The players we have at the moment would seem best set up as 352

With Mvoto in the back 3 to give us some aerial presence (appreciate he has his weaknesses), with Ramage and Holgate/LN at his side. midfield 3 with hourihane on the tip of the three, behind the strikers. Winnall plus waring/big man up front. Screen and Pearson in central midfield.

Young smith in as wing back plus Holgate/another as right wing back. Surely that makes a bit more sense than the current way of doing things. We concede a hell of a lot from crosses into our box and have done for quite some time.

 

Last few games we have looked dodgy from corners, crosses and long throws. Yesterday we dominated first half yet still didn't "go for it". I think this formation could have won us the game killing it off first half. However our slow passing sideways and back has crept back in.

 

Isn't this a sign of a lack of belief? We're clearly a bit of a fragile bunch, all fine and dandy when things are going well, but hide when they don't. Sideways passes are safe, it removes responsibility from the passer to the receiver. When players player with freedom and a lack of fear, they'll take more risks.

 

The big thing about a 3-5-2 is your 3 centre backs all need to be good footballers who can bring the ball out from the back.

I'm not sure how Ramage & especially M'Voto do this

 

Teams would just double up on Holgate and Smith. As good promising youngsters as they are they would be destroyed 2 on 1 with overlapping fullbacks time and again. Enough to destroy the start to promising careers.

 

You wouldn't play Cranie? Hes by far our best footballing centre half. Leave him out and expect to see much more hoof ball whenever Ramage or M'Voto are put under the slightest pressure.

Smith is definitely not suited to left wingback. He's not able to beat a man. Holgate isn't suited to right wing back either as he's a centre back. Wing back is the most important position in a 3-5-2 and we don't have the players capable of playing there. I think it's the formation we're least suited to.

 

Smith reminds me a bit of Nicky Eaden in that he wips in a mean cross but isn't fantastic at beating players.
We need to do something, looks like we are trying to control games by playing "safe" keep ball but I think this league is more suited to quick passing and getting the ball wide taking players on etc. Seems to be working against us.
Anybody else think we cant properly dominate games? I was talking to my dad a bit a go and he was talking about Houraine (good though he is), he kind of typifies the 60 minute player usage.
We also need a minimum of 15 shots per game.

 

I've never played professional football and am happy to leave formation decisions to the experts. Wouldn't have the foggiest idea what formation we were best suited to.