Best Starting Xi??

[True_Don]

A poor start to the season.

 

The main issue is that McInnes doesn't know his best team or formation yet.

 

Of all the games this season, have we had the same starting XI 2 games in a row?

 

Yes injuries so far have not helped, but some key questions to be answered:

 

1. What is our best CB pairing?

2. Where should Shinnie be playing?

3. How do you accommodate Burns in the same team as Hayes and McGinn (we cannot play Hayes in CM)

4. What formation are we going with generally, 2 up top? we have signed more forwards than ever before, surely the plan was to play 2 up front yet we still seem to play only 1 striker.

5. What is McLean's position / should he even by in the starting XI?

 

I don't think I can personally see the best team yet. But we still miss that solid CM which means we will continually fall short this season (i hope i am wrong).

 

 

 

 

[BWG]

1. O'Connor and Considine

2. Left back

3. We don't

4. This is McInnes. 1 up top.

5. Not on current form, no. His best position appears to be a holding midfielder.

[Dynamo]

1. What is our best CB pairing? We don't have one. O'Connor even though it's early days is no. 1 but everyone else is much of a muchness.

2. Where should Shinnie be playing? Left back but with Jack injured....midfield.

3. How do you accommodate Burns in the same team as Hayes and McGinn (we cannot play Hayes in CM) I'm surprised that Burns seems to be starting every game to be honest.

Do we have a deal with Bristol that he has to play X minutes (if so, stupid signing)?

4. What formation are we going with generally, 2 up top? we have signed more forwards than ever before, surely the plan was to play 2 up front yet we still seem to play only 1 striker. 2 oup top is needed but anytime Stockley plays the team will just pump the high ball in to him, when in reality we need to get in down the wing and him on the end of headers.

5. What is McLean's position / should he even by in the starting XI? Bench.

[buchanskii]

Miles Storey signing seems utterly pointless.

 

Which is a shame because I think any striker with pace and movement can cause havoc in this league.

[True_Don]

it does seem that maybe the Burns opportunity came along last minute and McInnes decided to take him. I can't imagine you would plan to sign Storey and Burns who are similar and would occupy the same position.

 

I would have rather signed a CM than both those guys.

[DelMonte]

Agree about Stockley. We seem to just play shite football when he plays when really we should play to his strengths. Usual numpties writing him off right away though.

[McPhee123]

Lewis

Logan Considine O'Connor Shinnie

 

 

Jack/Maddison

 

McGinn Hayes

 

 

Pawlett/Maddison

 

 

Storey/Burns

Rooney

 

 

 

I'd give storey a start up front with Rooney... pace alongside a good finisher works a charm on FIFA so why not in real life?

[Guest]

Lewis

Logan Considine O'Connor Shinnie

 

 

Jack/Maddison

 

McGinn Hayes

 

 

Pawlett/Maddison

 

 

Storey/Burns

Rooney

 

 

 

I'd give storey a start up front with Rooney... pace alongside a good finisher works a charm on FIFA so why not in real life?

 

You fishing? Pawlett ahead of Madisson?

[strachanmcgheegoal]

1. O'Connor and one other. Still undecided. Whoever O'Connor wants there!

 

2. Should be left back but in absence of any midfield at the moment and Considine's acceptable efforts at LB he has to be in the middle just now.

 

3. There are two wings. We therefore need two wide men. Simples. Fast runners going at the centre of defence is a different argument. see 4&5. Personal preference would be to try Burns on the right and a fit Hayes on the left. Would free Mcginn, get a bit of hunger about him and possibly let him be considered for central area.

4. Personally I'd like to see two sitting midfielders especially whilst we're still fucking about, 5 games in, getting our defence sorted. See build up to Caley's goal for details. 4 at the back, 2 in front of that and 2 out wide leaves 2. Rooney's the obvious one up top, dry period just now notwithstanding. That leaves 1 who has to sit off Rooney but also link up from the 2 DM's to the 2 wingers - essentially the Number 10 role. Early reports on Maddison are encouraging albeit looks very very light. Mcginn possible shout here?

5. See 10 role above. He has not cut it in 10 role - no goals, no creation, no threat therefore see no reason to continue until he develops a base hunger again. He has been tried at Sitting Midfielder. Hasn't particularly impressed and unfair to give him continuing benefit of the doubt there simply due to Jack's absence when Storie's sitting scratching his arse on the bench.

 

Agree with Buchanski above re pace. Stockley (in a Van Der Ark knock on very little else kind of a way) and Storey playing off him is a viable alternative especially if, see how all these things are linked, we haven't a midfield capable of passing it forward resulting in the long ball hoof time and time again.

