The Search for "Plan B"

In a season of innumerable highs and lows, both on the pitch and in the nightclubs of Newcastle, Paul Jewells team selections have been the one item of dogged consistency.
When that unbeaten run of six matches came to an end in mid-October, the now infamous “diamond” formation, having been emphatically undone, was retained for all but one of the six successive defeats which followed.
Towns current system has shown itself to be far more robust, having seen just two defeats in the last fifteen, leading to the justifiable belief that Jewell may have finally found a platform upon which to build a promotion charge next season.
However, the success of the current system is largely a result of being a very good fit for certain individuals, most specifically the front four of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Lee Martin, Daryl Murphy and Michael Chopra. The nagging concern remains that, as with the previous diamond system, Town still lack a “Plan B” in the event that the opposition counter the current formation or key players get injured, lose form or, more simply, get tired.
With a punishing eight games during the month of March, it would have appeared to be the perfect platform for Jewell to demonstrate the flexibility he now believes is within the squad.

“We’ve always got to try and be one step ahead and try and have a Plan B. When people worked out the diamond, we probably didn’t have that, to be honest. Maybe we’ve got a bit more flexibility about us now.”

Yet, despite confirming he had told the players to expect the side to be rotated, the appearance totals for those eight games perhaps belies a lack of confidence in the flexibility of his squad.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the back five remained unchanged through all eight games, excluding Arran Lee-Barretts recall on Saturday to replace the recalled Alex McCarthy.
Grant Leadbitter played every game in central midfield, with the exception of the Watford game, where only suspension kept him on the sidelines. The other central midfield berth was filled by Andy Drury in all but two games, where Lee Bowyer deputised.
However, further forward, the changes were even more sparse. The previously mentioned front four started all eight games, with one notable exception. At Hull City, Lee Martin was dropped to the bench for Jason Scotland, only to be quickly recalled to the side when Town fell two goals behind.

Essentially, Jewells starting eleven over an eight game period has been chosen from just twelve players. Jason Scotland would be a thirteenth, but his contract clause has perhaps distanced himself as a starting option.
There have been notable signs over the last three games in particular that the players have tired. Yet, it has also been notable that the options available to Jewell to refresh his team are perhaps wanting. Equally, at Watford, with his side in an eminently winnable position at half time, there were very few options available from the bench to make significant changes as the game veered sharply away from Town.
Jewell has managed to put together an Ipswich side which looks capable of winning games, has a real threat going forward and, perhaps even more vitally, has offered more protection to the formerly beleaguered defence.

Yet, evidence suggests that Jewell is loathe to make changes to the starting line-up. The current system is tailor-made for his front four; changing them would lead to a change of formation. And that perhaps remains the biggest fear, because Jewells two most successful formations this season have been bookended by a series of attempts to “find the right formula” amidst very poor losing runs.
Against the stronger teams in the championship, does Paul Jewell really have a Plan B?