Squad Rotation

[Snake]

I know a lot's been said about the squad rotation policy, but doesn't this seem to be an idea a little bit above our station? Squad rotation's a Man Utd, Chelsea sort of thing. It's quite arrogant in saying 'look how good our backup players are.'

We aren't good enough for it, we need to pick a settle XI and let them find form. Players mostly aren't finding form at the minute, and those who do, like Anderson, are mysteriously dropped when they do. It's not going to work and it can't be good for Anderson's morale when he goes home tonight having not even got on the pitch, apart from the half-time warm-up.

Because surely, we as fans, had we been told Anderson would not play a second of today's game beforehand, would have been horrified? It was the same with Blackstock at Reading. At the minute we're missing out on what good Championship players can offer us for the sake of keeping a large number of players happy.

 

[fsor12]

Well I think some questions need to be asked about the decisions Billy Davies keeps making, why was Anderson left on the bench, why was McGoldrick playing behind Ernie leaving him the loan striker at home which is another question in it’s self, tactically we looked unbalanced with no creativity our efforts were weak and poor and the defense again looking so flat footed and unsure. Billy Davies has been quoted many times saying he doesn’t want square pegs in round holes, hmmm so what was that then Billy!! He has to find partnerships and stick with them and we simply have to find better defenders full stop. One win and 3 defeats in 8 games is very worrying, I can’t believe we are playing catch up already over reaction my be but worrying none the less

 

[TOMBARNESFORESTFAN]

Well I think some questions need to be asked about the decisions Billy Davies keeps making, why was Anderson left on the bench, why was McGoldrick playing behind Ernie leaving him the loan striker at home which is another question in it’s self, tactically we looked unbalanced with no creativity our efforts were weak and poor and the defense again looking so flat footed and unsure. Billy Davies has been quoted many times saying he doesn’t want square pegs in round holes, hmmm so what was that then Billy!! He has to find partnerships and stick with them and we simply have to find better defenders full stop. One win and 3 defeats in 8 games is very worrying, I can’t believe we are playing catch up already over reaction my be but worrying none the less

nah we'll be alright in the end, but its fine getting draws away, but not having as good or even better form at home is really a problem. we need to stick with a big man upfront an earnie just behind, coz after mcgoldricks performance today, hes only just avergage, and moussi had a difficult return today. keep mckenna and majewski in the middle, anderson on the right and tyson/cohhen on the left.

 

[Benchwarmer]

Well I think some questions need to be asked about the decisions Billy Davies keeps making, why was Anderson left on the bench, why was McGoldrick playing behind Ernie leaving him the loan striker at home which is another question in it’s self, tactically we looked unbalanced with no creativity our efforts were weak and poor and the defense again looking so flat footed and unsure. Billy Davies has been quoted many times saying he doesn’t want square pegs in round holes, hmmm so what was that then Billy!! He has to find partnerships and stick with them and we simply have to find better defenders full stop. One win and 3 defeats in 8 games is very worrying, I can’t believe we are playing catch up already over reaction my be but worrying none the less

.. why was Cohen played on the right side of midfield?

.. why did we play two defensive midfielders in McKenna and Moussi?

.. why do we keep taking Earnshaw off despite being one of the best players today?

.. why hasn't Cohen been dropped despite have a poor-ish run of form?

.. why doesn't McCleary have a chance of starting a match?

 

[Flaggers]

I know a lot's been said about the squad rotation policy, but doesn't this seem to be an idea a little bit above our station? Squad rotation's a Man Utd, Chelsea sort of thing. It's quite arrogant in saying 'look how good our backup players are.'

We aren't good enough for it, we need to pick a settle XI and let them find form. Players mostly aren't finding form at the minute, and those who do, like Anderson, are mysteriously dropped when they do. It's not going to work and it can't be good for Anderson's morale when he goes home tonight having not even got on the pitch, apart from the half-time warm-up.

Because surely, we as fans, had we been told Anderson would not play a second of today's game beforehand, would have been horrified? It was the same with Blackstock at Reading. At the minute we're missing out on what good Championship players can offer us for the sake of keeping a large number of players happy.

You must have read my mind before you posted that - I can't disagree with a word of it.

.. why do we keep taking Earnshaw off despite being one of the best players today? If we're going to keep lumping 30 foot high balls to the smallest man on the pitch, who at the time is surrounded by defenders a foot-and-a-half taller than he is, can we really say we're surprised when he doesn't win them?

