Both.
I've been dead set against the idea of us playing three in the middle. I don't see it as a long term option because we won't commit enough men forward.
But...
- We're without Osayi-Samuel and Laird at RB, so we have no natural outlet to let somebody drift infield and help with the numbers game
- We're without Anderson, Willumson, Ducksch and Stansfield in attack, so lack players that can create a midfield overload elsewhere
- Wrexham are 3-5-2 (ish), direct and go man-for-man, largely, meaning we need to win our battles, potentially play more direct and find the overloads out wide
So, my thinking is:
- Dykes starts because of the physical outlet (plus set-pieces).
- If Kyogo also starts, we are stuck with two in the middle and get overrun.
- Alternatives include Koumas and Fujimoto, neither likely to help get control of the ball on the road in such a physical game.
- Roberts (or Gray) would need to hold width because we don't have a RB that steps on.
- I'm not sure we would have the power to go vertical throughout so spreading play (quickly!!) side to side may be the better option to draw Wrexham out.
- Iwata is probably needed in the middle to get about the pitch.
- In pre-season, we saw glimpses of a three with Doyle and Iwata somewhat flanking Paik and maybe this is the game to try it again.
- Does mean Neumann at RB. We are where we are.
So, I think I want to see...
Allsop
Neumann Klarer Robinson Cochrane
Iwata Paik Doyle
Roberts Dykes Gray
Not perfect, but there's thought to it.
There are games Dykes and Kyogo can potentially play together and the front two is generally fine, but different games, different ideas and yet not competing changing our principles.
SHA
Small Heath Alliance