I think Rogers is the nearest to Chuba, he is big, strong, athletic and can hold the ball up and fend off defenders. Give him options like McGree, Jones, Silvera, Forss and Latte etc. and I think he could be an asset playing there. Problem then is unlike Chuba when he arrives in the box his finishing is Sunday League standard. In summary I'd pick and play anyone but Crooks there and up front much as I like the tree.

Rodgers and Crooks want to occupy the same areas. That's part of their problem. You have to remove one of them from those two positions otherwise we're going to continue to have the same problems. If they both start this game in the same roles, there's going to be some serious questions asked of Carrick and his team.

Edited August 18, 20232 yr by Humpty

8 minutes ago, Humpty said:

Rodgers and Crooks want to occupy the same areas. That's part of their problem. You have to remove one of them from those two positions otherwise we're going to continue to have the same problems. If they both start this game in the same roles, there's going to be some serious questions asked of Carrick and his team.

If Carrick repeats that there will be melt downs if it doesn't work and let's face it the chances of it being a success is next to zero. It would be extremely foolhardy to even attempt it especially now he has a fully fit option as an alternative in Latte. The Milkman has to start ahead of the Tree for me!

I wouldn't mind Forss starting up top either to be honest, i just don't want Crooks and Rodgers starting together!

Seems to me that we don't have a #10 so why play a formation that requires one? McGree could play there. Rogers is a better #10 than #9 but he's an even better winger. The two things we have are lots of are wingers and box to box midfielders. Hackney has shown he'll score a lot of goals if you reduce his defensive duties and also shown that he's pretty weak defensively. So play 4-3-3 rather than trying to shoehorn players into roles that aren't their best

Silvera / Rogers / Gilbert --- Latte Lath / Forss / Coburn --- Forss / Jones / Rogers

McGree / Payero --- Howson / Barlaser --- Hackney / Crooks

Play Barlaser for his range of passing against teams you expect to primarily defend against us: he played as deep-lying playmaker in a midfield three for Rotherham. Play Howson when you want slightly more defensive strength.

Every player is in their best role. Even Payero got used to playing on the left of a three for Boca towards the end of his loan. 

I think he'll ring the changes. Last week was a bit of an embarrassment. 

Dieng

Mcnair fry lenihan engel

Howson Hackney

Forss rogers mcgree

Ell

21 hours ago, Robin Johnson said:

Another defeat 1-0. Warnock too wise and cunning for us.

The dinosaur does seem to have some kind of voodoo hex over us... 

1 hour ago, Neverbefore said:

I think he'll ring the changes. Last week was a bit of an embarrassment. 

Dieng

Mcnair fry lenihan engel

Howson Hackney

Forss rogers mcgree

Ell

Bar a few misplaced passes against Millwall I think Barlaser has been better than Hackney this season so far. I’d be dropping Hackney if we were to drop one. But I’d keep both for now. Obviously if we fail to get a win this weekend then changes NEED to made

6 minutes ago, BoroSmoggie said:

Bar a few misplaced passes against Millwall I think Barlaser has been better than Hackney this season so far. I’d be dropping Hackney if we were to drop one. But I’d keep both for now. Obviously if we fail to get a win this weekend then changes NEED to made

Be careful, it's dangerous to speak negatively about any of our academy products..

1 goal in our last 6 league games. Slightly concerning. 

18 minutes ago, BoroSmoggie said:

1 goal in our last 6 league games. Slightly concerning. 

It's only concerning if you ignore all context in those last 6 games. It's not ideal but it is too early to get caught up by statistics especially when they spread over different seasons with completely different teams playing in the games (and including two dead rubbers at the end of the season as well as two tense play off games).

Please don't start Crooks. 

22 minutes ago, MBG42 said:

It's not ideal but it is too early to get caught up by statistics especially when they spread over different seasons

I remember hearing something very similar about Wilder last year with a large number of fans in denial.

1 hour ago, BoroSmoggie said:

Bar a few misplaced passes against Millwall I think Barlaser has been better than Hackney this season so far. I’d be dropping Hackney if we were to drop one. But I’d keep both for now. Obviously if we fail to get a win this weekend then changes NEED to made

I like Barlaser and believe him and Hackney will be our mainstay midfield this season and will be very good. But  I can’t see any world where he’s been the better of the two so far this season. If one goes for Howson it must be Barlaser. 

What's your line-up for this one? Are the new signings in from the off?

 

Crooks..

Coulson..

Jones for McGree

What other transfer business do Boro need to complete before the window shuts?

What's your honest assessment of Warnock's tenure here?