Video Middlesbrough v Coventry City highlights (1 Viewer)

I just don't know Allen's role. Last season he came in with o hare and supported him and godden almost in that free amc role. Picking it up in pockets and playing assists, breaking the lines. This season he just seems to run around in the middle. Long balls bypass him. He doesn't come short for balls from the back. He hasn't beat a man once. Mcfadz broke two lines s yesterday with pace (!)) and direct power and it set up the Shipley non tap in. Allen hasn't done that once this season. Come to think of it neither has godden, Shipley or Allen and that is a big issue

larry_david said:

I just don't know Allen's role. Last season he came in with o hare and supported him and godden almost in that free amc role. Picking it up in pockets and playing assists, breaking the lines. This season he just seems to run around in the middle. Long balls bypass him. He doesn't come short for balls from the ball. He hasn't beat a man once. Mcfadz broke two lives yesterday with pace (!)) and direct power and it set up the Shipley non tap in. Allen hasn't done that once this season. Come to think of it neither has godden, Shipley or Allen and that is a big issue

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None of our attacking midfielders have been any good, I think it’s 2 goals between them and no assists in 8 games.

SlowerThanPlatt said:

None of our attacking midfielders have been any good, I think it’s 2 goals between them and no assists in 8 games.

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Agreed.

They are not justifying their selection at the minute. Tyler Walker to come into the side for me.

Mucca Mad Boys said:

Agreed.

They are not justifying their selection at the minute. Tyler Walker to come into the side for me.

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5-3-2 FTW

Brighton Sky Blue said:

5-3-2 FTW

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We may have to play a combination of Kelly, Sheaf and Hamer in the middle to shore up the defensive side of the game. But then we’re relying on 3 defensive options in central midfield.

We have to adapt something. Perhaps we could convert to a 3-4-3, with Giles and/or Jobello (when fit) on either side and perhaps O’Hare and/or Hilßner on another.

We have had a tough time of it, but we haven’t troubled defences enough in those games. Gooden has a lot of redeeming qualities, but he has very little support and doesn’t have the physical features required to dominate upfront on his own.

I have faith we’ll turn things around, but we need to address a leaky defence and a sterile attack. One is bad enough, both is asking for trouble.

Mucca Mad Boys said:

We may have to play a combination of Kelly, Sheaf and Hamer in the middle to shore up the defensive side of the game. But then we’re relying on 3 defensive options in central midfield.

We have to adapt something. Perhaps we could convert to a 3-4-3, with Giles and/or Jobello (when fit) on either side and perhaps O’Hare and/or Hilßner on another.

We have had a tough time of it, but we haven’t troubled defences enough in those games. Gooden has a lot of redeeming qualities, but he has very little support and doesn’t have the physical features required to dominate upfront on his own.

I have faith we’ll turn things around, but we need to address a leaky defence and a sterile attack. One is bad enough, both is asking for trouble.

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I would argue against Hamer being a defensive option based on how he's tended to play so far, Sheaf also is quite willing to get forward and have a crack. We'd also be giving Godden someone to share the work up front and Walker some proper game time to play in his preferred role. The defence itself wasn't the issue last night which is why I'd recommend keeping it the same.

If we're chasing the game or need to play more aggressively we can quite easily turn it into a 4-3-3 when we don't need the extra defender and O'Hare can join the front 2. I'm not saying it's the silver bullet but I think it gives a good balance and can easily be adapted as the game unfolds.