Midfield_General Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 OK, it's like 'You are the ref' but it's 'You are the embattled manager'. Put yourself in Nigel's shoes. You've potentially got one game to save your job. You simply cannot afford to lose, and are playing away against a manager who's going to throw the kitchen sink at you, as he'll most likely get the boot himself if he doesn't win. Bearing in mind your livelihood could rest on it, what decisions do you to take in terms of preparation, motivation, formation and personnel to get the result? Let's say three key things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 I'd change very little from the Swansea game. Alot is being made out about Swansea missing loads of players, but I can only really see Flores, Taylor and their GK as the missing trio. We handled Pablo pretty well, and he's a very quick and technical player. Our shape and defensive setup was perfect, and over 90 mins it's as consistent as we have been in that sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dibden Purlieu Saint Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 I would play Shaw ahead of Fox and tell him to sit back and not allow Hoillett room. I would also get Cork to man mark Granero (if he's up to it). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 I'd change very little from the Swansea game. Alot is being made out about Swansea missing loads of players, but I can only really see Flores, Taylor and their GK as the missing trio. We handled Pablo pretty well, and he's a very quick and technical player. Our shape and defensive setup was perfect, and over 90 mins it's as consistent as we have been in that sense. This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pimpin4rizeal Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 i think i would try starting mayuka instead for puncheon. 4231 invite qpr on to us with cork and morgan sitting deep then hit qpr on the counter we would hopefully get more space this way for our creative players. just like westbrom done to us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 i think i would try starting mayuka instead for puncheon. 4231 invite qpr on to us with cork and morgan sitting deep then hit qpr on the counter we would hopefully get more space this way for our creative players. just like westbrom done to us Why on earth would you encourage any team to ''come onto us'' with our defenders? Madness. We're not good enough to be able to deploy that tactic. We just need to keep the ball well, condense the play when they have it and close them down all over the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give it to Ron Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 I would scour Europe for 2 out of contract defenders and 1 ball winning agressive kicker in midfield. 1 month contracts :-) Shouldnt be impossible to find better than what we currently have! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pimpin4rizeal Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 but i think the way we play makes it harder for our poor defense because we get hit on the break . id rather let them commit all there players forward then we have the space on the break Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Same team as against Swansea except for I'd bring in Mayuka instead of Puncheon. With Puncheon cutting in from the right all the time, Lallana doing the same from the left, we're too predictable and don't ever really look to get in behind teams. That, and tell Gazza to lump it upfield if he's in danger or if the player he's looking to chip it up to is being closed down by probably the quickest player on the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old_southy Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 I'd do something like this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 (edited) we have too many " lightweights " especially in midfield. Lallana and Ramirez will come in for some " special attention" , I'm sure. I watched a stream of the Reading v.QPR fixture last week. There were lots of big bodies in both teams and it was very physical.....lucky no-one got a red card. Fortunately, in an end-to-end game with a total of 39 shots .....both sides only managed one goal each. So maybe we could score TWO ...and win. If there was such a thing as a "six-pointer"....this is it ! I'd start with Puncheon / and or/ Guly to add a bit of muscle to the line-up ...maybe play Steve Davis from the start.....and look to change the formation and use more technical players after HT. Edited 12 November, 2012 by david in sweden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 David, Steve Davis to start? Sadly I see nothing there to get him a place in the team from Saturday. I agree with your point re QPR being a big physical side and one or two of our players will have a job to compete with that side of the game this Saturday. ps, got your tkt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Resign today and let someone decent have a stab at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Pedro Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Play just Lambert up front, with Ramirez just behind him. Same back four as started v Swansea. Midfield needs someone to man mark Taarabt and/or Granero (perhaps Cork and Davis/Morgan to do this?) Most of all, I'd like to see something I thought I'd see on Saturday with 15 minutes to go but didn't- Puncheon swopping wings!! Yes, there I said it! I know its not a favourable idea, but why couldn't Nigel have tried Puncheon just for 10 minutes or so, on the opposite side, beating the defender, getting round the back and getting a cross in for SRL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 I'd change very little from the Swansea game. Alot is being made out about Swansea missing loads of players, but I can only really see Flores, Taylor and their GK as the missing trio. We handled Pablo pretty well, and he's a very quick and technical player. Our shape and defensive setup was perfect, and over 90 mins it's as consistent as we have been in that sense. ^ This Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottery st mary Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Close down much quicker.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 David, Steve Davis to start? Sadly I see nothing there to get him a place in the team from Saturday. I agree with your point re QPR being a big physical side and one or two of our players will have a job to compete with that side of the game this Saturday.. THx Norm. I know that Steve Davis isn't quite so popular with everyone, but he is by far and away the most experienced outfield player we have. I think it's great that we have Lallana, Ramirez ...and now Cork back in the side ..... but I think we need an older head in midfield, too.. at least from the start. ....but I don't envy Nigel the task of selecting a sqaud, this game could be the " biggest " game of the season.. .so far for a number of reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fat Controller Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Play all 3 goalkeepers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Play all 3 goalkeepers![/QUOTE] ....preferably as centre-backs. Anyone else can go in goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmel Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 I would look to include Chaplow for this one, in a real spoliers role. He will get in their face and break up the play in the middle of the park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrant Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Play all 3 goalkeepers! 