Round pegs, round holes.

[Anton_Berg]

This seems to be a recurring theme on here. It reminds me of an interview given by Bob Stokoe, after Sunderland's miracle FAC run in his first season. When he joined, one of his problems was what to do with Dave Watson. Having paid a huge fee for an emerging c/h from Rotheram, the previous manager duly played him as striker. He was an effective target man. I remember he scored twice against our lightweight defenders at A/P, both headers from a corner/cross.
Stokoe said he took Watson to one side in training and asked 'where do you want to play?'
Simple as that and he rest was history.

 

[VestasBoro]

Be very interesting to get the Boro players together and ask them their favourite position, and system to play and see exactly how different it is to what we're seeing now.

Azaz was a star for Plymouth playing left of a 3 man midfield - a system we dont play.
Hackneys best games have been alongside Howson as a deep midfield pair, yet we've seen him play the 10 and struggle
Forss signed as a striker, nurtured to a right sided attacker - This has worked well and he's doing well and scoring goals
Greenwood has played in a midfield three, as a winger and a striker so i'm not sure anyone really knows his best position on the field

Its important that the manager has his method and his way of playing, his tactics etc but also that the players are happy and comfortable. If Azaz had played left of a midfield 3 for Plymouth and done well and thats what has caught Carricks eye, he knows how and where he wants Azaz to play and must have thought he can adapt to play in the 4231 that he chooses to play. I just think you're better off signing players that suit your system than signing players and hoping they can adapt into it.

 

[ThePrisoner]

Yes, a lot was made of converting Dave Watson from CH to striker. He was definitely a no nonsense player.

 

[r00fie1]

It's an issue raised in the latest Boro Breakdown Podcast "Garbage" - whether Michael Carrick still has a lot to learn in coaching. It's not criticizing him, but an acknowledgement of his naivety regards selections, substitutions, using players to their strengths, playing without a striker, leaving out experienced players [eg. Paddy McNair]. There`s certainly a lot of validity in raising those questions right now.

 

[VestasBoro]

Having different plans is so important - ala to when McClaren would throw 4 strikers on, i know it all depends on the players you have at your expense but there is a transfer window coming where Carrick can manipulate the squad into having options not only in terms of players for his Plan A but also in terms of having a Plan B for teams who sit back, Plan C against superior teams, Plan D for all out attack when down with 5-10mins to go etc. it all seems very 1 dimensional at the minute something i'm hoping will change next season.

 

[r00fie1]

Having different plans is so important - ala to when McClaren would throw 4 strikers on, i know it all depends on the players you have at your expense but there is a transfer window coming where Carrick can manipulate the squad into having options not only in terms of players for his Plan A but also in terms of having a Plan B for teams who sit back, Plan C against superior teams, Plan D for all out attack when down with 5-10mins to go etc. it all seems very 1 dimensional at the minute something i'm hoping will change next season.

There are still possibilities with “free agents” who we could draft in till the summer.
They don't have to fit the “template”, but if they can get in the box and get the ball in the net, let's have them.

We had the likes of Neil Taylor, Bolassie, Peltier, Bamba in the recent past: who done a decent job for us for a short period - so someone out there, on not too much dollar, might be willing to help us out?

 

[newyddion]

Be very interesting to get the Boro players together and ask them their favourite position, and system to play and see exactly how different it is to what we're seeing now.

Azaz was a star for Plymouth playing left of a 3 man midfield - a system we dont play.
Hackneys best games have been alongside Howson as a deep midfield pair, yet we've seen him play the 10 and struggle
Forss signed as a striker, nurtured to a right sided attacker - This has worked well and he's doing well and scoring goals
Greenwood has played in a midfield three, as a winger and a striker so i'm not sure anyone really knows his best position on the field

Its important that the manager has his method and his way of playing, his tactics etc but also that the players are happy and comfortable. If Azaz had played left of a midfield 3 for Plymouth and done well and thats what has caught Carricks eye, he knows how and where he wants Azaz to play and must have thought he can adapt to play in the 4231 that he chooses to play. I just think you're better off signing players that suit your system than signing players and hoping they can adapt into it.

we had a record breaking goal scorer last season.. we have record braking goal scorers across the whole team this season
Longest sequence of League wins – 9 in the Second Division, 1973–74
we had a run of six wins this season without really getting into top gear.. we do have some hard competition at the top of the table.. flying away with it.. 2ppg and sitting in third place shows how good these top teams are doing.. we have all the top teams to play away.. hopefully they can run out of a bit of steam or make arrangements for parties or playoffs.

5/6 games to trundle through.. and then a miracle run!

Latte Lath to come back, Isaiah Jones to come back..

Finn Azaz to fulfil his destiny..

Alex Gilbert discovers his powers..

Matthew Hoppe, juiced up from that secret military base..

 

[Jedi boro]

I think the days of players having “positions” is long gone yet they may prefer a certain role but the pigeon holing is gone