03 Feb 2017 20:31:05
Moving on from the embarrassment of Wednesday night what team and formation would my fellow bears like to see start tomorrow. I genuinely believe that if Warburton wants to show us the fans he is willing to change (which I strongly doubt) he has to seriously reshuffle the pack. Keirnan, Halliday and Tav all should be dropped to the bench. I would also bring Alnwick in ahead of Wes simply due to his morale which will be rock bottom after conceding 4 on Wednesday.

I strongly believe with the players we have at our disposal, the best formation is a 5-3-2. We need an extra man at the back to protect the teams main weakness in defence.

My team would be:
Alnwick
Hodson, Senderos, Hill, Bates, Wallace
Toral, Wilson, Hyndman
McKay, Miller

Alnwick should be given a start to freshen things up and show us what he is capable of. Wes should still be No 1. if it wasn't for his 2 outstanding saves in the last 20 mins Wednesday night could have been a lot worse. That 70 yard pass he played to start a counter attack in the first half was tremendous but his morale will have taken a battering with the goals conceded and he looks so nervous with our current defence in front of him.

I would play Hill as a sweeper. He has no pace but has the experience and is vocal. He clears almost every ball in the air when it's launched at him and playing from a sweeper position can organise our shaky defence. Senderos has to be given a chance to prove himself which imo he hasn't had. Surely his experience can provide us with more steal at the back and aggression in the air something our current defence does not have and let's be honest he has got to be better option than keirnan the bomb scare. I would give Bates a chance to show us what he is capable of. He is strong and quick for his age and with the guidance of 2 experienced pros by his side I believe he would excel in the position. With Wallace and Hodson as wing backs.

Moving into midfield I would play Wilson as our holding midfielder. He is naturally a defensive player (something we don't have at present) and on his day is a good passer of the ball. Halliday should be nowhere near the starting 11 and I don't care that he is a Rangers man he is simply not good enough. Careless on the ball, no positional awareness, poor concentration and just pure mince. Anyone that thinks otherwise is deluded as it screams in your face every time you watch him. Wilson will provide the defence with extra cover in front of them when we don't have the ball and will also complement Toral and Hyndman better allowing them to play their natural positions as attcking minded midfielders.

I would play McKay sitting off Miller as an advanced playmaker in the middle sitting in the hole. I believe McKay is wasted out on the wings. If he doesn't get by his marker in the first half hour of a game he goes into a shell and refuses to pick himself up and keep running at him, preferring to play the easy pass. By playing McKay in the middle it will give him more time and space on the ball to maximise his skill and effectiveness on the game. With Toral and Hyndman bringing more flair and creativity to our midfield this would provide McKay the platform to be effective in this role.

Miller has to play but has to be used as our focal point of attack playing on the last defenders shoulder. With Toral, Hyndman and McKays creativity he shouldn't have to drop deep to get the ball and instead use his energy making the important runs through the middle and in the channels. He would score more goals playing this way and in this formation and is still at the ripe age of 37 our most reliable goal scorer.

Even though he has been with us through the divisions back to the Premiership, Wallace imo is not captain material. He is simply not vocal enough to be our captain. I would have either Miller or Hill as our captain. Miller has the hunger and desire to win and is more vocal than Wallace but I always prefer to have a defensive minded player as a captain so I would sway more to Hill. He is the most vocal and experienced defender we have and that's why I would give him the armband.

Sorry I have dragged that on but I feel the formation and personnel I have chosen would be the most effective way for us to
A. Be more solid at the back and concede fewer goals
B. Be more effective in the middle of the park and the final 3rd.

That's me finished. I await the abuse and disagreement!

1.) 03 Feb 2017
03 Feb 2017 21:00:05
Think i'd go flat back four of hodson wilson hill wallace! Midfield four of windass toral hyndman mckay! Front pair of dodoo and miller! Yes I know no midfield dig but hear me out tell the fullbacks not to bomb on, to come inside and sit infornt of the centerbacks when game is being played further up the park- pep has used this tactic and it works when players work together to shut down space and close off runs and through balls! Yes I know pep has top quality at his disposal but we could bring a new dimension to our game and teams would take a while to counter it and find away of breaking us down

2.) 03 Feb 2017
03 Feb 2017 21:49:24
Warburton doesn't 4 in midfield, its 433 or nothing

3.) 04 Feb 2017
04 Feb 2017 00:44:33
My team would be:

Fod
Hodson, Wilson (if fit) or Hill, Bates, Wallace
Toral,
Dodoo, Hyndman, Windass, McKay
Miller

Both FB's play mainly own half with McKay and Dodoo giving the attacking width. Toral holding and link.

4.) 04 Feb 2017
04 Feb 2017 08:47:48
I would go.

Fod
Hodson bates Wilson/ senderos wallace
Windass Holt hyndman mckay
Dodoo garner/ waghorn

5.) 04 Feb 2017
04 Feb 2017 11:32:33
Pep? He has millions at his disposal and is hardly setting the heather on fire in British football. Warburton is trying the pep approach del boy style and is unable to change a game. We need to face facts warbutton would be decent in a director of football role but he is not and never will be a manager.

6.) 04 Feb 2017
04 Feb 2017 13:26:29
Wilson as holding player above the back 4 Stujack? That's not bad idea at all

7.) 04 Feb 2017
04 Feb 2017 13:17:21
No thanks cee, you drop miller in favour of garner, who can't score, btw he's still injured, we would be in deep trouble without millers goals this yr, he's Ben our best player, fact