Go back to Spence and Coulson as wing-backs

parmoboy

parmoboy

Well-known member
It's no coincidence that we've pretty much had our best results and performances with them two starting as wing-backs.

Since the Fulham game, I've felt Woodgate hasn't trusted them to start together but although they have a lot to learn defensively, they offer so much in an attacking sense.

I feel we have proper balance and width when they start together.
 
They simply need to both start as wing backs against Luton. Coulson ain’t a left back for me he’s not good enough defensively to play in a 4 and when he’s in a 4 he doesn’t get forward enough, they are both natural wing backs and the players we have in the team it suits us best. I can’t believe we haven’t played it last 2 games, I don’t see the logic .
 
As I said earlier

If we start on sat with out coulson and Spence again then you have to wonder what is really going on.
 
Said it before the game, no idea why he’s dropped Spence. Week in week out he’s one of our best players.

Our season finally clicked when we played with wing backs, Spence and Coulson were superb.

I can’t understand why he’s ditched a winning formula.
 
Pog said:
Said it before the game, no idea why he’s dropped Spence. Week in week out he’s one of our best players.

Our season finally clicked when we played with wing backs, Spence and Coulson were superb.

I can’t understand why he’s ditched a winning formula.
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Because it wasn't winning anymore.
Plus Coulson got food poisoning and Spence played a lot of matches in quick succession for a player who hadn't even been in the first team picture till the injury crusis.
I don't think it's all down to Woodgate changing formation for the crack.
 
Playing wingbacks leaves us vulnerable to attacks down the flanks which Fulham exploited.
Playing 4 at the back leaves us vulnerable down the left which Brentford exploited.
With wingbacks though we carry a greater attacking threat and there's at least another defender in the middle to clear the inevitable crosses.
I think there are organisational issues, further forward than the defence.
Chopping and changing team and formation isn't helping.

I would play wingbacks, with howson in the back three. I would have Clayton and McNair or saville as deep midfielders. I would have Tav and Morrison supporting the striker.
 
Pog said:
Said it before the game, no idea why he’s dropped Spence. Week in week out he’s one of our best players.

Our season finally clicked when we played with wing backs, Spence and Coulson were superb.

I can’t understand why he’s ditched a winning formula.
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Like I said, I think he lost confidence in the idea of them starting together after the Fulham game.

We were playing a very good team away from home that night though - was always going to be a tough game.

Spence and Coulson are young, they're going to make mistakes but starting them both is a risk worth taking because together they offer something different.
 
My friend just texted me...

Too much chopping and changing. Completely forgotten what won him mom.

can’t really disagree
 
In our run of winning games, we only really played well against Preston and West Brom and neither of those games had Spence and Coulson playing together as wing backs.
We were rubbish against Huddersfield, Barnsley and Stoke, but managed to win. Charlton were absolutely awful rather than us being good.

Don't get me wrong, on today's performance I'd sooner go back to it, but this seems like another magic solution that fans fixate on.
Same as last season where people were convinced we only weren't winning because Wing and Tav weren't starting.
 
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It was crying out for Spence from very early on in the first half and why it didn't happen immediately after the sending off is beyond me.

Poor management tonight, he's still learning though and we didn't get beat. Two poor sides.

Ref was great for our equaliser. Soft sending off and had the wall stood back the full distance. I thought he may have got a head to Wing's free kick but a Wigan player beat him to it.

All in all very poor fayre in awful conditions.
 
BoroBen92 said:
Plus, in our run of winning games, we only really played well against Preston and West Brom and neither of those games had Spence and Coulson playing together as wing backs.
We were rubbish against Huddersfield, Barnsley and Stoke, but managed to win. Charlton were absolutely awful rather than us being good.

Don't get me wrong, on today's performance I'd sooner go back to it, but this seems like another magic fix that fans fixate on. Same as last season where people were convinced we only weren't winning because Wing and Tav weren't starting.
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Still, you have to remember we've only managed to win 8 games all season, and for half of those wins Spence and Coulson have started together.

They also started together vs Spurs which was a very good performance.
 
parmoboy said:
Still, you have to remember we've only managed to win 8 games all season, and for half of those wins Spence and Coulson have started together.

They also started together vs Spurs which was a very good performance.
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I get that, and I was surprised to see Spence on the bench tonight. It's a strange one, I could understand him being rested on Saturday but not today too.

Coulson getting food poisoning cost him his place in the Spurs replay, rather than performances, and then when he came back he was at fault for Fulham's goal and couldn't handle them.

I'm hoping we see them both play against Luton as it's almost a must win game now.
But I don't think Spence not starting is what cost us tonight.
 
BoroBen92 said:
I get that, and I was surprised to see Spence on the bench tonight. It's a strange one, I could understand him being rested on Saturday but not today too.

Coulson getting food poisoning cost him his place, rather than performances, and then when he came back he was at fault for Fulham's goal.
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I seem to remember Spence not having the best game vs Birmingham. Quite a few of us were saying he needs a rest.

Should have been back in the side tonight though.
 
The worry I have is that Spence and couson were only in the side due to injuries and suspensions. I just hope woody isn’t going to pick the side in seniority reputation and god forbid price tags. Or loan obligations.

As they were both a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stale non event of a season.
 
At the moment he’s doing the Tony Pulis school of thinking of how many of my central midfielders can I get into 1 team, I hate that. He needs to be brave and drop a central midfielder and for me going off the last 2 games the name has absolutely to be Paddy McNair.

Pears

Howson
Moukoudi
Fry

Spence
Wing
Saville
Tav
Coulson

Morrison

Fletcher

I think that’s best for next game and plenty of attacking flair there, shoehorning an extra midfielder in the team at the expense of Spence is not right in my opinion and something Pulis would do.
 
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