1 Bendtner 2 Campbell 3 Ji 4 Wickham

Major Major · 30th January 2012, 03:44 AM

Who plays along Sess?

We can now see through his absence what a good job Bendtner was doing. He wasn't getting in the box enough but there were signs he was getting there, close with shots and headers. Was dovetailing nicely with Sess. Although not perfect he is a good player and when fit must be No 1.

Campbell. So pleased to see him score, and didn't he celebrate?! Can only get better through games, and so I would start him against Norwich. In theory should be tailor-made for our counter-attacking game, his sprint for McClean's pass was awesome.

Ji. A different type of player, but who has good movement and is intelligent eg Man City goal. I would gve the lad a start before too long.

Wickham. Must say I have been disappointed with the lad. His first touch has been poor, none of the electric bursts I was hoping for, average in the air. Was he so good at a young age because of his physique? Still very young however, and loads of time to come good BUT should not be our main striker at the moment alongside Sess.

With Bendtner;s injury being worse than thought, Campbell still rusty, Ji still coming to terms, and Wickham struggling (and possible knee injury again?), I hope MON brings someone in before the month ends.

And if he doesn't recall Noble there will be hell on.

PJH · 30th January 2012, 03:54 AM

Bendtner is the best at bringing the midfield into play. Wickham is best with Bendtner as it gives the defence two different forwards to think about. Frazier is probably the best finisher of the lot and will score from the chances Seb, McClean and Sess create. And with pace, along with McClean and Sess will probably suit the counter attacking football best, getting defences running the wrong way, and end up clearing the ball toward their goal rather than up the pitch. Ji is sort of a Bendtner/Wickham hybrid. Looks like he can be the hold up the ball type, but also the type to look to stretch a defence, though without and cutting attributes to make him stand out as either type. Probably still adapting to football and life here and hopefully working on fine tuning his game.

Right now when all fit I'd start with Bendtner, then bring on Campbell in the last 20 minutes when defences will be getting worn down and really utilise his pace. Wickham, for me, is best suited in a 4-4-2, or rather just doesn't seem to suit being a lone striker. Campbell may not really lead the line alone well either, but when we have the ball on the ground he can be part of a very dangerous attack.

I would suggest for a second Sess being given a free role behind 2 strikers, but we'd either have to lose wingers or just have one orthodox central midfielder that runs the risl of getting overrun if Sess gets caught up the pitch.

BucketBiff · 30th January 2012, 09:08 AM

Bendtner for me. It's no coincidence that we have not been great the past 2 games. Although he drifts out wide, he creates a lot of space for Sess and Mclean. When the ball goes forward it generally sticks. Whickham although a big lad is not a target man. He needs to play off someone and at the minute Sess has that role

leerik_canamole · 30th January 2012, 09:13 AM

For me we should be playing 2 up when everyone is fit with Sess just behind, but like you say that would mean losing a midfielder. To me (tin hat on here), that should be Larsson, i know he has that moment of magic form his set pieces, but other than that i think he offers very little. I also noticed yesterday Vaughan took alot of the corners and Gardner the odd free kick.

I just don't think Larsson offers us much at all!

samwise · 30th January 2012, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leerik_canamole

For me we should be playing 2 up when everyone is fit with Sess just behind, but like you say that would mean losing a midfielder. To me (tin hat on here), that should be Larsson, i know he has that moment of magic form his set pieces, but other than that i think he offers very little. I also noticed yesterday Vaughan took alot of the corners and Gardner the odd free kick.

I just don't think Larsson offers us much at all!

larsson offers a lot more than people notice at times.
at the minute the way sess is best used means we would struggle to find a formation to go 2 up, only way i could see it working would be to go along the lines of a 5-5 formation, i know it sounds daft (and probably is) but a back 4 with catts just in front then a midfield/forward line of mac/sess/seb + 2 strikers which could also be a 4-3-3 depending how lines up, only other way to describe it would be a 4-1-2-1-2 but when put like that it looks useless.
think i need my meds now o_O

flanny1 · 30th January 2012, 11:26 AM

i think ji still needs to adept to the english game before he can start regularly

campbell's pace and composure should make him a perfect partner for sess, though i don't want to see him rushed back it whats looking like a busy fixture list in front of us

Wickham's done well taking his injuries into account the PL is a big step up from the championship and only a good run of games will help him

just can't see bendtner and sess working together, bendtner is not a goal scorer his abilities are more suited to supporting a true striker. though as this seems to be sess' role you can't have both and as sess is much better at this than bendtner, i can only see bendtner getting played if there are further injuries