Could it be the future? Last night Jozwiak, Lawrence and Waghorn interchanged regularly with Lawrence often the most central of the three. In the first half at Huddersfield Joz and Loz were also surprisingly effective up front with neither of them leading the line as such.
Rather than putting a player in the Number Nine position who either isn’t ready to do it (JHI), is too old to do it regularly (CKR) or who hasn’t really got the attributes required (everyone else) maybe this is a better system. It puts the onus on playing from the back if we haven’t got a conventional target man but it brings a lot of options and fluidity. Apart from the three mentioned, Ibe and Whittaker would be suited to that style and probably Duncan at some stage. Maybe Rooney isn’t mobile enough any more but we don’t seem to have been hampered by his absence so far.
CKR can be used on an occasional basis as a central presence if we want a more conventional shape or maybe with Duncan if we decided to go 4-4-2. In January hopefully we get an upgrade on CKR anyway. When Bielik is fit maybe he replaces Davies as a better ball-player, joining the midfield as needed giving the ability to flip from 3-4-3 to 4-3-3 within games. If it’s 4-3-3 then two of Bielik, Knight, Shinnie and Bird would allow the third to be an attacking player like Sibley or even Lawrence with 3 forwards ahead of them.
Potential?
No centre-forward
posted on 24/10/20
comment by VC10Ram (U18980)
posted 2 hours, 16 minutes ago
I wouldn't be thinking of dropping Davies for Bielik anytime soon, Davies has made the difference to the way we play and defend. Not so much tip tappy stuff lately.
I thought Loz, Joz and Woz played well last night, in fact I wondered what Loz was on, he actually tracked back and made several good tackles!
I thought Shoz was MOM.
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You should get the Loz, Joz and Woz trademarked for those three players VC10 if you did come up with that yourself.
Agree with your thinking on Bielik, Vidal , as I had wondered if he'd be best suited to play alongside Rooney being rotated with Bird and Shinnie. Once he's fit, he could do well in the middle of defence of three bringing the ball forward. That's not to say C Davies i) shouldn't be disregarded for his impact ii) he was highly praised yesterday on Talksport for his impact to this side.
posted on 24/10/20
comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
I think Davies was picked as a short-term measure to try to shore up the defence in the hope that we could grind out some points until the injured players returned. He is poor with the ball at his feet and if we don’t have a target man then we will be looking to play out from the back nearly all of the time. It’ll be interesting to see what Cocu does. Maybe Davies will pick up a knock or drop a clanger and that will make the decision easier.
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He did do one Maldiniesque dribble on the penalty spot in the first half. I had to rub my eyes to check I wasn't seeing things.
posted on 24/10/20
comment by Desicafu (U8481)
posted 2 hours, 34 minutes ago
comment by VC10Ram (U18980)
posted 2 hours, 16 minutes ago
I wouldn't be thinking of dropping Davies for Bielik anytime soon, Davies has made the difference to the way we play and defend. Not so much tip tappy stuff lately.
I thought Loz, Joz and Woz played well last night, in fact I wondered what Loz was on, he actually tracked back and made several good tackles!
I thought Shoz was MOM.
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You should get the Loz, Joz and Woz trademarked for those three players VC10 if you did come up with that yourself.
I was plagiarising Vidal's post. I'm not as clever as he is.
posted on 24/10/20
VC knows
posted on 24/10/20
comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)
posted 2 hours, 14 minutes ago
VC knows
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And Rooney could be Roz to complete the abbreviations
posted on 24/10/20
I would respectfully add Moz and Hoz
posted on 24/10/20
Foz on the bench
posted on 24/10/20
#4 = Shoz
posted on 24/10/20
Cocoz in charge, Melmoz the owner.
posted on 24/10/20
Feel we are straying off topic here though.