3 times more likely one of them will make a mistake then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 I would look to include Chaplow for this one, in a real spoliers role. He will get in their face and break up the play in the middle of the park. Its a bit desperate when we see such a need for that against one of the worst teams in the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 I'd change very little from the Swansea game. Alot is being made out about Swansea missing loads of players, but I can only really see Flores, Taylor and their GK as the missing trio. We handled Pablo pretty well, and he's a very quick and technical player. Our shape and defensive setup was perfect, and over 90 mins it's as consistent as we have been in that sense. And Danny graham Despite iver half their back like out How many saves did their reserve keeper have to make? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrant Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 To be honest, I'll be very surprised if we make any changes for Saturday. I guess there's an argument for chucking Boruc in instead of Gazzaniga but his mistake on Saturday wasn't a mistake born out of a lack of communication, which you often get with goalkeepers who aren't familiar with the defenders in front of him, and apart from that one moment (which I'll be amazed if he repeats it, he'll just put his foot through it next time) dare I say we actually looked reasonably solid at the back against Swansea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrant Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 And Danny graham Danny Graham was on the bench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Danny Graham was on the bench. So, not on the pitch Like when lambert has been on the bench, not to sure if we have even scored apart from at west ham without him in the team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmel Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Its a bit desperate when we see such a need for that against one of the worst teams in the league. Totaly agree, but this match, is much more a one off, than a preferred shape or style. We need a result, it is as simple as that. The pretty, one touch, pass and move football, we have enjoyed, has gone. Not just because we are playing at a higher level, but the confidence and bravado has been sucked out of us. What we need Saturday is a "blood and guts" perfomance and Chaplow for his football failings, probably fits that bill the best (For me). I would also bring Jos back in place of the Jap defender (Can't spell his name). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrant Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 So, not on the pitch Like when lambert has been on the bench, not to sure if we have even scored apart from at west ham without him in the team My point being that Graham was available, he was simply not selected. In fact, the last game he started was a month ago, when he was hauled off at half-time with Swansea 2-0 down at home to Reading. Graham isn't crucial to the way they play, certainly not as important as Lambert is to us. The West Ham game was a strange one because we did look like we were lacking a focal point for attacks without Lambert, but we actually played a lot better before he came off the bench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Gazza in goal for me. Think AB needs to get himself a lot fitter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Kick Granero out of the game. He's their most important player by a long way. Do that and the result will take care of itself. Alternatively I'd put delldays in charge. His tactical nous and allround knowledge of the game would no doubt see him pick a winning team. Either that or he'd moan so much at the players they'd go out to win just to shut him up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 I would also bring Jos back in place of the Jap defender (Can't spell his name). Give me a Y Give me an O Give me an S Give me an H Give me an I Give me a D Give me an A What have you got? A really difficult foreign name to spell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrant Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Unless we get struck down with injuries, I can't see Hooiveld getting another PL game this season. His confidence is shot to pieces, two penalties conceded and two own goals scored. Anyone got him in their Fantasy League team? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miltonroader07 Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Play just Lambert up front, with Ramirez just behind him. Same back four as started v Swansea. Midfield needs someone to man mark Taarabt and/or Granero (perhaps Cork and Davis/Morgan to do this?) Most of all, I'd like to see something I thought I'd see on Saturday with 15 minutes to go but didn't- Puncheon swopping wings!! Yes, there I said it! I know its not a favourable idea, but why couldn't Nigel have tried Puncheon just for 10 minutes or so, on the opposite side, beating the defender, getting round the back and getting a cross in for SRL? This but with Davis in goal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Change very little, don't bill it as a must win. Start is crucial to quiten their fans and make them nervy. Make sure Tarrabt has an off day - he is good when at the races. Most of all attack their defence which like ours makes mistakes, put balls into the box for RL and get AL and GR running onto them - pretty much like Swansea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 Unless we get struck down with injuries, I can't see Hooiveld getting another PL game this season. His confidence is shot to pieces, two penalties conceded and two own goals scored. Anyone got him in their Fantasy League team? Agree - he has been awful, even in a collectively poor defence. Too clumsy - Yoshida generally is much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanh Posted 12 November, 2012 Share Posted 12 November, 2012 I wouldn't change much either in terms of personel or style of play. If we play possession football we make it more difficult for them to do anything creative and we quieten the crowd. I'd give Cork and Schneiderlin specific roles which concentrated on protecting the defence, possibly man marking Granero or Taraabt, and getting the ball to Adam, Gaston and Rickie ASAP (especially Rickie in the air so that he can put doubt in the minds of their defence by winning a few headers early on). I'd definitely start with Puncheon as he will retain the ball better than Guly or Mayuka, and would keep the same back four as started on Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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