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Once again yesterday SWP had umpteen chances to beat a full-back and stick a decent ball into the box, and once again he produced very very little. I love Shaun to bits as a player but it just isn't happening for him at the moment.

Next weekend we should see a lot of the ball, and have plenty of possession in Burnley's half, meaning we could do with a winger who can actually go past the full-back. I think Weiss deserves a chance in this one. Its a good time to both rest SWP and also see what the kid can do, as I've a hunch he would show up well and also perhaps shake Shaun up a bit and make him realise he needs to raise his game somewhat.

I'd also stick Ireland in the middle with Barry, and play Petrov on the left too. This is a game we need badly and also one where we should dominate possession so two holding midfielders isn't required, hence De Jong can be sacrificed.

Goaters 103 wrote:Once again yesterday SWP had umpteen chances to beat a full-back and stick a decent ball into the box, and once again he produced very very little. I love Shaun to bits as a player but it just isn't happening for him at the moment.

Next weekend we should see a lot of the ball, and have plenty of possession in Burnley's half, meaning we could do with a winger who can actually go past the full-back. I think Weiss deserves a chance in this one. Its a good time to both rest SWP and also see what the kid can do, as I've a hunch he would show up well and also perhaps shake Shaun up a bit and make him realise he needs to raise his game somewhat.

I'd also stick Ireland in the middle with Barry, and play Petrov on the left too. This is a game we need badly and also one where we should dominate possession so two holding midfielders isn't required, hence De Jong can be sacrificed.

There weren't many positives from yesterday but SWP was our best attacking option. He also helped out Zabba massively in defence, I would like to See Weiss introduced from the Bench, a start is not the right way for him yet IMO.

SWP was one of our better players yesterday, it seems he has now become the new boo boy which is sad.

I think Johnno for NDJ personally

simon12 wrote:I think Johnno for NDJ personally

and unfit Johnson ahead of Ireland and NDJ?

the_georgian_genius wrote:SWP was one of our better players yesterday, it seems he has now become the new boo boy which is sad.

Nothing to do with Boo boy at all. SWP has been largely substandard this season. I must have watched a different game yesterday as once again Shaun saw plenty of the ball but did little with it at all when decently placed.

Ireland showed again yesterday that he isn't effective in a 442. There is no point replacing anyone while we are playing that formation, that is the best team we have for 442.

I think a shake up of tactical formation is the only way we'll see any difference in the way we're playing.

I thought SWP had a pretty good game yesterday, there were worse players than him on the pitch and the Brum defence ganged up on Shaun most of the game.
It's too early to start a game with Weiss imo, he's young and still learning. I can see him being brought on though as i expect Burnley to park the bus next week and it will be difficult for us to break them down, Weiss could hold the key later on.

SWP and Bridge were about the only two that looked a threat at all to me. Don't think dropping him after that game sends much of a message to be honest.

Bingo Lewis wrote:Ireland showed again yesterday that he isn't effective in a 442. There is no point replacing anyone while we are playing that formation, that is the best team we have for 442.

I think a shake up of tactical formation is the only way we'll see any difference in the way we're playing.

I seem to hear this all the time! However, Superman has it all, so please tell me why he cannot play in a 4-4-2? Its bollox imo

Wonderwall wrote:

Bingo Lewis wrote:Ireland showed again yesterday that he isn't effective in a 442. There is no point replacing anyone while we are playing that formation, that is the best team we have for 442.

I think a shake up of tactical formation is the only way we'll see any difference in the way we're playing.

I seem to hear this all the time! However, Superman has it all, so please tell me why he cannot play in a 4-4-2? Its bollox imo

Would that make him a bollox-to-bollox midfielder?

Slim wrote:

Wonderwall wrote:

Bingo Lewis wrote:Ireland showed again yesterday that he isn't effective in a 442. There is no point replacing anyone while we are playing that formation, that is the best team we have for 442.

I think a shake up of tactical formation is the only way we'll see any difference in the way we're playing.

I seem to hear this all the time! However, Superman has it all, so please tell me why he cannot play in a 4-4-2? Its bollox imo

Would that make him a bollox-to-bollox midfielder?

it would seem so ;-)

Like we talked about, if it were me I would design the whole team around Stephen Ireland, why Hughes has gone away from what worked last season has me baffled and it would have allowed the team to grow a little more organically. I think he had a system in mind and couldn't implement it before this summer.

Wonderwall wrote:

Bingo Lewis wrote:Ireland showed again yesterday that he isn't effective in a 442. There is no point replacing anyone while we are playing that formation, that is the best team we have for 442.

I think a shake up of tactical formation is the only way we'll see any difference in the way we're playing.

I seem to hear this all the time! However, Superman has it all, so please tell me why he cannot play in a 4-4-2? Its bollox imo

I'll re-phrase. He isn't as effective as an attacking threat in the 442 formation.
He's most effective when playing off the striker

Slim wrote:Like we talked about, if it were me I would design the whole team around Stephen Ireland, why Hughes has gone away from what worked last season has me baffled and it would have allowed the team to grow a little more organically. I think he had a system in mind and couldn't implement it before this summer.

Its coz he didn't just fork out £35m for Ireland. If he benched Tevez every game and started Ireland he'd have just wasted that money (in some people's eyes)

I'd love to see Vlad on the pitch but not at the expense of SWP who besides a lot of people thinking he has been below par,has been one of the most consistent performers in the team for me.

Give Vlad a go, if SWP takes a knock etc.

I alot of the problem are these short, reserve team training sessions which havent involved a fully fit squad since September.

We need Ade, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Tevez all to be training 100% and fit.

definitely. swp needs to know there's competetion knocking at the door, vlad keen to impress against a side poor on the road, the crowd all willing him to do well because he's young and everyone wants him to do well. Perfect time for him, because on end product alone, SWP doesn't deserve to be in the team at the moment.

Slim wrote:Like we talked about, if it were me I would design the whole team around Stephen Ireland, why Hughes has gone away from what worked last season has me baffled and it would have allowed the team to grow a little more organically. I think he had a system in mind and couldn't implement it before this summer.

I thought that's what was going to happen in the summer too. Hughes couldn't heap enough praise on Ireland and now he plays in a system that doesn't suit... for whatever reason.

Like I said in the ireland dilemma thread at the time, I don't care as long as we're winning because I'm a city fan, not an Ireland fan... but lately, it seems him not playing in the role and system that suits him could have contributed a fair amount to us not picking up some more points.

On topic, I would have definitely brought on Weiss for SWP, I thought that's exactly what was needed at the time. Its one of the things I believe Hughes got wrong yesterday.