With Jermain Defoe missing the win against Wigan due to illness and the return to the first XI of both Sandro and van der Vaart, how would people like to see us approach the game against Arsenal on Sunday? Should we revert to a 4-4-2 and put Defoe back into the side or should we stick with the 4-5-1 that worked so well in the first half against Wigan, before an eye injury and some fitness issues appeared to slow us down?
Think i would start with a 442 and see how things go.It's worked well so far,sure we would have started 442 yesterday if Defoe had been fit.
Despite losing Fabregas and Nasri, they still carry a threat from midfield, with the players that remain. I suppose it remains a balance between how much Harry feels he needs to counter that threat, and how much success he feels Defoe would have against the goons shaky defence. Personally, I'd go with Defoe, I think he could cause trouble for Koscielny and Mertesacker - assuming he's fully fit, of course.
I think our 10 best available outfield players started at Wigan. While I am normally in favour of rotation I can't see why we would play a weaker team against Arsenal. Having the best players on the pitch is more important than the formation. Leave Defoe on the bench and bring him on when we are 3 - 0 up
I agree with keeping the team the same but I don't agree with that at all. Keep Defoe as an impact sub but I'd rather we didn't start off in an open 442 and have to keep coming back from behind against them, like we did last season because it's not always going to work.
The Goons current CB's are slow, so Defoe should play. I'm not predicting a United score, but we're at home and should get at them ourselves and not worry about their MF...unless its taking over, which is highly unlikely!.
Not much between us I think SF: If Defoe was as good as Adebayor (which would get him into my 'best' team ahead of Sandro or Parker) then we'd probably play 442 but it wouldn't be open as Arsenal would have to drop Song back to help their centre backs who wouldn't cope otherwise. And I didn't say the formation was unimportant, just less important than playing the best players . As I've said a few times I'd much prefer us to play a flexible 4231 as I think it suits our strengths which lie in support attackers (Bale, Modric, VdV, Lennon, Pienaar, Kranjcar) rather than out and out strikers, particularly now that we've got Adebayor who is well suited to this system whereas Pav or Defoe don't have the all round game to make it work.
I think 4-5-1 is just barely more likely to get the win, while 4-4-2 is much more likely to win by more. But I'd go for 4-5-1--mostly because I'm afraid not starting VDV now will cause problems later.
For me, Defoe has to play against Mertesacker. He is so slow, ha s the turning circle of a cross channnel ferry and is still adjusting to the EPL. I understand this means VdV may not play in his stongest position and will most likely start wide right in Lennons absence but, I thinkl we go for it 442 style and use Ade on his with VdV i behind as plan B.