 

[incapable hulk]

"If we're going to keep lumping 30 foot high balls to the smallest man on the pitch, who at the time is surrounded by defenders a foot-and-a-half taller than he is, can we really say we're surprised when he doesn't win them?"

Spot on. I was saying that on the 606 forum after the watford game, but just got shot down.

I honestly cant fathom why people expect earnie to score, when all hes getting as service is long balls. Its ridculous.

 

[goatboy]

This club isn't rocket science.

Camp - Decent Keeper at this level
Smith - Another decent keeper at this level, lacks command of box. Maybe less daft than Camp at times.

Perch - Cover for Gunter and can do a job anywhere across that quarter of the pitch. Versatility guarantees him a place on the bench.
Chambers - Two thirds makeweight, one third cult centre back. Ideally a squad player but he'll do mostly. Centre back, cover at right.
Wes Morgan - sometimes the only good thing in our defence, needs strong regular fellow CB.
Wilson - We don't know what we'll get when he returns. Best assume he'll make up numbers. CB, left back if we are scrimping.
Gunter - Right Back, first choice.
Bennett - Talismanic and occasionally decent. Deserves a run when fit. LB
Lynch - We've seen what he can do but we can't rely on him. LB

Anderson - Right Winger for me but has to start on one flank or another
McGugan - Poser. Second choice attacking midfield, good on his day but the closest thing we've got to Commons attitude wise.
McCleary - Spare Anderson, best used off the bench, can shine or flounder.
Cohen - Midfielder or left winger, nothing else. Lacks focus out of position. Not a defender.
McGoldrick - Belongs in the hole, in a 4-5-1 or a 3-5-2. Play him in these formations. Cover as striker.
McKenna - First choice defensive midfileder.
Moussi - Cover for McKenna
Majewski - First choice attacking midfielder. When McKenna has the ball, other players should draw opponents off him then run like f*** towards the goal.

Adebola - Second choice lanky half of our strikeforce. Cover for Blackstock
Earnshaw - First choice stumpy half of strikeforce
Garner - Cover for Earnshaw
Blackstock - First choice big man up front.

Tyson - Our wildcard, can change the left midfield or striker and I reckon we could do with him on the bench presently.


So there's your starting eleven:

Keeper du jour

Garner
Wes
CB du jour
Benno

Anderson
McKenna
Majewski
Cohen (Tyson)

Blackstock (Tyson)
Earnshaw




And then the playoffs. I mean for f***'s sake, it's not hard, is it?

 

[NFFC Johan]

This club isn't rocket science.

Camp - Decent Keeper at this level
Smith - Another decent keeper at this level, lacks command of box. Maybe less daft than Camp at times.

Perch - Cover for Gunter and can do a job anywhere across that quarter of the pitch. Versatility guarantees him a place on the bench.
Chambers - Two thirds makeweight, one third cult centre back. Ideally a squad player but he'll do mostly. Centre back, cover at right.
Wes Morgan - sometimes the only good thing in our defence, needs strong regular fellow CB.
Wilson - We don't know what we'll get when he returns. Best assume he'll make up numbers. CB, left back if we are scrimping.
Gunter - Right Back, first choice.
Bennett - Talismanic and occasionally decent. Deserves a run when fit. LB
Lynch - We've seen what he can do but we can't rely on him. LB

Anderson - Right Winger for me but has to start on one flank or another
McGugan - Poser. Second choice attacking midfield, good on his day but the closest thing we've got to Commons attitude wise.
McCleary - Spare Anderson, best used off the bench, can shine or flounder.
Cohen - Midfielder or left winger, nothing else. Lacks focus out of position. Not a defender.
McGoldrick - Belongs in the hole, in a 4-5-1 or a 3-5-2. Play him in these formations. Cover as striker.
McKenna - First choice defensive midfileder.
Moussi - Cover for McKenna
Majewski - First choice attacking midfielder. When McKenna has the ball, other players should draw opponents off him then run like f**k towards the goal.

Adebola - Second choice lanky half of our strikeforce. Cover for Blackstock
Earnshaw - First choice stumpy half of strikeforce
Garner - Cover for Earnshaw
Blackstock - First choice big man up front.

