Playing Roberts right wing back is obviously a risk but Lennon offers nothing imo. It’s just the sort of risk that Dyche needs to take at this very precarious moment in time.

Weghorst and Cornet to be started again as our front two, there were some signs of a possible partnership developing.

McNeil must play on the left and let’s just hope and pray that Taylor is fit.

—————————Pope
Lowton——Tarks——Mee——Taylor
Roberts—Brownhill—Westwood—McNeil
————Weghorst———Cornet

Pope
Lowton, Tarks, Mee, Taylor
Westwood Brownhill
Tucker McNeil Cornet
Weghorst

Mala591 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:17 pm

Playing Roberts right wing back is obviously a risk but Lennon offers nothing imo. It’s just the sort of risk that Dyche needs to take at this very precarious moment in time.

Weghorst and Cornet to be started again as our front two, there were some signs of a possible partnership developing.

McNeil must play on the left and let’s just hope and pray that Taylor is fit.

—————————Pope
Lowton——Tarks——Mee——Taylor
Roberts—Brownhill—Westwood—McNeil
————Weghorst———Cornet

Lennon was the best player on the pitch for the first 30 mins yesterday.

We might as well pick the U18s because it really isn't going to make any difference to the result.

Indecisive wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:22 pm

Lennon was the best player on the pitch for the first 30 mins yesterday.

He was ok for the first 20 minutes then he just didn’t seem interested in creating space and helping Roberts who was continually looking for him wide right. Maybe Dyche told him to stay more central midfield but it just didn’t work.

Pope
Roberts Tarks Mee Taylor
Westwood Stephens Brownhill
Cornet Weghorst McNeil

Cornet from the right don’t even entertain McNeil in that side

Indecisive wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:22 pm

Lennon was the best player on the pitch for the first 30 mins yesterday.

Pope
Robers Tarks Mee Taylor
Cornet Westwood Brownhill McNeil
Rodriguez Weghorst

Pope
Roberts Tarkowski Mee Taylor
Westwood Brownhill
Lennon McNeil Cornet
Weghorst

Pope
Collins Tarks Mee
Roberts Brownhill Westwood McNeil Taylor
Wout Cornet

Mala591 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:17 pm

Playing Roberts right wing back is obviously a risk but Lennon offers nothing imo. It’s just the sort of risk that Dyche needs to take at this very precarious moment in time.

Weghorst and Cornet to be started again as our front two, there were some signs of a possible partnership developing.

McNeil must play on the left and let’s just hope and pray that Taylor is fit.

—————————Pope
Lowton——Tarks——Mee——Taylor
Roberts—Brownhill—Westwood—McNeil
————Weghorst———Cornet

So you are leaving out the two players who were the most influential when we were on top last night.

Indecisive wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:22 pm

Lennon was the best player on the pitch for the first 30 mins yesterday.

Spot on

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:05 pm

Spot on

Sadly games last 90 mins

MDWat wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:57 pm

Pope
Roberts Tarkowski Mee Taylor
Westwood Brownhill
Lennon McNeil Cornet
Weghorst

Yep this for me too.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:05 pm

So you are leaving out the two players who were the most influential when we were on top last night.

Stephens won’t have the legs for this game just 72 hours after the Watford game, he hasn’t played enough to have built up the level of fitness required and we’ll be chasing the ball all night

BleedingClaret wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:16 pm

Stephens won’t have the legs for this game just 72 hours after the Watford game, he hasn’t played enough to have built up the level of fitness required and we’ll be chasing the ball all night

I'd probably agree with that.

Pope

Roberts
Tarks
Mee
Taylor

Lennon
Brownhill
Westwood
McNeill
Cornet

Weghorst

Midfield 5 with McNeill free reign to find pockets of space. Could interchange with Cornet on the left side. Brownhill deepest of the midfielders protecting back 4.

I think one of the issues is that Weggy, McNeil, Cornet, JRod, Vydra and Barnes all like to play on the left hand side of attack

Looking at the bench yesterday, we are extremely limited in being able to shake things up.
Two goalies, two right backs & two centre half's.

Pope
Roberts Tarks Mee Taylor
Lennon Westwood McNeil Brownhill Cornet
Wout
Struggling to see another formation.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:05 pm

So you are leaving out the two players who were the most influential when we were on top last night.

You post your ‘preferred’ team Tony and I’ll do a critical analysis of that. It’s easy to criticise others when you aren’t prepared to put your own ideas forward.

Dark Cloud wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:26 pm

We might as well pick the U18s because it really isn't going to make any difference to the result.

Remind me why “dark cloud”?

