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Aidy ponders tactical switch
Aidy Boothroyd is toying with the idea of switching to a 4-3-3 formation at Home Park today (Saturday).
In the absence of John Eustace, his midfield enforcer, Boothroyd is contemplating fortifying his midfield and increasing the protection in front of the defence by playing the fit-again Al Bangura, John-Joe O'Toole and Lee Williamson.
Tommy Smith and Jobi McAnuff would provide the width and play in a more advanced role to support Darius Henderson, the lone striker.
"We can go to a three if I think it needs beefing up a little," said Boothroyd. "I like the three but I don't think we have had the time or the personal to work at it. There are several ways to play it; you can play three up front or play the Dutch 4-3-3. I think at this stage it's about winning and we've got to find different ways to win."
Should Boothroyd persist with his favoured 4-4-2 then Lee Williamson is likely to get the nod to replace Eustace. However the manager has not ruled out playing Bangura, who played so well at Ipswich, and even Douglas Rinaldi, the forgotten man.
"Lee is the mix and so is Al and I've not tried Douglas Rinaldi yet this year," he said. "We've also got Gareth Williams and Damien Francis, although they are not ready yet.
"They are two or three weeks away. Al has been terrific when he has come into the team, particularly at Ipswich. The onus is on the opposition to come at us and therefore it might actually help us having a more athletic player in mdifeld to stop what's coming at us."
With regards to Rinaldi, Boothroyd said: "I tend to put people on the moon and then fly them back in again. It's a credit to the player for remaining fit and focused. It's never say never with any player because I like to think I'm flexible; I don't fall out with people, I just tell people how it is."
Boothroyd will not need to be told how close the race for promotion is. Hull have now turned the race to the Premiership into a five-horse race and only five points separate the top five sides.
Watford's automatic promotion credentials will undergo a searching examination at the hands of Plymouth and Hull, the two form horses in the Championship, over the next week.
"Every game is big at this stage," said Boothroyd. "If Plymouth can take points off us then they will think they have a great chance of making the play-offs and it's the same with Hull. We are going for automatic promotion and we have to make sure we are difficult to beat and win more than we draw.
"It was important we didn't lose the last two games. We've got a game in hand, we've got points on the board and we just need to get a little winning run going."
Plymouth will be hell bent on ending Watford's unbeaten streak and avenging the last year's FA Cup quarter-final defeat.
"It will be very intimadating down there," said Boothroyd. "I like going down there, although they don't like us very much. It will be a tough game as Paul is a very astute manager. They are a bit like us.
"They moved Norris and Ebanks-Blake on and have really kicked on. We have moved Marlon on and not lost. We are doing everything right at the minute except put the ball in the net, which is what the game is all about."
Boothroyd says he has a decision to make with regards to captaincy and at right back - "Aidy has done very well and Lloyd has been knocking on the door and wants to play" - but Jay DeMerit is set to get the nod in both areas.
8:06am Saturday 22nd March 2008
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CommentPosted by: sage, mids on 8:26am Sat 22 Mar 08
too late for Rinaldi--suspect AB will get the nod
too late for Rinaldi--suspect AB will get the nod
Posted by: Drinker on 8:35am Sat 22 Mar 08
[quote][bold]sage[/bold] wrote:
too late for Rinaldi--suspect AB will get the nod[/quote] As sage was never short of a word or ten and made an announcement re his departure I cannot see him returning without a major fanfare.This is not his style,I apologise if I am wrong,but seems to be the silly imposter again.
If so it just shows how ridiculous the site is now.
Personally I think Williamson will play.
sage wrote:
too late for Rinaldi--suspect AB will get the nod
As sage was never short of a word or ten and made an announcement re his departure I cannot see him returning without a major fanfare.This is not his style,I apologise if I am wrong,but seems to be the silly imposter again.
If so it just shows how ridiculous the site is now.
Personally I think Williamson will play.
Posted by: mattymashup, letchworth on 10:38am Sat 22 Mar 08
its too big a game for aidy to change things round today. so will be williamson in the middle with o`toole, i just hope that he takes his chance and grabs the bull by the horns, we need goals and a win today so bad!!!!
its too big a game for aidy to change things round today. so will be williamson in the middle with o`toole, i just hope that he takes his chance and grabs the bull by the horns, we need goals and a win today so bad!!!!
Posted by: Hector, In the House on 10:46am Sat 22 Mar 08
Surely Bangura is an attempt not to lose.kicking anything above grass height, no discernable skill, a spoiler at best!
