The case for DEFENCE

[Bill McCai]

Which 3 centre backs should be employed if we are to continue with the 3-5-2? Which guarantee us a solid base to build from?. Or would you sign another? Or even go back to 4 at the back? What about when Lowe or <?:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on">Clyde</st1:place> return. Or maybe you would like to see Huddlestone at the back?
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Considering the amount of terrible goals we are conceding I think this is an area we must address soon.

[Deutsch Wolf]

Edwards, Gyepes, Lescott.


Doesn't matter who we pick though, none of them are particularly good in the air, and we'll always look ropey until we get a more dominant keeper (cue Postma pun).

[Stan Cutlass]

Why isn't the goalkeeper part of the defence? He's as much to blame as the rest of them. And surely our last line...

[paddingtonwolf]

bill - its "gyepes"

[Bill McCai]

<DIV>bill - its "gyepes" </DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
Thanks. You knew who I mean. The lantern jawed one like something of the Goonies.</DIV>

[paddingtonwolf]

hmm - not the prettiest is he?

[Stan Cutlass]

<DIV>The lantern jawed one like something of the Goonies.</DIV>





Mama Fratelli?Edited by: Stan Cutlass

[paddingtonwolf]

<DIV>The lantern jawed one like something of the Goonies.</DIV>





Mama Fratelli?





not that pretty - think of the_blade's avatar

[Jamboon]

I'm not sure about this sytem but at least hes trying something different to the diamond. If we are going to play this way then i would like to see an experienced comanding centre half in the middle of gyepes and lescott. unfortunately we dont have one.

[Deutsch Wolf]

I'm not sure about this sytem but at least hes trying something different to the diamond.


We haven't played the diamond since about March.....

[Bill McCai]

Would Huddlestone and Lescott at the back be an idea?
<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Probably a bit young and may get bullied by rank gits like Shipperley?

[Deutsch Wolf]

I think we need Huddlestone in midfield, unless we get someone else in to play the anchor role.

[Jamboon]

I'm not sure about this sytem but at least hes trying something different to the diamond.


We haven't played the diamond since about March.....





Well what would you call it?


From what i've seen its been an attempt to play kennedy holding seol more advanced and then the other two in between. that sound like a diamond to me. its been anything but a flat 442

[Deutsch Wolf]

It's 4-5-1/4-3-3, trying to ape Chelsea in playing one central striker (Cort), two wide men (Miller/Seol), one advanced midfielder (Ricketts) and two holding players (any two of Olofinjana/Kennedy/Cameron/Anderton/Davies).

[Del Woppio]

itss been a 451/433. not a diamond to be seen.

[paddingtonwolf]

It's 4-5-1/4-3-3, trying to ape Chelsea.....


......sadly without the playing staff to hand in order to bring it off. Hence humdrum 10th in the division

[Bill McCai]

<DIV>It's 4-5-1/4-3-3, trying to ape Chelsea in playing one central striker (Cort), two wide men (Miller/Seol), one advanced midfielder (Ricketts) and two holding players (any two of Olofinjana/Kennedy/Cameron/Anderton/Davies). </DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
FACT. But we hardly ever have to play Seyi, luckily.</DIV>

[Jamboon]

It's 4-5-1/4-3-3, trying to ape Chelsea in playing one central striker (Cort), two wide men (Miller/Seol), one advanced midfielder (Ricketts) and two holding players (any two of Olofinjana/Kennedy/Cameron/Anderton/Davies).


Granted one of the strikers always ends up out wide but i wouldnt say that cort is the central striker he too is guilty of being in the wrong positions. I dont think i was too far of the mark saying 'diamond' as it is what GH has called his syatem in the past. Andif yousay we havent played the diamond since march how was that system differnt to what weve seen this season. Your just arguing for the sake of it. Was it that much of a ridiculous statement that it needed you to highlight it in the first place?

[johnybig32]

why not play huddlestone lescott and gyepes??


will create room in mdifeild for seyi:)


i really think we're missing him in midfeild. there isnt much creativity and anyone who will run with the ball!


if were playing 5, we really dont need a holding midfielder!

[Deutsch Wolf]

Your just arguing for the sake of it.


Unlike you, who made a statement that's blatantly untrue and with which no-one agrees, yet won't accept you're wrong.


When Hoddle first came in, we played ONE holding player (Andrews, then later Ince), TWO central midfielders (Kennedy + one of Cooper/Cameron/Olofinjana), ONE attacking midfielder (Seol), and TWO central strikers (Miller &amp; Cort).


Nothing like the system we've played all this season. Saw much of Kenny Miller on the left-wing last season, did you?

[AndyP]

It's 4-5-1/4-3-3, trying to ape Chelsea in playing one central striker (Cort), two wide men (Miller/Seol), one advanced midfielder (Ricketts) and two holding players (any two of Olofinjana/Kennedy/Cameron/Anderton/Davies).


