Hiwula (4 Viewers)

Bristol sky blue

Well-Known Member
In pre-season it's easy to overestimate the abilities of new players and underestimate what we have already got...
If he gets as many games as last year, I think Hiwula could get 15 goals or so.
I think Robins is going to set us up for quick counter attacks away from home: Hiwula's pace is an asset and his confidence is growing.
I would be mightily pissed off if we sold him and kept Chaplin! (I don't think that will happen though).
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
Putting faith in any one player getting 20 plus goals is a stupid plan

I can’t be arsed to run the numbers, but I’d be interested in a break down of those that have scored 20+ WRT how long they stayed at this level, how often they did it and what teams they played in. I suspect it’s more a function of form/luck and their team having a good season than some innate “20-goalness” that you can scout and buy for your own side.
 

CanadianCCFC

Well-Known Member
I can’t be arsed to run the numbers, but I’d be interested in a break down of those that have scored 20+ WRT how long they stayed at this level, how often they did it and what teams they played in. I suspect it’s more a function of form/luck and their team having a good season than some innate “20-goalness” that you can scout and buy for your own side.
I believe what you’re saying is “20 goals Bakayoko.”
I’d be inclined to agree.
PUSB
 

Dimi_Konstantflapalot

Well-Known Member
The issue with Hiwula is that he can't play with his back to goal, play him through and let him run towards players / goal and he is a different player.

Yeah, when he did play up front on his own last season it was very much back to goal with balls lumped up to him that he had no chance of winning - Luton away springs to mind when Baka went off injured after 25 mins. Running at goal with interchanges between that fluid front 4 and he'd be very effective as the central man
 

Esoterica

Well-Known Member
Yeah, when he did play up front on his own last season it was very much back to goal with balls lumped up to him that he had no chance of winning - Luton away springs to mind when Baka went off injured after 25 mins. Running at goal with interchanges between that fluid front 4 and he'd be very effective as the central man
And if we are able to achieve that as a team, there's no reason why a confident Chaplin couldn't also be successful in that position too even if it's off the bench at first.
 

Mucca Mad Boys

Well-Known Member
The issue with Hiwula is that he can't play with his back to goal, play him through and let him run towards players / goal and he is a different player.

I imagine that’s why we’re moving to 4-3-3, we’ve got a lot of pace now where that strategy could work.

A front three of Kastaneer, Jobello and Hiwula could potentially be a nightmare for defenders to mark if they’re a free roaming unit.

I like Shipley, but we’re not exactly going to play him in behind the defenders...
 

Esoterica

Well-Known Member
I imagine that’s why we’re moving to 4-3-3, we’ve got a lot of pace now where that strategy could work.

A front three of Kastaneer, Jobello and Hiwula could potentially be a nightmare for defenders to mark if they’re a free roaming unit.

I like Shipley, but we’re not exactly going to play him in behind the defenders...
My hope for this season is that with this big squad and the potential variations we have, that we've developed a plan B e.g. a Biamou/Chaplin pairing. I can see that 4-3-3 being very successful counter attacking against the better teams in this league but I'd be worried what will happen against the defensive teams when they sit deep with 9 men behind the ball, something we've struggled with for 2 seasons already.
 
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shmmeee

Well-Known Member
My hope for this season is that with this big squad and the potential variations we have, that we've developed a plan B e.g. a Biamou/Chaplin pairing. I can see that 4-3-3 being very successful counter attacking against the better teams in this league but I'd be worried what will happen against the defensive teams when they sit deep with 9 men behind the ball, something we've struggled with for 2 seasons already.

Sure I’ve seen a Robins quote this summer about wanting to have a squad that gives him plenty of options.
 

Sky_Blue_Dreamer

Well-Known Member
As it stands I think we'll start

Hiwula - Baka - Kastaneer
Allen - Kelly - Bayliss

I think MR's ideal would be

----------Walker
Jobello - Bright - Kastenner
-------Allen - Kelly

It's far too early to judge but Jobello has looked good in terms of crossing in the highlights thus far and can see him getting the LW position. I think MR will be spending a lot of pre-season trying out Hiwula, Baka, Chaplin and Max up front to see who feeds the best off the wide men and the midfield.