Pope

Roberts
Tarky
Mee
Taylor

Westwood
Brownhill

McNeil
Cornet

Weghorst
Jay Rod

What did Lennon do in the first 30 mins to make him the best player on the pitch?

…………....Pope…………….
…….Collins…...Mee……..
Roberts….Tarks……Taylor
…Brownhill…Westwood..
...Jay Rod…….Cornet….
……………..WW……………..

Pope
Lowton Tarky Mee Taylor
Brownhill Westwood
Lennon McNeil Cornet
Weghorst

anyone know wether Taylor is more ‘go than touch?
Any news of his recovery from injury?

Collins has to play, we are going down, Tarks is leaving - give the lad 6 months experience

Lennon started well, but he faded even more dramatically than Stephens did

I don't know, but Taylor being fit would be a big plus, but I think we'll have to start like we finished on sat

warksclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:46 pm

Pope
Robers Tarks Mee Taylor
Cornet Westwood Brownhill McNeil
Rodriguez Weghorst

Same as this

Would love to see a change of formation but unless he goes 4-5-1 then I doubt we will. Personally I would go with the below assuming Taylor is fit, if not then Pieters would play.

Pope
Collins Mee Tarks
Roberts Brownhill Westwood Taylor
Cornet McNeil
Weghorst

Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee Taylor/Pieters
Roberts Brownhill Collins Cornet
Rodriguez Weghorst

The only change will be Brownhill for Stephens. But he really needs to try and mix it up.

If we are going to play our usual game plan of trying for 0 - 0 then trying to nick a goal.
Pope
Lowton Tarkowski Mee Pieters
Roberts Westwood Brownhill Taylor
Weghorst Cornet

Mala591 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:40 pm

You post your ‘preferred’ team Tony and I’ll do a critical analysis of that. It’s easy to criticise others when you aren’t prepared to put your own ideas forward.

Bingo

.......................Hennessey..Pope..Norris

.................Lowton..Tarkowski..Long..Pieters
...................Roberts..Collins..Mee..Taylor

Pray for no wind and rain and go for a point to kick start our season towards staying up

FCBurnley wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:03 pm

Pope
Collins Tarks Mee
Roberts Brownhill Westwood McNeil Taylor
Wout Cornet

This.. The only way to get your 11 best players on the pitch at the same time.

claretandy wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 07, 2022 6:42 am

This.. The only way to get your 11 best players on the pitch at the same time.

I will never ever understand why people want us to play three at the back.

It’s a system designed around playing it out from the back and ball retention. It’s our biggest weaknesses as a squad and we want to play a formation that highlights them?

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 07, 2022 6:53 am

I will never ever understand why people want us to play three at the back.

It’s a system designed around playing it out from the back and ball retention. It’s our biggest weaknesses as a squad and we want to play a formation that highlights them?

Then why don't city ever play it ? It gets you an extra man in midfield and keeps 2 up front.

claretandy wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 07, 2022 7:18 am

Then why don't city ever play it ? It gets you an extra man in midfield and keeps 2 up front.

City’s formation is incredibly fluid, in fact if you do some research online / watch them closely you’ll see that they often form a back 3 when in possession via one of their full backs tucking in and the cb’s spreading, with the other fb (usually Cancelo) playing narrow in midfield. Out of possession they quickly press to win the ball back or drop back into a 4.

Having said that, I don’t necessarily agree with Newcastle that it’s a formation designed to play out from the back - I think of Nuno’s Wolves who weren’t a possession based team but played 3 at the back. Sheffield United too in their first season weren’t possession based but look what happened to them the following season (still playing the same 3 at the back). Problem we have is the formation would likely end up being a flat 5 at the back most of the time as we get pinned in very easily due to the lack of control in possession further up.

I don’t think it’s the answer, what I think IS the answer (or at least worth a try) is playing the 4-4-1-1 with McNeil in the 10, strengthening the middle with an extra body, getting Cornet on the wing where he’s more effective and providing more control in possession. Fingers crossed Taylor is back too who helps us retain the ball better than Pieters.

claretandy wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 07, 2022 7:18 am

Then why don't city ever play it ? It gets you an extra man in midfield and keeps 2 up front.

RV has answered.

You can’t seriously be comparing our squad with city? they could play no one in defence and still win most games.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 07, 2022 6:53 am

I will never ever understand why people want us to play three at the back.

It’s a system designed around playing it out from the back and ball retention. It’s our biggest weaknesses as a squad and we want to play a formation that highlights them?

You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.

