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Formation
Topic Started: Oct 4 2011, 09:01 AM (2,122 Views)
Setenza
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Knitting with only one needle
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Naebody
Oct 4 2011, 03:50 PM
As I think I've mentioned elsewhere, the limited evidence I've been exposed to would suggest Rankin and Swanson play nicely together. The problem would seem to be behind them, where Robertson's having a horse and Flood has yet to figure out what he's supposed to be doing. That's the area that needs fixed.

Seems to me, Setenza, that only a fool would break something that's working in the hope of repairing something that isn't. No offence.
I didn't say that I'd drop Rankin or replace him. Especailly as I like Rankin a lot and think he's been one of our best this season. Not as effective in attacking as Swanson, but still good.

In fact, playing a defender in midfield is the approach that seems like it's trying to repair something in hope, when playing the defender in defence in place of the defender making mistakes would seem to be sensible.

Watson - Dillon - Gunning - Dixon

Swason - Flood - Rankin - Armstrong / Allan - Russell

Daly.



Sorted.


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Ivan
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F*cking plebs.
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Naebody
Oct 4 2011, 03:59 PM
Ivan
Oct 4 2011, 03:52 PM
Dillon - Kenneth - Gunning - Dixon

Flood - Robertson - Rankin - Mackay-Steven/Dow

------------ Swanson

------------ Russell
You'd drop Daly when he's averaging a goal a game? f*ck sake. Boo. Totally f*cking boo.
I like Daly but there's no point playing him up front on his own. Play him with a partner or play a mobile centre forward.
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Ivan
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F*cking plebs.
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Setenza
Oct 4 2011, 04:03 PM
I didn't say that I'd drop Rankin or replace him. Especailly as I like Rankin a lot and think he's been one of our best this season. Not as effective in attacking as Swanson, but still good.

In fact, playing a defender in midfield is the approach that seems like it's trying to repair something in hope, when playing the defender in defence in place of the defender making mistakes would seem to be sensible.

Watson - Dillon - Gunning - Dixon

Swason - Flood - Rankin - Armstrong / Allan - Russell

Daly.



Sorted.


That's exactly the same formation as we played on Saturday and which Houston had to abandon after half an hour.
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Setenza
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Ivan
Oct 4 2011, 04:06 PM
Setenza
Oct 4 2011, 04:03 PM
I didn't say that I'd drop Rankin or replace him. Especailly as I like Rankin a lot and think he's been one of our best this season. Not as effective in attacking as Swanson, but still good.

In fact, playing a defender in midfield is the approach that seems like it's trying to repair something in hope, when playing the defender in defence in place of the defender making mistakes would seem to be sensible.

Watson - Dillon - Gunning - Dixon

Swason - Flood - Rankin - Armstrong / Allan - Russell

Daly.



Sorted.


That's exactly the same formation as we played on Saturday and which Houston had to abandon after half an hour.
But which we played in other games and looked good. 451 has and will work well for us.

Maybe having someone (Allan / armstong or if we played Swason there and mackystevens out wide) a bit further forward would have stopped jennings having enough time to string everything together.


And of course after we changed it after 1/2 hour, we didn't look any better really....


Edited by Setenza, Oct 4 2011, 04:12 PM.
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Naebody
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Setenza
Oct 4 2011, 04:03 PM
playing a defender in midfield is the approach that seems like it's trying to repair something in hope
The miserable have no other medicine but only hope.

Here's my logic: we're desperately in need a defensive midfielder. The only one we have, Robertson, is playing like he was hit twice on the head with a bag of wet sand. This has likely contributed to the defence's loss of confidence, as they're playing entire matches with nothing in front of them.

The easiest, least disruptive fix to make would be to find a new defensive midfielder who can at very least add a bit of thump where it's currently lacking. Dillon can do that, in theory. He's done it before. Perhaps he'd sit too deep and allow the midfield to be over-run. Or perhaps he wouldn't and wouldn't. I don't know, and neither do any of you lot, if we're honest. Hope, see. Surely hope's worth a shot.
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reekie
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Naebody
Oct 4 2011, 04:29 PM
Setenza
Oct 4 2011, 04:03 PM
playing a defender in midfield is the approach that seems like it's trying to repair something in hope
The miserable have no other medicine but only hope.

