Still not great is it but I think those lads have the best attitudes and are the fittest which is what we should be focusing on now it's going a bit tits up. It's a more solid foundation than expecting McGeady and Maguire to pull something out of the bag. Keep the bloody ball on the ground too. If you don't have fast or big players why the hell would you try to play long balls.
I'm not sure why everybody thinks 442 is some kind of panacea. Very few sides at any level, all the way down to Step 5, play a system in which they have only two players in central midfield. To do that, you leave yourself outnumbered in the middle of the park and teams can, and do, literally just play around your central two. If you want to play 2 up front you have to play a diamond in the middle otherwise you are literally wasting a starting place. I also think placing the blame solely at the managers door for all this is ridiculous. Sacking Ross was done simply because he'd lost the fans and Donald needed to be seen to be doing something. The simple facts are that good players make good managers. Our recruitment is horrendous and while we have one or two talented players, the majority of the squad is very average. Neither Ross or Parkinson are magicians and Ross, at least, tried a variety of different systems to get the best out of what he got.
I just want to see us try a 442 to see if it works, not so much because I'm convinced it's the way forwards. If you get lucky and find two forwards who click you might strike gold. I think we need to try something different upfront because at the moment it's flat as a fart.
Mick McCarthy just completed stint as Republic manager again. Not much talent to work with there either but he did a good job with what he had. He might be the man to get out of this mess
Two up front might work but we'd have to tighten up centrally (the diamond) which I would have said negates arguably our best players and leaves us narrow, exposing the full backs, who aren't great. To be honest, I think what we need up front is a new centre forward and new players who can get the ball to him. Edit: Didn't Ross try 442, but with mixed results?
Yeah I think it worked on and off but it was never going to be great with Grigg and Wyke. After January I'd like us to have a bully and a pacey forward upfront with a CM pairing of O'Nien and Dobson, no diamond. Watmore and Gooch out wide with our main tactic being to play it out wide and either cross or force it into the box which Gooch and Watters are both good at.
Yeah absolutely. The Tranmere formation is the one which Parkinson will likely want to work with - but the injury to Gooch made that almost impossible as we don't have another player of that "ilk" to play there. McGeady has skill but isn't ever going to press a defence or try to run in behind and put pressure on a defence. A lot say "this will work" or "That will work" I'd just like to see it tried like you say - Hoping for a backlash this weekend!! But Coventry's pace could do us again. Can;t make it on Saturday as I have a race I'm running! And I'm enjoying my running far more than my football at the moment!!
I think to do that we (anyone) would need a central pair who were significantly better or significantly fitter and more determined than pretty much the rest of the league. If it works mind, I'd be happy.
I think Luke and George would have the energy to make a go of it, any other pairing I wouldn't fancy it. The pair of them would be relatively hard to get past and they've both got an eye for goal too.
Both seem to have endless energy which is great to see. Agree totally they'd be a nightmare to play against in there as they never give up (unlike some!!)
As has been said, but bears repeating...we did not have a shot on target in 120 mins of playing! That is appalling!
But their keeper made a very good save.... From a mis-hit cross!!!! Maybe we should just cross the ball all the time and hope one goes in!! You all know how positive I am about things - but even I am not really bothered at the moment. As @Nads said - light at the end of the tunnel appears increasingly distant!!
I reckon Paulo was going to do that but if my memory serves me well I think you lot hounded him out of the club.
I quite like Lynch and Willis as a partnership, I've seen them play very well. I reckon they'll be good enough to soak up some pressure. I think at this point Parkinson needs to forget about who's the best on paper and only play people who are up for a scrap.
its the full-back slots that concern me a bit, mate. But they should be good enough if they're drilled properly. But if Parky picks another team 'on paper' he's gonna be in a whole world of hurt.