How gutted would people be if Alfie left now MM has joined us?
How much do we sell him for in your example?
£10m - How could you turn that down? £7.5m - Okay I guess. I definitely get it £5m - I'm disappointed but understanding. £2.5m - It happens, but FFS he'll be worth more triple that in 2 years. £1m - Fuck Off.
* Levitt / Gilbey depending on fitness. **Still not sure on Watson over Pratley yet ***Assumes he can play RCB
Like the look of that team. Always Gilbey over Levitt for me though. I’d much rather Phillips than Amos as well.
I think we have seen the last of Phillip's unfortunately. Never know though he maybe having seconds thoughts now. But LB might have also made his mind up,
* Levitt / Gilbey depending on fitness. **Still not sure on Watson over Pratley yet ***Assumes he can play RCB
Like the look of that team. Always Gilbey over Levitt for me though. I’d much rather Phillips than Amos as well.
I think we have seen the last of Phillip's unfortunately. Never know though he maybe having seconds thoughts now. But LB might have also made his mind up,
On the assumption that Amos extending his contract because of the chance to get first team football, I doubt Bowyer would entertain him now changing his mind. Need a good price for him
I can't see Phillips playing for us again , a shame as he has been immense the last two seasons . I would like to see Maynard- Brewer given a chance as still not convinced by Amos .
I suspect he is preying for a club to come in for him. But it is weird times at the moment. It would be a shame if his stance meant he gets no games for a while
Diamond. Maddison at the tip, Gilbey right, Doughty left, Watson back.
Would be a big change for Doughty to play as what is really a central midfield role - has he ever played centrally for us?
I would like to see Doughty playing left wing back in a 3-5-2. I think the diamond takes a lot out of the midfielders and we have a lot of games to play. Five in midfield should mean that we dominate that area and therefore the game.
Doughty hasn't signed a new deal along with Phillips. He has clubs interested in him along with Phillips. The difference may be that Bowyer believes Phillips is more unsettled. When the window closes, if Phillips isn't sold, there is a possibility they will sort it out I would imagine.
It is quite interesting picking what we think our midfield should be because it is difficult. Difficult because you have to leave good players out. That is great. We also know that it is rare you can play your best players every week and we seem to have the quality cover required for that area.
It's quite intresting in the regard that, with the exception of Pratley and Lapslie, they are all proper footballers.
There is no natural formation that jumps out. And you would suspect that Watson, Gilbey, Levitt and Maddison would all expect to start regularly for different reasons.
If we don't sign a striker that can play on his own we have to play 2 up top. Neither Bonne or Washington can.
Maybe Doughty could be converted to a foward in the same way Leko was?
Well its a better problem than "who is the least shit" isn't it.
It's quite intresting in the regard that, with the exception of Pratley and Lapslie, they are all proper footballers.
There is no natural formation that jumps out. And you would suspect that Watson, Gilbey, Levitt and Maddison would all expect to start regularly for different reasons.
If we don't sign a striker that can play on his own we have to play 2 up top. Washington can't.
Maybe Doughty could be converted to a foward in the same way Leko was?
Well its a better problem than "who is the least shit" isn't it.
I like the idea of converting Doughty, but I'm not sure it'd work in practice. He thinks too much when getting a shot off.
It's quite intresting in the regard that, with the exception of Pratley and Lapslie, they are all proper footballers.
There is no natural formation that jumps out. And you would suspect that Watson, Gilbey, Levitt and Maddison would all expect to start regularly for different reasons.
If we don't sign a striker that can play on his own we have to play 2 up top. Neither Bonne or Washington can.
Maybe Doughty could be converted to a foward in the same way Leko was?
Well its a better problem than "who is the least shit" isn't it.
Given their ages I reckon Bowyer views Pratley and Watson as effectively one player to be rotated once we are up to strength. Whilst they still have plenty to offer I think, understandably, they are showing the first signs of not being able to play the number of matches they have previously.
Maddison, having had no pre season according to Bowyer, will be an impact sub for a while or start and play an hour only.
