Scotty's Refinement Of Our Starting 11

[warksclaret]

I thought yesterdays performance and win at Sheffield yesterday was almost the complete team performance, and I thought the three keys changes that Parker made were very significant ones. Humphreys had a sound game at LB, and is much better defensively than Pires, but playing on the more natural left side his link work with Jordan and Fleming were good. Laurent was exceptional and my man of the match. He is a very powerful and quick central midfielder who can read the game well, is combative aerially and in the tackle, but it was his runs from deep to support Fleming that impressed. He reminded me of Jordan Henderson in his early years. Fleming just like he did when starting at Leeds caused the physically strong Wednesday defence problems all game. He reminds me of a more refined version of Barnsey. I hope Foster was watching his forages, and how he used his body to lay the ball off and at times win free kicks-and just as importantly was not falling down all over the pitch and giving the referee abuse.The team is evolving-a nice little baptism for Egan to bolster our defence in the last few minutes too. We have some key players to come back, ensuring we have good cover (other than the striker department) and a strong bench. Keep up the great work Scotty

[steve1264b]

Agree with a lot of this.

However, they should have gone 1 up with a header and at the start of the second half had two great chances to score before our second.

Parker made a brave choice to leave Hannibal out which brought more balance to the team.

[equinox]

A free kick on target is huge progress on it's own.

[dougcollins]

A free kick on target is huge progress on it's own.

Ha ha, my thought exactly!

[morninbob]

Glad to see that he admitted that he got the selection wrong against Preston.

[Boss Hogg]

I’ve liked the look of Laurent from the off. I think he complements the team well. Flemming’s quality is obvious to all. Great to see Parker admitting where he thinks he might have got things wrong which is something I don’t think his predecessor would have done. He really come across as genuine and honest.

[warksclaret]

Agree with a lot of this.

However, they should have gone 1 up with a header and at the start of the second half had two great chances to score before our second.

Parker made a brave choice to leave Hannibal out which brought more balance to the team.

You are right-Wednesday squandered several good chances. During the game I thought at one stage that in the Prem we would have been 2-0 down

[ArmchairDetective]

Another mention on this forum this weekend for Glen Little on BBC Lancs yesterday. He made the point after the match that last season teams didn't need to play well to pounce on our mistakes and take their chances to win against us. This season we're doing the same to other teams. Pretty much just comes down to differences in quality.

Regardless of how we're doing it I'm glad to see us conceding very few goals. And we're top of the league despite seeming like we haven't really got going yet.

Good signs.

[ecc]

Glad to see that he admitted that he got the selection wrong against Preston.

Yes, how many managers admit they got things wrong?

Ticked another box there.

Keep on keeping on, Scott.

UTC

[ecc]

I thought yesterdays performance and win at Sheffield yesterday was almost the complete team performance, and I thought the three keys changes that Parker made were very significant ones. Humphreys had a sound game at LB, and is much better defensively than Pires, but playing on the more natural left side his link work with Jordan and Fleming were good. Laurent was exceptional and my man of the match. He is a very powerful and quick central midfielder who can read the game well, is combative aerially and in the tackle, but it was his runs from deep to support Fleming that impressed. He reminded me of Jordan Henderson in his early years. Fleming just like he did when starting at Leeds caused the physically strong Wednesday defence problems all game. He reminds me of a more refined version of Barnsey. I hope Foster was watching his forages, and how he used his body to lay the ball off and at times win free kicks-and just as importantly was not falling down all over the pitch and giving the referee abuse.The team is evolving-a nice little baptism for Egan to bolster our defence in the last few minutes too. We have some key players to come back, ensuring we have good cover (other than the striker department) and a strong bench. Keep up the great work Scotty

I think you've said everything I would have said. Flemming's got a bit of Barnsey's sh*thousery about him but he's got a real football brain.

All due respect to Millwall (and I do mean that), somewhat surprised nobody snapped him up before us.

[jrgbfc]

Another mention on this forum this weekend for Glen Little on BBC Lancs yesterday. He made the point after the match that last season teams didn't need to play well to pounce on our mistakes and take their chances to win against us. This season we're doing the same to other teams. Pretty much just comes down to differences in quality.

