With Whiteman suspended against Coventry will PH simply slot in another deep midfielder eg Ledson or will he take the opportunity to opt for an even more offensive set up?
Whiteman suspension
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There have been quite a few times this season where I think Whiteman has kept his place solely because he’s captain.
As McCann has now made himself one of the first names on the team sheet this gives an opportunity for either Thor or Ledson to stake their claim.
As McCann has now made himself one of the first names on the team sheet this gives an opportunity for either Thor or Ledson to stake their claim.
I don't see Heckingbottom dropping Brady, clearly a huge fan based on his comments, and he has been playing well.
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I disagree. A manager of Heckingbottom's integrity would never play someone 'just because'. There will obviously be reasons for him playing obviously other than he has the armband, which you just won't see or know.
Unlikely to be any of those as it would only go with 4 at the back unless we are playing 12 men 😅
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Dropping your captain is always a big deal and more impactive than leaving out any of the other 10.
That’s how I’ve always felt.
Thracia
Club Owner, or wingback, depending on your view
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To summarise these 4 "options": McCann, Thordarson, Frokjaer, Greenwood + 1
I doubt Thordarson is so nailed-on for a spot myself, plus it remains to be seen whether 4-at-the-back is still on the menu, or whether PH will stick with 5.
If 5, I'd like him to give McCann the Whiteman role for the game and bring Greenwood back in - Greenwood, Frokjaer, Riis (plus Hayden at RWB) give us our best attacking hope, while I'm pretty agnostic about who else plays in the middle, whether it's Potts for pressing but getting in the way, or Thordarson for pressing but giving the ball away.
I think it's important not to start Ledson and McCann together if we want to avoid morphing into a Lowey-like team, where everyone's giving the ball away and hoofs count as passes, which would be easy to do. We need to nudge the team balance towards maximum attacking quality, especially at home.
If we revert to a back 4, it's hard to predict the team, as last time it was seen it was crap, plus Bowler and Okkels haven't made much impression and it isn't ideal for Brady, who has been decent the last 2 games, or Hayden, who usually ends up shoved out on the left. With a back 4, we need to avoid midfield stodge like v Blackburn, as well as the wide-open back door like v Millwall - very difficult with these players.
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I don’t think it’s a big deal if the captain is playing as poorly as some on here believe. My view is your feeling is slightly outdated, but you’re more than entitled to think that.
Yes - because they are our four most skillful and creative midfielders and if we are going to climb up the table we have to put the emphasis on skill and creativity. As I indicated you either add a bit more robustness in the form of Whiteman or Ledson in the more defensive part of the midfield or Potts in the more attacking part or you just put even more emphasis on attack by adding Bowler or Okkels (who hopefully will start to deliver as he acclimatises). It does seem, though, that for the moment PH sets some store by Brady and maybe he can coax a final season from him though I still think Brady would be better used further back as an alternative to Hughes. As for Holmes his energy and running are a useful sub option against tiring opponents but he can't impose himself against fresh legs.
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I think you go like for like with Ledson . Two excellent games in the Caraboa, plus goals . I think you’re underrating his ability to create . When he first came to the club his ability to find a pass was pretty evident . He’s been put further back as a break down player so his Hollywood passing is harder to execute but he can get box to box . I’d play him
Yes Ledson is a bit of an enigma - he has never really pinned down a regular starting slot but he can occasion be the star man. I am never dismayed to see him in the starting formation except when he is partnered with Whiteman - a combination that always seems to be less than the sum of its parts since the two don't complement each other but to some extent somehow cancel each other out. Maybe PH is the manager Ledson has been waiting for so to speak.
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Ledson deserves a start if we’re selecting based on merit - he hasn’t let us down when he’s played this season, in fact he’s been pretty impressive. Credit where it’s due.
Thor hasn’t really got going yet, though I think he will become a great asset once he does.
Can't really justify Ben getting into the starting 11 tomorrow night after Saturday's performance.
Everything seemed a lot slicker and quicker in his absence.
Everything seemed a lot slicker and quicker in his absence.
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Yep. Doesn't feel like we made many backward passes at all on Saturday.
Whiteman makes himself available for a pass…and he can break up play and his reading g of the game defensively is good as can be seen from the numerous last ditch tackles he makes…going forward though does not really offer much but him being in the team allows others to get forward…off the ball he plays well tactically …one of the previous home games for example he made Freddie go down to give them time to get instructions from the manager cos the opposition started to dominate….after that they tweaked a few things and changed the game.