I'm not usually a fan of radical team changes, but given that only Bury have picked up fewer points than us since the turn of the year I think they need to be made. I don't care how we play as long as we're winning games, so we need to decide whether it's a passing game or a more direct approach. Right now we're attempting a passing game, but not knowing our best formation and constantly changing personnel means that it's very hard to bed this in. Throw in the fact that we arguably have only one in-form striker (Berahino), who would probably struggle to play upfront on his own, and there's no surprise we're in poor form.
With all this in mind and the fact a few players need to be taken out the side, the team I'd select is a little unorthodox. I think we should try to develop the passing game and with our lack of strikers, I think it would make sense to adopt the system Barcelona have played earlier this season (often with Fabregas "upfront") for tonight's game. It's a big change and it would require practice, but fits the players' strengths well and would help us to keep the ball better whilst remaining defensively solid. Also Bournemouth tend to play it on the deck, so it's a good place to trial it.
So this is the line-up I'd choose (assuming Eger, Weston and Saunders all fit):
http://this11.com/boards/abCj8Ttacs.jpg
> Moore has done well but
Lee should come back in, hopefully refreshed and in better form
> I haven't been too impressed with Logan's defending recently, so bringing in
Thompson will hopefully make us more solid defensively
> Legge is a really good player but his recent form has been poor, so
Osborne to come back in
> Dean has great potential but has been costing us points, so
Eger to play if fit
>
Bidwell to continue at left-back
> Diagouraga has been a passenger too often recently, so I'd move
Dean into a link role between defence and midfield - he's good on the ball and can drop into defence when necessary to allow Thompson and Bidwell to push on and attack as wing-backs
>
Douglas and
Forshaw in the middle, though Forshaw needs to impress otherwise we might as well bring Reeves back in to develop him for next season
>
Donaldson advanced on the right, as we need height in the team, plus with his lack of goals we ought to stop persisting with him as a centre-forward for now and see if he can make an impact from out wide (no more long throws though!)
>
Weston advanced on the left - his recent cameo performance against Sheff United was very positive and hopefully he can get back to his best in this attacking role
>
Forrester in a false striker role, where he can link with midfield and press the defence whilst not playing an out-and-out forward role, which should get the best out of him
On the bench I'd choose: Moore, Legge, Diagouraga, Saunders, Berahino
I think Berahino has been playing well (when in the correct position), but I don't think he can play upfront on his own and our only option to partner him is Donaldson, whom I wouldn't want to continue with in a centre-forward role for now.
If Weston isn't fit then I'd play Saunders (swapping Donaldson to the left). If both aren't fit then McGinn (reluctantly) to start. If Eger isn't fit then I'd start with Legge.
Probably far too radical, but it's what I'd do for tonight!
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Originally Posted by KGB
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