origigull
Well-known member
- Jun 29, 2009
- 1,250
This formation clearly isn't working well enough and Gross has been playing a stinker since the change and Locadia hasn't put enough of a shift in to warrant a start.
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[Albion] This 4-3-3 experiment needs to end ...
- Thread starter dwayne
- Start date
- Apr 5, 2014
- 25,909
Can we play 4-4-4. We might actually win.
Like Burnley did today...
Surrey Phil
Well-known member
- Aug 3, 2010
- 1,531
A fully fit Izzy & Ali J have been big misses this season but they are ready to return. Locadia isn’t doing enough and one of them needs to replace him. Bruno, with his experience needs to come back in.
Megazone
On his last warning
I bet £400m it'll be the same team (if no injuries) and formation for our next match.
BadFish
Huge Member
- Oct 19, 2003
- 18,199
If you have that much money can you buy us a couple of strikers?
I was concerned before the change. I thought we were overachieving through set pieces and had deteriorated in open play compared to last season.
I would put the fall in quality down to the absence of Bruno in defence and lack of quality in creating and finishing chances from open play. This was partly due to the absence of Pascal Groß for a run of games.
Albion v Burnley
Passing stats
Cross 41-8
FK 4-7
Corner 9-3
Through ball 0-2
Key 12-5
Long 77-78
Short 523-206
Final third 220-92
Clearances 8-55
I would put the fall in quality down to the absence of Bruno in defence and lack of quality in creating and finishing chances from open play. This was partly due to the absence of Pascal Groß for a run of games.
Albion v Burnley
Passing stats
Cross 41-8
FK 4-7
Corner 9-3
Through ball 0-2
Key 12-5
Long 77-78
Short 523-206
Final third 220-92
Clearances 8-55
Megazone
On his last warning
No problem. My only concern is I don't want to waste my money on a couple of scapegoats.
The Burnley 2 looked pretty good....
Barnes was always the width of a post from being good enough and he reverted to type with his miss.
Not until after this season ends, he can't.
And nothing to do with Jose and Ali J being long term sick leaving the squad with only 2 out and out wingers, one of which is a little bit hit and miss.
Good Lord I agree with you
I was thinking about it as well. Fact is we have hardly any points since switching and, at home at least, fewer goals.
Gross is much better as a genuine number 10 and we have a much better shape defensively when we play 4-4-1-1. Yesterday we were shoving it straight on to Mee and Tarkowski's heads because no one was showing from midfield or wide. it was so easy for them.
Depressingly, the whole formation seems to have been designed to keep Locadia happy. He's first up against the wall when we go back to how we should be playing. Can't wait for Izqueirdo to be fit as well. A back four that replaced both full backs with Bruno and Bernardo, Stephens, Propper, Knocky and Izqueierdo in Mid, Gross at 10 and Murray or Andone leading the line should pick up the points needed to survive. Yesterday's team and formation isn't going to scrap it out at home to Cardiff and Stains - games we now have to win.
Completely agree, we also need to stop playing lazy players like Locadia who don't track back- I could forgive him if he provided an attacking spark but he quite clearly doesn't. Pack the midfield and play wingers who will work hard in the defensive and attacking sense- Knockaert and March. Play Propper and Stephens as holding/deep lying midfielders and then Gross doesn't have to retreat 50 yards to receive the ball.
BN41Albion
Well-known member
- Oct 1, 2017
- 6,828
I have to agree. It's a shame but at the end of the day we've got to simply go back to basics and get ourselves over the line points wise. I don't think the new lads have the experience/know how to handle a fight to stay in the prem, but I do trust the shape and line up you suggest to see us to safety.
Imo what we also definitely do not need is a change of manager; what we do need is CH going back to what he does best shape wise and us grinding out some results to see us stay up. He guided us to safety quite comfortably in the and last season, absolutely no reason why he can't again this season.
It wont be pretty, and I'll be the first to hold my hands up and admit that I was crying out for more attacking expansive football earlier in the season (bar against the big boys), but either the new players aren't up to it or CH can't quite pull it off, or probably a mix of both.
The formation isn't the problem here.
We defend far too deep and just fanny around with the ball from one side to the other and back to our keeper with the occasional lump it forward approach.
Our midfield (Stepen's mainly) isn't good enough at this level to either retain possession or make incisive passes for the defensive players to trust passing to.
If pressured by the other side we simply collapse as a team and get swept away.
We got away with our style for a season and a half but now we have been found out..
On a good day given time on the ball and space we look a good side but in all honesty, we are lacking a strong enough midfield that can maintain possession and win tackles.
We defend far too deep and just fanny around with the ball from one side to the other and back to our keeper with the occasional lump it forward approach.
Our midfield (Stepen's mainly) isn't good enough at this level to either retain possession or make incisive passes for the defensive players to trust passing to.
If pressured by the other side we simply collapse as a team and get swept away.
We got away with our style for a season and a half but now we have been found out..
On a good day given time on the ball and space we look a good side but in all honesty, we are lacking a strong enough midfield that can maintain possession and win tackles.
Billy the Fish
Technocrat
The midfield is all wrong. Gross is too lightweight to play a deeper role. Stephens gives the ball away too much and is a walking red card. Propper would be immense if he had a more mobile tackler next to him.
Locadia is a luxury player. I think he could do a job in the number 10 role but where he is leaves the full back completely exposed. Bong just isn't good enough going forward, he can't cross for toffee on his left and his right is just for standing on so it's easy for defenders at this level.
If we stay up there are many problems to fix in the summer. CM, striker, left back all desperately need upgrades on what we have.
Locadia is a luxury player. I think he could do a job in the number 10 role but where he is leaves the full back completely exposed. Bong just isn't good enough going forward, he can't cross for toffee on his left and his right is just for standing on so it's easy for defenders at this level.
If we stay up there are many problems to fix in the summer. CM, striker, left back all desperately need upgrades on what we have.
To be fair on Locadia, we often look for him quickly when we get the ball. I’d have thought he’s under instruction to stay forward and try to support Murray.
Hampster Gull
Well-known member
- Dec 22, 2010
- 13,465
Absolutely. Examples include Locadia on the bench, he exposes us too much when we have to drop back.