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Cook could be the fall guy

Championship QPR
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Will there be a role for Lee Cook in Paulo Sousa’s QPR team?

Sousa’s ‘diamond’ formation made its second appearance at Crystal Palace on Saturday and is definitely the system he prefers to use.

Several players will need to adapt to that - and Cook could end up as the biggest loser.

Cook has played up front in the past and could cause problems playing behind the front two.

But he is most comfortable on the left flank and has proved to be most effective in a 4-4-2 system, especially when there is less onus on him to track back and help out defensively.

That role doesn’t exist in Sousa’s formation and it remains to be seen whether Cook features when he recovers from injury.

Hogan Ephraim is comfortable enough in a more central role and did well at Palace, while Gareth Ainsworth has not played this season and Matty ‘four-year contract’ Alberti is only slightly ahead of me in the running for a first-team place.

That leaves Cook as the only out-and-out winger at Rangers and potentially the player most affected by Sousa’s system.

Sousa says there could be a place for a wide-man in his team if he has a genuine winger to select, which gives Cook some hope.

But Sousa’s early selections show how much he favours the current formation.

He may not have had Cook available but the ‘diamond’ system was still not the obvious one to use with the players he had at his disposal.

Ephraim and Mikele Leigertwood have played in unfamiliar roles and against Charlton, Damiano Tomassi played in a left-of-centre position he hasn’t operated in for some time.

Heidar Helguson even initially played behind the front two after coming on at Palace, which again shows how important the system is to Sousa.

Another problem for Cook is that he has hardly set the world alight since returning from Fulham.

That was inevitable given his long spell out injured last season, but it nonetheless means he is a far from automatic choice, especially for a coach who much prefers his team to be narrow and play through the middle rather than down the flanks.

But Sousa is still enjoying a honeymoon period. If his formation doesn’t produce wins, there will be calls for it to be scrapped.

Take 4-4-2 away from English fans and they tend to be sceptical. Take it away and then fail to win matches, and there's trouble.

It happened earlier in the season, when Iain Dowie faced pressure from the stands and boardroom to switch to 4-4-2.

And although stories about the Briatore-led regime’s interference in team affairs are all the rage now, it was happening long before it became trendy to report it. Gigi De Canio was told in no uncertain terms to ditch his preferred system and revert to 4-4-2.

Introducing a system is one thing, keeping it is another. Once the novelty has worn off then failure to win games – especially at home – would make it difficult for Sousa to stick to his guns.

It was interesting to hear Neil Warnock hint that Sousa might have to change the formation for home games because it is set up to avoid defeat away from home but not so suited to winning matches.

I’m not sure about that. Like any system, Sousa’s can be progressive if used in the right way.

With one home win already in the bag and the likes of Martin Rowlands and Emmanuel Ledesma back, there’s plenty of potential for the ‘diamond’ formation to be a success.

It is a real pity for Rangers that Akos Buzsaky is out, because he would have been perfect for that role playing just behind two forwards.

Rowan Vine would also have been useful either in that position or as one of the strikers.

In their absence, Ledesma may be the best option.

He has gone off the boil after such an exciting start but has great ability.

With some confidence and a decent run in the side, Ledesma could make an impact during the second half of the season.

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comment by sandydl (U13644794)

posted Nov 30, 2008

Interesting analysis of the "diamond" formation, David.

Unfortunately, it wouldn't matter which formation we used - we are a shadow of a good team with Buzsaky - and even Vine - and there's nothing we can do about it this season!

As for Cook - do you not think that he could be the left-side of the diamond that being his natural position regardless of his being more of a winger?

I like the idea of Ledesma in the whole behind the front two, though, as I think he has the skill and potential to fill Buzsaky's boots - albeit not quite as well as Buzsaky does!! And I think that position would suit Ledesma better than out on the wing - which is maybe why he's "gone off the boil" lately!

Anyway, he's back for the Wolves game tho' Leigertwood's missing for that match - it'll be interesting to see if he brings Tommasi in for Legs!