[McPhee123]

 

You fishing? Pawlett ahead of Madisson?

Swap 'em round then - he did look decent - I just want Pawlett to get back to his old self!

[Andy_123]

1. What is our best CB pairing? - Taylor and O'Conner at the moment, but fuck me Taylor needs to cut the crap and just keep it simple which is what he's good(ish) at. Our defending for their goal was embarrassing.

2. Where should Shinnie be playing? - LB. I've no issues with him playing CM in the interim while Jack is out though. Any news on the knock he picked up?

3. How do you accommodate Burns in the same team as Hayes and McGinn (we cannot play Hayes in CM) - I've been really impressed by Burns. His run that left 2/3 Caley defenders for dead at the start of the 2nd half was sublime, pity about the finish. Between him, Hayes and McGinn, we had the 2 wide positions covered and for me should be rotating through dips in form, fitness etc to keep all 3 fresh and playing.

4. What formation are we going with generally, 2 up top? we have signed more forwards than ever before, surely the plan was to play 2 up front yet we still seem to play only 1 striker. - I think that for the majority of our home games we should be looking to play 2 up top. Rooney and Storey. The team plays so much worse with Stockley on the pitch, he's bottom of the pecking order for me at the moment. McInnes has fucked up for sure taking in too many attacking players for the way he likes to play while not addressing other areas of the team though.

5. What is McLean's position / should he even by in the starting XI? - His best form for St Mirren was in the number 10 role I think? His current form should see him on the bench. He's lucky Jack's out and he's getting a chance to play his way through this dip* in form

*how long does a "dip" in form last??

 

Based on his showing yesterday, Maddison looks like he'll be a good player. My only concern, which isn't really about him as such, is that he's looking for movement / runs that are a level above the guys he's going to be playing with here. A number of times he had his head up looking for a pass and no-one was moving for him. But for me he has to play number 10 while he's here, as he looked about the only person who was going to make anything happen through the middle of the park.

 

McInnes needs to simplify things and get back to basics. He seems far to interested in having some sort of flexible formation with players swapping positions all over the place rather than having a balanced formation that plays to our strengths. So much so that the players were scratching their heads together at times at the weekend. We're at our best when we get the ball wide and provide Rooney with service, so stop fucking around and set the team up to play that way.

[The Hulk]

1. O'Connor and one other. Still undecided. Whoever O'Connor wants there!

 

2. Should be left back but in absence of any midfield at the moment and Considine's acceptable efforts at LB he has to be in the middle just now.

 

3. There are two wings. We therefore need two wide men. Simples. Fast runners going at the centre of defence is a different argument. see 4&5. Personal preference would be to try Burns on the right and a fit Hayes on the left. Would free Mcginn, get a bit of hunger about him and possibly let him be considered for central area.

4. Personally I'd like to see two sitting midfielders especially whilst we're still fucking about, 5 games in, getting our defence sorted. See build up to Caley's goal for details. 4 at the back, 2 in front of that and 2 out wide leaves 2. Rooney's the obvious one up top, dry period just now notwithstanding. That leaves 1 who has to sit off Rooney but also link up from the 2 DM's to the 2 wingers - essentially the Number 10 role. Early reports on Maddison are encouraging albeit looks very very light. Mcginn possible shout here?

5. See 10 role above. He has not cut it in 10 role - no goals, no creation, no threat therefore see no reason to continue until he develops a base hunger again. He has been tried at Sitting Midfielder. Hasn't particularly impressed and unfair to give him continuing benefit of the doubt there simply due to Jack's absence when Storie's sitting scratching his arse on the bench.

 

Agree with all of this.

 

But RE the formation & especially McLean; McLean has great technique and is a creative player but he's more a no10 in the middle in a 4-4-2 than in a 4-2-3-1.

His future for me is in the deep 2 but with license to get forward. If he plays no10, he needs a more mobile centre forward than Rooney playing in front of him because he himself is not a "lively" player; you need either the no9 or the no10 to be very mobile and for me this is why it hasn't always worked for him there. He's more suited to sitting deep and making late runs, he's more of a "behind the ball" player than a darting forward one. The 4-2-3-1 becomes more of a 4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3 in an attacking sense. He's got to be the dynamic deep-lying playmaker, same as Jack needs to do (and had been showing signs of again) when he comes back. Him playing alongside Shinnie, who is more terrier-like than Jack, should free him to play this role very effectively.

 

Basically if McLean plays no10, then for me, Storey needs to start up front. So what do you do, drop Rooney to accommodate McLean?

[DelMonte]

 

Agree with all of this.

