If we are going to 'go for it', how about...

[Robo10]

Accomodating our strongest defenders in an attacking formation

I mean, lets face it Pugh is not a left back, but if Pulis insists on playing him, why not just go hell for leather and take the game to the opposition?

Lineup:

---------------Simmo/Nash-----------------
-------Cort----Riggot-----Shawcross----
Griffin--Lawrence--Delap--Whelan--Pugh
------------Fuller---Cresswell------------

Thus leaving Pugh to attack with some defensive responsibility, and Griffin (who we know likes to get forward) and Lawrence to sort out the right between them - I reckon Liam would be a better playmaker anyway!

Would also enable to dropping of Diao, who is an awful long way from match fitness, and the inevitable dropping of Sidebe, who is a bit of an unsung hero but we need goals at this point, so you have to cram your team full of them.

In Shawcross, Cort, Lawrence, Fuller and Cresswell thats what you get?

Given Burnley forgot to attack after Ade's awful miss (9 mins?), we could have gone 3 at the back without any problems at all.

(Alternatively he will have to either move Pugh and bring back Dicko at left back - moving Cresswell up front and again dropping Sidebe, or drop Pugh altogether - was poor again Saturday! Its a shame, because he is quite good in midfield!)

[Robo10]

Or replace Pugh with Gallagher, but I think Pulis sees him as an impact player for 30 mins - don't think he will start him...

Doesn't like luxury players does our Tone...

[y_oh_y_delilah]

Robo, you do realise that sort of formation would take some tactical thinking from the manager?

[Robo10]

Sorry, my bad

[basingstokie]

that would be win or bust, which is where we want to be, and at least if we went down we would go down fighting.

Given we are now probably reasonably confident of play off's what do we have to lose

[Robo10]

I reckon another 10-12 points guarantees the playoffs from 9 games

I also reckon we would go up automatically with 82 points, which is 19 from the same 9 games.

It really is there for the taking if you look at the fixture lists of the others, who have a far more difficult run in that us. I know that means fuck all in the grand scheme of things, but there you go!

[lordb]

thats a strong well balanced side there.

TP will always play two banks of 4 though

[bayernoatcake]

Nash

Wilkinson Shawcross Riggott Griffin/Dickinson

Lawrence Delap Whelan Gallagher

Cresswell Fuller

That would do for me!

[serpico]

It's always going to be a tough call to change a formation which has got us where we are though (top of the league a couple of weeks back) the thing you have to work out is wether or not our form is just a little blip or down to teams sussing us out.

[eriksson74]

Whilst teams have undoubtedly sussed us out, the fact Tony sticks with the same 11 regardless of form injuries or general tiredness has certainly impacted on us, as we look tired and out of ideas at present.

Can't see Tony changing systems, although it would be nice to play players in their best positions and drop players who are clearly unfit and shot to pieces

[tetsuo]

bayern thats nearly spot on mate!!


although i wouldnt mind switching cort and shawcross or sidibe and cresswell.

[kinnell]

Bayern is absolutely spot on. But the chances of seeing it are akin to those of knitting fog in a hurricane.

[GoBoks]

Given that it would take a mess up of titanic proportion to miss the playoffs from here, I'd throw caution to the wind and give us an end of season to talk about for years to come.

---------------Simmo/Nash-----------------
-------Cort----Riggot-----Shawcross----
Lawrence--Delap--Whelan--Pugh--Gallagher
------------Fuller---Cresswell------------

Would give us a good chance to win this league and turn some heads while doing it. (assuming that there are no new reinforcements coming in).