Here's my logic: we're desperately in need a defensive midfielder. The only one we have, Robertson, is playing like he was hit twice on the head with a bag of wet sand. This has likely contributed to the defence's loss of confidence, as they're playing entire matches with nothing in front of them.

The easiest, least disruptive fix to make would be to find a new defensive midfielder who can at very least add a bit of thump where it's currently lacking. Dillon can do that, in theory. He's done it before. Perhaps he'd sit too deep and allow the midfield to be over-run. Or perhaps he wouldn't and wouldn't. I don't know, and neither do any of you lot, if we're honest. Hope, see. Surely hope's worth a shot.
That's kind of what I'm getting at. Robertson's been fed all this he's a fantastic box-to-box midfielder when he's not.
At the moment, Flood's shunted out-wide, while Rankin and Robertson try to affect a double-pivot centrally.
Unfortunately, neither are suited to this, Robertson's attacking being suspect and Rankin's defensive qualities outweighed by his attacking instincts.

Okay. What if we ditch the back-three idea? Let's go 4-1-3-2 instead.

Pernis
Watson Dillon Gunning Dixon
.................Robertson
.........Flood Swanson Rankin
...............Russell Daly

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Setenza
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Knitting with only one needle
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Naebody
Oct 4 2011, 04:29 PM
Setenza
Oct 4 2011, 04:03 PM
playing a defender in midfield is the approach that seems like it's trying to repair something in hope
The miserable have no other medicine but only hope.

Here's my logic: we're desperately in need a defensive midfielder. The only one we have, Robertson, is playing like he was hit twice on the head with a bag of wet sand. This has likely contributed to the defence's loss of confidence, as they're playing entire matches with nothing in front of them.

The easiest, least disruptive fix to make would be to find a new defensive midfielder who can at very least add a bit of thump where it's currently lacking. Dillon can do that, in theory. He's done it before. Perhaps he'd sit too deep and allow the midfield to be over-run. Or perhaps he wouldn't and wouldn't. I don't know, and neither do any of you lot, if we're honest. Hope, see. Surely hope's worth a shot.
There's no need for thoery when we've previous examples though. We don't know, but I tend to base things on previous performance than starting new and hoping for differenet results each time we repeate previous actions.

I'd rather a shot at something different that's shown a bit of hope, swanson, armstrong or allan through the middle.



I think the main issue is our midfield is too fluid and undisciplined. Watching them, it's not unusual to see Flood tracking back all across the pitch, there's no-one with any real definite roles, and we end up with horrible shapes and gaps all over. Someone, anyone, holding is going to improve that. Likewise, someone, anyone with licence to get forward would help. The wide players don't help, swapping wings a lot, Swason roaming alll over to get the ball. But putting someone in there who dispupts things even more I think will makes things worse.
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reekie
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Setenza
Oct 4 2011, 05:23 PM
I think the main issue is our midfield is too fluid and undisciplined.
My point entirely.
The Robertson/Rankin axis doesn't work, especially when Willo's trying to muscle in on the action.
Let Scott sit and that allows Rankin, nominally left, and Flood, nominally right, to attack with Swanson given a free role behind two strikers.
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Naebody
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Setenza
Oct 4 2011, 05:23 PM
Naebody
Oct 4 2011, 04:29 PM
The miserable have no other medicine but only hope.
There's no need for thoery when we've previous examples though. We don't know, but I tend to base things on previous performance than starting new and hoping for differenet results each time we repeate previous actions.
I quote Shakespeare and you start spelling like Marlowe. What the f*ck is happening to this board?

Anyway, I've seen Dillon play holding midfield and thought he was okay. Others may have different memories, but I'd highlight that those memories are from 2008.

A few years ago we had Flood, Buaben, Gomis, Scott Robertson, David Robertson, Wesolowski and Caddis available for centre midfield duties. Today we have Flood, Scott Robertson, Rankin and Armstrong. It seemed perverse to play a defender out of position in 2008, given the wealth of alternatives; now it just seems pragmatic.

