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I can understand Coyle wanting to sort out the defence first. He had to find new defenders and build them into a unit. He’s made progress with that, although at the beginning injuries made the task more difficult. Two defensive midfield players in the team have helped.
And I would add that the left back has not been supporting the attack. Crainey seems happy just to boot the ball forward – I thought he looked very anxious against Kazan. It’s more difficult for Perch as he is right footed but playing on the left. Beausejour is the exception.
At right back, both Boyce and Shotton look more adventurous. Shotton also has a useful long throw – he was the successor to Delap at Stoke.
1, Nicholls
2, Boyce 5, Rogne 6, Barnett 3, Espinoza
11, McManaman 4, McCann 8, Powell 7, Beausejour
9, Holt 10, FortuneThe players should do alright in this formation. But Coyle may well play all the left footed players on the right and vice versa.
Seriously though, you should plan for the long trip to Kazan at the same time. And Albrighton may well start on Saturday too.
Good management is making the most of your resources. It’s hard to believe that Coyle is doing that.
Wigan are playing more games than other Championship teams. If we are to match their energy levels, then we have to rotate the team. Sir Alex had an enormous squad and was a master at rotation. But as Coyle and Moyes are finding out, it’s a difficult art.
Nicholls
Boyce Shotton Barnett Perch
Gomez McArthur McCann McManaman
Holt PowellI got 8/10 of Coyle’s starting selection right tonight. He’s been a hard man to second guess but this gives us a much clearer view of his preferred first team.
He seems to prefer McCann to Watson – but there may be little or nothing between McManaman and McClean
Now he has to pick a team for Huddersfield, bearing in mind the long trip to Kazan to come. Anyone care to hazard a guess who he will choose?
I think Watson, McClean, Rogne and Crainey may all come back. I also think Coyle will give Boyce the honour of being captain in Kazan, so will rest him on Saturday. That would give us a team to play Huddersfield something like;
Nicholls
Shotton Barnett Rogne Crainey
McManaman McArthur Watson McClean
Holt PowellLet’s assume Coyle wants to play a strong team against QPR.
He then has to pick the teams for Huddersfield and Kazan. I think he will spread his resources across both teams, resting some first choice players in each game.
Team to play QPR should give some idea of Coyle’s first choice team; perhaps
Nicholls
Shotton Rogne Barnett Perch
McArthur Watson Gomez McClean
Holt PowellI can understand Coyle wanting to sort out the defence first. He had to find new defenders and build them into a unit. He’s made progress with that, although at the beginning injuries made the task more difficult. Two defensive midfield players in the team have helped.
Now midfield and attack desperately need attention. It’s been hard to develop the team without Holt and Fortune but, with them both available, Coyle should be able to build a framework that allows us to create chances and ultimately score goals.
There’s been little indication of what direction he might take. The play in the game against Forest, however, did offer a promising, but isolated, possibility.
McClean is fit, can run and can control the ball, though he is totally left-footed.
With a recognised centre forward, he could be a conventional left winger putting in crosses, just as he did against Wigan last season.
With a more mobile forward – and a more supportive midfield – he could build up moves on the left or right leading to scoring opportunities.
In the absence of any strikers and midfield support, he and Powell can chase long balls in the vain hope that this will lead to goals. It generally doesn’t. but it does create the illusion of industry.
Last week;
Poyet is keen to put round pegs in round holes though by putting players in comfortable surroundings, and that was evidenced by his side at the Liberty Stadium.
Seb Larsson was restored to the right-hand side of midfield, Adam Johnson to the left and most controversially among supporters, Phil Bardsley to left-back – albeit the in-from-the-cold defender is more at home on the opposite side of the back-line.
“At this moment in time, when we’re going back to basics, it’s important to have players in their natural positions,” added Poyet.
“Last week, I was asking a few players who’ve been in different positions about where they feel comfortable, where is natural for them.”
This week;
Sunderland 2 Newcastle United 1
Perhaps The Independent was more accurate;
The first half an hour was so abject even Charlton’s drummer downed tools…
…but Grant Holt and Nick Powell displayed dreadful touches in promising positions.
…Simon Church’s comically mistimed attempt at a bicycle kick concluded a game bereft of skill.
Bring on QPR!
Meanwhile, back at the DW ranch, the talk is of Albrighton of Villa.
A pacy winger? Is that what we really need just now?
We need someone to lead the line. I must admit my thoughts keep turning to Kone.
Had some pike from Rivington today.Are you sitting comfortably? OK then…
That would be the Rivington Pike.
To be fair, Martinez played McArthur and Espinoza as wing backs only because Caldwell, Ramis, Figueroa, Beausejour and goodness knows how many more defenders were injured.
However, playing wing back in front of a back three isn’t the same as playing wide in midfield in front of a back four.
Having said that, Coyle could do worse than play Espinoza on the left side of midfield, especially when he needs to rotate the squad members.
After all, Espinoza is left-footed and has the energy to run around. Roger did have a brief run out today – perhaps Coyle will give him another chance soon.
