The best striker in this league. A handful with his back to goal, runs the channels & creates space for the likes of O'Sullivan, Hourihane & now Stewart. 'Go and play left midfield Sam' If he plays up front we win that game. Disappointed we shoe horned him in if we don't fancy 442 & when Smith could've played left back & John left wing as mentioned before. Big challenge is how we do get him back in but don't just chuck him on anywhere. 30 minutes of Sam Winnall up front against tiring defences is better than 90 minutes in a position where he doesn't get a shot off. Really pleased with the energy that we played with today - didn't think it was an outstanding performance but you don't need em in this league, thought the ref got us off our arses more than much of the play but great to see us competing with a top side and in fact making them look ordinary because of some of our play and graft. O'Sullivan typified us with graft and pace but little else. Well in reds, felt like a game involving top teams and I'll take that. Hope we have a few more before now and May.
I definitely understand your point of view. It's a conundrum though... If he'd not played him from the start you'd have many folk arguing that it's ridiculous we are not playing our beat player from the start. Problem is being able to play 2 in midfield. We've not been able to do it well all season, and Johnson saw it first hand on Tuesday. He's clearly been burned by the first half an hour at Leyton Orient. Most would say Hourihane is undroppable and most would say Winnall us undroppable. But if that's the case how do you get them in the same side? It's annoying that at the moment playing our best players isn't the same as playing our best team.
What I found bizarre was LJ's final substitution, bringing on Hemmings forced Sam even deeper to protect John from their sub (Humphrey?) who was causing us problems. It would have been better to bring on Berry, allowing Sam to stay up front.
No one is undropable.The team is the only priority.Difficult, ruthless decisions are an indication of strong management.
I agree. Problem is that as soon as there's a defeat there'll be no end of people saying that he's got it wrong not playing Winnall or Hourihane from the start - rather than recognising the fundamental problem that it's difficult to play them together. He keeps talking about the diamond formation in interviews so I'm guessing he's going to try that at some point in a bid to try and solve the problem.
Couldn't agree more with this. Waring struggled all game due at least in part to the ref offering him no protection at all looked more threatening with Winnall more centra with Jabo then the last sub was just bizzare.
The last sub was for a couple of reasons. Fresh pair of legs and to give O'Sullivan the chance to get an applause on his last game.
I think Waring struggled without Winnall up top with him and Winnall struggled not being up top with Waring. I can't comment on the Orient game as I wasn't there but I'm not surprised they swamped our midfield during the first half. Against Bristol City I'd be tempted to go with: Davies Holgate Cranie Nyatanga Smith Scowen Pearson Bailey John Hourihane Waring I'd rather have Winnall coming of the bench against a tiring defence. Scowen and John would give us more solidity and we've still got Hourihane in there for corners and free kicks. I think keeping it tight and scoring from a set piece is our best hope next week. At home I'd like to see: Davies Holgate Cranie Nyatanga John Stewart Pearson Scowen Hourihane Waring Winnall I think John would link up well with Hourihane on the overlap.
