With the failure to recruit in some key positions, injuries,
loss of form and departures, perhaps it’s time to play to the strengths of the current squad?

This might work...

- whichever keeper is playing better

- three best centre halves (3)

- Lowton, Westwood, Cork, Hendrick, Ward or Taylor (5)

- Vydra, Barnes (or Wood or Vokes) (2)

It's the best system for the players we have but Dyche will no doubt try an fit players in to his rigid system

I'm not a fan of 3-5-2 at all to be honest, but we have one fit wide man.

I'm certainly ready to see us experiment to be honest

I don't see an alternative if JBG is out for weeks. We don't really have the wing backs without Brady, but Lowton/Lennon would be okayish on the right.

This and a glorious exit on Thursday night are probably what we need to turn things around. That is the reality of where we are folks.

Is the McNeill young chap (apologies if incorrect spelling) not worth a punt at all, even for a place on the bench?

We’ve had 6 years of 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1.

There’s zero chance that Dyche has just spent preseason preparing for another season of the same system, only to make a substantial shift to a back 3 (which would probably look more like a back 5 anyway, given our in-built cautiousness) in early September.

It’s as fanciful as suggesting that we move away from predominantly signing tried and tested British-based footballers over the age of 25.

DesmondHaynes wrote:With the failure to recruit in some key positions, injuries,
loss of form and departures, perhaps it’s time to play to the strengths of the current squad?

This might work...

- whichever keeper is playing better

- three best centre halves (3)

- Lowton, Westwood, Cork, Hendrick, Ward or Taylor (5)

- Vydra, Barnes (or Wood or Vokes) (2)

You should seriously go into football management.

Thanks wickdkewlclaret for reminding me why I can rarely be arsed to post on this board.

3-5-2 from me too. Tarks in the middle with Gibson right and Mee left.Use Lowton and Ward/Taylor plus Cork Westwood and Hendrick as the 5.Bring in Brady and JBG instead of the full backs when fit. Defour to replace Westwood when fit. The front 2 will depend on who we are playing.

Posted on another thread for this but flexibility in the widemen. Some days we’ll need the more defensive Lowton &Ward/Taylor t’others attack with JBG & Brady.

For me the below works on paper until we can get everyone back. I dont see the point in playing players out of position just to keep a framework , that yes works great when we have a fully fit squad, but surely now is the time to bring in a change having tried to sticking to the rigid framework just has not worked as we can see by not only the results, but the amount of goals we are conceding, and the amount of shots on target we are having? It would also help if I checked for typo's ....

I’ve always been against us going 3-5-2 but considering we have 1 fit winger, **** it we might as well give it a go.

With who is fit at the minute and I don't like lennon on the left, I'd go:-

Any keeper

Tarks Mee. Gibson

Lowton. Westwood. Hendrick. Cork. Lennon

Wood/vokes Barnes

As much as I understand peoples thoughts behind a shift to 3-5-2 (and few of us were discussing it yesterday) in my opinion it wouldn’t bring the desired results. That’s because I don’t think we have the players who know how to play the system. I don’t think our fullbacks have the attributes to be effective wing backs. Also I’m not convinced we have two centre backs with the pace to play in the wider centre back positions, where you need to be quick and confident in one on one situations. I of course could be wrong.

I do get your point, and its a fair shout. But both Lowton and Taylor like to bomb forward but primarily defensive brain, and Lennon and Cork could then drop in when this happens, and Hendrik move up to Support Vydra

Given our current farcical situation regarding midfield numbers it has to be worth a try

Not next Sunday maybe but thereafter

Dosent matter what system people want the facts are its 11 against 11 and try to score morethan the other team to win sean will sort it utc

ClaretAL wrote:I do get your point, and its a fair shout. But both Lowton and Taylor like to bomb forward but primarily defensive brain, and Lennon and Cork could then drop in when this happens, and Hendrik move up to Support Vydra

Taylor yesterday on his recovery runs from fullback were like treading water, can you imagine how slow / ponderous it would be if it was after playing wing back.

I do get the thoughts behind it, I just think we do probably need to just settle our side and take it to the very basics of what we know best (almost eliminating as many extra variables / things to think about as possible)

ClaretAL wrote:

Gibson, a Left footed CB on the right side of defence and Lennon playing right sided centre-mid?

Christ

Unbelievable isn't it, its like playing a left back in left midfield and centre mid in number 10, or striker on right midfield.

My thought if we did go for it (and I’ve already said I wouldn’t) would be to put Mee who is someone who played a fair bit at left back and is arguably most suited to playing LCB in the position. I’d say Gibson as a leader (organiser) battler maybe best in the centre though he doesn’t seem fleet of foot if he needs to cover the others and Tarks who has had a little experience (albeit on the left) for England in a back three on the right, he’s also comfortable on the ball and right footed.