Cohen : the Conundrum

[matt1982]

Chris Cohen - now just where is he most effective??? We'd all agree he is one of our best and most committed players, but where is he most effective?? We all know he cant really play in the middle with Lewis as we need some kind of protection in there (either Perch or Moussi when he's back), so that sort of leaves him shoved out to the left wing, but then he isn't really a winger either, and i dont think, and im sure we'd all agree, has the pace or trickery to play there.

Thats what makes me think in our current situation (especially with the huge left back problem) it might be better him reverting back to his actually original (when at west ham) and natural position of left back.

That would then mean we could play 2 PROPER wingers in Anderson and McCleary (who impressed me against derby when he came on), with Lewis and Moussi in the centre, when fit.

What do you all think?

 

[JackNighty]

Yeh thats what i think, if not anderson on right then tyson left, garner earnie upfrot.

 

[Rich565]

Chris Cohen - now just where is he most effective??? We'd all agree he is one of our best and most committed players, but where is he most effective?? We all know he cant really play in the middle with Lewis as we need some kind of protection in there (either Perch or Moussi when he's back), so that sort of leaves him shoved out to the left wing, but then he isn't really a winger either, and i dont think, and im sure we'd all agree, has the pace or trickery to play there.

Thats what makes me think in our current situation (especially with the huge left back problem) it might be better him reverting back to his actually original (when at west ham) and natural position of left back.

That would then mean we could play 2 PROPER wingers in Anderson and McCleary (who impressed me against derby when he came on), with Lewis and Moussi in the centre, when fit.

What do you all think?

Drop him - he's ineffective at the minute and needs a kick up the bum. Bring in Gaz McLeary

 

[WatnallRed]

Mcleary has impressed me recently although he likes to run at people which billy is not fond of and would rather have someone hoof it up.

 

[winnits]

Cohen's best position is in the middle.

 

[EmJay]

Id rather drop McGugan to play Cohen in the middle with Perch/Moussi to protect him.

Hard Work seems to be working better than natural talent at the moment.

 

[winnits]

I often ponder whether Cohen could be developed into a more defensive midfielder who gets forward too. He has the engine to do that role.

 

[dj_jam1234]

Cohen is the Engine of hour midfield!!! Center Mid!! Does far more then Perch will ever do!!

 

[Strummer]

Id rather drop McGugan to play Cohen in the middle with Perch/Moussi to protect him.

You might have a point here; from the evidence of the last few matches, the games sometimes seem to be passing Lewis by a bit. Maybe he needs a spell on the bench (where he can come and be an impact player) as I think at the moment we need a stronger centre-midfield partnership; you only have to look at the teams who've run rings around us this season, they've bossed the midfield and we can't get in to the game.

I would love to see (in a couple of weeks, match fitness permitting) a centre-midfield combination of Guy Moussi and Chris Cohen; that would give us two powerful midfielders who would complement each other.

Of course, Perch getting himself booked rules him out for two matches, so I guess we'll probably see Cohen/McGugan against Reading, with Anderson and either McCleary or Thornhill?

 

[clusternakker]

definitely in the middle.

At the minute i'd rather see something like:

anderson perch cohen tyson

mcgugan

earnie

 

[matt1988]

definitely in the middle.

At the minute i'd rather see something like:

anderson perch cohen tyson

mcgugan

earnie

Ditto, the 4-5-1 proved to be extremely effective and seemed to get the most out of so many. Tyson and Anderson had the space down the flanks, McGugan the licence to get forward, Earnshaw was scoring goals, go with this Billy!

 

[sedgred]

Discussed this very subject on the way to the game on Saturday.

I believe that Cohen, when the injured Moosi returns to midfield should be tried at left back. His athleticism and willingness to work for the Forest cause, would enable him to get up and down that left hand side, giving the extra man when going forward and will always be likely to create problems for the opposition.

I actually used the P word when talking about him.....I think he could start to have as a positive effect on Forest as a certain Mr Pearce did at no 3, given time and circumstances.

 

[voice of truth]

Chris Cohen - now just where is he most effective??? We'd all agree he is one of our best and most committed players, but where is he most effective?? We all know he cant really play in the middle with Lewis as we need some kind of protection in there (either Perch or Moussi when he's back), so that sort of leaves him shoved out to the left wing, but then he isn't really a winger either, and i dont think, and im sure we'd all agree, has the pace or trickery to play there.

Thats what makes me think in our current situation (especially with the huge left back problem) it might be better him reverting back to his actually original (when at west ham) and natural position of left back.

That would then mean we could play 2 PROPER wingers in Anderson and McCleary (who impressed me against derby when he came on), with Lewis and Moussi in the centre, when fit.

What do you all think?

He belongs in the centre of midfield of course you ignoramus. To put him anwhere else is a waste of his industry and toil.

 

[It's Baggio]

Get him in the middle of the park asap.