Tyson - Our wildcard, can change the left midfield or striker and I reckon we could do with him on the bench presently.


So there's your starting eleven:

Keeper du jour

Garner
Wes
CB du jour
Benno

Anderson
McKenna
Majewski
Cohen (Tyson)

Blackstock (Tyson)
Earnshaw




And then the playoffs. I mean for f**k's sake, it's not hard, is it?

Yeah garner right back what a manager!!!!!!

 

[RICH1977]

the problem with it is atm it looks like it doesnt matter how well or bad you play how many goals you score, you are going to get dropped at somepoint and equally someone else will get in the side who probably doesnt deserve it.

whole system wants f***ing off and play the best 11 game after game we have competition for places in all areas yet no one seem to have to do anything special to get a game, I might see if I can have a crack against scunthorpe im sure billy wouldnt mind

 

[Snake]

Yes, I don't mind the odd tactical change, but making sweeping changes every match is going to make things difficult. It's worse because, when we do play a certain side, as pointed out above, we don't seem to play to our strengths. With McGoldrick and Earnshaw on the pitch, we should be keeping the ball on the ground and giving Earnshaw service into feet. He wasn't helped yesterday when the likes of Moussi and McKenna gave him the ball too late, when the keeper had already cottoned on to his runs. But he did show some promise early on which was negated entirely when Blackpool scored because we started to lump it (Lynch, Chambers and Morgan are major league lumpers when the team's under a bit of pressure, and it leads to us throwing possession away again and again).

On top of that, Chris Cohen, fantastic player though he is (when fit and in form), is in the team at the moment purely for the sake of it. If we want to play him, then it has to be in central midfield alongside McKenna. The cost of this is that Majewski cannot get into the side. I think away from home, this might not necessarily be a bad thing. McKenna and Cohen look like quite a tough midfield pairing, they should, in theory, get through a lot of work. Put Anderson and Tyson either side of them and that looks like a good, counter-attacking midfield. Overall though, it's pretty simple. 4-4-2, two pacey wingers, one defensive-minded central midfielder and one offensively-minded. I like the Little Big Man partnership of Blackstock and Earnshaw up top personally, but would accept any partnership at the minute that lasted for more than one game.

 

[RRRREDUN]

I have to agree - we need to pick our best 11 to start the game then when we have hopefully run the opposition ragged, we can bring on two or three quality subs who can continue the mauling. Speedy wingers like Ando and Tys should be able to turn most defences inside-out, then when they are knackered (both defenders and our wingers), bring on the 2nd wave (McCleary, Dele, McGugan etc), to really finish them off. This is the only rotation I believe in - we have now got enough on the bench to do this - surely that is the point of having lots of strikers? Billy waited far too long before making changes yesterday - sure, we attacked, but we should have attacked in waves, from start to finish against a pretty ordinary side who couldn't believe their luck.

 

[Annesley Red]

we had a strong bench yesterday but Id like to see the best eleven starting on a regular basis especially with a settled partnership up front.
Injuries will get the rest of the squad involved, so far its hard to pick a best eleven but we are 8 games into the season so come on Billy get your act together. Im not happy with our performances so far (too close to the relegation zone)

 

[Tutts]

This club isn't rocket science.

Camp - Decent Keeper at this level
Smith - Another decent keeper at this level, lacks command of box. Maybe less daft than Camp at times.

Perch - Cover for Gunter and can do a job anywhere across that quarter of the pitch. Versatility guarantees him a place on the bench.
Chambers - Two thirds makeweight, one third cult centre back. Ideally a squad player but he'll do mostly. Centre back, cover at right.
Wes Morgan - sometimes the only good thing in our defence, needs strong regular fellow CB.
Wilson - We don't know what we'll get when he returns. Best assume he'll make up numbers. CB, left back if we are scrimping.
Gunter - Right Back, first choice.
Bennett - Talismanic and occasionally decent. Deserves a run when fit. LB
Lynch - We've seen what he can do but we can't rely on him. LB

Anderson - Right Winger for me but has to start on one flank or another
McGugan - Poser. Second choice attacking midfield, good on his day but the closest thing we've got to Commons attitude wise.
McCleary - Spare Anderson, best used off the bench, can shine or flounder.
Cohen - Midfielder or left winger, nothing else. Lacks focus out of position. Not a defender.
McGoldrick - Belongs in the hole, in a 4-5-1 or a 3-5-2. Play him in these formations. Cover as striker.
McKenna - First choice defensive midfileder.
Moussi - Cover for McKenna
Majewski - First choice attacking midfielder. When McKenna has the ball, other players should draw opponents off him then run like f*** towards the goal.

