Birmingham

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
Cullen and Fulton are riding the bench because Andy Pandy has to play nicely with his new toys. GW is playing because we don’t have an alternative ... Dhanda could do the job, but again he’s not a new toy. Is Smith really any better or more polished and effective than Fulton .... I don’t see it.
 

CroJack

Key Player
Hey, CJ, do you really think we want to watch that shit again? How dare you!!! :LOL::LOL:
There were positives as well:

1. We played passing football. We had the vast majority of possession.

2. Our passing accuracy was good.

3. We made many direct forward passes through the middle.

4. Brum created nothing.

Negatives:

1. The final link between our midfield and attack.

2. Execution.

3. Crosses were poor.

4. Some dangerous floppy passes.

5. Our passing was too slow.

6. We were too static. No proper movement into the spaces to recieve the ball.

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I don't buy Cooper's moaning about the lack of strikers. Ayew was one of the top scorers in the Championship last season; Cooper could've played Cullen from the start; Peterson, Lowe and Roberts can score goals etc.

With other words, we have goal scorers but the whole setup (see negatives above) is missing. The result? We didn't create many clear cut chances, and then it's difficult to score. Messi and Salah wouldn't have scored if they had played for us against Brum.

If I was Cooper I would countinue to play passing football, change the formation to 4-1-4-1, 4-3-3 ir 4-2-3-1 and correct the negatives.

I would play Cullen or Ayew up front, two wingers, Benda as goalkeeper, Guehi and Rodon as centre-backs, and Naughton as right back. We are too defensive when we play 3-4-1-2 and if we continue to play this formation we won't be able to score many goals. On the other hand we won't concede many.
 
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Yankee_Jack

Key Player
Contrast yesterday to Preston and end of last season, our Wing Backs didn't get into the game much at all and then not until the last 15 minutes or so. Whatever Brum were doing they negated those two players going forward. Other clubs are going to take note and strive to do the same thing. As I pointed out last season, our best wingers are our wing backs.

I think 3+2 is still our best setup, but we have those negatives that dull our movement forward and hesitation when we have opportunities ... e.g. 2nd half, Roberts receives the ball comfortably inside the box, but instead of driving it on goal, chose to pass to somebody on the edge of the 6 yard box and the pass went behind instead of in front of the player. From that position you have to shoot unless there's a clear tap in for somebody else to be had.

Benda has to start in goal. Fulton for Smith. There's no point in getting yet another forward when we don't utilize those we have. We can't expect Ayew to go deeper to be creative and get on the end of his own creations.
 

CroJack

Key Player
Whatever Brum were doing they negated those two players going forward. Other clubs are going to take note and strive to do the same thing. As I pointed out last season, our best wingers are our wing backs.
Karanka knew we were going to use our wing-backs to attack. So I was positively surprised when I saw us play more direct football through the middle. No matter which formation we play Cooper has to find the right balance, we have to play quick(er) passing football and the link between our midfield and attack has to be better.
We can't base our whole attacking concept on our wing-backs bombing forward - that's not enough, and as you say "Other clubs are going to take note and strive to negate those two players going forward". If they do what else do we have?
 
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KVetch

Key Player
There were positives as well:

1. We played passing football. We had the vast majority of possession.

2. Our passing accuracy was good.

3. We made many direct forward passes through the middle.

4. Brum created nothing.

Negatives:

1. The final link between our midfield and attack.

2. Execution.

3. Crosses were poor.

4. Some dangerous floppy passes.

5. Our passing was too slow.

6. We were too static. No proper movement into the spaces to recieve the ball.

----------------------------------------------

I don't buy Cooper's moaning about the lack of strikers. Ayew was one of the top scorers in the Championship last season; Cooper could've played Cullen from the start; Peterson, Lowe and Roberts can score goals etc.

With other words, we have goal scorers but the whole setup (see negatives above) is missing. The result? We didn't create many clear cut chances, and then it's difficult to score. Messi and Salah wouldn't have scored if they had played for us against Brum.

If I was Cooper I would countinue to play passing football, change the formation to 4-1-4-1, 4-3-3 ir 4-2-3-1 and correct the negatives.

I would play Cullen or Ayew up front, two wingers, Benda as goalkeeper, Guehi and Rodon as centre-backs, and Naughton as right back. We are too defensive when we play 3-4-1-2 and if we continue to play this formation we won't be able to score many goals. On the other hand we won't concede many.
How do we use Bidwell, Use a 4-2 back with Bidwell and Grimes in central defense. Keep him at LB and make him cover the pitch. His creativity helps up front. Use Grimes as the lone CDM and Bidwell plays an attack mid. But that means Smith will have to start on the bench.

Use 4 in the back I agree. Culllen, Ayew, Lowe, MGW up front. Smith, Fulton, Dhanda on the bench but have to use them as subs.

Roberts-Guehi-Cabango-Naughton
Grimes
Lowe MGW Bidwell
Ayew

Roberts-Guehi-Cabango-Bidwell
Smith Grimes
Ayew Lowe Cullen
MGW
 

KVetch

Key Player
The first setup only has 9 players
People come here for this top tier analysis. I missed Rodon, not sure if Naughton starts although I do like him as a player. I'd like to give Cullen and Dhanda a chance. We have to find what works. Wycombe should be that chance to try a different lineup.
 
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