" In an ideal world "

I would like Malky to still be our manager at the end of the season, and for a good few seasons after that to be honest. A likeable bloke (which is not something we had with the previous manager) a good young manager with a big (hopefully) future in front of him.

It was only 2 years ago, after a 3-0 defeat at home to boro and the subsequent fall out afterwards that i felt disillusioned with football, thinking why should i pay to watch the club when the players employed show no desire or pride in the shirt?? Well thats all changed now and most, if not all of the praise should go to Malky.

So the football has changed, we might even have had more talent in the squad a few seasons ago than we currently do man for man, but the work ethic that Malky has installed will get us points where we don't expect too, as we have seen this season already.

I have come out previously and said that Malky should go, in the last few days anyone with that viewpoint (and to be fair, there have been several constructive things said, not just "sack him hes shit") has been labelled "fickle", "idiotic", a "manchester united fan", "should go and support swansea" etc etc. A post from Polo ive seen this morning sums up why ive previously supported the change of manager though... Its about being proactive, not reactive which is exactly the point. No point reacting in May after the horse has bolted.

However, what i really want is the club to be sucsessful, to maintain premier league football after what it took to get us here finally.Ultimately i want Malky to stay, but to do that he will need to tweak, to slightly readjust how he sets the team up, change the focus of his pre match team talk and bring more focus towards attacking tendancies. He needs to develop a plan B, and more flexability not only with his in-game tactics, but with subsitutions. Bringing Noone on at half time v Palace was a good positive sub from him, the fact it didnt work isnt really the issue, but more is needed imo.

At the end of the day, good tactics and team selection, positive style of play and a flexible approach to games when things arent going well are going to have an impact over the course of a season, but i dont think Malky has all season to get it right. In a one off game like Saturday probably will be (in terms of his position as manager) anything can happen. Malky needs to give himself the best possible chance to win the game, and this is how i would do it.

Would personally resist the temptation to go 442, and would also leave Cornelius on the bench. I think, if used correctly 451 is fine, we have the central midfielders to pull it off sucessfully for a start, still need to build in other areas though.

------------------------------Marshall

KTC--------------Caulker------------Hudson------------John

-------------Kimbo-----------Medel----------Mutch----------

Noone--------------------------------------------------Bellamy

---------------------------Odemwinge------------------------

Now i would go with Hudson instead of Turner, but i guess its not really important in terms of the set up of the team.

I think Kim needs to be in the centre to really have an effect on matches, his influence is not as good when out wide, and mutch's engine (for 70 minutes at least) and Medels capabilities in protecting the back 4 mean we can afford to have some creativity in the centre.
Odemwinge gets the nod over Campbell for me purely based on its his ex club, and (as we saw with Danny Graham v Swansea on Monday) its amazing how many times it happens, even with strikers out of form.
Noone has limitations in tracking back, and can leave KTC exposed, and perhaps knowing that KTC likes to get forward too it might be best to swap wings with Bellamy, but we need an outlet out wide, someone who will get forward be it to the byline or in support of the striker. Far too many times Campbell has been completely isolated this season.
Bellamys abilities may be on the wane, but i think he offers more than Cowie and brings a similar work rate too.

With Cornelius, campbell, whitts, gunnersson and cowie on the bench. There are options to change to 442 or to adopt a more cautious approach depending on what the situation calls for.

I want to like Malky, and want him to stay, but he has to start looking at his management style and style of play and considering different options before its too late.

here's to a win on Saturday! and a very happy Christmas!!

I don't understand why Kim has been dropped. It makes zero sense. Theophile apart, he's been our best player imo.

I have a bad feeling about Sessegnon for Saturday.

I don't see how we can go into any game demanding a win.

I don't understand why Kim has been dropped. It makes zero sense. Theophile apart, he's been our best player imo.

I have a bad feeling about Sessegnon for Saturday.

I don't see how we can go into any game demanding a win.

why?


We need to win games, so why shouldnt we expect to win at home against teams around us?

I'm not particularly that bothered about winning to be honest. I hate how bitter fans are, and become in the Premier League.

Getting ripped into by a bunch of Welsh/Irish/foreign glory hunters supporting Man United or Arsenal from hundreds of miles away, gets boring after a while. They have the cheek to take the mick when all they do is press 'power' on their TV.

