Time for Solskjaer to pick his best eleven and stick with it
I work it out that Ole has made 21 changes to the starting 11 in the six games following his Premier League bow as manager.
In yesterday’s column I wrote about my concern that Ole doesn’t yet know his strongest and best 11 and in particular his defence changes too often.
A couple if changes have been enforced through suspension to Bellamy and injuries to a couple of players. Also there were signings made in January that obviously have come into the fold.
I have looked specifically at the team that has played in the league and not the cup but it is worth noting that Ole’s first game was the cup win at Newcastle before we played West Ham.
Is it a case of squad rotation by Ole?
Is Ole trying to find his best team and rotation is not a tactic he is employing?
CARDIFF CITY 0 – 2 WEST HAM UNITED :
Cardiff City: Marshall; Theophile-Catherine, Hudson (C) (Cornelius 78), Caulker, John; Whittingham, Medel (Eikrem 65), Kim, Noone; Campbell, Odemwingie (Bellamy 45). Subs not used: Lewis; Turner, McNaughton.
MANCHESTER CITY 4-2 CARDIFF CITY :
Cardiff City: Marshall; McNaughton (John 62), Caulker (C), Turner, Theophile-Catherine; Whittingham (Bellamy 62), Medel, Gunnarsson (Eikrem 77), Mutch, Noone; Campbell. Subs not used: Lewis; Hudson, Odemwingie, Kim.
MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 CARDIFF CITY :
Cardiff City: Marshall, Caulker, Hudson (c) (Turner 67), John, McNaughton, Medel, Whittingham, Noone (Daehli 78) Mutch (Kim 51), Bellamy, Campbell. Subs not used: Lewis, Eikrem, Gunnarsson, Berget.
CARDIFF CITY 2-1 NORWICH CITY :
Team – Cardiff City: Marshall, Fabio (Théophile-Catherine, 75), John, Medel, Caulker, Turner, Noone, Whittingham (Zaha, 38), Jones, Bellamy, Mutch (Gunnarsson, 67) Subs not used: Campbell, Wolff Eikrem, Daehli.
SWANSEA CITY 3-0 CARDIFF CITY :
Cardiff City: Marshall; John, Caulker (C), Turner, Fabio (McNaughton 69); Whittingham, Medel, Kim, Zaha (Mutch 77); Bellamy, Jones (Campbell 56). Subs not used: Lewis; Noone, Dæhli, Cala.
CARDIFF CITY 0-0 ASTON VILLA :
Cardiff City: Marshall, Caulker (capt), Turner, Medel, Jones, Campbell, Noone, Mutch (Eikrem 32), Théophile-Catherine, Zaha (Dæhli 61), John. Subs not used: Lewis, Cowie, Cala, Berget, Fábio.
CARDIFF CITY 0-4 HULL CITY :
Cardiff City: Marshall, Taylor (John 74), Caulker (capt), Jones, Campbell (Berget 79), Eikrem, Noone, Cowie, Cala, Fábio, Zaha (Dæhli 46). Subs not used: Lewis, Turner, Whittingham, Gunnarsson.
I believe Ole should focus between now and the end of the season and play his strongest 11 when available.
My team, if everyone is available, would be Marshall, McNaughton, Caulker, Turner, Taylor, Medel, Mutch, Daehli, Noone, Bellamy, Campbell.
4-1-3-1-1
I opted for Turner over Cala for two reasons, the first is familiarity between Marshall, Caulker and Turner and having only seen Cala play yesterday, in which he did ok but was slow in closing down Jelavic for the second goal. McNaughton, though I have been critical in the past offers the best defensive full back we have at the club, my criticism has been of his ability to pick a pass when going forward and defending must be our first priority to sort out. Taylor gets the nod over John simply for an older head and experience though I expect Declan will make the left back position his own in time.
Gary Medel sitting in front of the back four just behind Mutch, Bellamy on the left and Noone on the right flank with either player tucking in as play dictates. Daehli ahead of Mutch as a link up between the midfield and Campbell up top. Bellamy and Daehli being interchangeable.
Campbell named as the striker for his energy, work rate and he is our top goal scorer.
Subs : Lewis, Cala, Fabio, Zaha, Whittingham, Gunnarrson and Jones.
Lewis and Cala are obvious choices on the bench. Fabio would get the nod over John as he can cover both full backs, Zaha could impact a game on either wing.
It seems Whittingham ahead of Eikrem is debatable due to Whittinghams form but I believe if there is an injury to Mutch then Whitts is a better and more experienced version of Eikrem.
Gunnarrson is the cover for Medel or extra protection should we need to batten down the hatches and tighten up the midfield.
Kenwyne Jones would have to settle for a place on the bench and with any chance he gets he would have to prove his worth to force himself into the starting line up.
Jones’ height and physical presence could be a massive factor in the final third of a game when legs are tiring and we may look to be pushing for a goal.
That’s where I am at with our squad at present and I still don’t know if it would be good enough to pick up the necessary points required but the positive for ourselves is that there weren’t a terrible set of results go against us yesterday, apart from ours I hear you say, so there is a glimmer of hope.
What do you think about the amount of changes being made, an average of 3 per league game, and who would you play ?
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