Oliver

[Shrimpy]

It's only a waste in terms of the squad balance. If you look at the 4-2-3-1 formation we pretty much have 2 players for each position, the only imbalance is we have 3 strikers for 1 position and only 3 centre backs for 2 positions but this isn't a huge problem as Kenyon can cover at CB if needed.

Going to a 3-5-2 suddenly means we only have 3 centre backs for 3 positions and you then have to re-classify Kev, Oates, Thommo as strikers and Mandeville as a central midfielder as we have no use for wingers. This means you then have Oliver, Oswell, Leitch-Smith, Kev, Oates and Thommo competing for 2 spots up front whilst we have a severe lack of centre backs.

If Jim abandons 4-2-3-1 after just 2 games it's a huge admittance from Jim that not only has he got his tactics completely wrong that his whole recruitment over the Summer has been flawed. Had we gone into the season planning to play 3-5-2 we'd probably have signed 2 less forward players and more centre backs instead.

This is why I think Jim will continue to play 4-2-3-1, not doing so would be admitting he got things wrong in the Summer.

[Freez]

Oates can and has played either side in a wide midfield, Mandeville’s best position at Donny was as a roving 10, not quite a forward, more spare midfielder, Thommo if fit can go wide right or up front, Kev, for me, would now be an impact sub.
But if you play a midfield 5, 4-4-2 or even a revolutionary 4-3-1-2, there is a role for them to me.
When we had a choice of centre backs, JIm did frequently play 3-5-2, so this could be possible when Lavelle returns, as you say Kenyon can always dovetail better in a three than a two.
To me, it looks like a fairly adaptable squad, don’t agree that there are players wasted, as we have shown in the past that we will switch between and during games.
Just because we have started 4-2-3-1 in two games, doesn’t necessarily follow we will stick to it In my opinion.

[Little Shrimp]

I’ve seen us play some of the best football we’ve ever played in 4-2-3-1. The problem isn’t the formation, it’s the poor style and bad personnel we’re forcing into it. Really, 4-2-3-1 is a formation aimed to give an extra man in midfield and some more natural attacking fluidity.

We have the players (Fleming, Tutte, Jagne, Oates, Wildig, Mandeville, Mendes Gomes, AJ) who are technically capable, so let’s use them properly! After Crewe, I thought Oates was rubbish. Then in his brief appearance against Exeter, we got the ball to his feet and had him running at people. He looked so much better!

[redrobo]

All this talk about systems depends very much on the players available who feel comfortable in the system deployed. Only my observation of a single game this season and all of last season but i'm not that confident that the players are comfortable in 4 2 3 1 and for me the system should fit the players that are comfortable within it. Only my thoughts which are not meant to be negative.

[RedRampage]

4-2-3-1 clearly isn't working,and it never has under Jim, but he's stubborn, and he's not going to change, and nothing is going to get done about it. He's too protected for some reason.

[Keith]

He's too protected for some reason.

Protected for some reason? Perhaps that reason is; repeatedly keeping us in the Football League season after season despite being the bookies favourites to be relegated season after season, with an ever reducing budget season after season?

I'm not saying that is the same for this season, but until now, he's done exactly what we've needed him to do and has earned some time and support. IMHO.