 

But RE the formation & especially McLean; McLean has great technique and is a creative player but he's more a no10 in the middle in a 4-4-2 than in a 4-2-3-1.

His future for me is in the deep 2 but with license to get forward. If he plays no10, he needs a more mobile centre forward than Rooney playing in front of him because he himself is not a "lively" player; you need either the no9 or the no10 to be very mobile and for me this is why it hasn't always worked for him there. He's more suited to sitting deep and making late runs, he's more of a "behind the ball" player than a darting forward one. The 4-2-3-1 becomes more of a 4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3 in an attacking sense. He's got to be the dynamic deep-lying playmaker, same as Jack needs to do (and had been showing signs of again) when he comes back. Him playing alongside Shinnie, who is more terrier-like than Jack, should free him to play this role very effectively.

 

Basically if McLean plays no10, then for me, Storey needs to start up front. So what do you do, drop Rooney to accommodate McLean?

Sounds good to me

[muttonhumper]

1. What is our best CB pairing?

O'Connor & Considine.

2. Where should Shinnie be playing?

Left Back.

3. How do you accommodate Burns in the same team as Hayes and McGinn

When either is playing poorly or off form.

4. What formation are we going with generally, 2 up top? we have signed more forwards than ever before, surely the plan was to play 2 up front yet we still seem to play only 1 striker.

1 up top apparently.

5. What is McLean's position / should he even by in the starting XI?

Arse splintered

[Ernie McCracken]

Swap 'em round then - he did look decent - I just want Pawlett to get back to his old self!

 

 

No no, after watching the game on Saturday Pawlett and Madison have to play together.

 

Pawlett was the only player on the pitch who seemed to realise what Maddison was all about.

 

The two of them linked up really well, but unfortunately they were only on the pitch together for 15 minutes.

 

The rest of the team just seemed to pass the ball to Madison and watch him go.

[Daz the Don]

A poor start to the season.

 

The main issue is that McInnes doesn't know his best team or formation yet.

 

Of all the games this season, have we had the same starting XI 2 games in a row?

 

Yes injuries so far have not helped, but some key questions to be answered:

 

1. What is our best CB pairing?

2. Where should Shinnie be playing?

3. How do you accommodate Burns in the same team as Hayes and McGinn (we cannot play Hayes in CM)

4. What formation are we going with generally, 2 up top? we have signed more forwards than ever before, surely the plan was to play 2 up front yet we still seem to play only 1 striker.

5. What is McLean's position / should he even by in the starting XI?

 

I don't think I can personally see the best team yet. But we still miss that solid CM which means we will continually fall short this season (i hope i am wrong).

 

1. O Conner and Taylor (but only just AT ahead of Consi) The further away Reynolds is from the start 11 nowadays the better.

2. Left Back. In this position he is the best in the country.

3. Burns wide right, Hayes wide left. Mcginn in a striker role off Rooney. Wingers playing on their natural side going past full backs on the outside and cutting the ball back from byline. The hardest type of cross to defend. Particularly as we have 2 full backs who are not shy in support overlap.

4. Rooney and Mcginn are our best finishers by a country mile, play both through the middle, with Mcginn withdrawing slightly when the opposition has the ball.

5. Right now on the bench.

 

Goes without saying Lewis in goal, Logan at RB and when fit Jack at CM.

 

When you look at that its fairly obvious we are in great need of another in Centre Mid, especially one with a bit of dig and who can pass to team mates on high percentage.

 

That for me is our best 10 when all fit. Cant decide on who else should play CM as none of the current squad have proved to be up to requirements this or any other season as yet. If any of the above are not performing then get the hook out, pull them off and replace. You have to give incentive to your squad and the guys who regularly fill the bench. It is demoralizing for players to train all week and find their paths to the first 11 blocked by guys not performing to max but continually get chosen. Even more so if your place is filled by a player not in his natural position.

 

That's a situation that the manager has to "manage" better.

 

 

 

[The Hulk]

 

 

No no, after watching the game on Saturday Pawlett and Madison have to play together.

 

Pawlett was the only player on the pitch who seemed to realise what Maddison was all about.

 

The two of them linked up really well, but unfortunately they were only on the pitch together for 15 minutes.

 

The rest of the team just seemed to pass the ball to Madison and watch him go.

 

It's interesting what you say about Pawlett, coupled with what I say about McLean above.

 

November last year v Dundee Utd at home, Pawlett played the no10 role and McLean played wide right that day (McGinn was benched). On numerous occasions Pawlett made clever forward runs and nobody in any of the other 4 midfield positions had the intelligence to pick these runs up; McLean playing more centrally would have done this. Pawlett bust a gut that day, desperate for some link-up play, and yet he hardly touched the ball.

