v Watford (a) - 13/9/25

[London blue]

2 hours ago, rigger said:

We do have the option of playing three at the back, until one of the three get injured or suspended. It is a risky strategy, but it is available. If VI does choose this plan, and it is successful, happy days. If not then he will have to try another plan.  

I disagree. You can't expect to play a formation when you have close to zero depth in 3 positions.

[rigger]

2 minutes ago, London blue said:

I disagree. You can't expect to play a formation when you have close to zero depth in 3 positions.

Explain to me why three center-halves can't be played, when we have three center-halves available. If one or more get injured or suspended, then the formation has to be changed. I am not saying it is the most favoured system with our available players. But it is playable.

[London blue]

6 hours ago, rigger said:

Explain to me why three center-halves can't be played, when we have three center-halves available. If one or more get injured or suspended, then the formation has to be changed. I am not saying it is the most favoured system with our available players. But it is playable.

Sorry I mean the broader sense of 'play 3 centre backs' as in regularly. 

I don't think it's advisable to have all 3 senior centre backs on the pitch at any one time.

[rigger]

8 minutes ago, London blue said:

Sorry I mean the broader sense of 'play 3 centre backs' as in regularly. 

I don't think it's advisable to have all 3 senior centre backs on the pitch at any one time.

 

8 minutes ago, London blue said:

Sorry I mean the broader sense of 'play 3 centre backs' as in regularly. 

I don't think it's advisable to have all 3 senior centre backs on the pitch at any one time.

If it is what the manager thinks is the best formation for the players he has at his disposal, That is his decision. If a center-back becomes unavailable, you revert to a back four. Plan B's are not just for the forwards.

Edited Saturday at 17:32 by rigger

[London blue]

Sorry mate but I thought it was generally accepted on this board that something being the managers decision doesn't automatically make it the right one?

I understand that, literally speaking, playing all 3 is an option. I just don't think it's advisable, given the limited players in that position, and their respective injury records.

[rigger]

9 minutes ago, London blue said:

Sorry mate but I thought it was generally accepted on this board that something being the managers decision doesn't automatically make it the right one?

I understand that, literally speaking, playing all 3 is an option. I just don't think it's advisable, given the limited players in that position, and their respective injury records.

It also doesn't make it the wrong one. What it does make it, is the one we will play.

[London blue]

No, but in my opinion it would be. 

We've a difference in opinion, let's leave it there.

[Lancaster Rover]

If we had kept Travis I thought 3 - box - 3 would work quite well, getting 2 10's on the pitch and using the full backs for width as we've not got much quality out wide. With the sales we've made and the personnel we have 4-2-3-1 is the most obvious choice to persevere with, although with Cantwell often dropping deep it's more of a 4-2-1-2-1

Edited 9 hours ago by Lancaster Rover

[Ghost7]

pretty poor when you're struggling to put a defence together at the very beginning of the season.... and injuries will come. We will be down there come Christmas.

[joey_big_nose]

Well Gudjonen exciting - first real positive of the season. I think that goal will propel him straight into the starting lineup.

Id revise my team to

                    Toth

Alebiouso.   Carter.    Wharton.    Riberio 

              Tronstad.    Cantwell 

     Ohashi.       Morishita.       Hedges 

                       Gudjonsen 

If Carter is fit, Cantwell can play deeper, and Gudjonsen and Morishita follow through on their promise then it might actually be a decent team. Lots of ifs! But at least something to stimulate a bit of hope.

[KentExile]

36 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

Well Gudjonen exciting - first real positive of the season. I think that goal will propel him straight into the starting lineup.

Id revise my team to

                    Toth

Alebiouso.   Carter.    Wharton.    Riberio 

              Tronstad.    Cantwell 

     Ohashi.       Morishita.       Hedges 

                       Gudjonsen 

If Carter is fit, Cantwell can play deeper, and Gudjonsen and Morishita follow through on their promise then it might actually be a decent team. Lots of ifs! But at least something to stimulate a bit of hope.

I would be amazed if it did, he hasn't had one training session at Rovers yet

Pressing triggers are hugely important to Ismael, which are difficult (if not impossible) to teach in a day or 2

Cameo off the bench for Gudjohnsen this weekend, and integrate him properly over the next week, rather than "hanging him out to dry" (like Henriksson on his debut)

Edited 12 hours ago by KentExile

[Lancaster Rover]

I think the lack of reacting to pressing triggers are the main reason Gueye is out in the cold with VI, Ohashi is incredibly diligent when it comes to his off the ball duties which is one of the main reasons I think he's been preferred thus far, that and Gueye couldn't hit a barn door 

[Herbie6590]

 

[arbitro]

22 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

 

These are £76 for adults and £60 for kids.

Pasha will be salivating already.

[Tomphil2]

Where is our official Doctor Who themed kit in honour of our most famous celeb fan ?

Or maybe a one off Max Farnham edition ( for those who remember )

Missing a trick here Macron !

[bluebruce]

On 06/09/2025 at 18:28, rigger said:

 

If it is what the manager thinks is the best formation for the players he has at his disposal, That is his decision. If a center-back becomes unavailable, you revert to a back four. Plan B's are not just for the forwards.

If the manager believes 3 CBs is the best formation for us, why would he allow us to end up with only 4 CBs in the squad, two of whom are highly injury prone?

[rigger]

11 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

If the manager believes 3 CBs is the best formation for us, why would he allow us to end up with only 4 CBs in the squad, two of whom are highly injury prone?

That has nothing to do with the discussion, which has now been closed.

[aletheia]

9 hours ago, KentExile said:

Pressing triggers are hugely important to Ismael,

Interesting you say that. It seemed to me that during the last home game there wasn't much of one -just tended to drop to half way. Also, it seemed a little half-hearted but definitely improved in the second half as did energy levels.

[Moptop1]

3 hours ago, Tomphil2 said:

Where is our official Doctor Who themed kit in honour of our most famous celeb fan ?

Or maybe a one off Max Farnham edition ( for those who remember )

Missing a trick here Macron !

Knowing our owners, they’ll probably make our 150th anniversary shirt in claret and blue. 🙄