Chaplin isn't tall or strong enough IMO to make the most of it, Baka has the height but poor discipline for offside, Hiwula isn't renowned for getting on crosses but if they're played more along the ground in front of defenders he could get a few and he's also arguably the best of them to get on through balls from Bayliss, Allen and Kelly. Biamou is the most obvious CF getting onto crosses but wouldn't be the best utilising the midfield.

Also with your formation Bayliss and Kastaneer down the right could leave us quite exposed on that side with little protection.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
I wonder if he’s got two formations in mind.

A 433 with pact forwards fed along the ground and a 442 with wingers and a bigger guy up front maybe? Maybe a 451 with a combination as well.

I could see us putting out all three:

Kelly Allen Bayliss
Jobello Hiwula Kastaneer

Kastaneer Kelly Allen Jobello
Chaplin Biamou

Kelly Allen
Jobello Kastaneer Hiwula
Baka

Something like that? Horses for courses.
 

Sky_Blue_Dreamer

Well-Known Member
I wonder if he’s got two formations in mind.

A 433 with pact forwards fed along the ground and a 442 with wingers and a bigger guy up front maybe? Maybe a 451 with a combination as well.

I could see us putting out all three:

Kelly Allen Bayliss
Jobello Hiwula Kastaneer

Kastaneer Kelly Allen Jobello
Chaplin Biamou

Kelly Allen
Jobello Kastaneer Hiwula
Baka

Something like that? Horses for courses.

We do seem to have a far more flexible midfield/wingers that should mean we could play 4-4-2,4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. I think we're maybe a goalscorer away from being totally effective for 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 but not far off.

At the moment, I'd go:

4-2-3-1
------------Kelly-----Allen
Kastaneer---Bayliss---Jobello
-------------------CF

4-3-3
-----Bayliss---Kelly----Allen
Kastaneer-----CF------Jobello

4-4-2
Kastaneer----Kelly---Allen-----Jobello
-------Chaplin/Hiwula----Biamou
 

Dimi_Konstantflapalot

Well-Known Member
One thing that will be interesting to see, regardless of formation, is how well Kastaneer/Jobello track back and show defensive discipline. Thomas was excellent at it last year and that discipline is not generally as well regarded in the foreign lower leagues, they don't place the same amount of importance on it. No doubt MR will be drilling it into them during pre-season
 

Mucca Mad Boys

Well-Known Member
My hope for this season is that with this big squad and the potential variations we have, that we've developed a plan B e.g. a Biamou/Chaplin pairing. I can see that 4-3-3 being very successful counter attacking against the better teams in this league but I'd be worried what will happen against the defensive teams when they sit deep with 9 men behind the ball, something we've struggled with for 2 seasons already.

I agree, last season we were a bit limited in mixing things up with different combinations of players.

Even having Jodi Jones available off the bench later on in the season will be a boost as it gives us another option.

Signing an out and out AM, Bright (fingers crossed) or perhaps a loaner, will give us another dimension to play 4-2-3-1 too. We’ve got the option to play 4-4-2 too with pacey and direct wingers.

We’ve got a young squad that will continue to improve, I’m looking forward to this season.
 

Esoterica

Well-Known Member
I agree, last season we were a bit limited in mixing things up with different combinations of players.

Even having Jodi Jones available off the bench later on in the season will be a boost as it gives us another option.

Signing an out and out AM, Bright (fingers crossed) or perhaps a loaner, will give us another dimension to play 4-2-3-1 too. We’ve got the option to play 4-4-2 too with pacey and direct wingers.

We’ve got a young squad that will continue to improve, I’m looking forward to this season.
18 days to go!!
 

Sky_Blue_Dreamer

Well-Known Member
Inside forward for the footy manager boys

It's quite nice to have some of those old terms like inside left being used again, even though it was a term when five forwards we playing against two defenders usually. Remember when we used to have the 'Beckenbauer' position - what I guess you'd now call a ball playing centre back. And when was the last time anyone played a sweeper?
 

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