 

Sometimes our wide players play too wide and too advanced, they're not able to open up angles for these kinds of passes and we end up playing "back to goal" too much; if we could get them playing a bit narrower sometimes this would allow us to take advantage of forward runs, guys like Pawlett can force defenders to have to turn, as soon as you get defenders turning you get them on the ropes. There just seems to be a lack of footballing intelligence at times. I don't necessarily think this is coming from the manager but the way we play sometimes is just a bit too predictable and it ends up being stale and frustrating for us to watch. We've got guys in now who can allow us to freshen the entire thing up if we need to but I don't really think it's just down to changing the players, I think the system needs a bit more flex.

[strachanmcgheegoal]

Said this at the time of Pawletts prime that half of his effectiveness came from Robson picking out his runs. Can only go by minimal highlights on tele but Pawlett and Maddison would have an obvious empathy. But it would be a thugs charter against them like. And forget high balls towards them. Eh Ashton!

[Jimmy Grimble]

 

1. What is our best CB pairing?

O'connor and Reynolds.

2. Where should Shinnie be playing?

Left back.

3. How do you accommodate Burns in the same team as Hayes and McGinn (we cannot play Hayes in CM)

Both Hayes and Mcginn had spells last season when they were pish. With burns neither is undroppable and no excuse for not subbing them.

4. What formation are we going with generally, 2 up top?

Mcinness will go one but I've not a clue. We should be playing Lewis, Logan, o'connor, Reynolds and shinnie as a settled back line. In front of that I've no idea.

5. What is McLean's position / should he even by in the starting XI?

I think centre mid, best I've seen him was one of his first few games alongside Jack once he was dropped back after taking flood off and when he played there alongside storie. At moment he should be benched but with Jack out I'd be playing him

And storie middle of the park.

 

 

 

[northernlights]

 

It's interesting what you say about Pawlett, coupled with what I say about McLean above.

 

November last year v Dundee Utd at home, Pawlett played the no10 role and McLean played wide right that day (McGinn was benched). On numerous occasions Pawlett made clever forward runs and nobody in any of the other 4 midfield positions had the intelligence to pick these runs up; McLean playing more centrally would have done this. Pawlett bust a gut that day, desperate for some link-up play, and yet he hardly touched the ball.

 

Sometimes our wide players play too wide and too advanced, they're not able to open up angles for these kinds of passes and we end up playing "back to goal" too much; if we could get them playing a bit narrower sometimes this would allow us to take advantage of forward runs, guys like Pawlett can force defenders to have to turn, as soon as you get defenders turning you get them on the ropes. There just seems to be a lack of footballing intelligence at times. I don't necessarily think this is coming from the manager but the way we play sometimes is just a bit too predictable and it ends up being stale and frustrating for us to watch. We've got guys in now who can allow us to freshen the entire thing up if we need to but I don't really think it's just down to changing the players, I think the system needs a bit more flex.

 

Good post. There is definitely a lack of football IQ about our attacking play. For example, our wingers often delay their crosses for far too long so that our centre forward(s) are static, without momentum when the cross is finally delivered, giving opposition defenders time to regroup and 'attack' the attempted cross with the goal at their back. Moreover, what I find startling is the apparent lack of understanding between our forwards. They seem to have no intuition about how their colleagues want the ball worked. Against ICT there were many examples of two or three forwards standing in the same area like schoolboy football. We deploy 4 or 5 attack-minded players in a 4-5-1 formation, which makes us 'top-heavy' and we end up 'back to goal' and liable to concede possession. I'd like to see us try something different but we need to redress the balance of the squad.

 

COYR

[Jds192]

His tactics are shit and getting exposed.

 

He plays a 4-3-3 formation and wants to control game but is too shit scared to pick team that is needed for that to work.

 

Other top teams that make the slower 4-3-3 possession game work - press early when lose ball, play a high line, play attacking wing backs all designed to get wide players supporting striker and get numbers in dangerous areas.

 

Mcinnes is playing 4-3-3 and the slow passing game but drops deep when lose ball, plays CBs at full back who cant get forward enough and wide players not getting near striker who is isolated. On top of that he wont sign or play technical midfield players that can open up a tight defence that playing slower means you are faced with.

 

To play 4-3-3 he needs to play Shinnie and Logan and trust them to take the width going forward which allow Hayes and Mcginn to get nearer Rooney, play Maddison AM and give him freedom to take risks to open them up. Also dont drop deep when the likes of Caley win ball. Pressure their shite players and try to win it early and expose gaps at back.

