds like we are willing to accept players out of position under Robins, not acceptable under Mr Davey - double standards anyone?

 

Hammill nt

 

RE: slightly agree, however

What about Doyle coming on at RM (a position he has played before) and Anderson staying in the middle? No need to swap anything else around.

 

Completely agree

We looked totally unbalanced, especially in midfield.

Colace, Butterfield and Hammill were rubbish.

Can't understand taking Hammill off with 1 minute of injury time left either. Might as well as not even bothered.

I like Robbins and I hope he is given time to turn things round but if Davey had used those tactics there would have been hell on and protests during and after the game.

It was clear that the team we had out and the tactics were were using was totally and utterly inneffective at half time so you have to ask why we didn't change it round.

 

RE: slightly agree, however

That was my thoughts on it as well. Not seen Da Silva play well out right needs to be central IMO.

Nathan Doyle not really sure what his position is Wiki says RB, RM, CM and yet he`s also played LB for Hull. Utility player?

 

RE: Completely agree

If Davey had been managing for that game we would have lost 3 nil, rolled over and let the opposition take us up the backside! Of course Robins will make mistakes he's been here a fortnight, he only has 3 games to go on, the thing with Davey is he was still all over the place after 2 and a half yrs, I mean come on what the **** has he been doing all summer? look at the state of the squad he's left

 

Not necessarily a right winger those is he

Profile: Can play either wing or behind strikers. Predominantly used on left by BFC.

 

ADS

Not a wide midfielder while ever his arse points downhill.</p>

Heard Robins after explaining the thinking behind his formation, seems imho to be 'testing' certain players and systems at the minute, while trying to get points on the board. More I hear him, the more encouraged I am long term.
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