CMS eyes a top-two finish (From The Argus)

Time to put your scoring boots on then macca.

The positivity is infectious... The excitement mounts, can't wait to get there tonight. Let's keep the momentum going. Fingers crossed.

Lets hope we get three points, give Vicente another 45 minutes, and get Greer back fit for rest of season.

So a plan B then… Was it just me or did anyone else notice that CMS was the more advanced of the two on Saturday? I presume that was because of the wrestling match for possession in midfield and Leo's physical ability to assist. I'm not sure what Appleton's preferred formation is but I am hoping to see Leo a little more advanced with CMS snapping up the scraps. Without climbing on board any bandwagons (and I don't think my opinions have strayed too much from some form of consistency this season); I didn't think CMS was particularly effective on Saturday. I don't think that Hoskins is any better but the 'give him a try' brigade have a point BUT only with the enforced absence of Barnes, who I have a sneaky feeling has the ability to profit most from the current slightly less cautious approach (CHARGE!); unless CMS starts scoring again (harsh I know)... As for Vicente (Vincente!!!), I would personally prefer him in the hole behind Leo (instead of CMS) with support from Orlandi and Spanish Dave (or Buckley) with Hammond in support (which is possibly how we'll finish this evening). We DO need another defensive midfield player in the side if we are playing two up front. Hammond is not setting the world alight but he is the 'best fit'. I like Dicker (good enough for this level issues apart) but he cannot perform that role (without giving the ball away) and Crofts has been unconvincing. Someone described Hammond as passing sideways too much; that is his job. To protect the defence, to maintain possession and allow the creators to create. He has previously been given more adventurous roles but Liam can't do it all (he does try though…). Anyway I know how much people are understanding and supportive of those people in the side with thankless tasks...

If the starting 11 think the same positive way as Craig,then Blackburn are in for a very tough night!.UTA

If he's eyeing a top two finish, he must be looking for a transfer to Cardiff !!

I thought he was quite useful on Sat Mark, never posed a threat in front of goal but often pushed wide right with bruno playing the ball down the line into space and Macca holding it up. This helped stretch a compact Hull defence.

However, if he's dropping wide to get the ball why not start Buckley...

fairweathersupporter I concur.
Yes it's all about opionions but talk of replacing Hammond with Dicker or one of the more creative players is madness. The opposition would just stroll up and down the middle of the park leaving Liam chasing his tail all night.

Optimism is fine but let's not start trying to run before we can walk, CMS. I think most of us on this board would settle for sixth place right now. I know I would.

To achieve that, or anything higher, we need our strikers to start scoring on a regular basis, and although I hate to point it out, you've only scored once in the last 11 games and haven't found the net since January 1.

Tonight would be the ideal team to find the net again. That would be a real cause for optimism. UTA!

I would start Vicente.

Firstly the game is less frantic in first half. Coming on as sub is normally an all or nothing option. The slower pace of the first half would suit better IMO. He could play on 15-20 mins after halftime depending on how he is going. He needs match time surely.

Then in subbing him on 60-70 mins we have the option of replacing with a defensive/attacking option depending on state of game.


Please no more Hammond!!

Anybody else think CMS has a bit of a monkey face in that photo? No offence meant , just made me chuckle. COYS!

lonegull wrote:
fairweathersupporter I concur.
Yes it's all about opionions but talk of replacing Hammond with Dicker or one of the more creative players is madness. The opposition would just stroll up and down the middle of the park leaving Liam chasing his tail all night.

Yep agree, not easy picking the 11 taking everything into account.

The good thing is the fans are spoilt for choice.

bruce beckett wrote:
Optimism is fine but let's not start trying to run before we can walk, CMS. I think most of us on this board would settle for sixth place right now. I know I would.

To achieve that, or anything higher, we need our strikers to start scoring on a regular basis, and although I hate to point it out, you've only scored once in the last 11 games and haven't found the net since January 1.

Tonight would be the ideal team to find the net again. That would be a real cause for optimism. UTA!

Completely agree. Think line up unlikely to be much different to Saturday ,assuming players fitness levels as were saturday. no point speculating on line up Gus will play same again imho .
Just lets hope we get another win to continue keeping the season alive as can't wait to finish work and get to the game.

bruce beckett wrote:
Optimism is fine but let's not start trying to run before we can walk, CMS. I think most of us on this board would settle for sixth place right now. I know I would.

