Starting XI vs jobbers

AriseSirWalter

AriseSirWalter

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Having never seen 2 of the players play I can say with all the confidence of a fan on a football forum that this is how I want to see us line up against teams that wont offer much offensively.

McGregor
Tav Balogun Goldson Barisic
Jack
Hagi Aribo
Roofe Itten/Morelos Kent
​
Kent and Roofe stretching the defense to create gaps for Hagi and Aribo to exploit, or when defense step out to close down Hagi and Aribo then Roofe and Kent dart into the space left behind.
​
Gerrard came in and turned us into a team that wouldn't be easy to beat, it was the first thing he had to do. He's improved the playing squad and the mentality massively, the final step for me is to be more open against teams who just want to sit in. If we can do that we will win the league.
 
AriseSirWalter said:
Having never seen 2 of the players play I can say with all the confidence of a fan on a football forum that this is how I want to see us line up against teams that wont offer much offensively.

McGregor
Tav Balogun Goldson Barisic
Jack
Hagi Aribo
Roofe Itten/Morelos Kent
​
Kent and Roofe stretching the defense to create gaps for Hagi and Aribo to exploit, or when defense step out to close down Hagi and Aribo then Roofe and Kent dart into the space left behind.
​
Gerrard came in and turned us into a team that wouldn't be easy to beat, it was the first thing he had to do. He's improved the playing squad and the mentality massively, the final step for me is to be more open against teams who just want to sit in. If we can do that we will win the league.
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That looks superb mate
 
A like look of this team and set up but I don’t think Gerrard will change from 4-3-3, he should to go more attacking but I can’t see it
 
My prediction is
McGregor
Tav
Goldson
Balogun
Barisic
Kamara
Jack
Aribo
Hagi
Kent
Roofe

Morelos will not play for us again after Thursday night. I see Roofe start but it may be Itten due to match fitness
 
Spot on with that imo. No need for two of Jack, Kamara and Davis playing at home to cannon fodder who have zero intent of leaving their own half.

Get the ball into the final third with pace and power to exploit the gaps in behind.

It’s the one thing the mentally challengeds have done better than us the last couple of years and it’s why they have 4-5 forward players all hitting a decent number of goals every season.
 
Against the cloggers I'd love to see -

McGregor
Tav - Goldson - Balogun - Barisic
Jack - Aribo
Roofe - Hagi - Kent
Itten

I have a nagging fear that more often than not however we'll see -

McGregor
Tav - Goldson - Balogun - Barisic
Kamara/Davis - Jack - Aribo
Roofe/Hagi - Kent
Itten

Simply no need to play a more defensive midfielder instead of another attacking midfielder against teams who barely leave their own half
 
It’s hard to tell just now if itten has been signed as back up to Roofe, if he’s not then I think it will be hagi who drops to the bench in certain games. I can’t see gerrard changing from the 4-3-2-1, if he doesn’t and itten is going to be our main striker then it’ll be Roofe and Kent as the two numbers 10s I think. I don’t think I fancy hagi playing in the middle of the park.
 
a_weir said:
Goldson is is RCB but other than that, you may be on to something.
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That's a fair point.

Who played on the right against aberdeen? I have memories of Balogun being on the left in the first half but he burst out of defense in the 2nd half on the right hand side which sticks in my mind.

I put Balogun because of his debut but I like Helender too.
 
That would be the team I’d go for and for away games where a more defensive formation would be required then Itten would drop out for Kamara.
 
Bear all said:
If we get the other midfielder we want Jack and Kamara will not be first team picks.
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I'm not so sure, presumably we're buying a first pick midfielder but I don't think Jack will drop out. Gerrard rates him, I think Kamara and Davis are more likely to see less game time than Jack.

He's more suited to games when teams come at us but Jack was very impressive in first half of last season, and was breaking lines and even chipping in with goals.
 
We will surely be playing with 4-5 attacking players against jobbers now and absolutely flooding the box from every single direction.

It's pretty much a nightmare scenario for the diddies, because what the hell do you do against us?

We can play through them or we can play wide and whip in crosses, we can play in behind defences with pace or play in front of them with trickery, we can hit teams on the break with pace or we can lump it to a target man to hold up the ball for runners. Oh, and if your plan is to kick us out of the game, we have a few set piece specialists and Goldson, who loves powering a header past a keeper/poaching from a corner.

The only thing missing from our arsenal is someone picking the ball up deep and blasting one in from 25 yards Hammer-style, but I even saw Jack do that a couple of times last season.
 
AriseSirWalter said:
Having never seen 2 of the players play I can say with all the confidence of a fan on a football forum that this is how I want to see us line up against teams that wont offer much offensively.