Regardless of how we're doing it I'm glad to see us conceding very few goals. And we're top of the league despite seeming like we haven't really got going yet.

Good signs.

Likewise we aren't getting punished the same for some of our mistakes. We could have conceded 3 or 4 yesterday against a better side.

[dougcollins]

I think you've said everything I would have said. Flemming's got a bit of Barnsey's sh*thousery about him but he's got a real football brain.

All due respect to Millwall (and I do mean that), somewhat surprised nobody snapped him up before us.

My mate is a ST holder at the Den and he reckons people have pre-conceived ideas about what Millwall players are. He said they've got other players going under the radar (but happy to keep it that way).

[Greenmile]

I thought yesterdays performance and win at Sheffield yesterday was almost the complete team performance, and I thought the three keys changes that Parker made were very significant ones. Humphreys had a sound game at LB, and is much better defensively than Pires, but playing on the more natural left side his link work with Jordan and Fleming were good. Laurent was exceptional and my man of the match. He is a very powerful and quick central midfielder who can read the game well, is combative aerially and in the tackle, but it was his runs from deep to support Fleming that impressed. He reminded me of Jordan Henderson in his early years. Fleming just like he did when starting at Leeds caused the physically strong Wednesday defence problems all game. He reminds me of a more refined version of Barnsey. I hope Foster was watching his forages, and how he used his body to lay the ball off and at times win free kicks-and just as importantly was not falling down all over the pitch and giving the referee abuse.The team is evolving-a nice little baptism for Egan to bolster our defence in the last few minutes too. We have some key players to come back, ensuring we have good cover (other than the striker department) and a strong bench. Keep up the great work Scotty

Apologies in advance if this is a thick question, but who is "Jordan"?

[warksclaret]

Apologies in advance if this is a thick question, but who is "Jordan"?

Sorry Anthony

[CaptJohn]

The formation is starting to settle down with a 4-3-3 now the preferred choice. With that comes the question as to whether Zian and Kyle together will suit that system, because I don't see it working. Two wide men with a CF and one of the midfielders running from deep is what I'm seeing, thus Flemming and Foster upfront is unbalanced, unless Flemming plays as the attacking midfielder which means sacrificing Brownhill or Laurent. Also you have Hannibal to consider. Good problems for Scottie to have, as long as all stay fit.

[bobinho]

I thought yesterdays performance and win at Sheffield yesterday was almost the complete team performance, and I thought the three keys changes that Parker made were very significant ones. Humphreys had a sound game at LB, and is much better defensively than Pires, but playing on the more natural left side his link work with Jordan and Fleming were good. Laurent was exceptional and my man of the match. He is a very powerful and quick central midfielder who can read the game well, is combative aerially and in the tackle, but it was his runs from deep to support Fleming that impressed. He reminded me of Jordan Henderson in his early years. Fleming just like he did when starting at Leeds caused the physically strong Wednesday defence problems all game. He reminds me of a more refined version of Barnsey. I hope Foster was watching his forages, and how he used his body to lay the ball off and at times win free kicks-and just as importantly was not falling down all over the pitch and giving the referee abuse.The team is evolving-a nice little baptism for Egan to bolster our defence in the last few minutes too. We have some key players to come back, ensuring we have good cover (other than the striker department) and a strong bench. Keep up the great work Scotty

Interesting for sure… would you have felt the same if the sitters they missed (they were out of our control) had gone in? Essentially, the game would have been exactly the same, and we’d have made a draw or worse.

Had we limited them to 0 chances, then fair enough, but only our good fortune saw us leave with the spoils.

[Mattster]

I think we deserved the win and I'm happy we looked a bit more dangerous, but I do feel a lot more is being made of the performance than is justified. Big slices of luck played a significant part in the result.

Laurent put in a good performance, but again feel like it's being hyped beyond what it actually was.

It was a step in the right direction for sure, but not enough for it to be described as a "complete performance" or for it to be the template going forwards.

[northeastclaret]

What was striking was the increase in tempo throughout the game and the 100% commitment and effort from every player for the whole of the match. It was exhausting just watching the intensity. So often in midfield we came out of the tussles with ball because of this commitment and more often than not having the extra man.

