There were many things wrong with the performance against Pompey, but something that really unsettled me was how open Wolves were in the center of midfield. To put it simply, Henry and Edwards were overrun, with the latter caught out of position on far too many occasions. This cost us dearly, allowing Portsmouth all the space they needed to work openings and eventually, make the crucial breakthrough.
So my question is simple: Is it time to switch to a 5 man midfield?
You could easily argue that the answer is no. After all, Castillo should be fit for the trip to Everton and in the matches he’s played alongside Henry, we’ve looked more compact and solid. Particularly at home to Fulham, we saw the Ecuadorian’s destructive qualities, which gave us a much-needed platform to build on. If he returns to the side, there’s a decent shout to keep two strikers on the field.
On the other hand, there’s definitely a strong case to make it 5 in the middle of the park. First off, we saw how effective this system was away at Wigan, where we were able to neutralise their threat, dominate possession and create a few problems going forward. Could the same work against Everton?
I’m also intrigued by the options that adding an extra midfield-man gives us. For instance, I think we could play both Jarvis and Kightly and give them full license to bomb forward, without having to worry about attacks breaking down. This shape might also give Milijas a chance to show what he can do, tucked in just behind a lone front-man. Alternatively, you could hand the same role to Edwards, whose running power is a great asset, particularly away from home.
Crucially though and the reason I would go with 5 in midfield, is the cover it gives our leaky defence. We simply can’t afford to be chasing games in the Premiership, as we saw against Pompey how difficult it can be to get back in. I’d like to think the added insurance of an extra midfielder would allow us to at least get a foothold in games.
With Everton and Villa our next two fixtures, we must tighten up at the back or be prepared for some heavy defeats. I still have nightmares about the drubbing Villa handed out to us the last time they came to Molineux and fear a repeat if we don’t raise our game. Everton are a more workman-like side, but I can see them opening us up if the gaping holes in our midfield aren’t plugged.
Of course, if we do go with only one striker, Mick will surely have the good sense to pick Doyle. He’s been the real class act for us this season and if I had to bet on one player that might come up with a moment of magic to win us the game, I’d put my money on him.
So what do we all think? To 5 or not to 5?
I think definately go to 5 in midfield for the next 3 games (got a feeling the Stoke game will be a similar sort of battle as the Everton game). Just want us to start making ourselves hard to beat. We have given away points this season already and it hasn’t been because we have come up against teams that have outclassed us or anything. West Ham, Blackburn and Pompey all springs to mind. If we’d have made ourselves harder to beat there is no reason why we couldn’t have got something from those games. Even a point out of those 3 games would have us mid table now. There will be games when we can resort back to a 4-4-2 but for me i really think we need to sure things up a bit in there and give ourselves something to build on
The thing is though if SEB is fit i think Mick will want to play him but i reckon he can do a job as super sub again, if we are looking to get something out of it then go for it in the last 20.
i think using a 5 would be good for everton, because as you said we could use of winges in a really attacking option. all i hope for is to not conceed early and to play well.
Yeah Sam we can’t be conceeding anymore early goals. An interesting stat is that in all 8 of our games so far this season the score at half time has been 1 nil. 6 of those we have been behind and in only 1 have we come back to take anything from the game. Both times we have led 1 nil we have gone on to take all 3 points. The first goal is always crucial but in the Premiership its invaluable
In a word, no.
We need to carry on playing attacking football. Otherwise we won’t get points. When we go to teams like Man United and other bigger teams they are used to teams sitting and back and playing the draw. I say we go 4-4-2
or 4-3-2-1 christmas tree.
I think away from home it’s a good idea. We could play Henry and Castillo sitting in front of the defence and have Milijas or Edwards playing behind the striker, be it Doyle or SEB. If you look at how Liverpool play, they’re the masters at this formation with Gerrard behind Torres and the two protecting the back four.
At home though, you have to go 4-4-2, unless we’re up against one of the big 4. We have to take the game to the opposition. If we’re afraid to attack teams at home for fear of losing then we aren’t good enough for this league.
For Everton, definitely. For Villa, in my opinion, no
Yes, I said this from the start. Give Milijas a free role behind Doyle and keep getting it out to Kites and jarvis
If we get some points out of these games it will make up for the points dropped against lower sides.
i’d be happy enough to go 5 in midfield, but the bigger problem 4me is the form of the players.the system is only ever as good as the players in it. eg. if milijas is a passenger then it doesnt matter what we play-we’ll still struggle. elokobi also out of form, so too mancienne. meanwhile, no striker apart from doyle has given mick a compelling reason to go 2up front thus far (although i’d always go for sylvan). whatever happens v everton, whatever system, i’d just love a load of 7/10 performances, not 4 or 5s. ps, quality blogging again thomas. i am in awe and need 2get my arse in gear 4u. i’m a mairhoffer to your doyle!
I’d also go to 5, but it is a question of trade offs, are Milijas/Edwards going to add as much as SEB. I think they would, because 1) It releases Kightly/Jarvis from defensive duties and 2) If we control the midfield (or if we break even rather than being over-run) then that will make the 1 striker more effective than one.
The season is long, no need to panic, and great to see my prediction re: Zubar coming true. He’ll come good, just needs confidence. Please, if you get to go to games, get behind him. He has the attributes but is a confidence player.
PS – Daz I hope Brisbane smack Gold Coast.
It seems I have been outvoted on this issue but I stand by what I said. Goals are at a premium anyway and only having a lone striker makes that issue even worse.
Hallam, the counter to this is not conceeding first is at a premium, and 4-5-1 makes us less susceptible (and vulnerable we have been) to this.
