Tactics Formations & Team Selections Etc

[Fella]

Going to play devils advocate here but…. Is Johnson actually the right player for the formation we’re trying to play? In games like yesterday (which there will be more of I’m sure) he doesn’t defend from the front and doesn’t make himself a nuisance out of possession. Standing around hoping that someone will bang the ball to him makes him a bit of a busted flush right now. Yes it was only one game but there were several games last season where he was non existent and at a higher level this only adds more pressure on th rest of the team. Thoughts?

[BadDog]

Going to play devils advocate here but…. Is Johnson actually the right player for the formation we’re trying to play? In games like yesterday (which there will be more of I’m sure) he doesn’t defend from the front and doesn’t make himself a nuisance out of possession. Standing around hoping that someone will bang the ball to him makes him a bit of a busted flush right now. Yes it was only one game but there were several games last season where he was non existent and at a higher level this only adds more pressure on th rest of the team. Thoughts?

Totally agree, he needs to realise this season he's going to have to move more and get involved otherwise it's going to be a long season. But saying that without decent passes through midfield it's hard to get the ball. We just have to adapt overall.

[wassy04]

Going to play devils advocate here but…. Is Johnson actually the right player for the formation we’re trying to play? In games like yesterday (which there will be more of I’m sure) he doesn’t defend from the front and doesn’t make himself a nuisance out of possession. Standing around hoping that someone will bang the ball to him makes him a bit of a busted flush right now. Yes it was only one game but there were several games last season where he was non existent and at a higher level this only adds more pressure on th rest of the team. Thoughts?

There are also plenty of games where other top strikers are non existent when their team barely touches the ball and gets dominated. There are very few players in the world that would've played up front there for us and done anything differently.

Brennan is top class, has the potential to play at the highest level. However this is still his first season in the prem, after last season being his first in the championship, give the kid a chance to learn. 

Would much prefer that to sticking some random failed Shane Long type up front that runs around lots, hassles people then misses.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Yep agree with that.
The quickest way to get relegated is getting a load of mediocre players in even if they do run around and see more of the ball.
To survive we need the star quality who can turn the game in a moment. Brennan gives you that.
Thinc Lingard is another, Zinc probably gave the team more but Lingard has the magic.

[Joe Baker Legend]

Does anyone think we will be using our corner tactic that we saw yesterday, on each corner?

[Username]

Going to play devils advocate here but…. Is Johnson actually the right player for the formation we’re trying to play? In games like yesterday (which there will be more of I’m sure) he doesn’t defend from the front and doesn’t make himself a nuisance out of possession. Standing around hoping that someone will bang the ball to him makes him a bit of a busted flush right now. Yes it was only one game but there were several games last season where he was non existent and at a higher level this only adds more pressure on th rest of the team. Thoughts?

Absolutely spot on.

[McDurban]

I'm beginning to suspect that Johnson isn't going to be 1st choice.

[wassy04]

Writing our star player and one of the key reasons we're finally back in the prem after one game.

[Paplane]

Writing our star player and one of the key reasons we're finally back in the prem after one game.

Come on Wassy, we're just trying to understand what went wrong yesterday and how it could have been better. Surely you can see that Brennan was the least influential player on the pitch yesterday. Nobody's saying it was his fault and he should be dropped, just that if we set up as we did and we get pushed back as we did, Brennan's influence just disappears. At least if Taylor were on the pitch in that scenario, yes he'd be falling over and have his hands in the air etc, but he would be getting in the defender's face a bit more.

[wassy04]

Writing our star player and one of the key reasons we're finally back in the prem after one game.

Come on Wassy, we're just trying to understand what went wrong yesterday and how it could have been better. Surely you can see that Brennan was the least influential player on the pitch yesterday. Nobody's saying it was his fault and he should be dropped, just that if we set up as we did and we get pushed back as we did, Brennan's influence just disappears. At least if Taylor were on the pitch in that scenario, yes he'd be falling over and have his hands in the air etc, but he would be getting in the defender's face a bit more.

No I get it (apart from the Taylor point) but still suggesting he might not play and that he might not be 1st choice is beginning to write him off. This is just game 1, don't want him to start to become a scapegoat. I noticed it a few times last year too

[McDurban]

Writing our star player and one of the key reasons we're finally back in the prem after one game.

I have done nothing of the sort, you're being far too defensive.
He is a good player with a big future, but let's not pretend that he's going to have Premier League defenders in his pocket.
He still has a lot to learn and Forest would be naïve to rely on him to be the primary attacking outlet.
He couldn't get around Dan Burn who just shepherded him away from the ball.

A star in the Championship does not automatically become a star in the Premier League without a shitload of work.
So, the question remains, is he going to be first choice?
Didi you see what the Newcastle left winger did to Johnson, Williams and Worrall all afternoon, every time he got the ball?

[zicorice]

Writing our star player and one of the key reasons we're finally back in the prem after one game.

Come on Wassy, we're just trying to understand what went wrong yesterday and how it could have been better. Surely you can see that Brennan was the least influential player on the pitch yesterday. Nobody's saying it was his fault and he should be dropped, just that if we set up as we did and we get pushed back as we did, Brennan's influence just disappears. At least if Taylor were on the pitch in that scenario, yes he'd be falling over and have his hands in the air etc, but he would be getting in the defender's face a bit more.

No I get it (apart from the Taylor point) but still suggesting he might not play and that he might not be 1st choice is beginning to write him off. This is just game 1, don't want him to start to become a scapegoat. I noticed it a few times last year too

I'm with you here. I can't believe how much bollox I've read over last couple of days generally. 
The fact of the matter is 8 or 9 out of 10 outfield players had an off day-it happens and it will happen again. People looking for deeper reasons and scapegoats does my nut. If it happens game after game then we need to worry.  Newcastle were very very good and I suspect will be challenging for top 6. 

I don't like to be harsh on individuals but the lads will know they were poor and didn't do themselves justice. The occasion probably got to a few. Cooks calmness and experience was definitely missed.