Bertrand to replace Earnshaw in the XI?

[MaxiRobriguez]

With the signing of Bertrand we now have two full backs who like to bomb on forward when in possession. With Majewski set to play a prominent role in the heart of midfield, we're going to be very susceptible to counter attacks.

I can envisage 4-5-1 being deployed a lot more this season, including at the City Ground. Moussi and McKenna are going to be required to keep the shape if Gunter and Bertrand are out of position up the field.

As Earnshaw isn't preferred when playing such a formation, naturally, as he's a tiny little boy, will this signal less games for him this season? I reckon he's the best natural striker in our squad but may only be used against teams were expected to roll over ala Millwall.

----------------Camp--------------
-Gunter--Wes--Wilson--Bertrand-
----------Moussi---McKenna------
--Ando--------------------Cohen--
---------------Majewski------------
---------------Blackstock-----------

looks far more of a team than say;

----------------Camp--------------
-Gunter--Wes--Wilson--Bertrand-
-Ando--McKenna--Majewski--Cohen
---------Blackstock--Earnie--------

And then there is the possibility of Whittingham also....

Tough one eh?

 

[gladiator]

The only thing that worries me, is Davies himself , you remember some of his strange decisions last season that cost us point in away games, I hope we are not going down that road again, play your strongest side it works for Chelski and Man utd

 

[Chivalry Augustus]

Our unbeaten away run ended when we played our 'strongest side' (in the eyes of the fans) at Derby, including Earnshaw up-front in a 4-4-2 and by all accounts looking shapeless and not particularly good. Said formation was persevered with for a while and brought with it only similarly poor results. Fans seem to be obessed with the idea of the best eleven players constituting the best team. I am all for Davies picking the best team but I think it's delusion to suggest that the best eleven players IS the best team. Sometimes, a Forest side sans Earnshaw is exactly what is required. Just such a side put in our best performance of all last season at West Brom.

The only thing that worries me, is Davies himself , you remember some of his strange decisions last season that cost us point in away games, I hope we are not going down that road again, play your strongest side it works for Chelski and Man utd

So, if I look through last season's fixtures, Man Utd and Chelsea will have played the same eleven players in the same formation? I very much doubt it - in fact I think Man Utd and Chelsea are perfect examples of adjustable sides. Their managers just happen to have the luxury of being able to pick three sides that would beat most Premiership opponents.

 

[Tricky Tree]

For me, i would play earnie at home and leave him out away like we did on numerous occasions last season. Forest look leathful away from home when they play one up front and we hit hit teams with our pace on the counter attack; look at the west brom game for example.

Teams just couldnt cope with dex up front with majewski behind him and the likes of anderson, cohen, gunts (and now bertrand) bombing on to support em; it scares teams to death because we are deadly on the counter attack. Admittedly at home, teams will come to shut up shop so earnie has to play alongside dex but away from home id stick with the one up top. But whatever billy does, ill support!

 

[lemonforest]

For me, i would play earnie at home and leave him out away like we did on numerous occasions last season. Forest look leathful away from home when they play one up front and we hit hit teams with our pace on the counter attack; look at the west brom game for example.

Teams just couldnt cope with dex up front with majewski behind him and the likes of anderson, cohen, gunts (and now bertrand) bombing on to support em; it scares teams to death because we are deadly on the counter attack. Admittedly at home, teams will come to shut up shop so earnie has to play alongside dex but away from home id stick with the one up top. But whatever billy does, ill support!

I've seen some vids of Bertrand storming forward, and getting some great supply to the strikers, which is fantastic for blackstock, as he can unlock teams when given just a second or two on the ball. Completely agree with the 4-4-2 away from home scenario, was a sign of our over confidence last season away from home, thinking we could control the ball in their third, got to be 4-5-1 countering, just look at swansea, west brom peterborough away to name a few, we have the perfect players to have the 4-5-1 formation away, and the excellence of earnshaw when at home, as his only downfall is his lack of involvement when the ball is not in his third of the pitch.

