by West Stand Man »
24 Aug 2011 20:31
Row Z Royal A 4-3-3 set up would stoke things up for everyone, with a midfield of Karacan, Leigertwood and MacAnuff. HRK and Kebe would do the wide work as usual, both cutting in to support Hunt, who is more than capable of holding the ball to await support or flicking on for the willing runners. Manset is obviously an option, but he's not going to chase anything.
I'd be inclined to stick with Khumalo and Pearce at CB. Morrison doesn't sound any better (you could argue that he's worth a punt, I suppose, but I wouldn't). And I'd stick with Harte - he's due to get out of this tricky spell any time now.
And I think Cummings needs to be blooded properly now. He should be given the opportunity to stake a claim for the RB slot while Griffin's not 100%.
That is a good one! Let's strip the midfield and expose the defence at a time when it is already under pressure. Great plan I must say. I suggest it is more likely that he either sticks with the tried and trusted 442 or, possibly goes to 451 to lock up the defence a bit more.
However, where we do agree is that I think he will stick with Khumalo and possibly bring in Gorkss to play alongside him. Not that Pearce has been notably bad, I just sense that Khumalo is not as bad as he is being made out by some people here (he was caught out of position for the first goal on Saturday but otherwise looked a good player who is settling in to a new style in a new team). The issue for me is that the Pearce /Khumalo partnership is not gelling well. I rather suspect that the older head on Gorkss will be required to put some balance back in the defence. I also concur that Cummings is the man for now and that he should be brought in if fit. The LH side is another issue and I think I'd be tempted to leave Harte for one more game with Mills available on the bench if he is beaten for pace again. I can see Mills elbowing Harte out fairly soon and then we will definitely need the steady head of an experienced CB (Gorkss) to hold the line with so much youth around him.
I feel ever more hopeful that the corner is there to be turned and that we are getting there.