5 at the back

[Wales-Bales]

Re: 5 at the back

I think you may able to get away with it if we go with a back 4 and those 4 as forwards, but the midfield 2 would have to be incredibly disciplined and on it all game, who partners Ampadu in there?

Davies! Whenever Page switches to 4 at the back, Ben gets shunted out to left back and spends a lot of the time as an overlapping winger. Let Neco do that.

[Wales-Bales]

Re: 5 at the back

Rodon is a poor defender, constantly out of position and drawn in by forwards. He's slow mentally and physically, his bravery is his only saving grace as it sees him putting in those blocks and challenges.
He's lucky we play with 2 other centre halves, imagine him in a back 4!

Mepham is the better player, I've maintained this for a while and he's starting to prove it with some impressive performances with Bournemouth

Rodon is better in a back 4, and he sometimes gets confused in the middle of a 3. Ampadu on the other hand is a natural in the middle of a back 3, and he can even play a hybrid role drifting between the CDM position.

[City123]

Re: 5 at the back

Davies! Whenever Page switches to 4 at the back, Ben gets shunted out to left back and spends a lot of the time as an overlapping winger. Let Neco do that.

Davies as part of a back 4 makes far more sense than it does with him playing in midfield considering he, you know, has played full back at a high level. Davies on the left offers a back 4 far more balance as well. Roberts and Williams are, and I'm being generous here, suspect defensively so a back 4 with those 2 as full backs wouldn't work. The more defensive Davies provides balance to a back 4, giving Williams a license to roam and effectively becoming a back 3 when we're attacking.

On midfield you've offered no reasoning as to why Davies should play midfield on Tuesday, if you gave proper reasoning I may be more inclined to agree. The ability to occasionally step out of the defensive line does not mean you are capable of playing 90 minutes in midfield. It is a completely different position that requires proper training if you're going to switch positions to play there, not a case of 2 days before a match saying "Ben, you're in midfield son".

The attacking problem I see with a back 4 is we put the more defensively minded winger (James) on the same side as Davies, for me it makes more sense to have Johnson playing on the left and having the stability of Davies behind him, with Williams' attacking runs being covered by James' work rate. If Allen is fit then he needs to partner Ampadu in there, if not get Morrell in.

This is all academic anyway as we know Page will go with the same team that has failed miserably so far and hope Bale comes up with something

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Re: 5 at the back

This is all academic anyway as we know Page will go with the same team that has failed miserably so far and hope Bale comes up with something

The weird thing is, we’ve gone so far away from what we are good at and what we usually do. We should be hard to beat and hitting teams on the break like we normally do. It’s so weird. The last word I’d use to describe Wales in the last 8(?) years is a shambles, and that’s exactly what we’ve been.

I think we might do better against England, as the game is definitely one to revert to type. Rodon is crap though. He just gets sucked in all the time and then doesn’t foul the player when he gets done. He just doesn’t learn. Roberts has had a nightmare as well, which hasn’t helped as he is so important.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: 5 at the back

The weird thing is, we’ve gone so far away from what we are good at and what we usually do. We should be hard to beat and hitting teams on the break like we normally do. It’s so weird. The last word I’d use to describe Wales in the last 8(?) years is a shambles, and that’s exactly what we’ve been.

I think we might do better against England, as the game is definitely one to revert to type. Rodon is crap though. He just gets sucked in all the time and then doesn’t foul the player when he gets done. He just doesn’t learn. Roberts has had a nightmare as well, which hasn’t helped as he is so important.

I’d say most teams in this World Cup have more pace and dynamism than us - our counter attacking wouldn’t be as effective especially when playing in temperatures like Friday’s.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Re: 5 at the back

I’d say most teams in this World Cup have more pace and dynamism than us - our counter attacking wouldn’t be as effective especially when playing in temperatures like Friday’s.

It’s why James has played every game under Page, and then curiously has stopped being included. Him or Johnson have to play for me. James’ non stop pressing also stops the opposition going provided we can get on the ball at times, which we couldn’t do vs USA.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: 5 at the back

It’s why James has played every game under Page, and then curiously has stopped being included. Him or Johnson have to play for me. James’ non stop pressing also stops the opposition going provided we can get on the ball at times, which we couldn’t do vs USA.

I’d say both, including Wilson hasn’t worked. I actually agree with Gluey about the system we should use, but not the personnel. Playing a single CDM has not worked and sides have been running through us, so I’d play 4-2-3-1 with Davies and Neco at full back and Ampadu and Allen as the sitters. Then, if we’re going to play a counter attacking game, I’d be inclined to play Ramsey because he seems to still be able to cover the ground as well as anyone and would be able to make those late runs - then I suppose it becomes a question of whether you start with Bale or Keiffer - I’d go for the latter with Bale to replace Ramsey some time between half time and the hour mark.

[Hilts]

Re: 5 at the back

I think an unfit Joe Allen against that dynamic England midfield is a recipe for disaster.

I cant see any option than picking Morrell.

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

Re: 5 at the back

I’d say both, including Wilson hasn’t worked. I actually agree with Gluey about the system we should use, but not the personnel. Playing a single CDM has not worked and sides have been running through us, so I’d play 4-2-3-1 with Davies and Neco at full back and Ampadu and Allen as the sitters. Then, if we’re going to play a counter attacking game, I’d be inclined to play Ramsey because he seems to still be able to cover the ground as well as anyone and would be able to make those late runs - then I suppose it becomes a question of whether you start with Bale or Keiffer - I’d go for the latter with Bale to replace Ramsey some time between half time and the hour mark.

I'd go with that formation, and with your personnel for the 4, the 2 and the 1. Not sure who I'd pick for the 3 though.

[Wales-Bales]

Re: 5 at the back

Davies as part of a back 4 makes far more sense than it does with him playing in midfield considering he, you know, has played full back at a high level. Davies on the left offers a back 4 far more balance as well. Roberts and Williams are, and I'm being generous here, suspect defensively so a back 4 with those 2 as full backs wouldn't work. The more defensive Davies provides balance to a back 4, giving Williams a license to roam and effectively becoming a back 3 when we're attacking.

On midfield you've offered no reasoning as to why Davies should play midfield on Tuesday, if you gave proper reasoning I may be more inclined to agree. The ability to occasionally step out of the defensive line does not mean you are capable of playing 90 minutes in midfield. It is a completely different position that requires proper training if you're going to switch positions to play there, not a case of 2 days before a match saying "Ben, you're in midfield son".

The attacking problem I see with a back 4 is we put the more defensively minded winger (James) on the same side as Davies, for me it makes more sense to have Johnson playing on the left and having the stability of Davies behind him, with Williams' attacking runs being covered by James' work rate. If Allen is fit then he needs to partner Ampadu in there, if not get Morrell in.

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