What will Woodgate's random team selector throw up for Wednesday ?

Clayton coming back in is a must for me v Leeds

I’d go 4-4-1-1 and rest Howson as he looks jaded of late. Shotton was ok v Barnsley to be fair so he stays in (reluctantly). I worry about Coulson defensively but he offers more offensively than Johnson or George
I think Woody will go 5-3-2 with McNair dropping into the back 5. It would not surprise me if he started Gestede with a go out there and prove them wrong type message o_O

Col’s Team............................Woody’s predicted Team

Pears...................................Pears

Spence................................Howson
Shotton................................Shotton
Moukoudi.............................Moukoudi
Coulson................................McNair
.............................................Johnson

Tav.........................................Nmecha
Clayton..................................Clayton
McNair...............................................
Saville....................................Saville

Morrison................................Britt or Gestede

Fletcher..................................Fletcher

Either way i wont be confident of a shut out and a brace from our strike force, but stranger things have happened. I am hoping for a routine 3-0 win though
 
Clayton coming back in is a must for me v Leeds

I’d go 4-4-1-1 and rest Howson as he looks jaded of late. Shotton was ok v Barnsley to be fair so he stays in (reluctantly). I worry about Coulson defensively but he offers more offensively than Johnson or George
I think Woody will go 5-3-2 with McNair dropping into the back 5. It would not surprise me if he started Gestede with a go out there and prove them wrong type message o_O

Col’s Team............................Woody’s predicted Team

Pears...................................Pears

Spence................................Howson
Shotton................................Shotton
Moukoudi.............................Moukoudi
Coulson................................McNair
.............................................Johnson

Tav.........................................Nmecha
Clayton..................................Clayton
McNair...............................................
Saville....................................Saville

Morrison................................Britt or Gestede

Fletcher..................................Fletcher

Either way i wont be confident of a shut out and a brace from our strike force, but stranger things have happened. I am hoping for a routine 3-0 win though

We need Clayton back in the side.

I don't think it's a coincidence that our good run of form coincided with having Clayton in midfield.

He's had some poor games this season but he can also be so effective playing that sitting role, and I think his experience was really helping the younger players earlier in the season.

I remember him having a really good game vs Spurs, and him just bringing a real calmness to the midfield.
 
We need Clayton back in the side.

I don't think it's a coincidence that our good run of form coincided with having Clayton in midfield.

He's had some poor games this season but he can also be so effective playing that sitting role, and I think his experience was really helping the younger players earlier in the season.

I remember him having a really good game vs Spurs, and him just bringing a real calmness to the midfield.

Totally agree (y) I do think some of the games where he has looked poor have been where he has been at times left too isolated, e.g. when we have been overun in midfield by the pace of the opposition on the counter, where our other midfielders have pressed forward. He is limited and lacks pace, but he is strong in the tackle and plays the holding role so well and we will need this so much more v Leeds
 
Totally agree (y) I do think some of the games where he has looked poor have been where he has been at times left too isolated, e.g. when we have been overun in midfield by the pace of the opposition on the counter, where our other midfielders have pressed forward. He is limited and lacks pace, but he is strong in the tackle and plays the holding role so well and we will need this so much more v Leeds

We've literally been playing without a holding midfielder for the past few months - is it any wonder we've been so soft to play against and have conceded so many goals.

You can't underestimate the importance of having somebody who can play that role effectively. It's fine fans saying he is too negative, and we need more attack-minded players to be playing at home, but you need the ball first and foremost to be able to launch attacks, and Clayton is that player who can win back the ball for us 9 times of 10.

I'm still not convinced Saville is the answer in that role. I want him playing further up the pitch.
 
think the crowd will be well up for it . Nothing better than us on a slump facing riding high leeds to get the crowd going
 
We've literally been playing without a holding midfielder for the past few months - is it any wonder we've been so soft to play against and have conceded so many goals.

You can't underestimate the importance of having somebody who can play that role effectively. It's fine fans saying he is too negative, and we need more attack-minded players to be playing at home, but you need the ball first and foremost to be able to launch attacks, and Clayton is that player who can win back the ball for us 9 times of 10.

I'm still not convinced Saville is the answer in that role. I want him playing further up the pitch.

I think a solid midfield 2 base of Saville and Clayton is the way to go now to be honest . It might work well
 
I think a solid midfield 2 base of Saville and Clayton is the way to go now to be honest . It might work well

I remember it worked well vs Spurs in the cup, and then we had Tav and Roberts either side of Fletcher.

Issue now is we've only really got Tav who can play on the wing, unless we try either Johnson or Spence on the other side.
 
I remember it worked well vs Spurs in the cup, and then we had Tav and Roberts either side of Fletcher.

Issue now is we've only really got Tav who can play on the wing, unless we try either Johnson or Spence on the other side.
A 4411 or 4231 with Coulson and Spence on the wings would work I think. Howson and Friend full backs. Then Tav or Ravel floating behind Fletcher
 
Well said Parmoboy (y)

Saville is not and never will be a holding midfielder. I still have nightmares about that Forest home game where Uncle Tony decided he was the answer in that role :eek:
When he plays further forward he is capable of grabbing an unexpected goal though. Horses for courses etc, play to our individual players strengths rather than asking them to ‘do a job’
 
A 4411 or 4231 with Coulson and Spence on the wings would work I think. Howson and Friend full backs. Then Tav or Ravel floating behind Fletcher

Yeah, that definitely could work. I'm also happy for us to stick with wing-backs, as long as Spence and Coulson play as the wing-backs, McNair drops back into the defence and Clayton and Tav come into the midfield.
 
Yeah, that definitely could work. I'm also happy for us to stick with wing-backs, as long as Spence and Coulson play as the wing-backs, McNair drops back into the defence and Clayton and Tav come into the midfield.
It does look pretty obvious but for some bizarre reason Woodgate doesn’t see what a few of us in this thread see. Thats a worrying fact for me
 
Well said Parmoboy (y)

Saville is not and never will be a holding midfielder. I still have nightmares about that Forest home game where Uncle Tony decided he was the answer in that role :eek:
When he plays further forward he is capable of grabbing an unexpected goal though. Horses for courses etc, play to our individual players strengths rather than asking them to ‘do a job’
I think his best role is in a 2 in midfield but with a player such as Clayton who will do the dirty work and Saville can play alongside him and help defensively but also with that license to help the lads further forward and grab a goal. A bit like the Grant and Clayts partnership but not quite as good :ROFLMAO:
 
It does look pretty obvious but for some bizarre reason Woodgate doesn’t see what a few of us in this thread see. Thats a worrying fact for me

I think he is doing what managers have a tendency to do when times are tough, relying on experienced players to do a job rather than risk what works. Not trusting youth is counter productive at times like this, he needs to hold his nerve and play players in their best positions. Let the opposition worry about you, not the other way round. If he did that and we lose fair enough. Being too cautious only invites pressure onto you.
 
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