The problem is our full backs are defenders. We still make Clunan play as a holding midfielder so we have 6 defensive players. If you class Scales as a box to box midfielder (half defender/half attacker) then we have a keeper and 6.5 defenders with 3.5 attackers.
If our intention was to avoid relegation this would make some kind of sense. In an away game against a promotion rival it possibly makes sense. For the other 40 games of the season it makes no sense at all.
We are unable to create sustained pressure on teams and are forced to constantly play backwards/sideways until someone (usually Nicholson) passes to the opposition. Even when our so called wing backs are high and wide enough to provide the easy out ball they are not good enough to create anything.
Feel sorry for Whitehall, Beestin and Roberts trying to make something from long inaccurate balls up to them with 4 or 5 defenders in close attendance.
Everyone is calling for the “magic bullet” goalscorer that gets 25 goals a season feeding on scraps. Harland would struggle to do that on what we would provide for him.
Whitehall, Beestin and Roberts are top quality forwards at this level and given the right service would score 20 apiece.
If Butler continues to stick to 5 at the back then how about a pair of quick, tricky EFL loanee wing backs?
While we are waiting let’s have Law and Scales playing there in the 5 upcoming (on paper) easier games.
