Mark Sykes

Why? If Kenny plans to play 352 in all competitive games he should also use it in friendlies and get these fringe players used to playing in his system. At least they've some familiarity with it then if they end having to come in

Agree with you completely but it looks like Kenny is married to the 352 and its variations, opting for a 1-2 in midfield against strong sides and a 2-1 against similar/weaker sides. I'd be surprised if he goes with anything but a 3-4-1-2 against Latvia, if he wants to give a Sykes a go in a wider role he might go back to the 3-4-3 instead 

He's no good at throw ins though because he only has one arm and one mechanical arm

there was a piece done with sykes over the weekend wonder could someone c+p if possible

I would like to see us go with a 4-3-3 vs Latvia (in preparation for Gibralter in June). Good teams should have at least a couple of "go to" formations. Yes we have a plethora of good cb's but Kenny's struggles for the most part have been against the "weaker" teams where we have struggled to create/score. Generally our performances vs higher ranked sides have been mostly ok and I think the 3 CB's works well vs tougher opposition.

There are quite a few lads imo who suit the wider roles in a 4-3-3, Ogbene/Sykes/Connolly/O'Dowda and the 5-2-3 which was tried didnt work at all. I'd like to see us have a go vs Latvia with an attacking 4-3-3 formation.

I think between Idah, Parrott, Cannon and Ferguson, we have lads who can play as the front man in a 4-3-3, but a 4-2-3-1 is fine by me also. I just think we should be looking at a formation that doesnt involve 3 CBs. We need to be able to go out vs weak opposition and really take the game to them, press high and play with a high tempo. I agree we are short in the #10 position and have been for years but either one of Smallbone/Azaz offers a chink of light in that regard. I think one of the bigger problems with playing a 4 is our lack of genuine full backs as opposed to wing backs.

Absolutely think we should stick with the 5 at the back vs stronger opposition, it's worked reasonably well for the most part and we do have a lot of excellent young CB's coming through (has to be the GAA breeding). 

However SK has to be brave now if he is to have any chance of keeping his job. The Latvia result does not matter, nor should it. It's time to show a bit of balls and mix things up, we need to see what else we have to work with and develop another system of play. He tried mixing it up and going 5-2-3 a few times, but it was a disaster, didnt work at all. Stick with the 5-3-2 vs the better teams and have a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 in the pocket to use vs the weaker teams.

I feel and share your pain, the Malta debacle almost did for me and my support for SK. Last chance saloon as far as I'm concerned. I dont need to see loads of new faces introduced, but I do want to see some of the fringe lads getting decent minutes vs Latvia and I'd like to see Coventry and Azaz in the squad, even if it means a 28 man squad, jsut get them in and get them involved.