McGregor
Tav Balogun Goldson Barisic
Jack
Hagi Aribo
Roofe Itten/Morelos Kent
​
Kent and Roofe stretching the defense to create gaps for Hagi and Aribo to exploit, or when defense step out to close down Hagi and Aribo then Roofe and Kent dart into the space left behind.
​
Gerrard came in and turned us into a team that wouldn't be easy to beat, it was the first thing he had to do. He's improved the playing squad and the mentality massively, the final step for me is to be more open against teams who just want to sit in. If we can do that we will win the league.
Click to expand...

I'd say that's our strongest team at the moment.
Would like to see that against St Mirren but doubt Roofe will start.
 
Jack without doubt looked his best next to Davis before our form fell off a cliff, but the season before he played a good number of games as a holding midfielder and played very well. He's been the best midfielder at the club in every season he's been here.
I have no qualms about him playing any of our midfield roles, and by all accounts he's pretty steady as a right back too.
And slow tih the ball and underhit passes? He's consistently the best and most accurate passer of a ball we have. He may not be able to hit Davis's Pirlo/ Quarter back type balls, but he's very consistent and deliberate with his passing, and I wouldn't really question it at all.
 
AriseSirWalter said:
Yeah but he's been bought as a first team player, or is that unrealistic?
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You don’t play players that are unfit though, not when you have alternatives in that position.

See how it works out - looking at Roofe’s injury record over the past 18 months, I’d be considering baby steps with him initially.
 
Benny0812 said:
My prediction is
McGregor
Tav
Goldson
Balogun
Barisic
Kamara
Jack
Aribo
Hagi
Kent
Roofe

Morelos will not play for us again after Thursday night. I see Roofe start but it may be Itten due to match fitness
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Kamara and Jack should never be in the same team against SPL dross.
 
ICA_86 said:
You don’t play players that are unfit though, not when you have alternatives in that position.
See how it works out - looking at Roofe’s injury record over the past 18 months, I’d be considering baby steps with him initially.
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Exactly, ICA. Why folk need to have it spelled out to them is a mystery.
 
One thing that's for sure is we are going to need to start playing the numbers game going forward against these teams who are just sitting hoping for a 0-0 we now have more than enough quality to have 5 players in and around the opposition box when attacking with one midfielder just holding to break up any counter attacks and protect the back 4. Absolutely no need for two holding midfielders in this league with the exception of the piggery where it may help.
 
Commentator said:
Exactly, ICA. Why folk need to have it spelled out to them is a mystery.
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Spell what out?

I'm not suggesting Roofe is thrown in against SM at the weekend, I'm saying that when everyone is fully fit that's a team I'd like to see play against teams that just come to sit in.
 
I have a feeling the squad will be rotated, depends on whether we can sign a midfield enforcer who can drive us forward at pace, I genuinely like Ryan. Jack he is a dependable player who has surprised me since his arrival likewise Kamara but we really need a centre mid with the x factor, where you get one at an affordable price is the problem, if Gerrard can solve that conundrum we will win the league.
 
Benny0812 said:
My prediction is
McGregor
Tav
Goldson
Balogun
Barisic
Kamara
Jack
Aribo
Hagi
Kent
Roofe

Morelos will not play for us again after Thursday night. I see Roofe start but it may be Itten due to match fitness
Click to expand...

When everyone is fit I would take hagi out and play two up top roofe and itten
 
AriseSirWalter said:
That's a fair point.

Who played on the right against aberdeen? I have memories of Balogun being on the left in the first half but he burst out of defense in the 2nd half on the right hand side which sticks in my mind.

I put Balogun because of his debut but I like Helender too.
Click to expand...

Goldson was RCB at the sheepdome but really I think either are comfortable on either side.
 
AriseSirWalter said:
Having never seen 2 of the players play I can say with all the confidence of a fan on a football forum that this is how I want to see us line up against teams that wont offer much offensively.

McGregor
Tav Balogun Goldson Barisic
Jack
Hagi Aribo
Roofe Itten/Morelos Kent
​
Kent and Roofe stretching the defense to create gaps for Hagi and Aribo to exploit, or when defense step out to close down Hagi and Aribo then Roofe and Kent dart into the space left behind.
​
Gerrard came in and turned us into a team that wouldn't be easy to beat, it was the first thing he had to do. He's improved the playing squad and the mentality massively, the final step for me is to be more open against teams who just want to sit in. If we can do that we will win the league.
Click to expand...

Really like that team but feel if we add another quality player in place of Jack it takes us to a different level.
 
Don't think we'll see Roofe this weekend, maybe off the bench. I reckon we'll have the team that played against Aberdeen with Itten coming in for Morelos.
 
I have to presume that before signing Roofe that a thorough and comprehensive medical check was carried out. With Morelos almost certainly leaving soon, and an aging Defoe out injured, we can't afford to spend too long without having a full complement of fit and able strikers.
 
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