Central Midfield

[HawkingsHalfpint]

M&M are a decent pairing at Stoke away, you don't need  sitters when playing  a team who's intention is to put players behind the ball and defend.  The other issue is that temas doubled up on Fellows, which created space, they don't need to do that with Wallace.

I don't believe we have the answers within the squad to play a traditional 442, so then it's a case of where would Price fit?  How do we get Maja and Heg into the same 11 without comprising the midfield? What system would work?

For home games, Johnson has to switch wings to allow either Sammy the Seal or Grant to play left. We need two box-to-box midfielders and a Price/Bany in front o those playing off the forward.  Maybe Collyer and Styles could be the 2? Certainly more 4123 with the wingers being picked for their offensive skills.  Or Price is one of the box-to-box midfielders, certainly not going to be Bany.

We also need to consider the FBs, particularly RB.  Again a CB/RB like Campbell is fine for those tough away days, less so against a packed defence.  Not sure if Gilchrist is really the answer either as he's not the most forward thinking fullback.  If we could make a RWB then 3 at the back would suit us, we'd still get 3 in the middle and then be able to have 2 up top.

As for the post match interview - I would hope he was protecting the players a little to the media and not telling them all that they played well enough to win the game etc.  Our opportunities seem to be by playing the %s and hope for a bit of luck with the bounce of the ball, than any pattern of play.  That's why we didn't really create a proper presentable chance whereby anyone could say "should have done better".  Having said that we had enough of he ball to think something would have gone our way! 

For the hard of thinking (Josh), I'm not saying we don't have a pattern of play, I'm saying that it didn't work in creating chances.  The few we did have came from getting balls in etc. as opposed to incisive play.  And the inverted wingers, or playing on the wrong side as it used to be known, doesn't work against a packed defence.  the full backs are happy to show you inside because that's where the midfield cover and centre backs are, they don't want you going outside them and getting behind them.

Nail on head.

[Vinebaggie]

I like MJ but part of the issue is that he doesn't have the pace or the Fellows-type-trickery to get to the line and cross the ball, his game is playing on the left then cutting in and crossing / creating a chance / shooting. I think if we move him out right he is less effective and as of now he is the most effective option we have up front, alongside Price. Ideally you'd have a two footed, pacey wide man who can score like the ex seal playing for Ipswich who got a hat trick against Sheff U on Friday, but he did cost Ipswich £20M so you'd kind of expect him to be at a completely different level to MJ. I'd leave MJ on the left and give Junior a run on the right.