ETA: I hope Houston's reading this thread. Baldy c*nt that he is.
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Micky
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reekie
Oct 4 2011, 04:48 PM
Okay. What if we ditch the back-three idea? Let's go 4-1-3-2 instead.

Pernis
Watson Dillon Gunning Dixon
.................Robertson
.........Flood Swanson Rankin
...............Russell Daly

Very narrow, Reeks, but also very Barca of last year. Swanson as the false 9? Flood as Xabi, Ranking as Iniesta. Gunning as Pique??!?!?!??! Actually, that would be Dillon, the Irish Beckenbauer.

I'm not even drunk. :cry: :hit:
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reekie
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Micky
Oct 4 2011, 08:29 PM
reekie
Oct 4 2011, 04:48 PM
Okay. What if we ditch the back-three idea? Let's go 4-1-3-2 instead.

Pernis
Watson Dillon Gunning Dixon
.................Robertson
.........Flood Swanson Rankin
...............Russell Daly

Very narrow, Reeks, but also very Barca of last year. Swanson as the false 9? Flood as Xabi, Ranking as Iniesta. Gunning as Pique??!?!?!??! Actually, that would be Dillon, the Irish Beckenbauer.

I'm not even drunk. :cry: :hit:
Some would say Daly's already our false nine..

I know what you mean about the narrow aspect. I suppose it's essentially what we have now, except here Robertson doesn't leave his own half, the full-backs attack more and Swanson plays 'in the hole'.
It is Barca-esque, and that's because they've got lots of small, nippy ball-players middle to front.
A bit like us. Play to your strengths and all that...

We'll get a beer soon and sort this all out, ay?
Edited by reekie, Oct 4 2011, 09:33 PM.
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Naebody
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Twat
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Micky
Oct 4 2011, 08:29 PM
Very narrow, Reeks, but also very Barca of last year. Swanson as the false 9? Flood as Xabi, Ranking as Iniesta. Gunning as Pique??!?!?!??! Actually, that would be Dillon, the Irish Beckenbauer.

I'm not even drunk. :cry: :hit:
More, I'd argue, like the diamond formation under Alex Smith. Swanson as Fatty Miller, Rankin as David Hannah and Flood as Craig Easton. Watson and Dixon would be Jamie McCunnie and Hasney Aljofree, Dillon would be Griffin and Daly would be Derek Lilley.

I am quite drunk, though that's no excuse.
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findus
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Jerry Kerr
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----------- Pernis -- Banks -----------

Dillon -------- Gunning -------- Dixon

---------- Robertson - Flood ---------

Watson -- Rankin -- Allan -- Douglas

--- Swanson -- Armstrong ----- GMS

Russell --- Daly --- DalaiLV --- Dow

Flawless :rock:

Alternatively, I'm going to go for the as yet unsuggested and beastially underused yet effective sweeper as an alternative to the sitting midfielder (and I'm confident that Dillon would be very good in this role). Allows Watson and Dixon to roam forward more confidently, gives Kenneth and Gunning insurance rather than a point of defense that is always in front of them, allows any of the three of them to Beckenbauer forward confidently when an opportunity presents itself. In an alternative universe, Allan is in for Russell (and Messi for Daly).

--------------- Pernis ------------------

---------------- Dillon ------------------

Watson - Kenneth - Gunning - Dixon

---- Flood --- Rankin --- Russell -----

------------- Swanson -----------------
---------------- Daly -------------------
Edited by findus, Oct 4 2011, 11:58 PM.
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findus
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Jerry Kerr
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... that formation also has the benefit of being arrow-shaped. Give the ball to Dillon, pull into formation, then wedge through the opposition team ye olde military style.

:banjmp: :banjmp: :banjmp:
Edited by findus, Oct 5 2011, 12:29 AM.
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Naebody
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findus
Oct 4 2011, 11:37 PM
--------------- Pernis ------------------

---------------- Dillon ------------------

Watson - Kenneth - Gunning - Dixon

---- Flood --- Rankin --- Russell -----

------------- Swanson -----------------
---------------- Daly -------------------
Chrismas tree. Dundee under Jim Duffy. For f*ck sake.
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