If it's the win we are after maybe Rinaldi would give us that little bit of ball carrying flare in the middle that could make the difference
Surely Bangura is an attempt not to lose.kicking anything above grass height, no discernable skill, a spoiler at best!
If it's the win we are after maybe Rinaldi would give us that little bit of ball carrying flare in the middle that could make the difference
Posted by: Drinker on 10:59am Sat 22 Mar 08
Hector,at Ipswich bangura was terrific and you unfairly castigate his style in my opinion.
Further to this, to suggest that Rinaldi would start a key game having not been in the team all season is hard to agree with either.
we will miss Eustace but I think Matty has it about right.
Hector,at Ipswich bangura was terrific and you unfairly castigate his style in my opinion.
Further to this, to suggest that Rinaldi would start a key game having not been in the team all season is hard to agree with either.
we will miss Eustace but I think Matty has it about right.
Posted by: Martin, Glos on 11:00am Sat 22 Mar 08
I have to say that 4-5-1 switching to a 4-3-3 is better suited to our style away from home.
Flood the midfield to stop the opposition getting through, then hit them quickly on the break with the pace of Smith and McAnuff.
I'd love to see this happen today.
I have to say that 4-5-1 switching to a 4-3-3 is better suited to our style away from home.
Flood the midfield to stop the opposition getting through, then hit them quickly on the break with the pace of Smith and McAnuff.
I'd love to see this happen today.
Posted by: Drinker on 11:05am Sat 22 Mar 08
Is it really Martin? I think that our style is the problem and what you suggest is a complete change of style and I doubt that we have the personnel,much as it may be desirable.
Goals are our challenge and isolating Darius further will decrease our scoring potential and it is not really likely that any other striker could do the hold up role as well.
Just a thought.
Is it really Martin? I think that our style is the problem and what you suggest is a complete change of style and I doubt that we have the personnel,much as it may be desirable.
Goals are our challenge and isolating Darius further will decrease our scoring potential and it is not really likely that any other striker could do the hold up role as well.
Just a thought.
Posted by: Hector, In the House on 11:29am Sat 22 Mar 08
O'toole is too in and out, maybe still developing but has had some really ineffectual performances.
What would the problem be with having him on the bench & have a real ball carrier on the pitch.
It is a win everyone says we are after. The current formula isnot delivering that
O'toole is too in and out, maybe still developing but has had some really ineffectual performances.
What would the problem be with having him on the bench & have a real ball carrier on the pitch.
It is a win everyone says we are after. The current formula isnot delivering that
Posted by: Martin, Glos on 12:12pm Sat 22 Mar 08
I see what you mean Drinker, but Darius won't be isolated if he has two wingers pushing up with him.
With a central midfield of 3, there will be plenty of protection, allowing both Smith and McAnuff to become more like wide strikers.
We tend to sit and hit on the break away from home, so the wingers can take full advantage of Darius' knock-downs. I think it is a winning formula personally.
I see what you mean Drinker, but Darius won't be isolated if he has two wingers pushing up with him.
With a central midfield of 3, there will be plenty of protection, allowing both Smith and McAnuff to become more like wide strikers.
We tend to sit and hit on the break away from home, so the wingers can take full advantage of Darius' knock-downs. I think it is a winning formula personally.
Posted by: Hexham Hornet, Hexham on 12:15pm Sat 22 Mar 08
No point having Henderson up front as a lone striker, as there would be nobody for him to knock the ball down to, which is what he does best. If we have 1 up front he should have pace and be able to run behind the defence. That would point to Collins John who is a loan striker at the moment! Team for today: Lee, DeMerit, Bromby, Shittu, Sadler, Smith, Bangura/Rinaldi/Will
iamson, O'Toole, McAnuff, John, Henderson. Subs: 2 of Bangura/Rinaldi/Will
iamson, Ellington, Mariappa/Doyley. We need 3 points and I would tell Henderson not to take a penalty if we get one, but give it to one of John, Smith, McAnuff or Shittu. My team selection above is what I think Aidy will do, not my own choice.
No point having Henderson up front as a lone striker, as there would be nobody for him to knock the ball down to, which is what he does best. If we have 1 up front he should have pace and be able to run behind the defence. That would point to Collins John who is a loan striker at the moment! Team for today: Lee, DeMerit, Bromby, Shittu, Sadler, Smith, Bangura/Rinaldi/Will
iamson, O'Toole, McAnuff, John, Henderson. Subs: 2 of Bangura/Rinaldi/Will
iamson, Ellington, Mariappa/Doyley. We need 3 points and I would tell Henderson not to take a penalty if we get one, but give it to one of John, Smith, McAnuff or Shittu. My team selection above is what I think Aidy will do, not my own choice.
