I know people get very weird about non-left footers playing on the left but if he could manage it I'd be very interested to see if Alex Mitchell can switch to LCB so Ramsay can play RCB and Small continue on as RWB. I think it has the potential to really improve our game
Or Small LWB with Edwards centre back? Small has done well on the right but his shooting when cutting in is pretty awful.
The problem with that is Small seems to have found his place. He's been pretty useless at LWB so far this season and a big part of it is because TC is pulling wide left where he instinctively goes and that gives us width of both flanks and gives Small that bit of extra space. He's dangerous cutting in instead of hugging the touchline and it's getting the best out of him at the moment. Edwards is a decent centre back but he's also good at judging when to support down the left and puts in some dangerous crosses. Ramsay doesn't really do any of that. He's been a very defensive wingback for us this season and while he's been brilliant doing that I think we'd lose some of our new attacking quality. Ramsay's skills are pace and tackling and we can give him the role Kyle Walker played for England in the 352 while keeping Small and TC giving us width.
Small is more effective at RWB, as at LWB he will be attacking the same space as Tyreece Campbell and clogging up the channel.
Theoretically Small would attack down the outside, while TC would cut inside onto his right foot, so they ought to be a good combination. After all that's how most teams playing 433 operate, with the full backs providing the width and the inverted wingers cutting in.
Small is more effective at RWB, as at LWB he will be attacking the same space as Tyreece Campbell and clogging up the channel.
Theoretically Small would attack down the outside, while TC would cut inside onto his right foot, so they ought to be a good combination. After all that's how most teams playing 433 operate, with the full backs providing the width and the inverted wingers cutting in.
I agree in principle, but one of the key reasons Edwards has been playing as a LWB instead of Small is his ability to judge when to overlap and when to hold his position. This is an area where I think Small still needs to develop. That’s also part of why Small has been performing so well as a RWB—he has the freedom to push forward as much as he likes.
I’m not opposed to the idea of moving Small back to LWB and shifting Edwards to LCB. However, to make it work, we’d need someone equally dynamic at RWB to maintain balance, and neither Ramsey nor Watson seem to fit that profile.
Small is more effective at RWB, as at LWB he will be attacking the same space as Tyreece Campbell and clogging up the channel.
Theoretically Small would attack down the outside, while TC would cut inside onto his right foot, so they ought to be a good combination. After all that's how most teams playing 433 operate, with the full backs providing the width and the inverted wingers cutting in.
I agree in principle, but one of the key reasons Edwards has been playing as a LWB instead of Small is his ability to judge when to overlap and when to hold his position. This is an area where I think Small still needs to develop. That’s also part of why Small has been performing so well as a RWB—he has the freedom to push forward as much as he likes.
I’m not opposed to the idea of moving Small back to LWB and shifting Edwards to LCB. However, to make it work, we’d need someone equally dynamic at RWB to maintain balance, and neither Ramsey nor Watson seem to fit that profile.
I thought Ramsey was reasonably good at getting forward. Maybe not quite as fast and as good as getting around the outside as Small but good enough. I like the idea of using Edwards as the left sided centre back in a three alongside Jones and Mitchell.
If we do lose Jones this window (which I hope we dont) then the obvious solution to me as - Move Mitchell into the middle of the back 3, use Ramsay/Z Mitchell as the RCB and leave Small where he is.
Otherwise we have the luxury of allowing Kayne the time to get fully up to speed before relying on him too much and can work out where things need changing over time.
Small is more effective at RWB, as at LWB he will be attacking the same space as Tyreece Campbell and clogging up the channel.
Theoretically Small would attack down the outside, while TC would cut inside onto his right foot, so they ought to be a good combination. After all that's how most teams playing 433 operate, with the full backs providing the width and the inverted wingers cutting in.
I agree in principle, but one of the key reasons Edwards has been playing as a LWB instead of Small is his ability to judge when to overlap and when to hold his position. This is an area where I think Small still needs to develop. That’s also part of why Small has been performing so well as a RWB—he has the freedom to push forward as much as he likes.
I’m not opposed to the idea of moving Small back to LWB and shifting Edwards to LCB. However, to make it work, we’d need someone equally dynamic at RWB to maintain balance, and neither Ramsey nor Watson seem to fit that profile.
I thought Ramsey was reasonably good at getting forward. Maybe not quite as fast and as good as getting around the outside as Small but good enough. I like the idea of using Edwards as the left sided centre back in a three alongside Jones and Mitchell.
At the moment we are playing this kind of hybrid 3-5-2 without the ball to 4-2-3-1 with the ball. TC drifts left, Small bombs down the right, and we shift to a back 4
I think our best team is a similar set up but adding Ramsay in and swapping TC and Small’s sides over. This means the back 4 we end up with is a lot more natural (and includes all our best defenders)
Very glad to see the Hackney Cafu back, however, I think we should keep the team as is. We have been solid defensively, and Small has been looking really positive. I'd also hate to see us disrupt Edwards and TCs understanding on that left side, so I'd no longer like to see Edwards pushed inside to cater for Ramsay/Small.
