05 Sep 2018 13:30:34
I know AK is under a lot of criticism right now, for results, style of play and team selection. If he only has a handful of games left to turn this around, if he gets sacked, there is every chance a new manager will follow the same tactics. If we look at our last three managers, they have all tried to play out from the back, have 5 in midfield with one uptop, and have all played players out of position. It would seem if you want a 442 system, you are looking at old school managers like Warnock or big Sam. My point therefore is if AK goes, there is every chance we will be served up the same offerings. Personally I am undecided as to what the issue is. Is it the formation, or is our squad just not as good as we think it is?


1.) 05 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 14:20:55
The issue is that the boss is not picking the players based on form.

Cash is on fire and gets dropped. Every time Osbourne is not in the team we look useless. The boss drops Osbourne. Murphy is scoring goals and the boss picked an off form Grabban (until he got a knock.)

Bridcutt came into the side and played really well? Watson plays two bad games and is obviously off-form. The managers response was to drop Bridcutt and play the off-form player.

These decisions are idiotic. Not good enough. If you don't play a player when they are on form in place of an off-form player there are two consequences. The team is likely to lose. The players are demotivated because they don't even get a game when they are obviously playing better than other.

If the manager carries on with this selection policy then he is a muppet!


2.) 05 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 14:57:50
The Watson one is a simple answer, Watson is his captain. Grabban getting games is political because he’s spent £6m on him. I think people just need to get perspective on the whole situation.

Formations follow a meta game x formation beats y formation but y formation beats z formation which beats formation x. 4-4-2 is an old school formation, it’s balanced and allows for partnerships. 4-2-3-1 is a defensive formation aimed at breaking up play and counter attacking. My personal favourite is Liverpool’s 4-3-3 which relies on wing backs and 2 central midfielders providing width with the 2 inside forwards playing as wide strikers stretching the channels and a false nine occupying the pocket of space. I think we should adopt this formation personally but we don’t have the players to do it.


3.) 05 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 15:10:33
Get rid of ak and bring big sam in that simples😆


4.) 05 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 15:21:36
Well said Floresta , I would personally go y to the power of x ( x + y ) - y ( x - y ) I think that should sort it out


5.) 05 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 15:23:04
My perspective is that it is the manager's job to pick the best team to get us promoted. If he can't do that then he is a plonker and will wind up getting the sack.


6.) 05 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 15:24:09
And it isn't formations that win games. Players do. Work out who your best players are and find a system that allows them to play to their strengths. That is what a good manager will do.


7.) 05 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 15:29:41
Fliresta totally agree,wether you like Liverpool or not they are a joy to watch and a succesfull formula.
Karankas could learn off klopp that you can play attractive football and succeed.


8.) 05 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 17:32:10
Liverpool do play nice football in that formation but MR.Karanka(correct name used as I do not wish to offend) plays from the back and side to side.
As a lot of you have said the next 4 games are his chance to turn things around or he will be gone.
Surely he isn't oblivious to what's happening?
If fans can see things surely MR.Karanka can also.


9.) 05 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 17:57:36
Floresta So let me get it right, because the manager has made Watson captain, spent £6m on Grabban Aitor plays them when fit.?

I thought being a manager was about picking his best 11, and players in form to bring success to a club, not keep picking players because they are his mates or he does not want to lose face.

Not many of us like Aitor's 4231 formation but Aitor favours that formation, because he is a do not lose and not a go for the win type manager.

Like someone else has said play to your players strengths, or bring in players you know their strengths suit your formation, sadly Aitor has done neither.


10.) 05 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 19:04:27
As everyone is repeating themselves I'll have a go. Maybe he is playing the same style and using the same tactics from experience that achieved a playoff final and following season 2nd place.Im not saying he's right or wrong but if you were in his shoes and achieved success doing things a certain way would you not carry on with that theory?


11.) 05 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 19:32:40
Interesting debate on formations and the one up front issue.

The regular 4-4-2 merchants Sheff Wed QPR Brum Bristol Millwall Reading are not exactly setting the league alive and free scoring.

Only Direby and Brentford regularly set up with 4-3-3

The free scoring teams WBA and Sheff Utd both play 3-4-1-2 or Leeds 4-1-4-1

The rest are usually playing 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1

We now have the personnel to match up WBA, Sheff Utd or Leeds. AK has the nouse to tweak his line up especially at home to play a more expansive game higher up the pitch.

Let the games begin!


12.) 05 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 20:06:12
You could be on to something there red so what your saying his karankas formation is the right one and all the good teams are playing this formation 🤔except we aren't one of the good teams playing this formation because we can't play that way with some of the players he keeps choosing so we might as well play 4 4 2 because this bloke hasn't got a clue what he's doing lol next please taxi for kranky😆


13.) 05 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 21:43:03
Quick call dg taxis


14.) 05 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 21:58:08
Skegsjay

I'm just putting a few facts out there. How you conclude "what I'm saying" is beyond me but then again I have you down as a 4-4-2 merchant?

The facts suggest we would be better playing with either 3 at the back now we have 3 strong quality centre backs or now we have signed a strong deep lying playmaker we can play one holding midfielder and 4 further up the park closer to the centre forward.

AK has more of a clue than you give him credit for and will tweak his system and selections in the coming weeks. He changed it at Boro so what makes you think he will not do it with his new squad?


15.) 06 Sep 2018
05 Sep 2018 23:47:36
If the facts suggest we would be better playing 3 at the back ?
Which I agree with, then why haven't we seen it in 29 games so far?
You say he's flexible?
Looks as flexible as concrete when it comes to tactics.
His tactics are set in stone and very predictable.
I admire your loyalty to karanka red and hope you prove me wrong and he is succesfull and I'll be the first to pay homage, but alas my friend that's very unlikely to happen.


16.) 06 Sep 2018
06 Sep 2018 01:50:35
the biggest problem is we have too many players