Team & Bench against Wigan

[sinfinbovril]

Time to dream. Of course, we are going to set up with 5 at the back, one up front and hope for three things: A Wigan off-day, an own goal and/or the teams below us losing.

Here's my slightly batty idea.

GK Crocombe.
DF Hamer, Sweeney, Hughes & Bola
MD sat in front of the defence Brayford. Reason? I remember him taking the game by the scruff of the neck at Charlton and pushing forward, bringing the team with him. It was like The Charge of the Light Brigade.
MD attacking Powell.
MD Either side Helm and Gilligan
FW Hugill & Ola-Adebomi - for flick-ons.

Subs:
I'd bring Seddon on at some point and Muzzy. I'm assuming Bennett is injured? Kamwa maybe but even he did nothing yesterday. Maybe Harper should figure somewhere?

You'll win nowt with kids...

[Fred Andrews]

Some good thinking there Sinfin.

If we go to a flat back four, I'd actually have no issues with someone like a Brayford sitting just in front of the defence. He's a battler, a harrier and actually technically very sound. I think even Sam Hughes could fill that role too. I've no problem with dropping back into a back five either when on the back foot, just not all the time like we have been doing. We need to take risks. I'd rather us lose 4-3 than 1-0.

We need to use our assets and think outside of the box that we are currently penned inside. I'd be happy with either a 4-2-3-1 or a classic 4-4-2, or one up top with a number 10 like Powell just sitting off the striker. It's a simple formation but everyone knows what they're doing.

Personally I'd try something like this, taking into account we're away at Wigan:

---------------Crocombe---------------


Hamer-------Hughes---Sweeney------Bola

-----------Brayford--Harper-----------

----Helm--------Powell------Gilligan---

-----------------Hugill-----------------

Or something more adventurous like this:

----------------Crocombe--------------

Hamer----Bray/Hugh----Sweeney------Bola

-----------------Harper---------------

Kamwa------Powell------Helm------Carayol

-----------------Hugill-----------------

On the second formation you could also drop Harper out for another striker too if needs be for a flat 4-4-2. I'd tell Kamwa and Carayol to run their arses off for 60 minutes, and then we could have the option of bringing on the likes of Bennett/Seddon for half an hour if they are fit.

I wouldn't have Oshilaja anywhere near the lineup on current performances.

[britty]

We are crying out for some width in the team. I would go with:

Crocombe

Seddon
Sweeney
Hughes
Brayford

Carayol
Helm
Harper
Powell
Kamwa

Hughil

[ianmcgibbon]

Mar 24, 2024 11:25:14 GMT britty said:

We are crying out for some width in the team. I would go with:

Crocombe

Seddon
Sweeney
Hughes
Brayford

Carayol
Helm
Harper
Powell
Kamwa

Hughil

We are crying out for width, we are also crying out for midfielders who can move with the ball and move the ball quickly.

Putting Kamwa on up front alongside Hudlin was brainless for me yesterday, the lad is a wide player.

I don't disagree with that midfield, you may wish to start with Hamer instead of Carayol if Carayol is not going to do 90 mins.

I wonder where the other loan players are at. Backford looked lively at Exeter despite missing a sitter.

[benegoat]

Just go 4-4-2 and attack

---------------Crocombe---------------


Hamer-------Hughes---Sweeney------Moon

-----------Gilligan--Powell-----------

--Helm-----Hugill -- Bennett----Carayol

Use Scott from the bench for Bennett on 60 minutes
Interchange Brayford across the back in any position.

Bench - Blackman, Brayford, Scott, Bola, Harper, and any of the others who might appear to have a clue on the day. Use Oshilja rarely. The only two games we have won under MP where without him.

[bancroft]

mine would be



----------Crocombe-----------

Hamer-------Hughes------Sweeney--------Seddon

-----------helm--------powell---------

Gilligan------Hugill------Scott------Carayol


Tough on Brayford who has been our best player for years, but I think in a 4 at the back he gets exposed for pace too often
Might as well give Dylan Scott a chance, the others haven't been much cop


Subs: Kamwa, Harper, Blackman, Oshilaja, Nsiala, Ola-Adebomi, Bola

[Fred Andrews]

I think if we went into some of the future games not playing our usual set up we'd probably throw the other sides off kilter, they know exactly how we play at the minute.

[bobgauden]

Well done chaps for thinking outside of the box, something the management need to do before its too late.
For me Bancroft is correct in saying John Brayford is increasingly getting exposed for pace, it was clear for all to see on Saturday and with us having plenty of options at the back i'd be inclined to either move him into the DM role or move to the bench altogether( Acknowledging our current position and his fight I wouldn't want to drop him).
With Oshilaja it feels like we're flogging a dead horse, it just doesn't make sense either way you look at it. Drop to the bench.


