Our Survival Down To Team Selection, Over To You Andy (3 Viewers)

[EleanorRigby]

He might not be Wayne Rooney but it looks like in the right team and with the right players alongside him we might just have a little fox in the box in Cody McDonald, not had that much time on the pitch but has waded in with a couple of goals in that time. So Thorn needs to get his selection right using McDonald, Nimely and McSheffrey as the main striking outlets with Platt as sub. But how do we back that up ? Norwood, Deegan, for his aggression but who else. Baker was arguably star man the other night. Defensively I would stick with Tuesdays defence unless Richard Wood is fit, just whats wrong with him feck knows, is he dead ? never gets a mention. Apart from the penalty i thought our defence was pretty solid.

 

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[wingy]

Richard wood was injured but appears to be a bit part player this ,and its showed in his performances for me ,if you have no Platt the team has no height to attack or defend ,so you would have to maintain christie and Thomas in the side .

 

[Notorious B.I.Girimana]

Gotta start giving Cody some game time, so i'd go for....

Murphy

Christie
Keogh
Cranie
Wood

Norwood
Deegan
Thomas

Nimley
McDonald
McSheffrey

Subs:

Platt
Baker
Bell
Bigirimana
Clarke

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Assuming everyone at the club is fit
Murphy
Clarke
Keogh
Cranie
Hussey
Baker/Bell
Sheff
Norwood
Deegan
Nimely
Mcdonald

Bench
Baker/Bell
Platt
Christie
Thomas
Clingan

Tempted to put Thomas over Deegan but feel the midfield would be too young then. Midfield is tough choice I feel it should be a partnership from Clingan/Norwood alongside Deegan/Thomas. Bell and Baker it is a toss up to which has the form at the time.

 

[skybluek]

Murphy
Christie based on that redmond will probaly play on the left so christie would be able to add a bit of strength instead of clarke also christie a attacking threat over clarke
Keogh dont need to say anything
Craine great understanding with keogh
Hussey although hes not the best defender he puts a great ball into the box thats why i would have him in the squad saturday
clingan/thomas dont care really but i would choose clingan because i wouldnt have 2 youngsters in the middle of the park in thomas &norwood
Norwood great passr but seemed of it tuesday entitled to a bad game
Baker/Bell baker never know if hes going to be good or bad bell always seem to run around alot more than baker make your own choice
Mcsheff too inconsistant but capable of something special but have know alturnative soo..
Platt
Cody
although you may want nimely playing he is carrying knock but if we are still in the game with 30 mins to go chuck nimely on for platt too turn the brum defenders & always seems better in the 2nd half to me anyway

No point using platt as a sub because thorn would want to but a little bit of pace instead of height in the latter stages thus why he bought platt of and replaced him with mcdonald tuesday saturday thorn could give nimely a rest as he has deserved one ad bring him on for platt at about 65 minutes

 

[dongonzalos]

Murphy

Clarke
Keogh
Wood
Cranie


Norwood
Deegan
Baker

Nimley
McDonald
Platt

Subs:

Sheff
Thomas
Bell
Bigirimana
Christie

 

[Paxman II]

...............Murphy
Christie, Keogh, Cameron, Wood.
Baker, Deegan, Clingan, McSheff.
.............McDonald, Nimely

Subs: Platt, Bell, Cranie, Thomas, Dunn

Fewer kids and more experience where it matters and a 4-4-2, solid at the back with option of a set piece goal from Wood or Cameron.
A natural 'fit at last' goal poacher up front. Deagan and Clingan to thwart opositions mid field. Macca and Baker (an on form Baker) to create havoc moving inside and taking play wide getting in behind them.

Platt a clear option from the bench. Bell if Baker fails to perform (and usually a good impact sub with a goal in him) Cranie as the very useful alternate defender if required.

With that we have goal scorers, footballers and strong defenders. Christie going forward another good option. Keogh can cover wide and Wood step inside when he does.
Got to be the thoughtful option. Play it on the ground and higher up the pitch using Clingan alternately to step up a little more. Both Clingan and Macca capable from set pieces too. Surely that's all the strengths we can muster right there? Conventional wisdom says at least one of those for various reasons I've stated will hit the back of the net?

 

[@richh87]

No way would I break up the Platt - Nimely partnership. Plattini's been awesome the last few weeks and offers a focal point for the entire team.

Cody to be super sub.

 

[Lord_Nampil]

Also clingan wouldn't get in my starting 11 to fight and stay up, Thomas is the player we need playing in that position!

 

[Otis]

What's happened to Hussey?

Back from injury but no sign of him even on the bench the last 6 games?

Whatever his failing are, the lad can put in a very decent cross and we need goals and quality balls into the box. Clarke has done okay at left back but it's not his position is it and it is Hussey's,

 

[stupot07]

I think Hussey and Wood at both out injured, can't imagine we'd have willis on the bench the other week if Hussey was fit.

Presuming hussey and wood are still injured the only change I would consider from tuesday's team is maybe bringing McDonald in for Nimely.

The blues have a lot of tall players and have scored a few from set pieces this season. If we don't play platt we'll only have keogh, Cameron and cranie with an height.

 

[Otis]

To drop Nimely I think would be total madness.

We have looked so much the better team since his arrival. In my opinion he has to play.

 

[stupot07]

In that case Otis, Cody needs to start on the bench on Saturday.

 

[Otis]

Or we play 3 up front.

Big gamble of course. but maybe we need a big gamble right now.

 

[stupot07]

I wouldn't play 3 up top, the 2 wider players will end up getting dragged back and it'll end up in more of a 451. It happened v Ipswich with Sheff and nimely. And in the home game v So'ton when Cody had come out wide.

I agree we need to gamble, but to win we also in all probability need a clean sheet.