Yes, he can play in other positions but IMO he's quite easily our best midfielder and he should be played there. I could understand moving him if Perch/McGugan/Moussi were fit and playing well but they're not.

 

[matt1982]

He belongs in the centre of midfield of course you ignoramus. To put him anwhere else is a waste of his industry and toil.

yes but he hasnt been playing there thats my point - he's been shoved out to the left wing - with Lewis and Perch in the centre (Perch prseumably offering the protection/defensive anchor that lewis needs), so leaving Cohen (coz you've gotta find a space for him) out on the left, but my point is he's NOT a winger, never has been. Playing on the wing is a specialist position, and you've gotta have the pace (or moreover acceleration) and ability/trickery to beat players, and also cross a ball, which again Cohen isnt great at as we've seen from his wasted set pieces.

Moving on from that, if you're assuming that Lewis is gonna play (not saying that you should, maybe he should be dropped? But he does offer the quality/creativeness we often lack when he doesnt play) and that Moussi is gonna come back in when he's fit to partner him, then you're back to the question, Where should Cohen play??

If you've then decided that he isnt a winger and so isnt gonna play on the wing, then that leaves left back (where he started his career), and with it being a huge problem position for us at the moment, he could be the man to fill the job at the moment. With Bennett and Lynch still out (and rubbish anyway, lynch) and Heath did look out of his depth v Derby i have to say) then I think Cohen should go back there. Also I quite like McCleary on the left as he can go inside/outside his man.

On the other hand, like you say with Cohen's engine, maybe he should be moved to the middle FULL TIME, and he just develops into a natural allround defensive/attacking midfielder, partnering either Lewis or Moose.

Basically i just dont wanna see him stuck out on the wing!

 

[Annesley Red]

we definately cant do without him in midfield

 

[Erik]

I often ponder whether Cohen could be developed into a more defensive midfielder who gets forward too. He has the engine to do that role.

The number of times you and I have had that conversation! I agree entirely!

 

[mouldy]

He is best in the middle but it's better for us if he is on the left wing.

 

[Jonathan]

This is one of the things that upsets me the most about Saturday.

We have quite a few very good midfielders, and any team with selection problems in the middle shouldn't be dominated in the way we were.

I think my ideal side, with everyone fit would be:

Smith
Perch Morgan Breckin Bennett
Moussi
Anderson McGugan Cohen
Earnshaw Tyson​

In attack, Ando would push forward onto the wing, with Moussi moving forward into a flat four, but in defence, Moussi drops back to protect and break up play and Anderson slots inside.

 

[FBS]

Cohen should be in the middle along side one of either Perch/McGugan/Moussi. Anderson on the left and McCleary on the right.

 

[adam09]

Middle, middle, middle.

He drifts in too much from the left and it causes us massive problems - see a few of Derby's goals. It's not entirely Cohen's fault, he's just trying to play his natural game.

But I can't understand why we don't play him in his best position. Perhaps because we're too nice to upset our golden boys and give McGugan a spell on the bench.

We've always played tonnes better when Cohen has been in the middle - Man City for example!

 

[nickl360]

I think he's best in the attacking midfield role when we play one up top. He chases down balls, hassles defenders and forces mistakes from our opposition, enabling us to get the ball back.

He started in this role against Derby at the City Ground in the cup and it worked wonders. We then had to re-shuffle and he went back to the left hand side which is where I think he is less effective than at left back or an advanced midfield role.

Ideally we'd play a 4-5-1 like below:

Smith

Maloney (gets forward)
Breckin
Morgan
Bennett or Heath (Bennett in my opinion gives the ball away too much and is a bit clueless going forward, Heath doesn't give the ball away much).

Anderson
McGugan
Moussi
Perch
Tyson

Cohen

Earnshaw

 

[adam09]

He might work there if we had Moussi/Perch at CM, but not with McGugan in there, is who struggling with his defensive duties. But that is also McGugan's best position.

 

[Senior Flange Technician]

I think he's best in the attacking midfield role when we play one up top. He chases down balls, hassles defenders and forces mistakes from our opposition, enabling us to get the ball back.

He started in this role against Derby at the City Ground in the cup and it worked wonders. We then had to re-shuffle and he went back to the left hand side which is where I think he is less effective than at left back or an advanced midfield role.

Ideally we'd play a 4-5-1 like below:

Smith

Maloney (gets forward)
Breckin
Morgan
Bennett or Heath (Bennett in my opinion gives the ball away too much and is a bit clueless going forward, Heath doesn't give the ball away much).

Anderson
McGugan
Moussi
Perch
Tyson

Cohen

Earnshaw

yeah with 12 players we'd win all our matches

 

[Senior Flange Technician]

also i'd go
perch-morgan-breckin-heath/wilson
moussi-cohen
anderson-mcgugan-tyson
earnshaw
p.s we need a right and left back, and a creative midfielder as mcgugan is a)idle
b)fat
c)bored with relegation
ie no fight
d) in commons mode