City tend to pack the middle of the park, regardless of their formation, but I'd question how willing they'd be to do that if we use the 4-4-2. We've seen clubs leaving Bale and Lennon with one defender each and we all know what happens. As they've signed Maicon, I'm sure he'd fill them in!
yeah I agree with all of that mate, which is why I said that we've probably got no choice but to play 442. - simply because we're pretty much forced to do so. I have said in this thread and another that I would be using 4231 against city away, but that was including Sandro. If he's out as you've mentioned, who on earth do we realistically play in the 4231 if that's "Plan A"? It's a difficult one. You've only got to look at shakhtar's keeper against chelsea the other night. a horrendous pass from the defender back to him, which ended up between him and torres. He tried to clear it straight away, but it still came off of torres anyway. Tavares was so close to Lloris last night, the same thing could easily have happened. In that situation it's difficult to say what is the correct decision. In Lloris' mind, he must have though taking the touch was less of a risk when put in that predicament, as he would have had more space to then deal with it. Regardless of Lloris' initial distribution, Naughton was positioned was of no danger and he had ages on the ball. - if it was that bad a situation for Naughton, he could have just put it out for a throw.
No right back and Ade on the wing? I thought you wanted us to win against City - that's a line-up asking to be steamrolled.
Bale and Lennon can sit further back, and in defence they could tuck in, giving us numerical superiority. Hudd is looking fitter for the recent games and I thouht he played well last night. Just uses the ball so well. So 4-4-2 for me on Sunday - Ade can also drop back well. Lloris Naughton Caulker Dawson JV Lennon Livermore Hudd Bale JD Ade Livermore should be told to sit in front of back 4 - picking up Silva if he plays - with THudd as the out ball to ping to one of the wings. Naughton ahead of Walker for this one for defensive qualities - but no back passes!
Then why have you named a front 7 in front of a back 3 ? Quote Originally Posted by Ghoddle10 View Post I'd love to see this team Lloris; Caulker Dawson JV; Lennon Carroll, Hudd Sandro, Bale JD Ade The mind boggles!
Hi SD - AFAIK Sandro is fit, last season I would have advocated playing Jake in this game instead of Aaron or JD, but this season, he just seems off the pace and committing even more silly fouls than he did last season, which was already too many A front 6 of Jake BG JD Sandro Hudd Ade would seem quite a powerful and goal-threatening combo, but I think i'd stick with Lennon instead of Livermore for this.
Agree with Sandro if fit, I thought he was out. Excellent news if not. Who's BG - Bareth Gale or are you going with attacking flair of Billy Gallas?
I want to see Adebayor stay in the team, probably playing with Defoe. The reasons are both dumb and not-so-dumb: Dumb: I enjoy watching him play even more than I like watching Bale. He plays like a really good basketball center, which is something I can understand and appreciate. Being similar height and weight may prejudice me towards him as well. Not so dumb: Formations are all very well, but there's always a case to be made for playing your best players. Gylfi and Dempsey just haven't done very much this year. Adebayor was so much better than either one has been.
i agree with the part about playing your best players,but 4-4-2 Away to one of the top teams,is'nt a good idea,we need 5 in midfieldso it means one up top,and at the moment that has to be JD.4-4-2 is alright when you have home advantage,but to big risk away to a top 4team imo
Adebayor is/was a world class talent. He should always play, IMO. He may not be quite what he once was, but the guy used to be one of the most dangerous strikers in the world. He still has most of that. He's just a bit rusty.
Since previous post Sandro has a chance, not that it changes anything formation wise. Its not difficult for me about Lloris, the view from behind the goal showed he was 5yds to the right of their forward with the right side of the pitch clear to punt up field or well out for a throw. I think he was overeager trying to impress and had his brainstorm worked he would only have found a lot of players where it had just come from and given himself a difficult outball. The only thing to do is to drag it with your left foot in the direction the ball was travelling, away from the attacker and clear upfield. You do realise you've dragged me unwittingly into a keeper debate and if I get sunshined its all your fault!
We shouldn't start Defoe on his own, but I can't see Villas-Boas dropping him, which is fair enough, or playing two up top.
we'll have to agree to disagree, Notso. Regardless of Lloris, he should never have been given it in the first place. risky from the minute it left naughton's boot. I'm surprised GH10 hasn't bitten yet; you're picking on his boyfriend.
We're talking two different things then mate, I agree allday long about Naughtons error, but it happened, and Lloris was then called upon to deal with it, and its from that moment in time onwards I'm discussing. Lloris chose not to play percentages and take the safe option, it was a poor decision to cut back into the forward, rather than take it away and clear it with a positional headstart. My point is how he dealt with a difficult situation, there will be others as a bad backpass is part of the game, its not the first and won't be the last.
2 quotes that have always stuck with me when i learnt football at a kid. "Never play it across your box" "Try to play it onto your keeper's stronger foot if you're going to go backwards". It was a mess from the outset Notso and when it got to Lloris it was on his right foot (he's left foote). If you watch it again, Lloris had to sprint to get to the ball and only just made it. there was very little time to think about anything. Also, just look how visible Tavares is when Naughton made the pass. Total suicide. Sorry mate, but the more I watch it, I think it's more and more of a clanger on Naughton's part. http://www.soccer-blogger.com/2012/...12-beric-jermain-defoe-hat-trick-goals-video/ first video - 0mins 39secs
