A fight-back against the world champions and an equal share of the spoils with our closest rivals sums up this last week.

No transfer activity has taken place other than Powell not being offered a contract and none seems imminent; certainly Nigel Clough seems to be taking his days one by one and cautioning against miracle cures. Probably the most significant and sobering comment made in all of the hyped up week was the report in the Telegraph that sorting out the problems wasn't going to happen quickly but more likely take up to 18 months. He was reported as saying that even Sir Alex would not be able to offer a 'quick fix'.

Of course, fans will pounce on any evidence, even if infinitesimal, of any improvement to nurture the hope that better days are indeed around the corner. The unpalatable truth though is that there is likely to be plenty of sustenance for the ever-present wrist-slashers amongst us in the coming weeks and months.

The most interesting events of the week were the apparent rehabilitation of the blond one (you know, the one with the car), the switching of Addison to the back four and the inclusion of Barnes from the first peep of the whistle.

The overall impression I get is that NHC is feeling his way to what system to play and with which players. Against Man Utd in the first game, we played a 4-4-1-1 with Commons in the hole behind Hulse. For obvious reasons we didn't play the same system against QPR although there were some complaints that we should have done so. The principle: 'If it ain't broke – don't fix it' doesn't work in football, particularly at Championship level, as oppositions tend to work out strategies to counter any systems. At Premiership level, particularly with the big four, defences are expected to be intelligent enough to counter any systems used during the game.

Against Man Utd in the second leg, it looks like we played a similar system as in the first leg until changes were forced upon us. Against Forest, it looks more like we played 4-1-4-1 with Savage just in front of the defence. I may be wrong as I didn't get to see either game (away abroad for the week unfortunately) but reading the reports and seeing what highlights I could snatch at, that's what it looks like to me.

Even if I'm wrong, NHC and his team need to find a system that brings out the best in our better players to ensure survival. NHC has already stated that defending in depth is not an option – we do not have a good defence, and we do not have enough midfield players capable of playing a la ‘Makelele' – destroying the opposition. It seems clear that Savage was bought to perform that function but was unable to do so and luckily the emergence of Addison meant that we had a ready-made alternative.

Unfortunately, as the season has gone on, he has looked increasingly tired and a switch to centre back may help him as this is his original position. Allied to the fact that Addison is – so far – not susceptible to injuries, that would give us some stability at the back along with Connolly and Stewart. Albrechtsen and Todd could compete for the semi-libero role alongside Addison with my vote going to Todd as he is more assured on the ball.

So if we are to attack as a means of defending, we need to find a system that allows us to put pressure on the opposition. My guess is that NHC would want his defence to play with a high line, with a playmaker, and a fluid system at the front as this would be a good fit with the players we have. Using Savage as a playmaker alongside Green breaking up opposing attacks, that would give us scope to deploy Barnes, Commons, Barazite, Davies (when fit) in a loose and interchangeable system using different combinations.

That kind of attacking and fluid system would put more pressure on other teams than simply using Hulse or Ellington as a target man to hold and lay off. Of course, this is only my speculation and there are likely to be other factors behind the scenes which will determine how we play and who plays and who doesn't. For instance, I rate Kazmierczak as someone who can do the basics – trapping the ball, and passing, both short and long, but he seems to be too one-paced for the Championship. And so far, he has not figured at all in the selected squads so he may well be the next one to depart.

NHC may well have a preferred system in mind, and be the kind of manager that imports players to match that system. The reality is that he is saddled with what he has got and he has to find a way of using that in the best way. The next few weeks will not only be interesting but also vital in terms of how NHC and his team respond to the challenge of keeping us in the Championship.

On a closing note, the book that sustained me on my travels this week was Jonathan Wilson's 'Inverting the Pyramid', a history of football tactics and one that I can thoroughly recommend for those fascinated by tactics and systems.

Photo: Action Images

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