Fred, what you said about throwing teams off makes perfect sense. To persevere with the status quo makes no sense at all. At least lets not make things easy for the opposition, keep them guessing.

[bartonyellow]

Great comments.
Only problem is, the manager is beyond inept and will instead revert to the dictionary definition of insanity and do the same again expecting a different result.
Best we can hope for is a bout of gastroenteritis in the Wigan camp and we can run the ball down the pitch and roll it in for 1-0.

[bornandbrewed]

-----------Crocombe-----------
Hamer--Hughes--Sweeney--Seddon
------------Harper------------
-------Helm------Powell-------
Carayol-----------------Kamwa
-----------Hugill------------

Subs: Blackman, Brayford, Bola, Oshilaja, Gilligan, Bennett, Ola-Adebomi

[popsidepete59]

Mar 26, 2024 14:28:38 GMT bornandbrewed said:

-----------Crocombe-----------
Hamer--Hughes--Sweeney--Seddon
------------Harper------------
-------Helm------Powell-------
Carayol-----------------Kamwa
-----------Hugill------------

Subs: Blackman, Brayford, Bola, Oshilaja, Gilligan, Bennett, Ola-Adebomi

I'd start Ola Adebomi instead of Carayol, only other is JB, he's up for it, but looks a team with more attacking promise

[superbrewer]

Ola Adebomi has a hamstring problem hence why he was missing last Saturday , so I assume he will be a doubt for Friday.

[popsidepete59]

Oh, wondered why he wasn't in squad Saturday, I'd start him and Hugill everytime.

[annable]

Some good suggestions on here and formations and line up I wouldn't mind seeing. We have criticised the forward lines this season for their lack of goals both the experienced group pre Christmas and the youngster that came in in January. But for me the issue isn't necessarily who plays up front as they are just not getting chances but actually the midfield behind them. All three managers this season have seemed to prefer the Powell, Helm and Deji trio but for me it just isn't working and hasn't done for a long time. That and also the lack of any natural width.

Joe Powell cut a frustrated figure on Saturday and it was one of his least effective games for a long time. As has already been pointed out already he plays too far back to be effective and is asked to take free kicks from around the centre circle whilst everybody goes up field. You may as well get the keeper to take from that far away to be honest.

Mark Helm is not in great form at the moment and has also started giving it away in key positions and has cost us goals recently. He isn't a winger and would be best suited as a number 10 in my view and try and get him to forge a relationship with Hugill.

Deji - well were do you start. I feel a bit sorry for him as let's face it he is a defender who has the knack of getting goals now and again. The fact that he had a run of scoring last season saw Dino use him as a forward player which he did OK at times but he is just not a good enough passer of the ball and has zero creativity. Needs dropping as we actually have better defenders and I can't see where he fits in.

So what do we do or rather what does MP do(for gods sake please do something different!!) I think Harper should play in the defensive midfield role with Powell further forward and then one of Helm or Gilligan making up the three if that's the way we go. We then need one of Kamwa, Carayol(the best crosser of the ball we have in my view) or Bennett out wide to get some balls into the box for forwards to get onto.

MP needs to do something now and change formation and personnel as he mentioned after the game on Saturday which for me was the last straw. I've been persuaded by my son to go on Friday. I must be mad but things have to change quick otherwise we've had it.

[sinfinbovril]

I'm going on Friday too cos I've never been to Wigan's ground. Might never get the chance again.

I bought my ticket BEFORE the Vale game; I just knew I wouldn't want to after. I could see that performance coming a mile off. We all could.

There was only one man in Burton who couldn't see it...

[mikeyboy]

Mar 26, 2024 18:22:58 GMT sinfinbovril said:

I'm going on Friday too cos I've never been to Wigan's ground. Might never get the chance again.

I bought my ticket BEFORE the Vale game; I just knew I wouldn't want to after. I could see that performance coming a mile off. We all could.

There was only one man in Burton who couldn't see it...

Ben?

[craig1]

Crocombe
Hamer
Sweeney
Hughes/Bray
Bola

Oshilaja (holding midfielder)
Powell (actually in midfield)
Harper
Kamwa (wide)
Hugill (No 10 role rotate with Ade)
Adebomi

Helm and Bennett to come on around 60 miins and change anyone else who is flagging.
I personally wouldn’t put Powell and Helms starting together as neither retrieve the ball enough and get a tackle in and we can’t regain possession quickly enough with both on.
Definitely have Scott on the bench ready to come on in the later stages if needed.
Not sure I would include Hackman and Hudlin in the squad atm as neither have done enough when given the chance.