Shock horror the other team have chances and miss them , so did we. That to me was a game we would have won because the performance was so complete whether they scored or not.

[ClaretPete001]

How many times in the PL did we dominate the first 15 minutes miss several good chances and then get easily beaten.

It was a step in the right direction Laurent and Flemming being important changes and top of the league for a day. Maybe not perfect but signs of progress.

[claretspice]

Wasn't there yesterday, but one observation: whilst at Millwall used Flemming predominantly as a "number 10", I think it's becoming apparent that Parker may see him as a number 9 - or certainly as a player who is equally viable as a number 9 as a number 10 - playing in a similar way to the way Kane has played over the years (a physical presence who is comfortable dropping short).

With the likes of Brownhill, Anthony, Koleosho and Foster you can see how it might make the team tick.The team has needed a focal point that is comfortable playing facing away from goal to compliment a lot of players who do their best work running towards the opposition goal, and Flemming can offer that (much as Rodriguez in particular and to a lesser extent Barnes did two years ago). It was apparent against Preston that Foster was trying to do the same thing, but it doesn't come anything like as naturally to him: he wants to pick the ball up and drive towards the opposition goal, or play on the shoulder waiting for a pass. If Parker does see Flemming playing as a sole focal point then perhaps Foster becomes another option playing off the left (where he's often done his most effective work).

[BigGaz]

Agree with a lot of this.

However, they should have gone 1 up with a header and at the start of the second half had two great chances to score before our second.

Parker made a brave choice to leave Hannibal out which brought more balance to the team.

A very important bit of insight that Steve. I like the look of Hannibal and think he'll go on to be a belting player for us but I do believe he should be considered to be backup/fighting it out for a place with the lads who are in the engine room ie Cullen.

[Elizabeth]

There were times in the second half I happily thought that at last we were starting to look a good cohesive team. I agree with the OP that the changes to the starting eleven had a positive impact. I thought energy levels and determination to control the ball were much improved
Strangely for a defence that had kept 3 clean sheets before the game I thought we looked a little hesitant and disconnected. The good thing is that at this level teams are not blessed with good finishers.
As the side playing better we got a deserved win with the encouragement of more to come.

[morninbob]

If Parker does see Flemming playing as a sole focal point then perhaps Foster becomes another option playing off the left (where he's often done his most effective work).

I must have missed this....

[fatboy47]

, but only our good fortune saw us leave with the spoils.

That and the fact we kicked it into their net twice, and they never kicked it into ours.

[Alan Young]

We looked a better side without Foster and Hannibal although Sheff Wed didn’t exactly park the bus which we’ve had to deal with in the past few games. I wonder whether Koleosho might be the next “big” name to find himself out of the side with Sarmiento knocking on the door.

Still think we’re short of depth/quality in certain areas but if we can get to January in touch at the top we should be a force to be reckoned with in the second half of the season.

[Ric_C]

Considering the defence keeps getting switched about, all these clean sheets are good signs for when we become a bit more settled

[expoultryboy]

I thought he changed it at halftime. He played more through the middle due to the large gap between their 2 centre halves .

[jlup1980]

We looked a better side without Foster and Hannibal although Sheff Wed didn’t exactly park the bus which we’ve had to deal with in the past few games. I wonder whether Koleosho might be the next “big” name to find himself out of the side with Sarmiento knocking on the door.

Still think we’re short of depth/quality in certain areas but if we can get to January in touch at the top we should be a force to be reckoned with in the second half of the season.

Koleosho certainly needs to start showing a bit more than just running into dead ends. You can see he wants to make things happen, but he needs to learn when to stick and when to twist. He's young and raw, and someone who should grow into the season. However, Parker will have a headache once we get Ramsey and Redmond fit too. You're going to need to play well to keep the shirt once we have a fully fit squad.

[Mattster]

Koleosho certainly needs to start showing a bit more than just running into dead ends. You can see he wants to make things happen, but he needs to learn when to stick and when to twist. He's young and raw, and someone who should grow into the season. However, Parker will have a headache once we get Ramsey and Redmond fit too. You're going to need to play well to keep the shirt once we have a fully fit squad.

Koleosho is not being helped by being shunted out onto his weaker side because Parker prefers to play his favourite on the left wing.