To achieve that, or anything higher, we need our strikers to start scoring on a regular basis, and although I hate to point it out, you've only scored once in the last 11 games and haven't found the net since January 1.

Tonight would be the ideal team to find the net again. That would be a real cause for optimism. UTA!

If you want to finish 6th, aim for 2nd.

Taking the eight that are nailed on to start tonight that only leaves three places and to fit Vicente into one of those slots looks hard.

I doubt that Blackburn would want him on the park for any amount of time so maybe, if it can be done without giving up the midfield, Vicente should start.

We are so close to firing on all 4 properly, that I can see us pushing a top 2/3 finish if we click, If? But this is how it has been for us all season, so very frustraighting.
I am like most bemused as some of GP's team selection, I know we can all sit here and pick our best 11 but for me AB (glad he's banned for 2 more games) & DL are over rated.

Barnies - what are his attributes?? Pace, shooting, dribbling, tackling, creative pass, spot kicks no no no... Just a div 1 work hourse who likes getting booked, yes I did go watch the Arsenal game but every dog has it's day, 1 good game in 10.

Lopez - on the right mid, he seems to get lost, can't beat a player. Obviousley can take a spot kick, and final delivey is OK but when we have WB on then bench it is mad to play him, night and day the difference.

How about the same team against Hull but WB in for lopez (get abit more width) and Vincente for Orlandi (bit quiet Sat),

SHIPPERS4 wrote:
We are so close to firing on all 4 properly, that I can see us pushing a top 2/3 finish if we click, If? But this is how it has been for us all season, so very frustraighting. I am like most bemused as some of GP's team selection, I know we can all sit here and pick our best 11 but for me AB (glad he's banned for 2 more games) & DL are over rated. Barnies - what are his attributes?? Pace, shooting, dribbling, tackling, creative pass, spot kicks no no no... Just a div 1 work hourse who likes getting booked, yes I did go watch the Arsenal game but every dog has it's day, 1 good game in 10. Lopez - on the right mid, he seems to get lost, can't beat a player. Obviousley can take a spot kick, and final delivey is OK but when we have WB on then bench it is mad to play him, night and day the difference. How about the same team against Hull but WB in for lopez (get abit more width) and Vincente for Orlandi (bit quiet Sat),

If we were to swap Lopez and Orlandi as you suggest would that not leave us vunerable in midfield?

Lopez has very good defensive instincts and is useful at set pieces. Orlandi can handle himself in midfield, defending as well as pushing foward.

Both Buckley and Vicente are far more attack minded and I am not sure that their defensive qualities would be enough. Playing two strikers requires us to beef up the midfield more than we might with just a lone striker.

If we were sitting at the top of the table then yeah, I would give your idea a go, if only to see how it works.

He might want to start by putting ball in hole then.

Got to take your hat off to CMS. Regardless of his short comings his enthusiasm and work rate are second to none. If that sort of attitude spreads through the team anything is possible. 2-1 tonight I reckon, plus I can see Leeds getting a draw at Boro.

fairweathersupporter wrote:
So a plan B then… Was it just me or did anyone else notice that CMS was the more advanced of the two on Saturday? I presume that was because of the wrestling match for possession in midfield and Leo's physical ability to assist. I'm not sure what Appleton's preferred formation is but I am hoping to see Leo a little more advanced with CMS snapping up the scraps. Without climbing on board any bandwagons (and I don't think my opinions have strayed too much from some form of consistency this season); I didn't think CMS was particularly effective on Saturday. I don't think that Hoskins is any better but the 'give him a try' brigade have a point BUT only with the enforced absence of Barnes, who I have a sneaky feeling has the ability to profit most from the current slightly less cautious approach (CHARGE!); unless CMS starts scoring again (harsh I know)... As for Vicente (Vincente!!!), I would personally prefer him in the hole behind Leo (instead of CMS) with support from Orlandi and Spanish Dave (or Buckley) with Hammond in support (which is possibly how we'll finish this evening). We DO need another defensive midfield player in the side if we are playing two up front. Hammond is not setting the world alight but he is the 'best fit'. I like Dicker (good enough for this level issues apart) but he cannot perform that role (without giving the ball away) and Crofts has been unconvincing. Someone described Hammond as passing sideways too much; that is his job. To protect the defence, to maintain possession and allow the creators to create. He has previously been given more adventurous roles but Liam can't do it all (he does try though…). Anyway I know how much people are understanding and supportive of those people in the side with thankless tasks...

