This is why I don't personally buy the "we produce some wonderful build up play". No we don't. We pass the ball along the back line, pop it into midfield, back to the defence, centre half has a jog out with the ball, plays it up field to a forward / winger, lays it back to a centre mid, moves it out wide, and then a full back crosses it into the box aimlessly where it's cleared away. There's no cutting edge what so ever. We don't go past people to break the line in the final third, don't move the ball quickly around the box in central areas, and don't look to play balls in behind or down the channels. Our build up play is ineffective - people can say it's as lovely to look at as they like, but it doesn't do anything threatening and it's completely predictable to boot.
Where are the clear cut chances over the last month? Three goals v Coventry: two own goals and a wonder strike from 20+ yards. Three goals v Tranmere: two penalties and a deflection. Goal against Fleetwood: early ball back in from a clearance and a good header from a 6'5" centre back, fair enough. Two goals v Millwall: a deflected shot from 20 yards and a penalty. One goal v Bristol Rovers: a 25 yard curler. For the last month or so we have been relying on penalties, lucky nicks and moments of individual brilliance - we don't create good quality chances and we don't create them frequently. We're badly lacking in pace, and I think it's clear to see just how much we miss Whyte's ability to simply shuffle the ball and go past somebody. Just that simple ability to break a line by nudging the ball forward and running faster than somebody else can cause panic and open up gaps. Now we seem to be stuck in a situation where we need time and space, and if a team backs off us we will keep the ball for fun, have lots of possession etc, but can't actually break a team down, get in behind them and score simple goals from inside the penalty area.
The question I have is what do we do to change it? Would a formation shift help, and if so what formation do we change to? Who plays where? If we go 4-3-3, who is on the right wing? Henry is ineffective unless he's more central and Forde looks a bit like a younger version of him who plays a similar way. Hall... who knows what's going on with him. So we've got Fosu on the left if he's actually fit to start every week, but no right wing option with any pace or real threat, and no real left wing option either if Fosu is out. 4-4-2... do we have two fit strikers? And you still need two wide players like you do in 4-3-3. Three at the back... we only have three centre halves and one of them is currently injured.
What are our options? I would genuinely be curious to see ideas for a team / formation based on what we have.