Is Playing crooks up top really benefiting sporar

Nope, pretty much every time we have Tav running through and supporting Sporar we look dangerous and create opportunities it seems.
 
Crooks has an engine, as does Tav, both of whom can get up and down the pitch. Tav is technically better, so should play higher up the pitch. If we’re not prepared to go 4-4-2 (most teams don’t want to be outnumbered in the middle), then I’d expect the middle 3 to be Tav, Payero and either Crooks or Siliki with Jones wide left and Watmore wide right. Howson and McNair fill in where required. I’d like to see us go with 2 up top, especially if chasing a game. I think Warnock won’t do that, though.
 
In a word no.....Tav and Watmore supporting in a 4-3-3 is my preference, am sure that was the first half v Sheffield United? Crooks in the middle three with Howson and McNair, unless we need Paddy to fill in at the back. Personally if we are struggling for defenders I would be thinking of recalling Wood, if not an option we'll have to go with what we have and stick JLS/Payero in the middle.
 
Watch his goal back that he scored the other day. If we're going to get the best out of him we need a proper no 10 playing behind him, or creative midfielder. We need players who can slip the ball through to him.

We need either Payero no 10, Tav in midfield or both, but I reckon Warnock would prefer to have two sitting midfielders if we start Tav or Payero through the middle.
 
I don't even think sporar is that difficult to play in. You know he is going to make the run for you and he will do it all day long if he is getting the service.

You could almost blindly put the ball into the channels and know he is going to be running on too it.

It just requires the training to make it instinctive, oh and stop playing long balls.
 
Might help if Sporar could finish the chances he's getting. If Britt had of missed the 2 against hull he would have been getting pelters. I like Sporars movement but needs to start scoring!
 
Might help if Sporar could finish the chances he's getting. If Britt had of missed the 2 against hull he would have been getting pelters. I like Sporars movement but needs to start scoring!
Britt got pelters because he regularly did miss those sort of chances. Sporar will be given some leeway as he is new but given time, if he keeps doing it, he'll get the same treatment.
 
I don't even think sporar is that difficult to play in. You know he is going to make the run for you and he will do it all day long if he is getting the service.

You could almost blindly put the ball into the channels and know he is going to be running on too it.

It just requires the training to make it instinctive, oh and stop playing long balls.

Surely they don't get to this level without being able to spot and execute a through ball ffs. We need to stop making excuses.

The fans want a team challenging for promotion the realistic fact is this team are simply not good enough individually to compete at the top.

We need to identify players that are and bring them in. We are constantly getting mid level championship players and that's where we will end up until we have scouting department that can identify some footballers.
 
Crooks looked better early on in the season when somebody else was the focal point and him running off them .. I think NW has to find a way for Uche, Sprorar and Crooks to be in the same 11
Agree, but it's hard isn't it, that's a real mismatch of styles.

Uche with Crooks behind looks good because you've got loads of workrate and a battering ram up front who doesn't stop hustling.

Sporar with Tav looks good because Sporar's movement and intelligence is really good and they're a good combination with Tav's creativity.

Hernandez is a good winger who will beat his man. Watmore's a goal threat who has good approach play.

Sporar, Uche, Crooks, Tav, Watmore and Hernandez in the same team, I can't figure out how that would work - it's like playing plan A and plan B at the same time - but that's why I'm not paid a million quid to be the manager.
 
433

Hernandez or Jones on the left of the front 3.
Uche front and centre.
Watmore or Sporar on the right of the front 3.

Crooks and Tav in the middle 3 getting forward. Payero first back up for them.

Siliki, Howson, McNair or Dijksteel as a sitting defensive mid. Whoever can best cope with that.
 
Personally I don't think Crooks gets in our best 11.

Tav is better in the number 10 role and as part of a midfield 3.

We could potentially look to play a Xmas tree with Tav and Crooks sitting deep just outside Sporar but due to our abundance of attacking full backs (!) that formation offers zero width and teams will just play down the channels.
 
I’d guess at the below for Saturday with the injuries / suspension, but yes I’d prefer to see Tav where Crooks is, but can’t see who else can play on the right with all the missing players we have.

……….….. Lumley
…… Macca…. Sol…. Bols
Tav… Howson …. JLS…… Jones
…………….. Crooks
…….. Dunc………. Sporar
 
Re Payero Be interesting to see how people name him in their starting 11s now.
 
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