Following yesterday’s defeat, and another reasonably poor performance (compared to the high standards set by his great form earlier in the season) from Oli Norwood, it got me thinking about Steve Clarke’s tactics, formation and the options available to him in the run in.
Since Steve Clarke took over the club, he has signed the versatile central midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah, experienced left back Jure Travner, and veteran striker Yakubu. Starting off, he seemed to favour either the 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 formation, however, he has recently opted to revert back to the simpler and, arguably, more solid and reliable 4-4-2. Logically, this leads to one of the central midfielders being dropped for a second striker. In Clarke’s side, the unlucky midfielder has been Norwood, leaving a midfield two of Danny Williams and Nathaniel Chalobah sitting behind a front two of Pavel Pogrebnyak and Simon Cox. Simple enough, you might think.
The issue lies in whether Clarke tweaks the formation, to stick five in midfield for away games and look to break on the counter, or attack with an extra striker at home. Again, you’d think that’s reasonably logical, right? However, last Tuesday, Clarke dropped Coxy for Norwood and played five across midfield… at home… to LEEDS! Inevitably, Pog was isolated as the midfield three struggled to create any real chances and we went down 2-0. Now, I’m no manager, and I don’t plan on being one, but surely at home to a side struggling near the bottom of the table, you’d play two up top and look to attack and create chances. Equally, since being dropped, Norwood looks to have lost all confidence on the ball, as highlighted last night, as pass after pass went astray in the first half. So, this poses the question, what does Clarke do about it?
With Michael Hector injured last night, Clarke also opted to play Chalobah at centre back, and left young defender Jake Cooper on the bench. One thing I have noticed since Clarke has come in is that he doesn’t seem to want to use/rely on any of our young players at all unless absolutely necessary. Despite the injury crisis at the start of the season, Adkins still used young players like Aaron Kuhl, Craig Tanner, Jake Cooper and Aaron Tshibola, whereas Clarke would rather play a centre midfielder out of position than play Coops at the back. Now, I’m not in any way slagging off Clarke or Chalobah, but last night that decision didn’t pay off. I get that we don’t have many options at the back, but surely bringing a highly-sought after midfielder in on loan and playing him ahead of arguably our player of the first half of the season indicates that that position is where Clarke sees him and wants him to play for the remainder of the season. It seemed such a bizarre selection last night to bring Norwood back in and drop Chalobah into centre back, instead of bringing Cooper in and leaving the midfield untouched. Hindsight is a wonderful thing though, and I’m sure Clarke would do things differently if he could do it again.
Tactically then, did Clarke get it wrong last night? He went 4-4-2 at home with a starting XI that most fans were happy with at kick off, so why, pray, did we go down 1-0 to the side who look doomed to play in League One next season? The answer, simply, is that we just couldn’t find any rhythm (or passes) in the game. Norwood, who was at one point the league’s top passer earlier in the season, couldn’t place one. It may seem like I’m singling him out here, but I’m not, I’m just highlighting his significance to the team, if he plays well, the team plays well because, at the end of the day, that’s the role that he’s there to play. His confidence seems shot since being dropped and he needs to find that early season form if this side is to steer clear of any relegation worries.
When Hec returns, I expect to seem him come back in, with Chalobah moving forward in place of Norwood. What do you think the side will be on Saturday? And what would you do with Norwood? How can he re-find that early-season form?
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