I am wondering if Lambo is still searching for his best eleven and if so in which formation they operate. He is certainly keeping us all guessing at the moment. I think the trouble is nobody who has been watching all of our games so far knows what the best formation is either. After reading numerous posts in other threads there has been such a difference of opinion about who played well and poorly it makes for a massively difficult job. I don't think anybody is guarenteed a spot as we speak, although some are in better positions than others. My definites at the moment would be Ruddy, Tierney, Barnett and Johnson. I don't think that any other player is guarenteed a starting eleven berth right now. Even Holty must be feeling the heat a little bit. Once the other defenders are fit again then De Laet will have to look over his shoulder too! Ruddy for obvious reasons - he is our number one and has played with the defence more often, therefore has a better command of his troops in front plus he has more experience than Declan at the moment Tierney - Been pretty solid defensively, distributed well and been providing width and crosses a plenty. Barnett - unlucky to get sent off for a nothing challenge. That aside which wasn't even his fault, he has hardly put a foot wrong. Johnson - I have been very impressed with what I have seen so far. He has a great presense, gets on the ball well, distributes effectively, breaks up the play in quite a commanding way and has a lethal shot (unfortunately the dirty Leeds warned us about his shooting with one going in out of every 100 shots!) (Apologies for the typo in the thread title - not sure if it can be editted once it has been created. Any ideas Dave/Thai)
We seemed to have lucked out so far, its hard to settle on a first 11 without getting that first win.....
(Apologies for the typo in the thread title - not sure if it can be editted once it has been created. Any ideas Dave/Thai)[/QUOTE] I've no idea Chris, I'll leave it to Thai - he's the techno whizz-kid, he can even 'copy and paste'
I can edit the content of the post but not the title, I can only edit titles of posts created by myself. If you want to start another thread, go ahead, we can merge the two of them
Wow! My head's spinning so much I might miss my bus to work! I'll blame you if I'm late, overloading my brain with all this technical jargon!
The thread implies that we should play the same team and the same system each week. That might have worked in League 1 and the Championship but not in the Premiership. Can you seriously suggest that you play the same team and system against the power and height of Stoke as you do against the speed and accuracy of passing of Man Utd or Arsenal? PL knows that each game is different and that he has to use his squad and different systems to cope - 3 central defenders to cope with the power down the middle and lack of width of Chelsea as an example.
agree 1950 but i do think we need to have a more settled starting 11 that can be tinkered with. mentioned this on another thread but my fist choice players would be: ruddy, tierney, naughton, de laet, barnett, fox, johnson, hoolahan, bennett, holt, jackson at this moment in time. formation wise, who knows! diamond maybe, but that team represents different elements; flair, pace, skill, grit, determination and seems to be the most fluid eleven i can pick from that squad.
Almost agreem except for Jackson. I believe that Vaughan holds the key, and should partner Holt for the next 5-6 games as long as he stays fit. Let's see if he can be the player, I think Lambert hopes he can become.
Agree with Super, we need to get a solid core in place week in week out & then tinker as required with the others as to who is in form or different formations. Imo we do need to have a more creative midfielder in team, Hoolahan or Fox, we just seem to be playing harder ball winners together rather than a mix, yesterday showed how un creative we were with out one of the afore mentioned.
I agree Superman, however, I can also justify Lamberts selection the previous 3 games. Wigan - he gave the boys a chance that gained us promotion, good performance, good result. Stoke - made various changes to cope with the physicality of Stoke, it worked well, we were the better team and not for the dodgy pen and sending off we were probably good for all 3 points. Chelsea - started with 3 CB's, I can see the reasoning but it didn't look like it was working, then he was forced to change it due to the Whitbread injury. We have also been forced to make a number of other changes due to injuries/suspensions. I firmly believe we must try to get the core/heart/spine of the team together and only make minimal changes to it depending on whom we're playing. We have to establish our best players and play to their strengths. For me, and from what i've seen (been to all games exc Wigan due to a holiday!), our best starting team would line up like this:- -------------------Ruddy-------------------- Naughton---Barnett---Da Laet---Tierney -----------Johnson------Crofts-------------- Bennett----------Hoolahan------------Pilkington -------------------Holt----------------------- The back four plus Ruddy pick themselves. Johnson has been our best player so far this season, has a great engine, works his socks off and provides so great cover for for the back four. For additional cover i'd adopt the 'twin engine' system with Crofts alongside Johnson! These two will provide sufficient cover for Naughton and/or Tierney to bomb forward work alongisde our wingers and cause our opponents all sorts of problems. Ok, Wesley Hoolahan, we all know what he can do and for me he is a definite starter. Look how he changed the game yesterday and with him pulling the strings in the middle of the park I feel we will create so many more opportunities! He could also play in a slightly more advanced role just behind Holty? Bennett and Pilkington on the wings also provide us with an abundance of pace, they can both whip a great ball in and are more than capable of getting themselves on the scoresheet! Obviously Sir Grant up top doing his bit! This is similar to the formation played in the last two seasons which worked wonders for us. It provides a good solid defence to keep it tight, but, it also gives us so so much attacking flair and threat. Needless to say, whatever team Lambert picks I have total faith in him! NaaaridgeBoy
I agree with you on this, Jackson needs to gather confidence to score which will require patience. Vaughan looks and seems to have it already.
naaaridge boy, i like the team you have picked though i would exchange crofts for fox. i really think crofts and johnson are too similar to field in the same starting XI, unless its a game where we are likely to be under the cosh for long periods. one up front will have a few of the moaners out but bennett and pilkington are extremely good wide players - get them good service, allow hoolahan a free role, let fox pick the passes, johnson the tough tackler... its got the makings of a solid unit but again the question will, can it score enough goals?
just to add, i mention jackson to start on the premise that vaughan won't be available initially for the bolton match. either would be fine in my eyes - both have the pace required to trouble their backline
It could work, but Bennett and Pilkington would need to support the striker and not remain isolated or drift back into midfield too much, in all honesty that's the most difficult area on the pitch in that formation, because you need good positioning isolating the striker or yourself is too easy. I wouldn't pick Holt up front someone like Vaughan who can get into positions and use pace because it's what we're lacking upfront.
good points northants. i know he hardly had a touch yesterday but i was impressed with vaughan. he has that live-wire spark that holt doesn't possess. he just looks like a natural footballer. i just pray we can keep the lad fit!! its not been a great start for him has it. the key to playing 4-5-1/4-3-3 is as you say the wide men. both pilks and bennett have a history with previous clubs of playing in behind the striker so both are flexible players. on paper it always looks a negative formation but in reality, with the right personnel, it is very attacking. could be worth a try but lambert really needs to get a core of his team settled to build around in my opinion. we may have only played four games but next thing we know it'll be 8 games and we'll be nearly a quarter of the way through the season!!
basically what you are looking for is darren huckerby on either wing. now that would be mouthwatering.