Let Ramsay build himself back to full fitness, long old season.
When Ramsay is back, I'd like to see something like this 343. I feel that makes sure we have the best XI on the pitch, and has the balance of defense and attack. I don't think we would score many, but without a new style of striker, and a creative mid, it feels the only way you can get Small and Ramsay in without disrupting the left side.
Ramsay is also excellent at drifting into midfield when he wants, Small could cover for that with his engine.
When Ramsay is back, I'd like to see something like this 343. I feel that makes sure we have the best XI on the pitch, and has the balance of defense and attack. I don't think we would score many, but without a new style of striker, and a creative mid, it feels the only way you can get Small and Ramsay in without disrupting the left side.
Ramsay is also excellent at drifting into midfield when he wants, Small could cover for that with his engine.
I think against a top side this could be a good shout, defensively solid with pace on the counter. But goals are our problem and this team has very very little goal threat in it, basically relying on Leaburn to score all the goals. Against any team that doesn’t have space in behind we would really struggle
Small seems to play better coming from deeper, i gad expected that small would move back and ramsay play the more advanced role or at least for them to swap and overlap more. Hopefully one for the future.
I always thought it was weird we signed a first choice LB in edwards when Small was one of our best players last year, and other areas were far more in need. Having Edwards, Small and Ramsay all fit is a conundrum which I hope doesn't upset the balance we've found in the last handful of games.
I always thought it was weird we signed a first choice LB in edwards when Small was one of our best players last year, and other areas were far more in need. Having Edwards, Small and Ramsay all fit is a conundrum which I hope doesn't upset the balance we've found in the last handful of games.
I think it can work quite well with Ramsay on the bench. Like yesterday, if we want to be more attacking he can come on for Mitchell, and he could start games there depending on the opponent. If we were winning and wanted to be more defensive then he could come on for Small
I always thought it was weird we signed a first choice LB in edwards when Small was one of our best players last year, and other areas were far more in need. Having Edwards, Small and Ramsay all fit is a conundrum which I hope doesn't upset the balance we've found in the last handful of games.
I think it can work quite well with Ramsay on the bench. Like yesterday, if we want to be more attacking he can come on for Mitchell, and he could start games there depending on the opponent. If we were winning and wanted to be more defensive then he could come on for Small
Ramsay also is an alternative to Mitchell at right CB in a 3 if we're playing teams with pace up front, rather than strength and height.
I always thought it was weird we signed a first choice LB in edwards when Small was one of our best players last year, and other areas were far more in need. Having Edwards, Small and Ramsay all fit is a conundrum which I hope doesn't upset the balance we've found in the last handful of games.
I think it can work quite well with Ramsay on the bench. Like yesterday, if we want to be more attacking he can come on for Mitchell, and he could start games there depending on the opponent. If we were winning and wanted to be more defensive then he could come on for Small
Many were predicting Ramsay for PotY before his injury. Now demoted to bit part player...
The guy will start when fully fit. We will probably revert to 3-5-2, which was the way we started the season. The formation was only changed when we lost both right backs in consecutive games.
Then it took a few games for NJ to find the right fit of players, including 2 (Mitchell and Small) being round pegs in square holes. And well played, to both of them, for making it work.
But that formation did bring us wins in our first 3 games.
And you could argue, that we'd be stronger now, as we didn't have Leaburn fit at the start of the season...
My own preference would be that Edwards drops into Macca's place. (I'm not a McGilliphray hater, but Edwards has more pace.) And move Small to left wing back, his more natural position.
The needs of the team out weigh the needs of the individual.
I always thought it was weird we signed a first choice LB in edwards when Small was one of our best players last year, and other areas were far more in need. Having Edwards, Small and Ramsay all fit is a conundrum which I hope doesn't upset the balance we've found in the last handful of games.
I think it can work quite well with Ramsay on the bench. Like yesterday, if we want to be more attacking he can come on for Mitchell, and he could start games there depending on the opponent. If we were winning and wanted to be more defensive then he could come on for Small
Many were predicting Ramsay for PotY before his injury. Now demoted to bit part player...
The guy will start when fully fit. We will probably revert to 3-5-2, which was the way we started the season. The formation was only changed when we lost both right backs in consecutive games.
Then it took a few games for NJ to find the right fit of players, including 2 (Mitchell and Small) being round pegs in square holes. And well played, to both of them, for making it work.
But that formation did bring us wins in our first 3 games.
And you could argue, that we'd be stronger now, as we didn't have Leaburn fit at the start of the season...
My own preference would be that Edwards drops into Macca's place. (I'm not a McGilliphray hater, but Edwards has more pace.) And move Small to left wing back, his more natural position.
The needs of the team out weigh the needs of the individual.