Adebola - Second choice lanky half of our strikeforce. Cover for Blackstock
Earnshaw - First choice stumpy half of strikeforce
Garner - Cover for Earnshaw
Blackstock - First choice big man up front.

Tyson - Our wildcard, can change the left midfield or striker and I reckon we could do with him on the bench presently.


So there's your starting eleven:

Keeper du jour

Garner
Wes
CB du jour
Benno

Anderson
McKenna
Majewski
Cohen (Tyson)

Blackstock (Tyson)
Earnshaw




And then the playoffs. I mean for f***'s sake, it's not hard, is it?

Spot on (apart from the fact you put Garner in a right back instead of Gunter - but we knew what you meant.)

Has that team (ok, maybe not the defence) actually had a go?

It'd certainly be my first choice.

 

[Randy Bumgardener]

He seems to pick players to counter other teams. To null their players rather than picking the best 11 and letting them get on with it !

 

[matt1982]

Yes, personally i'm struggling with this Billy idea of 'it's ALL about rotation'. All managers (or those worth their salt anyway) since the beginning of time have known what their 'first choice eleven' / 'best team' is when fit / with people on form. This isnt some sort of myth, it's FACT. It's the team with the best balance, best combinations, best all round qualities and a mix of character, work rate, technical ability, leadership, players in their right positions, etc etc. The depth of squad is then used when people get injured/fall ill, suspended, go out of form, poor attitude etc etc. At the moment, even though he denies it, Billy doesnt seem to really know his 'best' team or he's too overly concerned with 'freshness' as he keeps referring too. A team needs to build up an understanding, particularly certain departments on the pitch eg central midfield/ full backs and wingers, and reward players in form and his constant chopping and changing especially in the forward areas, isnt allowing that to happen IMHO. Ironically the biggest problem at the moment seems to be scoring goals, not stopping them going in, although at least the chances are being created. Sooner or later we have to start being more clinical. And not giving away soft goals. These are small details, but they are the difference between a successful side and not being one. There also seems to be a huge conundrum with Cohen and where does he play?? Billy has himself stated he seems him as a central midfielder and didnt want to just use him as a square peg/round hole and i actually saw him v sheff weds in centre with mckenna and thought it was one of his best games in red shirt. But then next game finds himself back on the left, and yesterday on the right, where he definitely cant play. And given that McKenna/Majewski seems to be the 'first choice' central pairing, where does that leave Cohen again?? Seemingly Billy cannot find a settled position for him, which is terrible for one of our best players. IMHO, he should not be shunted out on the left just because he is left-footed, he is not effective out there and his crossing is also generally inconsistent. In fact, the more think about it my midfield four from right to left would be Anderson - McKenna - Cohen - Majewski, with Majewski starting left side, but given the freedom/licence to roam and cause problems, a la steven gerrard role for england. This would then allow Cohen to play the central role he craves. Moussi and McGugan would then be the back up players for central spots in this system. McCleary and Garner as back up wingers. Getting this right is crucial and knowing your best side has to be the starting point

 

[the mask of zorro]

He seems to pick players to counter other teams. To null their players rather than picking the best 11 and letting them get on with it !

A certain Mr Clough believed in playing your best 11 players, continuity, and letting the other team worry about you, rather than concerning yourselves with what they have got

ARE YOU LISTENING BILLY?

I know you will never be another BC, buy it's got to be worth a go!

 

[yam]

He seems to pick players to counter other teams. To null their players rather than picking the best 11 and letting them get on with it !

That's the problem, he should pick our best 11 and let the opposition worry about us. Yesterday's team selection was poor in my opinion. Square pegs round holes - Billy says he hates it but why was Cohen playing right midfield when Anderson was on the bench?

 

[Tutts]

Yes, personally i'm struggling with this Billy idea of 'it's ALL about rotation'.

All managers (or those worth their salt anyway) since the beginning of time have known what their 'first choice eleven' / 'best team' is when fit / with people on form. This isnt some sort of myth, it's FACT. It's the team with the best balance, best combinations, best all round qualities and a mix of character, work rate, technical ability, leadership, players in their right positions, etc etc.

