We have been wide open for 2 and a half seasons now, playing 3 ATB. Apart from the early part of this season, when Galloway was playing, our ability to be opened up like a can of beans has been painfully obvious. Even in League 2, people still refer back to the Mansfield game at home, when we should have been 0-4 down at half-time. Other examples spring to mind like Northampton away, and obviously Exeter away. Even when we eventually win games by a relatively convincing scoreline, we cough up enough chances for the opposition for them to have got something out of it- our conceding of very good chances on goal (and one on ones especially) must be one of the highest in the division in each of the last 3 seasons, even when we ended up 3rd in the curtailed promotion season!
Yes, the personnel have changed but the problem has returned with a vengeance- Wednesday could have had 10 at Hillsbrough recently, and we need to look at changing the system, and not leaving so much wide open space behind our wing-backs.
I think Scarr, Wilson and Bolton (possibly) are good defenders, so can we play them in a system where they can face and defend the direction we are playing, rather than forever being pulled left and right to cover raiding opposition attacks into acres of green space?
The argument about it being 3 ATB across all the age groups is almost illogical. The first team has to be the priority and if the system isn't working in the first team then the system has to change- for the first team. By the time anyone from our existing youth team makes the first team, the system will probably have been changed by a new manager anyway, so what's the point of coaching all the youth team into the first team's way of playing?! For the Papa John's Trophy? Really?
It certainly won't cure all our current ills but I would like to see Schuey change the formation, even if it's just to demonstrate that he's his own man. I haven't seen much evidence of that yet, to be brutally honest.
If I was picking the team for Saturday (and assuming everyone bar George Cooper is fit) I would play 4-3-3 and go with the following;
Cooper
Edwards
Scarr
Wilson
Grant
Houghton
Randell
Camara
Garrick
Jephcott or Ennis
Mayor