I always thought it was weird we signed a first choice LB in edwards when Small was one of our best players last year, and other areas were far more in need. Having Edwards, Small and Ramsay all fit is a conundrum which I hope doesn't upset the balance we've found in the last handful of games.
I think it can work quite well with Ramsay on the bench. Like yesterday, if we want to be more attacking he can come on for Mitchell, and he could start games there depending on the opponent. If we were winning and wanted to be more defensive then he could come on for Small
Many were predicting Ramsay for PotY before his injury. Now demoted to bit part player...
The guy will start when fully fit. We will probably revert to 3-5-2, which was the way we started the season. The formation was only changed when we lost both right backs in consecutive games.
Then it took a few games for NJ to find the right fit of players, including 2 (Mitchell and Small) being round pegs in square holes. And well played, to both of them, for making it work.
But that formation did bring us wins in our first 3 games.
And you could argue, that we'd be stronger now, as we didn't have Leaburn fit at the start of the season...
My own preference would be that Edwards drops into Macca's place. (I'm not a McGilliphray hater, but Edwards has more pace.) And move Small to left wing back, his more natural position.
The needs of the team out weigh the needs of the individual.
We're playing 3-5-2 at the moment?
No, it's basically 4-4-2. But Small does drop back when we're out of possession. If you watch pre-match drills, it's 4, with Mitchell at right back, and Edwards as left back. Small's position is the right side of an attacking 3, with Campbell on the left.
Which is why Small is in the scoring drills, not the defensive ones.
I always thought it was weird we signed a first choice LB in edwards when Small was one of our best players last year, and other areas were far more in need. Having Edwards, Small and Ramsay all fit is a conundrum which I hope doesn't upset the balance we've found in the last handful of games.
I think it can work quite well with Ramsay on the bench. Like yesterday, if we want to be more attacking he can come on for Mitchell, and he could start games there depending on the opponent. If we were winning and wanted to be more defensive then he could come on for Small
Many were predicting Ramsay for PotY before his injury. Now demoted to bit part player...
The guy will start when fully fit. We will probably revert to 3-5-2, which was the way we started the season. The formation was only changed when we lost both right backs in consecutive games.
Then it took a few games for NJ to find the right fit of players, including 2 (Mitchell and Small) being round pegs in square holes. And well played, to both of them, for making it work.
But that formation did bring us wins in our first 3 games.
And you could argue, that we'd be stronger now, as we didn't have Leaburn fit at the start of the season...
My own preference would be that Edwards drops into Macca's place. (I'm not a McGilliphray hater, but Edwards has more pace.) And move Small to left wing back, his more natural position.
The needs of the team out weigh the needs of the individual.
We're playing 3-5-2 at the moment?
No, it's basically 4-4-2. But Small does drop back when we're out of possession. If you watch pre-match drills, it's 4, with Mitchell at right back, and Edwards as left back. Small's position is the right side of an attacking 3, with Campbell on the left.
Which is why Small is in the scoring drills, not the defensive ones.
I see it as 5-3-2 when we’re defending and 4-2-3-1 when attacking. TC moves from being up front when we’re out of possession to drifting to the left when we have the ball. We always have a 3 man midfield in Coventry, Docherty and Berry.
Comments
On the metric of an attacking player, getting goals and assists, it's not looking so good, is it?
I agree in principle, but one of the key reasons Edwards has been playing as a LWB instead of Small is his ability to judge when to overlap and when to hold his position. This is an area where I think Small still needs to develop. That’s also part of why Small has been performing so well as a RWB—he has the freedom to push forward as much as he likes.
I’m not opposed to the idea of moving Small back to LWB and shifting Edwards to LCB. However, to make it work, we’d need someone equally dynamic at RWB to maintain balance, and neither Ramsey nor Watson seem to fit that profile.
Otherwise we have the luxury of allowing Kayne the time to get fully up to speed before relying on him too much and can work out where things need changing over time.
I think our best team is a similar set up but adding Ramsay in and swapping TC and Small’s sides over. This means the back 4 we end up with is a lot more natural (and includes all our best defenders)
Let Ramsay build himself back to full fitness, long old season.
Ramsay is also excellent at drifting into midfield when he wants, Small could cover for that with his engine.
Having Edwards, Small and Ramsay all fit is a conundrum which I hope doesn't upset the balance we've found in the last handful of games.
The guy will start when fully fit. We will probably revert to 3-5-2, which was the way we started the season. The formation was only changed when we lost both right backs in consecutive games.
Then it took a few games for NJ to find the right fit of players, including 2 (Mitchell and Small) being round pegs in square holes. And well played, to both of them, for making it work.
But that formation did bring us wins in our first 3 games.
And you could argue, that we'd be stronger now, as we didn't have Leaburn fit at the start of the season...
My own preference would be that Edwards drops into Macca's place. (I'm not a McGilliphray hater, but Edwards has more pace.) And move Small to left wing back, his more natural position.
The needs of the team out weigh the needs of the individual.
Which is why Small is in the scoring drills, not the defensive ones.