 

[Tutts]

At which point in this is Bertrand replacing Earnshaw?

You should write headlines for the Tabloids Robbie.

 

[clusternakker]

Earnshaw will start against Burnley, davies has said so.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

At which point in this is Bertrand replacing Earnshaw?

You should write headlines for the Tabloids Robbie.

4-4-2 with Bertrand would be risky as he gets forward too much. If we had someone like Bennett or Shorey it'd be safer to use 4-4-2.

 

[lard]

Bore off Robbie

 

[Tutts]

4-4-2 with Bertrand would be risky as he gets forward too much. If we had someone like Bennett or Shorey it'd be safer to use 4-4-2.

So, you should really entitle this: Moussi to replace Earnshaw in the XI.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Ssh you. And get off my whoosh smiley too!

 

[incapable hulk]

4-4-2 with Bertrand would be risky as he gets forward too much. If we had someone like Bennett or Shorey it'd be safer to use 4-4-2.

I dunno. I suspect cohen would play the LM role now, and he'd cover for bertrand on the overlap.

Or maybe not. It'll certainly be interesting to see what davie's goes with

 

[Rogue]

Dexter has had a dead leg, so Earnie will more than likely be a start ahead of him.

 

[lozzykinz]

I think Earnshaw is class - i wouldn't drop him. But that's just me.

 

[NFFC Johan]

We spend all summer moaning about having no left back , we get one you moan he gets forward too much! I'm sure players can be disciplined enough to think if he goes up il drop back!

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

I'm not moaning. Nor am I suggesting that this is the team for Burnley. Please read my post first, it's merely a suggestion that with two very fluid full backs playing 4-4-2 leaves us open to the counter attack.

 

[king_congo_red]

I dunno. I suspect cohen would play the LM role now, and he'd cover for bertrand on the overlap.

Agree with that. Cohen is pretty handy defensively, or he wouldn't have been filling in at left-back and his sheer work rate means he'll cover his full-back all day.

A 4-4-2 away from home with Bertrand and Tyson on the left could be suicide though.

 

[Deleted User]

This is the Bert and Earnie thread.

 

[wanghawaii]

Healthy competition is a must, but never want it becomes feud.

 

[TrickyTart]

My head says to drop bob for exactly the team and formation you mention (it does get a lot more complex if either of the players from the welsh league arrive) but to be fair to bob he was the only player that looked top class against blackpool

 

[DapperDan]

I dunno. I suspect cohen would play the LM role now, and he'd cover for bertrand on the overlap.

Or maybe not. It'll certainly be interesting to see what davie's goes with

Cohen playing left midfield = Cohen playing where the hell he likes. I have never seen a left midfielder pop up on the right of our central midfielders so often. I noticed that whoever plays left back tends to get exposed when Cohen plays in front of them. Don't get me wrong, I think Cohen is brilliant, but positional discipline is probably his greatest weakness.

 

[westyorksnffc]

Cohen playing left midfield = Cohen playing where the hell he likes. I have never seen a left midfielder pop up on the right of our central midfielders so often. I noticed that whoever plays left back tends to get exposed when Cohen plays in front of them. Don't get me wrong, I think Cohen is brilliant, but positional discipline is probably his greatest weakness.

I think it's more BD often likes left footed Cohen and right footed Ando to switch sides.

 

[DapperDan]

Its not, I know what you arte saying, but he pops up on the same side as the player playing on the other wing. Watch this season, it happens quite a bit, the remainder of his time seems to be spent in the middle.

 

[king_congo_red]

Its not, I know what you arte saying, but he pops up on the same side as the player playing on the other wing. Watch this season, it happens quite a bit, the remainder of his time seems to be spent in the middle.

In fairness, we have exactly the same problem when Tyson is out there, except he seems to spend his time trying to play striker.

 

[It's Baggio]

Tyson's pretty good at tracking back, always gives the full back decent protection.