Up Front Versus Millwall?
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Schrödinger's Toad
Nie dla Idiotów
- Jan 21, 2004
- 11,957
Just don't let Kinkygerbil take the penalties. Knight and Claridge.
JJ McClure
Go Jags
Is Zteve good at holding his balls up?
Halftime Oranges
New member
I think safeway is injured anyway
Lammy
Registered Abuser
I'd start with Claridge and Virgo up front with either Knight as a winger or on the bench incase we go behind.
But let's face it there is more chance of me winning the lottery than McGhee playing more than one striker up front away from home...
But let's face it there is more chance of me winning the lottery than McGhee playing more than one striker up front away from home...
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,077
McGhee has said in the Argus that Virgo will play against Millwall. If Knight is moved from the strikers position that is a disgrace, he was MOTM on Saturday and whatever happened to never changing a winning team Mr McGhee?
Lammy
Registered Abuser
Uncle Buck said:
Knight had a good game against Rotherham but he STILL didn't score. Knight is so easy to defend agaist I'd be seriously worried if he were up front from the start. I think he is better off on the wing to run at them. Much easier to receive the ball on the ground when you are on the wing. He will also be able to use his pace to greater affect. Not sure where this leaves Curry though who I'd rather started the game.
In short I'd like to see Virgo and Claridge up front with Currie on the wing and Knight on the bench to bring on as another attacking option if we go a goal down.
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,077
Lammy said:
Knight is a confidence player and that is being built up, dropping him will knock that again. He did everything on Saturday, but score and they only way he will score is by playing. There is no way Virgo should walk back into the side, the early success he had up front was more down to the fact that defenders did not know anything about him, but he has been found out now and is fairly one dimensional as a forward.
Bruce Lee Wannabe
New member
I'd go with Knight and Claridge. Didn't see the game on Saturday, just listened to it but it sounds like he did everything but score and so hp[efullyhis confidence is on the way back
ShorehamGull
He's now back
Difficult one, but I would start with Knight and Claridge
Claridge & Knight will partner each other upfront in a 4-4-2 formation. I also think Adam Virgo will start as center back.
It'll only take one Leon goal for him to hit true form, and with someone of Claridge build we can really give Millwall a run for their money.
-Eaton Frog
It'll only take one Leon goal for him to hit true form, and with someone of Claridge build we can really give Millwall a run for their money.
-Eaton Frog
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,077
Eaton Frog said:
So you are going to drop the 5 man defence that has worked with some success in the last 2 away games, remove two of the centre backs that have been part of that and put Virgo in this defence who has not played at Centre Back all season. Dare I ask who will partner Virgo?
larus
Well-known member
To me it seems a no-brainer really.
Knight is a striker. Proved it last year.
Claridge is a striker.
Virgo is a defender.
Knight hasn't been playing great so far this season, but he's definately been getting better, and Saturday was the first time this season that he's played a full game with a proper strike partner. IMO, he played very well. OK, he didn't score, but that will come.
To change this formation now would be strange. It may not hurt Virgo to be dropped to the bench and take some punishment from the club for being sent off.
It must be Knight and Claridge. If not, I hope that Knight sake that he leaves at the end of the season. If he stays with McGhee as manager, he stands no chance of progressing if he gets dropped even after playing well. What signal does that send to the guy?
Knight is a striker. Proved it last year.
Claridge is a striker.
Virgo is a defender.
Knight hasn't been playing great so far this season, but he's definately been getting better, and Saturday was the first time this season that he's played a full game with a proper strike partner. IMO, he played very well. OK, he didn't score, but that will come.
To change this formation now would be strange. It may not hurt Virgo to be dropped to the bench and take some punishment from the club for being sent off.
It must be Knight and Claridge. If not, I hope that Knight sake that he leaves at the end of the season. If he stays with McGhee as manager, he stands no chance of progressing if he gets dropped even after playing well. What signal does that send to the guy?
