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Post by richard on Oct 17, 2017 20:09:32 GMT
We've had a lot of success since Clarke has been in charge by being extremely flexible with our tactics, frequently switching formation several times in the course of a single game.
We have been a lot more rigid to 4-3-3 this season and when we have changed to a 4-4-2 we haven't had much success at all.
Why?
Our squad is extremely unbalanced. In the summer Clarke listed 10 players that he thought we needed. Within this list there was a defensive midfielder and a left winger. The failure to sign these players, for whatever reason, is why we don't have the players to change things up.
We completely lack not only the wide players for a 4-4-2 but also the central midfielders. Lines and Sercombe are both good players but neither are tacklers and Ollie Clarke has struggled a bit this season (although i'm not sure he's much of a tackler either).
I keep seeing criticism of 4-3-3 and comments like "it doesn't work" but what is the alternative with this squad?
My feeling is that 4-3-3 works when you have better players than the opposition but if they're inferior or even at a similar level then I think you can get overrun a bit. This is reflected in the inconsistent results.
We also massively lack leaders and haven't replaced any of the old guard. This is a whole other topic though and could easily warrant it's own thread!
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Post by Gassy on Oct 17, 2017 20:19:34 GMT
We've played well under a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond formation. As soon as we changed it, we started losing again.
The diamond formation seemed to work perfectly, Bodin in a free role with Clarke & Sercombe in the middle. Lines dictating the speed of play and supporting the defence in a CDM role, which also gave him room to drive forward when needed. Why change a working team/formation?
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Post by rememberhalifax on Oct 17, 2017 20:44:47 GMT
Our stuttering season stems from the fact that just like first half of last season we leaked goals by the bucket load, this season is the same all over again, and the only clean sheet came when neither of the preferred central defenders were playing. we certainly miss joe lumleys confident organising ability but it may be time to side line some long standing loyal servants for the good of the whole . we have some talented front players but nicholls record of nil goals is on a par with Luke James .but luke contributed so much more to the overall performance of the team. We have talented midfielders but keep getting overrun by teams who have ago at us , and because Darrell does not do 1 0 defeats when we go 1 down we go gung ho to chase the game and end up getting stuffed! as stated we will beat enough teams to finish mid table again and after the events of recent seasons we will have to settle and be happy with that .........for now! PS thank god we stopped the rot in second half at shrews!
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Post by Topper Gas on Oct 17, 2017 21:32:32 GMT
We've played well under a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond formation. As soon as we changed it, we started losing again. The diamond formation seemed to work perfectly, Bodin in a free role with Clarke & Sercombe in the middle. Lines dictating the speed of play and supporting the defence in a CDM role, which also gave him room to drive forward when needed. Why change a working team/formation? Don't you realise Bodin's out injured?
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Post by stevek192 on Oct 17, 2017 23:38:13 GMT
4-3-3 is the only option thanks to DC's poor summer dealings. We needed an injection of pace on the wings,a defensive midfielder and a 20 goal a season striker. We have none of them and now we need a leader at the back as well because both Lockyer and Sweeney are playing awful.Unfortunately I have no faith whatsoever that DC will get the players we need in January unless he gets some help regarding signing quality players.
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Post by markczgas on Oct 17, 2017 23:47:25 GMT
Our stuttering season stems from the fact that just like first half of last season we leaked goals by the bucket load, this season is the same all over again, and the only clean sheet came when neither of the preferred central defenders were playing. we certainly miss joe lumleys confident organising ability but it may be time to side line some long standing loyal servants for the good of the whole . we have some talented front players but nicholls record of nil goals is on a par with Luke James .but luke contributed so much more to the overall performance of the team. We have talented midfielders but keep getting overrun by teams who have ago at us , and because Darrell does not do 1 0 defeats when we go 1 down we go gung ho to chase the game and end up getting stuffed! as stated we will beat enough teams to finish mid table again and after the events of recent seasons we will have to settle and be happy with that .........for now! PS thank god we stopped the rot in second half at shrews! Agree with you mate. Our defending tonight was embarrassing Bola and Lockyer in particular, but all the back 4 don't know what it means to get tight to a defender. Tonight Shrews showed how to defend - giving us no space, closing down QUICKLY - they simply have a more mobile back line and midfield ! Lockyer, Welsh international - that's a joke - surely ! He doesn't learn game after game - he leaves forwards with too much space ! Bola - was taking the p*ss - get Brown back in next game - at least he's more disciplined. It was very painful to watch. Shrews will be top 6 for sure and might just get an automatic spot. I'm losing faith in DC and MS that they are capable of forging a goalkeeper and backline that can compete in L1 - sorry - not just tonight - but look how many we've conceded already this season - it's SHOCKING !!
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Post by Qatar Gas on Oct 18, 2017 5:43:13 GMT
The last couple of seasons DC used a mixture of 5-3-2, 4-4-2 and 4-3-3. I like to think that always kept the opposition guessing and there was always the ability to change it mid game.
I do agree that we do not really have the right players to play 4-4-2 right now with no wingers. We used the 5-3-2 formation earlier in the last couple of seasons but then the players like Bodin for example, got off to a slow start and maybe only really the 4-3-3 suites his talents best?
We do have the players to play 5-3-2. Most of our full backs can all play (if not better) as wing backs. Players like James Clarke were able to fit alongside two other CB's. Partington can do the same now. They wouldn't necessarily be so good in that position when only playing two CB's. Bodin is injured anyway (which we still have no idea for how long!) so you can play two strikers, not forcing players like Gafney and Nicholls out wide.
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Post by Gassy on Oct 18, 2017 7:00:02 GMT
We've played well under a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond formation. As soon as we changed it, we started losing again. The diamond formation seemed to work perfectly, Bodin in a free role with Clarke & Sercombe in the middle. Lines dictating the speed of play and supporting the defence in a CDM role, which also gave him room to drive forward when needed. Why change a working team/formation? Don't you realise Bodin's out injured? Thanks for pointing that out clever clogs. I'm just saying that I don't see why he couldn't put Nicholls/Telford in that role, instead of changing the entire midfield line up & putting back the 2 plonkers as CBs. Also then forcing Gaffney to play out wide. Frankly, we don't have the squad to play 4-3-3, Bodin is injured & Moore is sh**e - so I really wonder what the plan is with this formation
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2017 7:12:38 GMT
We've had a lot of success since Clarke has been in charge by being extremely flexible with our tactics, frequently switching formation several times in the course of a single game. We have been a lot more rigid to 4-3-3 this season and when we have changed to a 4-4-2 we haven't had much success at all. Why? Our squad is extremely unbalanced. In the summer Clarke listed 10 players that he thought we needed. Within this list there was a defensive midfielder and a left winger. The failure to sign these players, for whatever reason, is why we don't have the players to change things up. We completely lack not only the wide players for a 4-4-2 but also the central midfielders. Lines and Sercombe are both good players but neither are tacklers and Ollie Clarke has struggled a bit this season (although i'm not sure he's much of a tackler either). I keep seeing criticism of 4-3-3 and comments like "it doesn't work" but what is the alternative with this squad? My feeling is that 4-3-3 works when you have better players than the opposition but if they're inferior or even at a similar level then I think you can get overrun a bit. This is reflected in the inconsistent results. We also massively lack leaders and haven't replaced any of the old guard. This is a whole other topic though and could easily warrant it's own thread! Exactly as I see it..DC would do well to read this and start quietly thinking about the January window.
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Post by stevek192 on Oct 18, 2017 9:48:07 GMT
January will be the usual excuses-players costing too much, can't get players he wants.
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