3-5-2 / 3-4-1-2 / 3-4-2-1 simply that prioritises the middle of the pitch by offering an extra midfielder to sit in to win the midfield battle but unlike 4-3-3 or one of its variations you can still play two strikers if desired…

Width can be had via overlapping full backs but this is also the flaw of the system - you’re essentially giving up the wings and if caught out of possession with high wing backs you can be very susceptible to counter attacks…

But it looks like we have 3 fantastic centerbacks all with brilliant aerial ability and so I wouldn’t mind giving up the flanks if it allows us to get a foothold in midfield

Go 3 at the back!

First things first - I think Jay has to start. Against Watford, one of our big problems was that the ball wasn't sticking with Cornet or Weighorst and we lacked a focal point to our game. That's not a criticism of either of them - Cornet isn't a centre forward and isn't well suited to wrestling for the ball with his back to goal, whilst Weighorst is on a crash course to both our way of playing and the physicality of the Premier League. You can't get away without a centre forward who can give you an outlet against United (against anyone really, but particularly a top side). Jay has his limitations these days but he's the best available option to provide that.

As for Lennon - I didn't think he was effective against Watford. I thought Watford were perfectly happy to give him the space to appear like he might be effective (they did what most teams do now and shuffled right over to choke our left side whilst giving us acres down the right), but they were proved right in that because he didn't use it. He managed a grand total of 14 passes (11 successful) and one unsuccessful cross, and no shots. For the space he had at times, especially in the first 30 minutes, that was wildly ineffective for my money.

I think the final place is probably between Lennon and Weighorst, depending on shape. Personally, I'd probably go for Lennon and play him and Cornet wide with McNeil off Jay. Weighorst can give us an option from the bench.

Actually - those saying a back 3/wingbacks wouldn't work for us are correct in my opinion. The fact City don't do it is irrelevant. If you play that shape without being good enough in possession, it inevitably becomes a back 5, and without the extra person to work back on the outside you tend to get overwhelmed in those areas. You can just about making that work if you've pace higher up the pitch to make it a genuine counter-attacking 5-3-2, but we don't.

Time for a reset. We’ve got to win these matches now, and somehow we have to strengthen midfield. So time to put Lennon Stephens and Cork to one side and get some power in their


So that means

Pope

Roberts. Tarkowski. Mee. Taylor

Collins.

Westwood
Brownhill

Cornet. McNeil

Rodriguez

A flexible side with the potential to go 3-4-3: 3-5-2 or 4-4-2.

If it doesn’t gel bring Lowton on and push Roberts into midfield.
The great advantage is it’s a side that can’t just hoof, it can only win by playing on the ground which at our best we can do.
Four potential goal scorers, a real threat at set pieces and added cover for the defence.
Won’t happen of course but to my way of thinking not the desperate remedy some might think but the best use of our limited resources.

Spice agree with that in the main but I feel it’s unfair to judge our new signing on that game in particular. We need goals and his record suggests he will score. So for me Weghorst starts with McNeil off him, Cornet left and Lennon right. Arguably Jay could play off the left and Cornet off the right to create space for overlapping full backs when they cut in, meaning Lennon to the bench.

The words titanic, deckchairs and re-arranging come to mind.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 07, 2022 9:04 am

Spice agree with that in the main but I feel it’s unfair to judge our new signing on that game in particular. We need goals and his record suggests he will score. So for me Weghorst starts with McNeil off him, Cornet left and Lennon right. Arguably Jay could play off the left and Cornet off the right to create space for overlapping full backs when they cut in, meaning Lennon to the bench.

I'm most definitely not judging Weighorst on Saturday. I saw enough even in those conditions to be optimistic he'll be tidy enough once he's up to speed. But he's not up to speed yet, and I think the team needs a centre forward who is up to speed and fully understands the runs the full backs in particular require. That's Jay for now. We could play both, and I would have done on Saturday, but i'm not sure that's viable against United. With a couple of weeks of training and perhaps a couple of cameos off the bench he'll be much closer to where we need to be.

MDWat wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:57 pm

Pope
Roberts Tarkowski Mee Taylor
Westwood Brownhill
Lennon McNeil Cornet
Weghorst

This team.

Stick Jay up top with WW and put Cornet on the left. Time McNeil was dropped.

Pope
Roberts Tarks Mee Taylor
Westwood Stephens Brownhill
Cornet Weghorst McNeil

The current setup isn't working so let's have 3 in CM with McNeil crossing from the left flank and Cornet cutting in from the right

A (unlikely) win tomorrow night and all of a sudden 4 points from the two games would change the mood completely

—————————————-Pope
———————Collins—Tarkowski—-Mee
Roberts——Brownhill—-Westwood——Taylor
——Lennon—————Weghorst———Cornet