Sun Jul 28, 2013 3:41 pm
Last season we put in more crosses than any other team in the Championship and scored more headers than anyone else too. Under Malky we've moved away from the consistent direct long ball up to the top man and back to a more considered way of playing in my opinion - this has helped us out in that we are no longer a one man system (anyone else remember the moment Jay Bothroyd got injured at wembley vs. Blackpool and remember thinking... what now?!)
While Cornelius looks a fantastic signing and he can certainly finish with his head, I truly believe that we will continue playing football the right way under Malky - that is to say to play through midfield and down the flanks. We are no longer 'only' a long ball team in my opinion, but a team that has a 'number of tricks up our sleeves' - In the pre-season fixture against FGR however, it did look like Joe Ralls was given instructions to look for Cornelius in the air time and time again which was worrying - but I have wishfully put this down to the players own actions rather than Malky's instructions.
I'm writing this to get a general response to how you think we may set up next season? Two up top? Cornelius on his own with Bellamy and (an)other supporting from the right?
I have a feeling that in the Premier League Malky will want to follow suit with many of the successful premier league sides who have only recently been promoted and will look to pack the midfield with five across the middle when we don't have the ball. If this is the case - do F.Campbell and N.Maynard fit in with this as inside forwards/wingers rather than out and out strikers? Capoue (or Mutch for now) sitting and Kim and Whitts ahead of him?
On Malky's side however, is choice - he is blessed with a midfield where no two players are the same in profile - meaning he has built a really adaptable side. I believe this is something Sir Alex Ferguson was clear with and one of the key messages that Malky took from Fergie during their good relationship. Gunnarson, Whitts, Kim, Mutch, Noone, Conway... all have their own strengths and weaknesses and some may be preferred in games where we may be chasing the ball the whole game and we'll look to counter attack rather than play through the thirds - Conway for example, fitter than Noone and more of a defensive winger than Noone?
What's your take on the preferred formation remembering that Malky likes to get balls into the box from wide (either through full-backs pushing on or wingers)?
Lastly, if we are playing with one up front only - I can see Maynard etc playing back up to Cornelius - which can only mean good things in that Malky hasn't made a plan to consistently play route one football (A.K.A Mark Kennedy to Jay Bothroyd under Jones).