I think also, there is a generally held view that draws are good results in the upcoming fixtures (as opposed to Pompey, Hull where we wanted 442 to press for all 3 points).
Please, general consensus makers, dispute or agree with this.
t’om- i agree with what you say when we’re playing away. If we get a clean sheet at Everton then we’ll have got a good result. I remember how well we played at Wigan with this system.
Still think we need to go 442 at home though. What do you reckon?
In my experience of the premiership, the most important aspect of playing five in midfield is the quality of the lone striker.
Speaking as a Pompey fan (notice how I’m avoiding speaking about last saturday!), the best lone forward we’ve had is Benjani. He was excellent at chasing down the full backs, working the back four and buying time which allowed the midfield to get involved in the game. However, while he was good at this, Benjani’s all round play was pretty appalling. He had little skill and wasn’t great in front of goal by any stretch of the imagination.
My point is, do Wolves have someone to plough the lone striker role effectively? Doyle’s a very decent player and at home in this league, but is he the non-stop work horse you’ll need to play 4-5-1? If not, then no matter what you do with your five in midfield, you’ll have problems up top.
Richard- Doyle is a very hard worker and will run his socks off. Dare i say it so will Andy Keogh who was fantastic in that role at Wigan. But he like Benjani, won’t get many goals, but i feel Doyle would. I hate the thought that Ebanks-Blake could be left out for a long time though.
Play 5 in midfield and SEB will be out for a long time as he doesn’t play the lone striker role at all well and needs to feed off a partner. I think in the next few games we need to shore up the defence and therefore may have to utilise the 4-5-1 approach and hopefully sneak a goal on the counter. I’m with Hallam in that I think we really need to set up to score goals as we need to win games. Unlike a lot of you I’m not worried about Everton or Villa – on their day they are 2 really good teams but both have the ability of losing when you least expect it, I think we will get points out of these games, with lady luck smiling on us a little. Stoke are garbage – they set up with 11 behind the ball and defend and thats it. The only attacking option they have is Rory Delap – cope with his throws and you won’t lose to Stoke – however we may not score either due to the uber defensive dullness! Those 3 games will yield at least 5 points and maybe even 7. Watch and see!
Jed – agree about stoke, 442 all the way.
I’d also just like to add to this that 451 isn’t necessarily as defensive as people make out, if Milijas is able to boss a couple of games and really get it together, and Kights and Jarvis both fire, we might just end up with more creativity.
BTW, well done Nenad Milijas, first Wolf qualified for the World Cup
t’om…went to see the Roar yesterday, simply appalling. I won’t bother with excuses regarding players missing or the incompetent ref !! Plain and simple, Brisbane were atrocious, and Suncorp is a graveyard. Only 8,000 bothered to turn up yesterday. Wolves content…I would play 5 across the middle in EVERY game, we have to start accumulating points, not throwing them away. On Saturday, I would play doyle on his own up front, ( no chnage there then) and leave keogh out altogether. Jarvis, Kightly, Henry, Edwards and Castillo in the middle. Stearman, Zubar, Berra and Mancienne at the back. Elokobi needs a rest.
Hey Daz, I do feel a great deal of empathy for you at the moment. To be honest, it sounds similar to Perth when the FFFA (I’ll leave to your imagination what the first F is for) were running our club, the whole shooting yourself in the foot thing gets appaling.
Just take heart that given the levelling rules (squad size, salary cap) in this league, you can stall (or freefall) for a couple of years and not lose too much ground.
At least Glory’s example show you guys that you can get out of it and have some success (we’re a silly chance to win it this year).
I agree with your formation for Sat, just depends on Mick’s assessment of Milijas, as Milijas/Edwards is the only real thing up for debate.
Sorry, just re-read, Zubar at LB Mancienne at CB might be the other difference in opinion given what Paddy says about Mick’s intentions.
Hello again guys.
I do and don’t agree with 5 in the middle. I agree we need to sure up the middle to make ourselves harder to beat but I don’t think we have the players good enough in the two roles that make 4-5-1 work effectivley. Lone striker and creative free role midfileder, the Torres and Gerrard roles if you will.
5 in the middle absolultey donsn’t release Jarvis and Kightley from thier defensive duties. Their job stays exaclty the same. The five in the middle is to allow the player behind the striker a free role, it frees up his defensive duties, not the wingers. Our most creatve midfielder is proving to be badly out of form and in danger of becoming regarded as a flop so why play a system to cater to him???
Also I don’t think Doyle is the man to play up front on his own. Doyle has looked very good this season. Getting the ball into feet in a deeper position than his strike partenr most of the time. He is not the stong, run the channels good in the air player that Torres is (I know he is the best striker on the planet, lone or otherwise so the comparison is a little unfair).
After thinkg hard about 4-5-1 I would have to come to the conclusion that the players we have in the sqaud dictate a 4-4-2 and that is what I would play. Castillio has to be one of the centre pair (You can all ague about his partner as I see it as much of a muchness between Edwards and Henry) and play Doyle and SEB together.
And for all you advocates of 4-5-1 think about this. The only striker we have who could make the system work is our very own Keogh. You cpouple that with Millijas being the other player your pinning your hopes on to make the system work going forward and you might change your mind on playing 4-5-1.
What do you all think???
apparently pete with a new thread now going, not much. lol
nah you make some good points but i will say, ‘wigan away’ but with doyle upfront still seems pretty appealing for some of the more difficult away games to me
Sam,
LOL
I know, I clicked submit comment and saw the new thread and thought BOLLOCKS!!!
Never mind hey???