The depth of squad is then used when people get injured/fall ill, suspended, go out of form, poor attitude etc etc. At the moment, even though he denies it, Billy doesnt seem to really know his 'best' team or he's too overly concerned with 'freshness' as he keeps referring too. A team needs to build up an understanding, particularly certain departments on the pitch eg central midfield/ full backs and wingers, and reward players in form and his constant chopping and changing especially in the forward areas, isnt allowing that to happen IMHO.

Ironically the biggest problem at the moment seems to be scoring goals, not stopping them going in, although at least the chances are being created. Sooner or later we have to start being more clinical. And not giving away soft goals.

These are small details, but they are the difference between a successful side and not being one. There also seems to be a huge conundrum with Cohen and where does he play??

Billy has himself stated he seems him as a central midfielder and didnt want to just use him as a square peg/round hole and i actually saw him v sheff weds in centre with mckenna and thought it was one of his best games in red shirt. But then next game finds himself back on the left, and yesterday on the right, where he definitely cant play. And given that McKenna/Majewski seems to be the 'first choice' central pairing, where does that leave Cohen again??

Seemingly Billy cannot find a settled position for him, which is terrible for one of our best players.

IMHO, he should not be shunted out on the left just because he is left-footed, he is not effective out there and his crossing is also generally inconsistent.

In fact, the more think about it my midfield four from right to left would be

Anderson - McKenna - Cohen - Majewski,

with Majewski starting left side, but given the freedom/licence to roam and cause problems, a la steven gerrard role for england. This would then allow Cohen to play the central role he craves.
Moussi and McGugan would then be the back up players for central spots in this system. McCleary and Garner as back up wingers.

Getting this right is crucial and knowing your best side has to be the starting point

Not trying to be a Forum Punctuation Nazi but thats a decent post - just hit return a few times to space it out, or you just can't read it!




For the record, I hate the 'Steven Gerrard' left sided midfield solution for England. They only get away with it as Ashley Cole is a really decent and energetic left back. Lynch couldn't do this for us unfortuantely.

 

[RRRREDUN]

You play your best 11. If there's an injury, you keep everyone in their positions and just draft someone in to fill the missing place. Hopefully, if we lose say a right back, a specialist right back is available, who knows his role in the team. This way, everyone gets used to playing a certain role week-in week-out. You don't see plumbers on a building site doing the joinery one week, or do you?

 

[fsor12]

He seems to pick players to counter other teams. To null their players rather than picking the best 11 and letting them get on with it !

I think you could be right and if this is the case it certainly isn't working ???

 

[mouldy]

It's debatable. I can see why he does it. With the quality of strikers we have I doubt that there wages and quality warrants a place on the bench.

I think the idea is we go into home games to get goals and win, I think we go away from home to ensure we don't concede and ensure we get at least a point try and nick a goal and once we have sit back.

Unfortunately we seem to have this habit of conceding all the time. Yesterday we were up against a very good keeper who was certainly on form and we failed to put the chances away. We then went and conceded. It is de ja vu of last season miss your key chances and concede a goal against the run of play.

I think things will get sorted but a loanee defender is a must. Consistency at home games is key and consistency at away games is key.

And as BD was constantly repeating "round pegs in round holes " is another thing which needs sorting.

 

[RedBadger]

Billy will continue to rotate until the second of October. When Fifa10 comes out he will check the players ratings and find the best 11 and system he can use to suit that team. Trust me, we will go unbeaten till the end of the season after the 2nd of October, winning the F.A. Cup too. :nowink:

 

[The Vicar]

I thought Billy's performance yesterday in terms of selection and substitutions was the worst of his tenure.

I totally agree, rotation is for following long away trips in Europe not for the likes of us.

Modern managers have an over inflated sense of their own importance and tinker too much as if they need to do this to justify their existence.

Just pick your best team in a 442 formation every week. English players understand this. They do not cope well with changes in formation from game to game or even several times during a game[ Platt, Calderwood]

The pairing of Earnshaw and McGoldrick is the worst possible permutation in attack and he was far too slow to change it. If Anderson was fit his omission just beggars belief to those of us who were cat Hillsborough. He must be seriously pissed off. :wacko: