Does Mogga Lack Bravery?

[2plus2]

In short, YES - at the moment anyway.

I genuinely think we have a strong squad this season. And that does make it tough to pick a best 11. But we are also very injury prone, and recent players to have been slayed by the inevitable Boro syndrome have made the team very easy to pick in my opinion. So why do we continue to play CMs out wide when we only play with 1 attacking fullback? This, more then anything, infuriates me the most.

We must be brave with the selections. When we aren't we lose to teams like Millwall and Barnsley.

Assuming the likely proposition that Thomson will continue to be included in the long-term injury list (I've given up on him) alongside the likes of Bailey and R.Williams, and assuming that if plans go accordingly Carayol and Jutkiewicz will be fit again soon, I see no reason to not play a dangerous team like this more often then not, home and away. Only against the very best teams should there be significant tweaks to contain their threat, but even then that's questionable...

--------------------- Steele ----------------------
----- Hoyte --- Hines --- Woodgate --- Friend -----
------------- Leadbitter --- McEachran ------------
------ Reach ----------------------- Carayol ------
-------------- Jutkiewicz ---- Emnes --------------

We have the players at our disposal to do this. They have all proven they can pretty much play naturally in each of those positions. And it's a threat to anyone in this league. Or we can go down the route like today and almost try and replicate the style of our opponents in order to contain them, ie. field a battling team rather then one with flair.

I just don't understand it. And, as much as I'm very happy with the players we now have at our club, I think a lack of bravery could well be the defining factor for our season. Attack is the best form of defence. And if you're good enough, you're old enough. Before he arrived I was under the impression that Mogga knew this?

[neverbefore]

I'd still perfer McDonald alongside Juke. But other than that, thats probably our best team. If Thomson is fit I'd probably bring out one of Carayol or Reach and play 4-3-3.

[2plus2]

(01-09-2012 03:08 PM)neverbefore Wrote:  I'd still perfer McDonald alongside Juke. But other than that, thats probably our best team. If Thomson is fit I'd probably bring out one of Carayol or Reach and play 4-3-3.

I can see very good reasons for both of these points. And I would still certainly consider your type of line-up as brave enough and good enough. But I worry that we'll continue to see questionable tweaks to these types of preferences, ie. Arca with the occasional appearance, no natural wingers included, in form players dropped, etc etc. It's baffling.

[neverbefore]

Every time Arca comes in it kills us. He really is done. he was good against Gills, but only because that's his level these days! I think Haroun needs a while on the sidelines too, he's started off poor. Zemmama is very hit and miss and doesnt really fit into any of our systems.

Bravery is a problem, in the way we set up. But the problem is even more obvious for me - players out of position. For about the 4th year running.

[Prowler]

Don't think it's bravery that we lack, many of our players are brave and will put their bodies on the line to get a result/block a shot/make an excellent tackle.

We _____________ too often (I'll make a list, it's easier)

Get caught out at the back.
Concede from crosses.
Get stuck in midfield passing it side to side or backwards.
Have no one in the box attacking the ball.
Seem to play a lot of football
Have no one from midfield supporting the striker/s.
Play players out of position.

All of these can be attributed to poor intelligence and bad tactics. I'd attribute it to a team still needing time to gel but it's been like this for far too long.

I suggest a simple 4-3-3 with 1 striker and 2 wingers, preferably not cutting in but actually playing on their strongest side.

[2plus2]

(01-09-2012 03:16 PM)neverbefore Wrote:  Every time Arca comes in it kills us. He really is done. he was good against Gills, but only because that's his level these days! I think Haroun needs a while on the sidelines too, he's started off poor. Zemmama is very hit and miss and doesnt really fit into any of our systems.

Bravery is a problem, in the way we set up. But the problem is even more obvious for me - players out of position. For about the 4th year running.

Yup. Though our views do overlap because my point is that a lack of width largely constitutes the lack of bravery. It was the inclusion of Haroun and Zemmama (like you said, both a little wobbly in terms of form at the moment and both who do better slightly more centrally) instead of both or Reach and Carayol (young exciting pacey wingers that can cross, take on players and cut inside for a shot) that cost us so dearly today in my opinion. Though admittedly my understanding is that Carayol was injured.

(01-09-2012 03:17 PM)Prowler Wrote:  Don't think it's bravery that we lack, many of our players are brave and will put their bodies on the line to get a result/block a shot/make an excellent tackle.

I don't doubt this. It's the selections that lack bravery. Essentially Mowbray, which surprises me.

[Prowler]

Wouldn't call it bravery, to an extent. Yes, you need some guts to go all out for a win BUT most managers of a team aiming for the play offs will go to a place like Millwall thinking that they can grab a win.

It's just a case of actually knowing what you're doing and I don't think Mowbray does, yet. He's trying too many different things. Just pick a team with your best players and if we nick a goal, THEN you can start thinking about either settling or going for more.

Setting up to just not get beat before a match has even started against a team who are poorer than your team just makes no sense at all.

[2plus2]

(01-09-2012 03:26 PM)Prowler Wrote:  Setting up to just not get beat before a match has even started against a team who are poorer than your team just makes no sense at all.

Exactly. That statement pretty much defines the lack of bravery I'm emphasising

[Prowler]

Stupidity, poor judgement, lack of bravery, call it what you will but Mowbray certainly has some questions to answer.

[p_mards]

I didn't go to the game so only listened on the radio so I cant give an actual opinion but people need to remember we were without Williams, Bailey, Carayol and Reach(bench because hes a "boy"). If Bailey and Williams in particular then we'd have been far more organised and been more combative. The only chance we have of going up is by getting Reach and Carayol down the wings regularly because im sick to death of Zemmama and Haroun ATTEMPTING to be wingers. 6 points after 4 games isn't spectabular but its ok because were in touching distance of the play-off's with us going into a break, also Reading had 3 points after 6 games last year so theres no need for us to panic sitting in a far better position than they were. Im trying not to take much notice of the league at the moment as we started really strong last year but dropped like a stone after boxing day, so people need to remember the Championship isn't a sprint but a marathon.