Granted one of the strikers always ends up out wide but i wouldnt say that cort is the central striker he too is guilty of being in the wrong positions. I dont think i was too far of the mark saying 'diamond' as it is what GH has called his syatem in the past. Andif yousay we havent played the diamond since march how was that system differnt to what weve seen this season. Your just arguing for the sake of it. Was it that much of a ridiculous statement that it needed you to highlight it in the first place?








Diamond:


...................GK..................


RB..........CB..........CB...........LB


...................DM....................


RM.....................................LM


...................AM......................


............CF...............CF............





This seasons system (before Watford):


...................GK.....................


RB.........CB...........CB.............LB


...............CM.....CM..................


....................AM......................


RWF...................................LWF


.....................CF.......................





New 352 System:


.....................GK......................


.........CB.........CB........CB..........


RWB..........CM.......CM............LWB


.....................AM.......................


...............CF...........CF..................








Thats my take on it anyway. Theyre not really the same and no ones "arguing for the sake of it" as far as I can see.

[Jamboon]

No which is why i said cort has often been in the wrong positions too! he spent alot of time out wide last season.


Im willing to hold my hand up when i am wrong but the fact is the system whether diamond or 433 was not getting results. I still believe its pretty much the same midfield the only thing that has changed is it doesnt have ince this season. And because kennedy isn't a natural holding player it doesnt look as structured.

[Essex Wolf]

For me has to be option 2 if we are to play a 3-5-2 formation.

[Bill McCai]

will create room in mdifeild for seyi:)


i really think we're missing him in midfeild. there isnt much creativity and anyone who will run with the ball!
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>smileys/smiley36.gif</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
That’s the biggest load of rubbish I've ever read. How has he contributed this season? He hasn’t, because he hardly ever plays? Why? Because everyone at the club has realised he's got the heart of Pistone, the skill level of a one legged Steve Claridge and about as much influence as Darren Simpkin. Face it, he is not good enough to play for us. Hence the signing of Huddlestone, fast tracking of Davies and the continued inclusion of Kennedy, Anderton, Cameron and Ricketts ahead of the £1.7m (?!!? ) waster.</DIV>

[Jamboon]

Systems aside we are moving away from the topic of which centre halfs we want to see. I think a few people here have been playing too much football manager. Formation are never sticked too throughout a game as things would become too predictable.


You may not agree that it is a diamond fair enough. but with both a diamond and 433 you get the same noticable similarities


1. three midfielders eg kennedy, anderton, cameron one of them noticably when we are on the attack will hold deeper.


2. three attacking players eg. seol, cort and miller one of which more of a creater of goals than a scorer (seol)


Based on these two points am i still wrong to make this 'mistake'?

[Deutsch Wolf]

1. three midfielders eg kennedy, anderton, cameron one of them noticably when we are on the attack will hold deeper.


2. three attacking players eg. seol, cort and miller one of which more of a creater of goals than a scorer (seol)


Based on these two points am i still wrong to make this 'mistake'?





If you want to completely ignore the fact that when Ricketts plays he has absolutely no defensive responsibilities, or that Kenny Miller has been tied to the left-wing all season, and could in no way in this context be categorised as a striker, then no.

[hampshire wolf]

Jamboon, the diamond is no more....


end of.

[paddingtonwolf]

sort of diamonds aren't forever

[Jamboon]

Good back to the original topic then. 'Three at the back' i wasnt at watford saturday and only had the papers to read how we played.


How did it work? is it worth sticking with?

[paddingtonwolf]

I thought it was ok when Gyepes was on the pitch but fell apart after half time


naylor isn't affected as his tracking back isn't the best anyway, and Edwards did ok. Ross was a bit of a fish out of water but he was new to the team

[Stan Cutlass]

I think we need Huddlestone in midfield, unless we get someone else in to play the anchor role.


Paul Jones sounds ideal...

[ProudWolf]

Good back to the original topic then. 'Three at the back' i wasnt at watford saturday and only had the papers to read how we played.


How did it work? is it worth sticking with?





It more than worked in the first half, in fact it was probably our best half of the season in terms of attacking quality, flowing moves and creating chances.


2nd half it all went from bad to worse. Anderton and Kennedy tired and couldn't influence the game and pick out the wing-backs. Therefore we struggled to dominate the game and from then on the first goal became crucial. As the game wore on it was obvious we weren't going to get it and conceded three crap goals.

[Stan Cutlass]

not that pretty - think of the_blade's avatar


Thanks for taking the time to confirm something I actually knew already... it's Chunk.

[AndyP]

not that pretty - think of the_blade's avatar


Thanks for taking the time to confirm something I actually knew already... it's Chunk.








No No No, Chunk's the fat kid. Slough is his bigGyepes'alike friend.

[Stan Cutlass]

No No No, Chunk's the fat kid. Slough is his bigGyepes'alike friend.





I give up... smileys/smiley24.gif

[Bilbrook_Wolves]

i really think edwards ahs been one of our best players this season

[Markwolf]

I thought Slough was Ricky Gervais' s best friend?

[EasternWolf]

I will changeyour formulationto Craddock - Gyepes - Edwards as i would preferGyepes in the middle of the three.