Currently I am more interested in how we are/might be going to play with both RvW and Hooper in the side. Until that question is answered, how can we identify particular players who would be a good fit, have the right attributes and so on? Presumably CH has something in mind, and we might have more of a clue after the two remaining friendlies. Lansbury is a red herring. In Wes's case, he is our player, so there is a question as to how well suited he is to playing the required role (whatever it is). But again, until we know how the team is going to set up, that's pretty pointless too. There seem to me two interesting questions. How to accommodate both RvW and Hooper, and how we can improve our playing out of defence, particularly when under pressure.
yes, only just seen that dempsey has gone back to the states. would have liked him myself. i'd quite like sigurdsson from spurs but doubt he's available
i suspect the team will be set up in two or three ways throughout the season, sometimes accommodating both hooper and rvw, sometimes just the one.
Can I propose that from now on we don't suggest players unless we also say why we are doing so. i.e. where they are going to play, in what line up, and in place of whom?
to begin the season, if all fit (which is admittedly unlikely right now), my guess would be: ruddy martin turner bassong olsson snodgrass fer johnson redmond hooper van wolfswinkel
I'm personally not too worried if we don't sign anyone else, very happy with the standard of improvements across the squad, but I also think we will sign at least one more player depending on availability and cost etc.
i think he'll play 4-4-2 at home as much as he can. i doubt we'll ever play it away, it'll be 4-5-1 (4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1 to be more precise). my team was what i think he'll go with for everton. i hate 4-4-2 so i'd rather not play it at all but i think it will be used at home sometimes. the advantage of rvw and hooper is that both are not out and out strikers, both can drop into midfield so its ideal for a 4-4-2 if one of them drops deep. my guess would be hooper will be the one who drops deep. as i say, i've not seen us pre season so have no idea how they've linked up (or even if they have yet) but hooper is more lively and likes to move into midfield to collect the ball whereas rvw is a bit more passive - a lurker. i see no reason why they can't play together and there will be times when they should (everton for one) but i think 60% of games will see just one of them start the match. we've got so many options now so we can now be much more flexible and i think we'll see more effective subs simply because the quality on the bench will be far higher
I was going to say that at least they'll be used to 4:4:2, but so few of Lambert's buccaneers remain that it doesn't really apply!
My guess would be if they both play, it will be more of a 4-4-1-1 than a standard 4-4-2, with one dropping deeper to link with Fer (or Howson) coming forward and the wide players cutting in. Johnson (or Tettey) could then maintain the DM protection in front of the defence. When possession is lost, those 3 fall back to counter any attack. There was a suggestion of this at Braga, when both strikers were on for the first 20 minutes of the second half. The difference would be that it's more of a second striker role than playing in the 'hole' like Wes does.
I'd much rather see us use 4-2-3-1 or 4-5-1, I know certain sections Norwich fans think that 4-4-2 is the answer to everything, don't get me wrong it should always be there in our arsenal as it has got it's uses, but for a main formation it's too basic and unsophisticated for my liking, I also think the midfield needs layers to operate efficiently, a flat line of four midfielders promotes too much wing play and hoofing.
I think Hoolahan is still important to us as he's really the only player (from last year, can't speak of the new recruits yet), who does have the potential to make things happen. Yes, he loses the ball too much, doesn't have enough pace, and is often afraid to try a shot, but he's always willing to get on the ball and bring others into play. Those criticising his creativity, he's not always the one to play a defence-splitting ball, but he can find someone in space to bring them into play. At the moment I think we're trying to build a mid-table Prem side, and I wouldn't class him as mid-table standard, which is why I want us to sign someone similar to Hoolahan to push/replace him. But he's a player who stayed with us down in league 1, so if he was that good he'd have been snapped up long ago. As to formation, I'm not a fan of 4-4-2, but I haven't seen our new forwards to judge whether either have the creative nous to mean we can forgo Hoolahan, who I think would be the most likely to miss out. We were very reliant on wing play last season, and removing that central spark would only exacerbate that issue, unless Fer offers more in that respect than I currently think. At home it's a possibility, but I'd still rather see us play 4-2-3-1 with a significantly upgraded CAM to create behind Hooper or RvW. Having said that, if that was the way we were looking to go, I'm concerned that should that player be brought in, it's looking like it'll be quite late. It's such a crucial position in that formation that it could take time for the team to get used to the new man in that role, so we could take time for the attack to gel if the signing was left too much longer.
I have the horror that was the 4-4-2 that we played against Villa in the cup in my mind from last season. It was truly awful to watch, so flat and easy to pass through. With who we have now like Fer, Hooper and RvW I would expect we would play a 4-2-3-1 away with 2 defensive midfielders, Johnson and fer maybe? At home I think we should play a 4-1-4-1 with only one defensive midfielder and an attacking midfield with a lot more support for the lone striker. I guess we will see, but I think 4-4-2 has had its day unless you play a dynamic diamond midfield. Very entertaining to watch as we all know, but defensively reckless. On the up side noticed the binners lost!
I'd like to see a 4-1-2-2-1. Bradders in front of the back 4. Fer & Howson interchangeable left and right in front giving options and linking play going forward, but able to offer some cover to the fullbacks also. Then Hooper and one of pilks, snoddy etc behind RvW. Those 2 to defend wider to keep the op fullbacks honest. Width could come from our fullbacks with the nearest of Fer or howsen giving cover. I'd generally go for Olsen and Whits for their attacking abilities. That said it may only be one for the home games although how attacking it really is would depend on how far up the pitch Fer and Howsen can get. Ruddy Whittaker-Bass-Turner-Olson Johnson Fer-howson Snoddy. - Hooper RvW Bah! P.s TMC is probably right!
Where were you earlier, mate? It got interesting, we were discussing Henri Lansbury's career stats, parentage, inside leg measurement, .....you missed all the fun
Sorry to be a bore and bring this thread back on topic but have you all seen this http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11709/8855032/transfer-news-juventus-confirm-two-strikers-set-to-leave-the-club What do you think?