If we beat West Brom, everything will be hunky dory, Malky is 'adapting well'. If we lose, all out Armageddon.

It is so predictable and it is quite boring. I hope for a good game with a good atmosphere, not nervous fans waiting to boo the team as soon as we concede. If there is a time to worry about the team, it is not over the festive period.

I don't understand why Kim has been dropped. It makes zero sense. Theophile apart, he's been our best player imo.

I have a bad feeling about Sessegnon for Saturday.

I don't see how we can go into any game demanding a win.

why?


We need to win games, so why shouldnt we expect to win at home against teams around us?

Totally agree, we shouldnt expect to win games but we need to win games.

I'm not particularly that bothered about winning to be honest. I hate how bitter fans are, and become in the Premier League.

Getting ripped into by a bunch of Welsh/Irish/foreign glory hunters supporting Man United or Arsenal from hundreds of miles away, gets boring after a while. They have the cheek to take the mick when all they do is press 'power' on their TV.

If we beat West Brom, everything will be hunky dory, Malky is 'adapting well'. If we lose, all out Armageddon.

It is so predictable and it is quite boring. I hope for a good game with a good atmosphere, not nervous fans waiting to boo the team as soon as we concede. If there is a time to worry about the team, it is not over the festive period.

this is just a load of nonsense for an apparent football fan

Paulh, Your best post to date

Paulh, Your best post to date

my first ever sticky. i feel strangely proud


what is it they say about monkeys and typewriters though?

Not really. I'm just not fickle. God only knows what you were like when we were in the lower leagues

Fact of the matter is we are not in the relegation zone, haven't even played a player who was our record signing, not playing at all well. If that is not a reason to get behind the team I don't know what is.

All the glamour of the Premier League has got to some peoples heads. We are not Barcelona. If we go down, who cares. At least our fickle, joke fans won't be in the media spotlight any more. Claiming there'd be a riot if Mackay was sacked - next week - Mackay out

Paulh, Your best post to date

my first ever sticky. i feel strangely proud


what is it they say about monkeys and typewriters though?

The way youve explained it about Malky and his tactics etc and about wanting him to stay etc is the type of topic/post that fans can relate to

I'm not particularly that bothered about winning to be honest. I hate how bitter fans are, and become in the Premier League.

Getting ripped into by a bunch of Welsh/Irish/foreign glory hunters supporting Man United or Arsenal from hundreds of miles away, gets boring after a while. They have the cheek to take the mick when all they do is press 'power' on their TV.

If we beat West Brom, everything will be hunky dory, Malky is 'adapting well'. If we lose, all out Armageddon.

It is so predictable and it is quite boring. I hope for a good game with a good atmosphere, not nervous fans waiting to boo the team as soon as we concede. If there is a time to worry about the team, it is not over the festive period.

this is just a load of nonsense for an apparent football fan

Don't understand how anyone can support a club and not be bothered about winning. That's why we play the game.

I would like Malky to still be our manager at the end of the season, and for a good few seasons after that to be honest. A likeable bloke (which is not something we had with the previous manager) a good young manager with a big (hopefully) future in front of him.

It was only 2 years ago, after a 3-0 defeat at home to boro and the subsequent fall out afterwards that i felt disillusioned with football, thinking why should i pay to watch the club when the players employed show no desire or pride in the shirt?? Well thats all changed now and most, if not all of the praise should go to Malky.

So the football has changed, we might even have had more talent in the squad a few seasons ago than we currently do man for man, but the work ethic that Malky has installed will get us points where we don't expect too, as we have seen this season already.

I have come out previously and said that Malky should go, in the last few days anyone with that viewpoint (and to be fair, there have been several constructive things said, not just "sack him hes shit") has been labelled "fickle", "idiotic", a "manchester united fan", "should go and support swansea" etc etc. A post from Polo ive seen this morning sums up why ive previously supported the change of manager though... Its about being proactive, not reactive which is exactly the point. No point reacting in May after the horse has bolted.

However, what i really want is the club to be sucsessful, to maintain premier league football after what it took to get us here finally.Ultimately i want Malky to stay, but to do that he will need to tweak, to slightly readjust how he sets the team up, change the focus of his pre match team talk and bring more focus towards attacking tendancies. He needs to develop a plan B, and more flexability not only with his in-game tactics, but with subsitutions. Bringing Noone on at half time v Palace was a good positive sub from him, the fact it didnt work isnt really the issue, but more is needed imo.