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comment by poshHawkranger (U10743761)

posted Nov 30, 2008

Cookies class and just suffering a temporary form loss but he will come good soon and fit into any system. IMO

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comment by poshHawkranger (U10743761)

posted Nov 30, 2008

Sandy, let us hope PS can do what Redknap is doing at Spurs. The players are underachieving at the moment and tho yesterday was dire it was an improvement on what we witnessed at Watford so if he can get a run together we can return to the play off positions and stay there.

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comment by JORDANQPR (U13655705)

posted Nov 30, 2008

i agree, we are not really ourselves without the likes of buz and vine, they just lift the team sooo much, but whilst we can still do sumthing about the promotion push, i think we should look at the team we finished with last year, and improvise on that slightly, we were unstoppable

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comment by MaccaQPR (U12788895)

posted Nov 30, 2008

It was always going to be difficult for Cookie after his injury, he just needs to get more games and I'm sure he will eventually get back to his best. He is still one of the most creative players in the squad especially with Vine and Buz out and I don't see how we can afford not to play him.

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comment by WBA2QPR3 (U7816349)

posted Nov 30, 2008

Tobs - I've just gone for a run round the park, I might be challenging for that position 'in the hole'.

Seriously thought, how many formations can one (depleted) squad deal with in a season? We've had the 4-5-1, then a prompt revert to 4-4-2 and now Sousa's Diamond.......anyone for the Xmas Tree??? This trend to play narrow though the middle is a bit of a concern as I think the likes of Blackstock / Dave thrive on the Cook cross and without it we will need players with skill and vision and not just pace and call me stupid but I'm not sure Damage has that within him....ever.

Went to the Sheff Uts v Wolves game last Tuesday. On their away form we will struggle to contain Kightley, Iwelumho and Ebanks-Blake....

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comment by David McIntyre - BBC Sport (U1628513)

posted Dec 1, 2008

Hi Sandy

Maybe Cook could adapt to that position but it often means tucking inside and being quite defensive - especially away from home. Not sure that would suit him.

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comment by ViewFromThePaddock (U5753014)

posted Dec 1, 2008

A good manager will adopt a system to suit the players he has available (and make it work!), not try and crow-bar players into unfamiliar roles where they will not be effective.

A diamond formation would be ideal with Buzsaky behind the front two, an out-and-out defensive midfielder in front of the back four (take your pick from Mahon or Tomassi probably) and two midfielders equally happy going forward or in defence on the left and right. We have Rowlands for one side, but no one who could fill in on the other wing I reckon. And with no Buzsaky this season, it's probably not the right time to use this system.

Any manager - whether it's Sousa for us, Dowie before him, Eriksson for England, whoever - should be able to work with the players he has available and pick a formation to use their skills in the best way. And then change it, if needs be.

If you have a formation set in stone, chances are the team will sink like one if people are forced to play in positions that don't suit them.

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comment by RangerCol (U13397761)

posted Dec 1, 2008

I agree that you shouldn't set a formation in stone. That's just asking for trouble! The diamond formation is always a tricky one to get right imo, as you're in danger of not playing with any width. The full backs need to bomb forward as often as possible to make it work and I'm not sure we have the full backs to do this. The diamond can, however be switched to a more conventional 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 without too much difficulty during a game. How about:
Cerny
Leigertwood Stewart Connolly Delaney/Borrowdale
Mahon/Tommassi
Rowlands Ephraim
Ledesma
Aggy Dex ? Leigertwood, at least, would have the energy and speed to get up and down from right back.
This could be adapted to a more conventional 4-4-2 simply by moving Ledesma out wide. I do feel though, with Buz missing, Ledesma could be very effective playing "in the hole".

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comment by RFerryQPR (U13075969)

posted Dec 1, 2008

I frankly dont mind Cook not being in the team. In my opinion he is looking week. A lower championship player. He doesnt want to attack players like he used to, he isnt crossing as well as he used to and he still isnt getting stuck into any challenges. If we are wanting to be a team that considers promotion, then why are we returning to a player that we shipped out to a Prem team which never played him.

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