 

Either that or go 4-4-2, sit deeper and hit teams on break. Play Storey with Rooney up top where he can run channels and offer a threat in behind early that Rooney cant. Just now Rooney is too easy to defend and defenders know exactly the one dimensional threat he poses on his own.

 

Play quicker on the break and allow Mcginn and Hayes to be wingers who go for jugular early.

 

Look a lack of any real plan and Mcinnes wants to play the possession game but is too conservative to take the risks to make it work.

[muttonhumper]

McInnes oot!

 

Jds 192 for manager.

[The Boofon]

His tactics are shit and getting exposed.

 

He plays a 4-3-3 formation and wants to control game but is too shit scared to pick team that is needed for that to work.

 

Other top teams that make the slower 4-3-3 possession game work - press early when lose ball, play a high line, play attacking wing backs all designed to get wide players supporting striker and get numbers in dangerous areas.

 

Mcinnes is playing 4-3-3 and the slow passing game but drops deep when lose ball, plays CBs at full back who cant get forward enough and wide players not getting near striker who is isolated. On top of that he wont sign or play technical midfield players that can open up a tight defence that playing slower means you are faced with.

 

To play 4-3-3 he needs to play Shinnie and Logan and trust them to take the width going forward which allow Hayes and Mcginn to get nearer Rooney, play Maddison AM and give him freedom to take risks to open them up. Also dont drop deep when the likes of Caley win ball. Pressure their shite players and try to win it early and expose gaps at back.

 

Either that or go 4-4-2, sit deeper and hit teams on break. Play Storey with Rooney up top where he can run channels and offer a threat in behind early that Rooney cant. Just now Rooney is too easy to defend and defenders know exactly the one dimensional threat he poses on his own.

 

Play quicker on the break and allow Mcginn and Hayes to be wingers who go for jugular early.

 

Look a lack of any real plan and Mcinnes wants to play the possession game but is too conservative to take the risks to make it work.

 

 

Boom.

 

That's what we should be doing. 4-4-2 would destroy the opposition.

[strachanmcgheegoal]

His tactics are shit and getting exposed.

 

He plays a 4-3-3 formation and wants to control game but is too shit scared to pick team that is needed for that to work.

 

Other top teams that make the slower 4-3-3 possession game work - press early when lose ball, play a high line, play attacking wing backs all designed to get wide players supporting striker and get numbers in dangerous areas.

 

Mcinnes is playing 4-3-3 and the slow passing game but drops deep when lose ball, plays CBs at full back who cant get forward enough and wide players not getting near striker who is isolated. On top of that he wont sign or play technical midfield players that can open up a tight defence that playing slower means you are faced with.

 

To play 4-3-3 he needs to play Shinnie and Logan and trust them to take the width going forward which allow Hayes and Mcginn to get nearer Rooney, play Maddison AM and give him freedom to take risks to open them up. Also dont drop deep when the likes of Caley win ball. Pressure their shite players and try to win it early and expose gaps at back.

 

Either that or go 4-4-2, sit deeper and hit teams on break. Play Storey with Rooney up top where he can run channels and offer a threat in behind early that Rooney cant. Just now Rooney is too easy to defend and defenders know exactly the one dimensional threat he poses on his own.

 

Play quicker on the break and allow Mcginn and Hayes to be wingers who go for jugular early.

 

Look a lack of any real plan and Mcinnes wants to play the possession game but is too conservative to take the risks to make it work.

 

:hysterical:

 

Is that before or after his nap and him turning to play it back to, oops Jacks not there, oh well even further back to Logan then before jogging BACK up the touchline TOWARDS fucking Logan to demand the ball have another nap.

[Jds192]

 

:hysterical:

 

Is that before or after his nap and him turning to play it back to, oops Jacks not there, oh well even further back to Logan then before jogging BACK up the touchline TOWARDS fucking Logan to demand the ball have another nap.

 

That is how they are being told to play. That is the point.

 

Most of Mcginns best moments at Aberdeen have been when he has played in break and gone at defences early and taken risks. He can easily do that.

 

Mcginn is about the one player that can win a game with a bit of magic more than anyone else. Give him the freedom to do it more.

[Mr John]

4-1-4-1

 

Lewis

 

Logan

O'Connor

Considine

Shinnie

 

Storie

 

McGinn

Mclean

Maddison

Hayes

 

Rooney

 

[the_shrimp]

4-1-4-1

 

Lewis

 

Logan

O'Connor

Considine

Shinnie

 

Storie

 

McGinn

Mclean

Maddison

Hayes

 

Rooney

 

Looks awesome...let's go!