Now that we have moved into the new season a bit, imagine that all eleven of our midfielders are fit. Who gets a game? What formation is best for the team? LB likes a diamond - it seems to be his favourite formation but he does admit to changing format as the game progresses. LB loves Pratley so i guess he is the favoured defensive bod. Shinnie seems to be making waves at the moment and Doughty is our boy wonder (I'm pretending that he is fit). Does Gilbey get in above a fit Maddison? Tricky inn't! not forgetting that Morgan has blown us away recently. Maddison Doughty Shinnie Pratley (C) I can't see Levitt starting and Williams is inconsistent. I'm not a fan of JFC but I gather he has played quite well so far. Vennings might need a loan to get games. Not sure if Watson is going to play much either. Overall a nice problem for LB to solve. But will non-playing midfielders get stroppy?
Gilbey - Pratley OR Watson - Shinnie Maddison OR Williams OR Morgan
Is the diamond formation that Id go with
I think Bowyer sees Morgan playing in one of the two “wide” spots in the diamond. That’s why he’s been pushing him so hard to work harder defensively and break into the oppositions box more. I think he’s in direct competition with Shinnie (who he’s most similar too and played well with the other week), Gilbey, and JFC. Probably third in the pecking order right now, but improving but it’s a fairly lose field as personally I think JFC has been decent too and getting better as he gets fitter. It’s a strong looking 4. Not to mention Levitt who would possibly be an option there too, albeit he hasn’t really shone yet.
Not the hardest fought game in the world but thought Maddison looked good with a kind of free role through the middle last night.
I am sure that Gilbey gets better everyday he is injured, which is surprising when we keep winning. If he is out any longer he will be back as Bryan Robson, although with his injury record he would have fitted right in
It wasn't that long ago that our midfield was Foley, Crofts, Ulvestad and a past his prime Jackson. Looking back I'm surprised we didn't end up in League Two.
What we have now is massive quality AND quantity. While Bowyer may have his favourite 4, chances are they won't play together that often as Bowyer will regularly rotate them
It wasn't that long ago that our midfield was Foley, Crofts, Ulvestad and a past his prime Jackson. Looking back I'm surprised we didn't end up in League Two.
It also shows how shit league 1 is. Remember in front of that we had Novak, Josh and Ajose. No wonder Ricky Holmes is so fondly remembered.
Comments
£10m - How could you turn that down?
£7.5m - Okay I guess. I definitely get it
£5m - I'm disappointed but understanding.
£2.5m - It happens, but FFS he'll be worth more triple that in 2 years.
£1m - Fuck Off.
Also think Doughty will be rotated.
Washington and Killer up top
@dickplumb may know more.
It is quite interesting picking what we think our midfield should be because it is difficult. Difficult because you have to leave good players out. That is great. We also know that it is rare you can play your best players every week and we seem to have the quality cover required for that area.
There is no natural formation that jumps out. And you would suspect that Watson, Gilbey, Levitt and Maddison would all expect to start regularly for different reasons.
If we don't sign a striker that can play on his own we have to play 2 up top. Neither Bonne or Washington can.
Maybe Doughty could be converted to a foward in the same way Leko was?
Well its a better problem than "who is the least shit" isn't it.
Maddison, having had no pre season according to Bowyer, will be an impact sub for a while or start and play an hour only.
LB loves Pratley so i guess he is the favoured defensive bod. Shinnie seems to be making waves at the moment and Doughty is our boy wonder (I'm pretending that he is fit). Does Gilbey get in above a fit Maddison? Tricky inn't! not forgetting that Morgan has blown us away recently.
Maddison
Doughty Shinnie
Pratley (C)
I can't see Levitt starting and Williams is inconsistent. I'm not a fan of JFC but I gather he has played quite well so far. Vennings might need a loan to get games. Not sure if Watson is going to play much either. Overall a nice problem for LB to solve. But will non-playing midfielders get stroppy?
Maddison OR Williams OR Morgan
Is the diamond formation that Id go with
Amos
Gunter, Innis, Fanewo, Maatsen
Pratley
Gilbey/Morgan, Shinnie,
Williams,
Bogle/Aneke, Washington
Apart from that I would pick the same team as you.
Pratley - Shinnie - Watson - Maddison
Maddison Shinnie Gilbey
If more subs are allowed, we could really benefit.
Watson
Gilbey Shinnie/JFC
Maddison
Should be illegal to have this good a midfield in League 1.
I think you could play any combination of those 4 and have one of the best midfields in this division.