At the end of the day, good tactics and team selection, positive style of play and a flexible approach to games when things arent going well are going to have an impact over the course of a season, but i dont think Malky has all season to get it right. In a one off game like Saturday probably will be (in terms of his position as manager) anything can happen. Malky needs to give himself the best possible chance to win the game, and this is how i would do it.

Would personally resist the temptation to go 442, and would also leave Cornelius on the bench. I think, if used correctly 451 is fine, we have the central midfielders to pull it off sucessfully for a start, still need to build in other areas though.

------------------------------Marshall

KTC--------------Caulker------------Hudson------------John

-------------Kimbo-----------Medel----------Mutch----------

Noone--------------------------------------------------Bellamy

---------------------------Odemwinge------------------------

Now i would go with Hudson instead of Turner, but i guess its not really important in terms of the set up of the team.

I think Kim needs to be in the centre to really have an effect on matches, his influence is not as good when out wide, and mutch's engine (for 70 minutes at least) and Medels capabilities in protecting the back 4 mean we can afford to have some creativity in the centre.
Odemwinge gets the nod over Campbell for me purely based on its his ex club, and (as we saw with Danny Graham v Swansea on Monday) its amazing how many times it happens, even with strikers out of form.
Noone has limitations in tracking back, and can leave KTC exposed, and perhaps knowing that KTC likes to get forward too it might be best to swap wings with Bellamy, but we need an outlet out wide, someone who will get forward be it to the byline or in support of the striker. Far too many times Campbell has been completely isolated this season.
Bellamys abilities may be on the wane, but i think he offers more than Cowie and brings a similar work rate too.

With Cornelius, campbell, whitts, gunnersson and cowie on the bench. There are options to change to 442 or to adopt a more cautious approach depending on what the situation calls for.

I want to like Malky, and want him to stay, but he has to start looking at his management style and style of play and considering different options before its too late.

here's to a win on Saturday! and a very happy Christmas!!

For me - swap Bellamy and Noone around based on the tracking back issue you mention and I think you have our best 11 for this game. But, if its not working, don't be afraid to take Odemwingie off and bring Cornelius on for more than 5 minutes...

I'm not particularly that bothered about winning to be honest. I hate how bitter fans are, and become in the Premier League.

Getting ripped into by a bunch of Welsh/Irish/foreign glory hunters supporting Man United or Arsenal from hundreds of miles away, gets boring after a while. They have the cheek to take the mick when all they do is press 'power' on their TV.

If we beat West Brom, everything will be hunky dory, Malky is 'adapting well'. If we lose, all out Armageddon.

It is so predictable and it is quite boring. I hope for a good game with a good atmosphere, not nervous fans waiting to boo the team as soon as we concede. If there is a time to worry about the team, it is not over the festive period.

If we can't beat a poor west brom team who the f**k are we going to beat? Lets be real, We expect to beat West Brom at home and we have every right to.

Good post Paul but I would stick with Turner over Hudson. With a changed midfield he may have more options to let play develop rather than hoof out. Midfield is still a tad lightweight though, would include Gunnarsson rather than Noone (although an option for later) and Campbell for POW because hes better striker than POW when getting more support. This despite the "former player" rule.

Good post Paul but I would stick with Turner over Hudson. With a changed midfield he may have more options to let play develop rather than hoof out. Midfield is still a tad lightweight though, would include Gunnarsson rather than Noone (although an option for later) and Campbell for POW because hes better striker than POW when getting more support. This despite the "former player" rule.

Gunnersson, although tenatious and an asset when playing against sides where creativity from open play is limited anyway, is far too slack in possession for me, id say his ball retention is the worst out of our centre mids. I imagine you would put kim out wide to accomadate? It's all personal opinion of course but id say that would be a double whammy negative, limiting out prowess in the middle of the park and halving out outlets out wide.

Up front I dont think there is too much difference between odemwinge and campbell, perhaps pow just nicks it for his ability with ball at feet.

Understand about turner though, I just guess recent performances have frustrated me and I believe hudson deserves a go