what I'm getting at isn't necessarily to do with stats though, PNP. If an opposing manager looks at our teamsheet and sees no one with any height in our front that poses an aerial threat, he's likely to think "well, I can adjust my tactics during open play and double up on certain players." - different story from set pieces however, when the likes of Kaboul, Daws, Verts Sandro et al come forward, as they'll HAVE to be marked man for man. On the subjest of set pieces, hopefully Sig will provide some sort of solution to those. he's deadly from what i've seen. - also Verts scored something like 23 goals for Ajax. - is he a free kick specialist? that's an insane amount of goals for a defender! Jenas... urgh.. just ****ing do one. getting insane how long he's been hanging around for. One of my farts would be proud of him.
Well we'll see who's right on Saturday. In the Prem size matters, so I would say little man bollocks. You tell me the last time any team won the Prem with their only striker being no more than 5ft 7 - oh that's right, it hasn't happened - little man bollocks indeed If we start with Lennon and Defoe, we'll lose, simple as. They're too little and Toon will squash us, no problem.
i think little man bollocks and big man bollocks is a personal preference. It also depends what you are doing with them.
overall I think this is defoes last chance. He looked promicing in the Italy game when he was on so maybe.. just maybe
What if we get a little man with big bollocks? Would that be any worse than a big man with little bollocks?
Fair enough SP, I think Defoe as 'little man' on his own won't work. We'll see. I also think having Lennon and VDV as two of the other 'front four' won't work either, so I hope Siggy plays instead of Lennon. However, I don't know how fit certain players are after the internationals, so it may be that Lennon who is fresh may well play, just don't think it will work.
-------------------Friedel----------------------- Walker-----Dawson------Vertonghen----Benny/Fryers ------------THudd--------Parker/Sandro-------- ----VDV---------Sigurdsson-----------Bale----- ------------------Defoe/Kane------------------- This is utilising the same 4-2-3-1 formation that Roy Hodgson used in the second half against Italy, recently. It's an extremely fluid formation, and works well for teams that have good, technical players, who can pass the ball around, and push forward in numbers quickly. If we want to revert to or from that formation to our more traditional 4-4-2 (or 4-4-1-1), then we can bring Lennon or Rose on for one of our DMs.
Could Siggy play on the right of a trio behind Defoe? I've never seen Siggy play. I don't like VDV out on the wing, even if he is free to come inside. It didn't seem to work last season. If Siggy could fill that role then it would open up the possibility of having 2 holding players. Eg: Back 4 Sandro Livermore Siggy VDV Bale Defoe
I get the feeling Kane will be used in the attacking midfield trio, likely where you've placed VDV, rather than up front. Also, no Kaboul?!?
Yeah, I'd probably play Kaboul instead of Dawson, although (if Daws if fit) there isn't much in it for me. Dawson is superb in the air and defending against set-pieces, which is a part of our game that let us down during his absence.
I think our problems defending set pieces can be attributed to our problem with taking set pieces - we never had set piece training when Harry was around.
Sandro, when on form is class. Against Milan he was unstopable. If he can play like this then it would let Thudd have more freedom
Aye, I rate Sandro higher then Parker, he could be the complete DM, as he has aggression, technique and is able to burst forward from midfield, the only aspect which he needs to really work on is his reactions as sometimes he gets caught out and literally drags the opposition to the floor or gets robbed of the ball.
