Clive usually does a good report, the forum on Loftforwords is worth an occasional browse too. It sounds like the general consensus there is that we should play 4231 like so: Bosingwa-Nelson-Mbia-Traore ---------Farlin-Diakite-------- --Hoillet-Granero-Taraabt-- ----------Zamora I wouldn't mind seeing that given a try! I'd be suprised if we didn't play a 5 man midfield Vs Arsenal.
I like it too...but I think Sparky is contractually obliged to play Park....part of the deal in keeping his job
I think that would be good at Arsenal, though I'd play a Keeper! Cesar. I'd prefer Hill to Nelsen if he's fit, as I think he organises the defense better - our big failing at set pieces and all crosses. Prefer Cisse to BZ as well.
Hard for me to believe we still want Zamora in the side after Sunday (and many other recent performances actually). We have to face up to the fact that we simply do not have a target man and work around it. No idea how we cover set pieces of course but as we saw BZ does not help with that. Cesar Bosingwa-Ferdinand-Mbia-Traore Farlin-Granero-Diakite Hoillet-Cisse-Taraabt
Cisse has never looked remotely effective up front on his own and he is completely unable to link up play. Start with Zamora but ensure that at least one of Adel, Hoilett or Granero is near him when ever we hit a ball to him. A lot of unfair criticism of Zamora from Saturdays game. Isolated up front against two centre backs who are particularly strong in the air. If he runs at one centre back to tackle them they pass it to the other who is free. Zamora can only effectively defend if the whole team press high up the pitch and with no support it's hard to retain the ball. We need to be positive at Arsenal and make the most of any dip in form and a tough midweek champions league game. Hughes will be his typical self though. Negative and slow to react to what happens in front of him
Agreed. That's why I didn't set out 1-up front. There are definitely two camps emerging on here focused either around BZ or Cisse. For me the former is a conservative choice that just hasn't delivered for us. The latter can be a more risky choice but with Granero and Taarabt now providing good service Cisse is more likely to latch on. Having said that, MH being MH, I do expect him to stick with the safer option.
If he keeps any of Taarabt, Hoilett or Faurlin on the bench....he weakens us!! Shouldn't get into our strongest team. I've been very disappointed with him....looks a shadow of the player we saw at Man Utd! Looking more and more like a purely commercial move...especially giving him the captaincy.
At the risk of getting my head bitten off, he strikes me as the kind of player who does a lot of work un-noticed......going back to the ageism theme.... a kind of John Hollins role from our best ever side....hardly a super star but an incredably effective player. OK it may be a little distorted on TV...probably see alot more of what happens when you are watching live at the ground....but i thought he and Bossingwa did a really good job on Baines & Pienaar sunday.....maybe that's what MH sees in him especially now that he is playing in his favoured position. Hard hat at ready!!!!!
Tramore. I think that maybe a very valid point. I have really been trying to see what it is that football wise seems to give Park some kind of season ticket in Hughes start 11's. From the TV I honestly have trouble seeing how he even warrants a place on the Bench. So I been wondering what is going on out there that the TV cameras aren't picking up? I'll be coming over for a couple of games in November, and it will be very interesting then to watch Park's way off ball performances (although I'd prefer both him and Hughes off field by then), to see what it is that gets him more than 3 points in most ratings! But going back 36 years or so, I remember many of us disagreeing about who was our best "unnoticed" player then, John Hollins or Micky Leech, one of whom was on the Bench if all were fit. - I was definitely in the Leech corner. Wish he were around today, he was really the guts of that great team.
Dear old Micky Leech.....played in almost every position except goalkeeper....a terrific player who did not seek the headlines....just very very reliable....a sad loss. Os, we're over for the saints game so a pre game cocktail in order if you're over for that one!!!!
Yeh, I'll be there for Saints game. A pre game cocktail sounds very in order! Where you all drinking?