I agree with most of this, particularly about Hammond. He's not in the team to make defence-splitting passes. He's there to win the ball and get it to someone that can create. Much the same job that Bridcutt does but with the added responsibility of having to cover ground too. Bridcutt is brilliant at what he does but he has the advantage of being able to not move from his position. Hammond doesn't get that luxury.

However, I see the CMS situation differently. IMHO, if CMS plays he basically has to be the furthest forward or at least alongside the furthest forward. I just don't see him being adaptable enough to fill in anywhere else in the team.

Vegas - starting with mainly the same side but getting Vicente isn't too hard. Straight swap with Orlandi. It's Buckley that I think is difficult to fit in with 2 strikers.

Good point you make about Hammond, WestStander. Sometimes you don't can't place a true value on a player until he's out of the side (Barnes being a case in point).

Bridcutt and Hammond provide much-needed protection to the back four. I like Lopez too as, like most continental players, he has a good first touch and can pass the ball.

Don't think you can start Vicente right now but if Buckley is as good as Gus thinks he is, then surely he must start instead of either Orlandi or Lopez? No point in playing CMS and Ulloa if you don't provide them with any service.

suede27 wrote:
He might want to start by putting ball in hole then.

LOL

fratsomrover wrote:
If he's eyeing a top two finish, he must be looking for a transfer to Cardiff !!

Even Nooney is now a unused sub with them.

SHIPPERS4 wrote:
We are so close to firing on all 4 properly, that I can see us pushing a top 2/3 finish if we click, If? But this is how it has been for us all season, so very frustraighting. I am like most bemused as some of GP's team selection, I know we can all sit here and pick our best 11 but for me AB (glad he's banned for 2 more games) & DL are over rated. Barnies - what are his attributes?? Pace, shooting, dribbling, tackling, creative pass, spot kicks no no no... Just a div 1 work hourse who likes getting booked, yes I did go watch the Arsenal game but every dog has it's day, 1 good game in 10. Lopez - on the right mid, he seems to get lost, can't beat a player. Obviousley can take a spot kick, and final delivey is OK but when we have WB on then bench it is mad to play him, night and day the difference. How about the same team against Hull but WB in for lopez (get abit more width) and Vincente for Orlandi (bit quiet Sat),

The midfield played very narrow on Saturday. That's why Lopez was preferred to Buckley as the latter isn't suited to playing centrally. Lopez is more of an all-rounder.

This is why I think Buckley is difficult to fit in with 2 strikers. Even more so if squeezing Vicente in with the 2 strikers.

This story typifies CMS' brilliant attitude. Did anyone see the programme about Penguins last night? There was 1 particular type of Penguin that had to jump up the side of a cliff face. They kept falling down but getting back up and never giving up. Reminded me of CMS!

Yes, I'm going straight to the Amex from the pub!!! ;-)

saraman wrote:
Got to take your hat off to CMS. Regardless of his short comings his enthusiasm and work rate are second to none. If that sort of attitude spreads through the team anything is possible. 2-1 tonight I reckon, plus I can see Leeds getting a draw at Boro.

You got this spot on.He must be one of the most hard working players to ever play for the Albion.But could he ever be a good prem-league player?I just don't think so some how.Also shame to here Bobby Z will soon be out the game between 8 mths and a year.At just 32 he can now only play between 25 and 45mins tops.After 45mins the poor guy is in so much pain he can't walk for three days after.Such a shame a really nice guy on and off the pitch.

Come on Craig....forget eyeing up a top two finish and just concentrate on eyeing up the back of the net and kicking the ball into it, not just past the post, not just over the bar, not getting it caught under your foot etc....just kick it into the bloody net with the talent you obviously have. Time for goals Craig.....the time is now !!!

.

Gotta love the guy! But, erm, no! Unless he starts to score of course