Schrödinger's Toad
Nie dla Idiotów
- Jan 21, 2004
- 11,957
We have finally got something that resembles a strike partnership, we've outplayed the second-placed team (at our best with LK on), and deservedly beaten a relegation rival. Virgo hasn't done it up front for about two months now, and Leon is playing the best he has all season.
As I see it, there's no dilemma.
There's no way Virgo should walk straight back in - he was stupid enough to get sent off, he can sit on the bench until an opening emerges.
As I see it, there's no dilemma.
There's no way Virgo should walk straight back in - he was stupid enough to get sent off, he can sit on the bench until an opening emerges.
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Silent Bob
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
- Dec 6, 2004
- 22,172
Knighty and Claridge.
London Irish
Well-known member
Virgo will obviously walk back in - the giveaway on this is that McGhee has said as much whenever he's been asked. The reasoning is that Virgo puts opposition defences under physical pressure, neither Claridge or Knight can do that. The idea that Virgo has been less effective in doing that in recent games lacks a shred a evidence, but of course knock yourself out if you think you know better than McGhee, it's a free country.
Knight or Claridge though is a fascinating call.
I've not been impressed with Claridge in the targetman role, but I think he can do well playing off the space Virgo creates.
Knight was superb running from deep positions on Saturday but you can't ignore the reality of 4 glorious missed chances, a striker at this level should have at least got 2 or 3 of those shots on target and scored from one.
Too close to call this one. Maybe the "old team" pyschological factor just swings it Claridge's way. Maybe bring Knight on as a winger in the second half if we need to go for it?
Knight or Claridge though is a fascinating call.
I've not been impressed with Claridge in the targetman role, but I think he can do well playing off the space Virgo creates.
Knight was superb running from deep positions on Saturday but you can't ignore the reality of 4 glorious missed chances, a striker at this level should have at least got 2 or 3 of those shots on target and scored from one.
Too close to call this one. Maybe the "old team" pyschological factor just swings it Claridge's way. Maybe bring Knight on as a winger in the second half if we need to go for it?
I can't believe MM has said Virgs will walk back into the team, although I have read it with my own eyes... I can only hope that he is trying to outwit the opposition with some false information...
Leon was by far and away our best player on Sat, and deserves to stay in the team, and in his correct position, which is not as a winger, where his talents are wasted... he needs to be running at players from just outside the box and in the centre... not from the wing, where the threat he creates is much reduced...
IMHO, Claridge should also stay in the team, especially with Millwall being his old club...
The Leon / Claridge partnership looks like the best bet given our current squad... they are both strikers, and Virgo isn't.... also, Leon definitely played better alongside a recognised striker... Leon has pointed out several times that Virgs doesn't really know what he is doing up-front... I think he is right, even if he shouldn't have gone public... the Leon / Claridge partnership WILL develop into a good one if given the chance...
To point out that Leon didn't score on Sat is a very weak argument, IMHO... so what?... the goals will come, if he is given a half-decent chance to produce them be his manager... and this means Leon needs a good run in the side alongside another striker...
So... Claridge and Leon for me...
Leon was by far and away our best player on Sat, and deserves to stay in the team, and in his correct position, which is not as a winger, where his talents are wasted... he needs to be running at players from just outside the box and in the centre... not from the wing, where the threat he creates is much reduced...
IMHO, Claridge should also stay in the team, especially with Millwall being his old club...
The Leon / Claridge partnership looks like the best bet given our current squad... they are both strikers, and Virgo isn't.... also, Leon definitely played better alongside a recognised striker... Leon has pointed out several times that Virgs doesn't really know what he is doing up-front... I think he is right, even if he shouldn't have gone public... the Leon / Claridge partnership WILL develop into a good one if given the chance...
To point out that Leon didn't score on Sat is a very weak argument, IMHO... so what?... the goals will come, if he is given a half-decent chance to produce them be his manager... and this means Leon needs a good run in the side alongside another striker...
So... Claridge and Leon for me...