[NL Claret]

That and the fact we kicked it into their net twice, and they never kicked it into ours.

Not sure if the expectation levels are that teams shouldn’t create any chances against us.

[Foshiznik]

I sit next to a Sheffield Wednesday fan at work and he was at the game. Said we just had too much quality for them and had no doubts that had they taken their 2 sitters, we would have just gone up a gear and still beat them. Was happy with his teams performance, just up against a quality side.

[Foshiznik]

Koleosho certainly needs to start showing a bit more than just running into dead ends. You can see he wants to make things happen, but he needs to learn when to stick and when to twist. He's young and raw, and someone who should grow into the season. However, Parker will have a headache once we get Ramsey and Redmond fit too. You're going to need to play well to keep the shirt once we have a fully fit squad.

Until this weekend, I thought Anthony should be the winger who should be looking over his shoulder the most when Tresor, Redmond, Ramsay, etc. get fit. Really not been impressed since a good debut game but this weekend showed some real intelligence with his decision making. Something that Koleosho needs to work on.

[jlup1980]

Until this weekend, I thought Anthony should be the winger who should be looking over his shoulder the most when Tresor, Redmond, Ramsay, etc. get fit. Really not been impressed since a good debut game but this weekend showed some real intelligence with his decision making. Something that Koleosho needs to work on.

Both wingers need to get much closer to the striker so that they're getting involved centrally as well as out wide. Anthony's goal at the weekend is a good sign that Parker is tweaking things.

[Darnhill Claret]

Our first goal with thanks to their defender, was very similar to one of the routines we practice before the game. Take the ball on your stronger foot, one touch wide, then strike across the front of the keeper, or of course, hit inside the near post, but trust your ability to strike it cleanly.

[warksclaret]

We are going to have an issue in the striker department v Millwall, as Fleming is ineligible and I fear Foster may not be fit in time. If that is the case then maybe Parker would consider Anthony there and start with Sarmiento on the left. I tried to visualise Jayrod starting on Saturday v Wednesday and feel sure he would have had little joy v the Wednesday physical defenders. He is very slow now and any aggression (as we saw bags from Fleming Saturday), simply are no longer there anymore. I would hope that by the Millwall game if Tresor is not on the bench then we may not see him again. He has supposedly been training with the first team for a period longer than a pre season.

[Darnhill Claret]

Obviously where you decide to hit it, is determined by your touch, the better the touch, the better your choice of options.

[Foshiznik]

We are going to have an issue in the striker department v Millwall, as Fleming is ineligible and I fear Foster may not be fit in time. If that is the case then maybe Parker would consider Anthony there and start with Sarmiento on the left. I tried to visualise Jayrod starting on Saturday v Wednesday and feel sure he would have had little joy v the Wednesday physical defenders. He is very slow now and any aggression (as we saw bags from Fleming Saturday), simply are no longer there anymore. I would hope that by the Millwall game if Tresor is not on the bench then we may not see him again. He has supposedly been training with the first team for a period longer than a pre season.

Step up Sir Andréas William Edwin Hountondji

[RVclaret]

We are going to have an issue in the striker department v Millwall, as Fleming is ineligible and I fear Foster may not be fit in time. If that is the case then maybe Parker would consider Anthony there and start with Sarmiento on the left. I tried to visualise Jayrod starting on Saturday v Wednesday and feel sure he would have had little joy v the Wednesday physical defenders. He is very slow now and any aggression (as we saw bags from Fleming Saturday), simply are no longer there anymore. I would hope that by the Millwall game if Tresor is not on the bench then we may not see him again. He has supposedly been training with the first team for a period longer than a pre season.

Foster out for 6-8 weeks apparently, going to miss around 9 games.

[warksclaret]

Foster out for 6-8 weeks apparently, going to miss around 9 games.

WOW-that's a lot of games.Understood it was previously several weeks, but accept what you're saying. We need therefore to keep Fleming fit.

[Claret53]

How about a shout out for Josh Brownhill. He has come in for some unmerited stick on this website and often seems to be under appreciated in comparison to other midfielders.
Yet here he is, top of the goals scored by miles. Consistent, enthusiastic and clearly a leader.