The system is completely wrong

[ExeterAddick]

That's my conclusion after today, which is admittedly the first time I've seen us this season.

We don't need to play three centre backs in League One. Jones and Gillesphey/Mitchell should be enough to repel even the best strikers in this league.

If Ahadme is going to continue to play, we need more width higher up the pitch. Ramsey is good, but he barely gets over the half way line. Your main attacking outlet can't come from wing backs who spend most of their time defending, and can't get forward in time once we've launched it at Gas's head.

I'm not the biggest T.Campbell fan, but he's the only player we have who worries defenders sometimes. Get him on one wing, someone like Edun on the other (or Dixon when he's ready), get it out to them and have them get balls into the box.

That's just my opinion, anyway.

[reamsofverse]

Spot on mate. Nathan Jones' system is flawed. Our high press is simple to play agaisnt. Teams lure us in knowing they can break easily against us on teh counter.

Worst midfield for years.

[addicksi]

You can't play 3 predominantly defensive midfielders and expect creativity. So no creativity or width and expecting the strikers to feed off nothing playing hoof ball. When TC is wide he's more productive and Dixon could offer us that too.Some are suggesting we can bodge through to January and bring in creativity then. I may be a bit cynical but I don't believe the owners want to spend. I hope they prove me wrong.

[paulgdownunder]

And don't hold your breath I am convinced these clowns are only in it to fill in their US tax returns in the negative I.E., to help themselves.We must be the unluckyest club in the league. when it comes to ownership ,since the war

I must be honest and say that i only watch highlites,but over the years, the most exiting and fearsome attacks,i have seen, are usually down the wings, with a pin point cross. Save that, an attacking mid fielder who has the confidence and skill, to bring the ball forward into the penalty area. Followed by a shot at goal, or pass to a winger,who is following up, All has the defence 'on edge' and guessing. I don't know who our wingers are,who can take on a man, and cross the ball, But as the attacking MF goes,perhaps Gas Ahadme could be that player, to take on the defence from MF. and have a go.at goal. He will get nowhere, without service, and under NJ, it doesn't look like he does

[scabbyhorse]

The system would function effectively if two out of the three midfielders possessed pace. Currently, none of them can make a half-turn and advance up the field quickly, and unfortunately, this issue cannot be resolved until January, assuming the management is willing to invest some funds. In the meantime, we can expect more of the same laborious style of football. I believe Reams has a point when he claims that this is the worst midfield we've seen in ages. This situation primarily stems from poor recruitment and a lack of cohesion, as both Docherty and Berry should never have been signed; neither player has the necessary pace or creativity to dominate in midfield.

This is why Anderson despite his faults at least stands out a bit more in games compared to Docherty, who is basically the invisible man. Given the current circumstances, I would be tempted to go with a midfield trio of Coventry, Anderson, and Berry until we reach the transfer window.

[Tom1982]

The lack of creative spark is obviously going to cause us some serious trouble this season. 4-3-3 with Campbell, Ahadme and Leaburn up top might be a way forward? Leaburn used to operate out wide when younger so he’ll not be totally lost and Campbell on the other side of Ahadme will be a handful for league one defenders. The back 4 will remain solid with Gillesphey dropping out and the rest pretty much stays the same. Could work.

[aaronaldo]

I think 4-3-3 is definitely an option for us. Albeit, we don't really have many options for the wide positions if we did switch to that.

It might be a step too drastic at the moment though? I'd like to see what we do when we have Edwards back and Leaburn fit. Godden/Leaburn or Ahadme/Leaburn starting would be interesting to see. I used to like how Leaburn drifted into wide positions and held the ball up around the box to allow players to get forward either on the overlap or inside as the defence was aware of Leaburns threat.

Plus Nathan does have some tweaking to do in the midfield.

[kings hill addick]

My worry is what happens at the back if we switch from 5-3-2. We could end up shipping goals again.

[seriouslyred]

Three things are very clear:
- Leaburn and Edwards available plus Dixon might appear soon
- we need more attacking players on the pitch from kick-off
- a win away at Stevenage or Bristol Rovers will keep us on track for a play-off challenge

We've been playing a very defensive 5-3-2 all month, with attacking subs coming on after an hour. Ideally the shock of Saturday was enough to challenge the management thinking.

On reflection, our second half wasn't too bad. But we really need to start games like that, rather than chasing the game.

[valleyfaithful]

When Small was subbed against Blackpool (rightly so, regardless of the boos), we switched to more of a back 4 with Gillesphey LB. I know it was very last chance saloon but we seemed to be much more forward with our play. I liked the look of it but the above comments are right, think we'd be fragile. Might work with a Mitchell-Jones partnership but I wouldn't trust anybody else to partner Jones alone in the middle.

[Tom1982]

I’d be happy with Jones and Mitchell as a centre back pairing plus Edwards and Ramsay are decent defenders either side of them. The 3 midfielders can definitely cover a lot of ground so maybe that 3 up top will in someways equal out our lack of ideas. One things for sure, Leaburn returning can’t come soon enough.

[aucklandaddick]

I can see Potts coming in to replace Gillesphey at some stage and I would like to think we will play a little more football through the lines with Edwards out side him and no Gillesphey pumping 50 yard bombs up the field to a very isolated Adhadme…..
Things must be pretty desperate when I hear posters advocating Anderson to come back into the side, why not just revert back to the original three of Coventry, Docherty and Berry with Adhadme and Godden up top, surely these are our current best 5 options with TC coming off the bench to add pace and width…..

It seems Tarique Fosu is playing well and scoring goals at Northampton…..now he would have been ideal as that alternative number 10 to come in on a free….instead though we brought in another previous mate of Jones who will run around and stick a tackle in….once he is fully fit that is……

[scabbyhorse]

Sept 26, 2024 11:36:20 GMT aucklandaddick said:

I can see Potts coming in to replace Gillesphey at some stage and I would like to think we will play a little more football through the lines with Edwards out side him and no Gillesphey pumping 50 yard bombs up the field to a very isolated Adhadme…..
Things must be pretty desperate when I hear posters advocating Anderson to come back into the side, why not just revert back to the original three of Coventry, Docherty and Berry with Adhadme and Godden up top, surely these are our current best 5 options with TC coming off the bench to add pace and width…..

It seems Tarique Fosu is playing well and scoring goals at Northampton…..now he would have been ideal as that alternative number 10 to come in on a free….instead though we brought in another previous mate of Jones who will run around and stick a tackle in….once he is fully fit that is……

I've been a bit of a critic when it comes to Anderson, but to his credit, he has performed better than Docherty. While Anderson may not be the perfect fit, at least his presence is noticeable on the pitch, which is more than can be said for Docherty, who often feels invisible during games. Personally, I'd like to see Coventry, Taylor, and Berry in the midfield, as it's hard to imagine Taylor being any worse than Docherty.