 

[torchomatic]

Couldn't agree more. I think Hussey is a cracking player and his crosses are great. Hope to see him back before too long.

What's happened to Hussey?

Back from injury but no sign of him even on the bench the last 6 games?

Whatever his failing are, the lad can put in a very decent cross and we need goals and quality balls into the box. Clarke has done okay at left back but it's not his position is it and it is Hussey's,

 

[Otis]

Probably won't be an issue anyway.

Thorn has said Platt has a back injury and he will have to see how he is for Saturday. So could be Nimely and McDonald whatever.

 

[Nick]

The thing with Nimely and McDonald is the lack of height. We would certainly need to change our tactics to suit the 2 small men up front!

I wouldn't mind seeing Nimely and Cody playing off Platt though.

 

[stupot07]

Yep - your probably right Otis.

 

[Otis]

We need to change our tactics if it is.

When McDonald came on on Tuesday we carried on playing long high balls as if Platt was still there for about 10 mins til we realised that wasn't working.

 

[stupot07]

Agreed - I think it's hard to change the mindset and rhythm straight away when Cody came on.

 

[Nick]

How hard is it to stop playing the ball in the air when your big team mate goes off for a small fella?

 

[stupot07]

Evidently quite hard as it took them 10 minutes to stop doing it.

 

[Otis]

AT instructed the players from the touchline to let them know Platt was off and a little fella on, but the instruction took 10 mins to travel from the players' ears to their brains.

 

[sky_blue_up_north]

You have to play Platt IMO to give some sort of focal point. I would play 4 3 3 we have to win games now so do or die, we might be week in midfield but goals win games..

Murphy
Christie - Keogh - Crannie - Cammeron
Norwood Degan Sheff
Nimley Platt McDonald

 

[Otis]

When Platt plays the ball is played longer. If you play 3 up front the midfield would be weakened for sure, but with a longer ball ball that can manifest itself that you are not hurt so much by it.

Would be exciting, Platt to knock the ball down and two fast strikers alongside.

 

[KersleyDigs]

Based on tuesday's performance, I'd start with:

----------------Murphy---------------
Christie---Keogh---Cranie---Clarke
Bell-----Norwood--Thomas--Baker
----------Nimely-----Sheff---------

 

[Otis]

Bell I think is injured.

I know it didn't work very well at Middlesborough for him, but you could accomodate McDonald up front by pushing Nimely wide. The lad certainly has pace to burn and as long as he's given licence and felxibilty to come in field at times, as Sheff does, that could work.

Ideally you'd want Nimely up front though. though ideally too you would want McDonald to be given a go as well after his goal the other night.

Don't think AT will drop Baker after Tuesday anyway so it's probably a moot point.

 

[covcity4life]

i wouldnt mind seeing 433 boothroyd stryle with hoof to platt and 2 lil strikers getting on end of knockdowns

bypass our midfield cos they tend to be crap

 

[Paxman II]

Nimely is quality though young but a grade above our youngsters. Must play. That said I can't believe what some of you suggest. The assumption that Clingan is pants suddenly is ridiculous. We need our best players in their best positions and a balance to the side. Never easy but what i said earlier I stand by.
Platt has been great up to a point. We need to play the ball and use people who have got goals in them. Cody and Nimely up front and the right tactics could tear Brum a new one. (mark I said 'could')

 

[Sky Blue Sheepy]

i wouldnt mind seeing 433 boothroyd stryle with hoof to platt and 2 lil strikers getting on end of knockdowns

bypass our midfield cos they tend to be crap

I would have agreed at the start of the season I personally think Deegan, Thomas and Norwood each offer great things in midfield - Deegan is normally composed and can bite, Thomas does the simple stuff so well as well as tackling and Norwood can play some beautiful passes when he needs too.

Personally I'd love to see 4-3-3:
Murphy
Christie-Cranie-Keogh-Hussey
Deegan/Thomas
Norwood - McSheffrey
Nimely-Platt-McDonald​

Rather than just hoofing into Platt though, I'd quite like mix. With that formation Christie and Hussey can bomb forward and both are good crossers - allowing Platt to knock the ball down for McDonald/Nimely or even Sheffers.
If that isn't working, Norwood can spray the ball out to Nimely - wide upfront and he can then take on defenders or set up Platt and McDonald.​

Nimely is quality though young but a grade above our youngsters. Must play. That said I can't believe what some of you suggest. The assumption that Clingan is pants suddenly is ridiculous. We need our best players in their best positions and a balance to the side. Never easy but what i said earlier I stand by.

As for Clingan it's not "suddenly" though is it. He's missed simple passes, lost the ball at silly times (Brighton away was a prime example) and on Tuesday he was so desperate to get rid of it. At the moment he offers nothing Norwood doesn't - but Norwood does it much better. Frankly the guy has bailed on 3 teams he's played a part in relegating (assuming we are of course) and shows no fight; I do not want to see him in a City shirt again unless our proper players are injured...​

 

[Otis]

Clingan is not pants. He is slow though and does telegraph nearly all his passes and has been responsible for a number of mistakes that have led to goals this season. He also has had a very poor season in general.

It is no coincidence that our play from the midfield has been so much quicker since Norwood took over the role from Clingan as main playmaker.

 

[stupot07]

To be honest Otis, our play improved when he got injured and Thomas played at the base of the diamond - he played the ball much quicker tempo.

 

[Grendel]

To be honest Otis, our play improved when he got injured and Thomas played at the base of the diamond - he played the ball much quicker tempo.

Thomas has been in the team on merit. There is no question that he would not get into other Championship clubs. Thorn aside one of the big problems this season is the two players who I would guess are the highest paid have grossly under-performed (in fact one of them is just grossly unfit).