Posted by: Drinker on 12:17pm Sat 22 Mar 08
Hector,sorry to disagree further but O`Toole was tremendous against Stoke although,like most young players,he lacks consistency.
To leave him out with Eustace missing would be reckless surely? and who do you think is a "real,ball carrier" ? He is as likely as most except perhaps Rinaldi who lacks match sharpness and I thought you wanted him in instead of Williamson who is going to do the Eustace holding job not the O`toole more advanced role?
Sorry about this but we seem to see things very differently.
Hector,sorry to disagree further but O`Toole was tremendous against Stoke although,like most young players,he lacks consistency.
To leave him out with Eustace missing would be reckless surely? and who do you think is a "real,ball carrier" ? He is as likely as most except perhaps Rinaldi who lacks match sharpness and I thought you wanted him in instead of Williamson who is going to do the Eustace holding job not the O`toole more advanced role?
Sorry about this but we seem to see things very differently.
Posted by: Drinker on 12:19pm Sat 22 Mar 08
Hexham--understand & agree mostly but certain ( and hope) Kabba will be on bench
Hexham--understand & agree mostly but certain ( and hope) Kabba will be on bench
Posted by: Hexham Hornet, Hexham on 2:10pm Sat 22 Mar 08
Drinker, I would not mind seeing Kabba start, put Henderson on bench and only have one of the midfielders on the bench. It would give us a different focus up front and Kabba can be physical like Henderson.
Drinker, I would not mind seeing Kabba start, put Henderson on bench and only have one of the midfielders on the bench. It would give us a different focus up front and Kabba can be physical like Henderson.
Posted by: Drinker on 3:54pm Sat 22 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Hexham Hornet[/bold] wrote:
Drinker, I would not mind seeing Kabba start, put Henderson on bench and only have one of the midfielders on the bench. It would give us a different focus up front and Kabba can be physical like Henderson.[/quote] NO NO NO
Hexham Hornet wrote:
Drinker, I would not mind seeing Kabba start, put Henderson on bench and only have one of the midfielders on the bench. It would give us a different focus up front and Kabba can be physical like Henderson.
NO NO NO
Posted by: WIZZARD on 4:06pm Sat 22 Mar 08
Hexham--too much of the Newky brown mate? DH is captain today--more appropriate than the bench!
Hexham--too much of the Newky brown mate? DH is captain today--more appropriate than the bench!
Posted by: Hexham Hornet, Hexham on 4:17pm Sat 22 Mar 08
Can't stand the stuff, Wizzard. I was pleased to see that Priskin has scored today for Preston. Pleased for DH if he is skipper today, as he works harder than anyone - I just don't think he's that good a player and believe he would be more effective coming on fresh with 30 mins to go and attack a tiring defence. I can't see him being successful next season, if we go up. Glad to hear Williamson scored, looking forward to seeing it on TV tomorrow morning.
Can't stand the stuff, Wizzard. I was pleased to see that Priskin has scored today for Preston. Pleased for DH if he is skipper today, as he works harder than anyone - I just don't think he's that good a player and believe he would be more effective coming on fresh with 30 mins to go and attack a tiring defence. I can't see him being successful next season, if we go up. Glad to hear Williamson scored, looking forward to seeing it on TV tomorrow morning.
Posted by: WIZZARD on 5:09pm Sat 22 Mar 08
I agree Newky brown sweet rubbish for northerners! Prem is diff issue but we will miss him for next 2 games for sure--actually TP scored but missed many others.
still get him match sharp & we could well use him.
Heard NE came on & then he got mentioned TWICE ONLY!!!!
Not the biggest lover of Williamson like others on here but does seem to be ru nning into form & seemed to play well;!
HULL GAME IS A BIGGY NOW!
I agree Newky brown sweet rubbish for northerners! Prem is diff issue but we will miss him for next 2 games for sure--actually TP scored but missed many others.
still get him match sharp & we could well use him.
Heard NE came on & then he got mentioned TWICE ONLY!!!!
Not the biggest lover of Williamson like others on here but does seem to be ru nning into form & seemed to play well;!
HULL GAME IS A BIGGY NOW!
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