Thanks! I often tailor the quality of my posts and thoughts to fit the thread! As to whether we'd still have him if he could score too, I'd guess not, but we'd make a hefty profit on him and get a good season ir two out of him, so win win! There are alot of times that he seems reluctant to go forward though, even when there's the opportunity to and cover behind him. He can split defences open and I'd like to see him do it a bit more. Constructive criticism (possibly nit-picking) though as he's been my favourite player for the last 2-3 seasons.
If thats Diakite, he wont be there too much, Faurlin should be the one to sit as he has more control over his positioning and doesnt go on mazy runs like Diakite.
Good taste in players, shame the manager you seem intent on defending, on the other thread, isn't picking him , eh witless?
I think you need to get over yourself lol It is indeed a shame but I'm sure he has his reasons. Hopefully he'll fit him in again soon. More wit in my left teste than you have in your entire body Snoretholt zzzzzzz
I'd like to see Ali and Granero more scoring-orientated. Good player that he is, Granero is often shy to take a chance - in the final minutes against West Brom, when there was nothing to lose, he placed the ball brilliantly to score. More of the same please, don't leave it all to our strikers who are misfiring at present
He could play in the middle of the 3 on a 4231 with Taarabt and Hoilet on either side. That can easily change into a 451 with a midfielder sitting in front of the back 4. Its so simple but so frustrating that the idiot in charge wont do it.
Did you not see the West Ham game? We played 4-4-2 in the first half and were completely over-run in midfield. Against Arsenal we had 30% possession playing 4-4-2. IMO if we played 4-2-3-1, with Faurlin, Diakite and Granero playing centrally, we would have far more possession which would mean we may create more chances. You're right that formations change shape during a game, with 4-2-3-1 becoming 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 at different times. However, starting with just 2 central midfielders against teams playing with 3 we will nearly always get out-played through the middle. The only exception imo is when we are playing teams with quite a weak midfield, such as Reading on Sunday. Therefore, it may not be too much of a disaster if Hughes carries on with his 4-4-1-1 against them.
If he goes forward he generally has the ball at his feet, simple for either one of the other CM to step back when they see him going forward. Tend to think he can be disciplined (positional wise) and hasn't gone forward until he has needed to later in the game or when we have gone behind. Ale would be better for taking the ball from the back four definably and distributing for sure but horses for courses.
Spot on Flyer. We all recall last season how our performance dipped when Ale got injured. He is definitely premier class and deserves his place ahead of the likes of SWP. Hughes took ages to realise the talent of Adel, he is making the same mistake with Ale, much to our detriment.
He don't go to attack as often because he's always in pair with another CM and I think he's under pressure not to loose the ball. In a 3 man midfield he should have more freedom and he and Diakite could attack more while Faurlin could be the deep lying playmaker, something like Xabi Alonso. I couldn't help noticing similarity in their style of play, both have very good long balls and both are good tacklers of the ball.
