I'm not saying I want Townsend playing on the left either. Firstly I was asking whether Lamela can play there to provide the width but if he's no good there then I would play Townsend on the left as we need to keep Naughton's role fairly limited and catering for our weakest area on the pitch is more important than our strongest area on the pitch, in my opinion. Plus if Villa have spent the last two weeks preparing for dealing with our wingers cutting inside constantly then this should help unsettle them a bit.
Ok sorry Gaffer Lol......... No fair point, could be a smart move for this game. However the danger with trying to compensate for naughtons short comings and take our most Inform player from his best position means we could actually give villa an advantage. Not easy being a manager but Avb definitely has to start making better use of the squad and find out also Lamelas best position within the team.
I think Townsend is pretty much as good on the left as he is on the right. Being on the left he probably won't cut in as much but he can skin his defender and get some crosses in to the striker. Plus lets remember Andros has actually got a very good right foot on him, his goals against Charlton, Shamrock and Montenegro were on his "weaker" right peg so there's no reason he can't cut in from the left anyway and get a shot off if he feels too. Lamela made his name at Roma for playing on the right cutting inside and I'd like for him to keep to that position as otherwise it makes his adapting that extra bit harder. He's already got it hard what with not knowing English, not being used to the EPL physicality and getting to know his team mates, to expect him to try and learn a new role is just a bit too much to ask from a new lad in my opinion.
I know it's from the fail but main link is for Avb and what he says http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...gle-adapt-England-says-Andre-Villas-Boas.html If Avb believes Lamela will struggle and doesn't want to risk him much due to failure why he's trying to settle then it may take up to a year before we see him at his best. It's going to depend on how mentally tough the kid is, as he doesn't speak English and is probably feeling a tad lost!...... Although his payslip helps with any down days!
8 of our next 9 PL games are currently scheduled for Sunday KO. Could be all 9 if Spurs beat Hull in the League Cup.
The big question to me is whether AVB has made any changes to our tactics to try to change our slow buildup, which has prevented Townsend and Chadli from having any PL goals or assists, IMO. I tend to think he has, and certainly hope so.
Yeah alright I don't think it's Lamela specifically that's the problem, it's the wide players in general that I think need a bit more direction when they're on the pitch. Whether it's anything to do with AVB or not, Townsend has changed and is looking up more often and varying his play but on the left, whether it's Chadli or Sigurdsson they've been predictable. Some might argue that Lennon is predictable too, although I think he changed a lot in the last season and even if he often takes the ball down the line, that's what suits our strikers, they want the ball in the box as much as possible and if you cut inside it's more difficult with offsides and more difficult passes to get it to a player in the box. Agreed. Soldado needs the ball in the box. and we can't rely solely on Walker for that. Unnecessary isn't it? The one chance for a Saturday game and we don't get it.
"The big question to me is whether AVB has made any changes to our tactics to try to change our slow buildup" Getting the ball to the final third faster is an issue. Beyond that, I am quite happy with the way AVB sets his PL teams up for away games.
Wasn't meaning Lamela is the problem, more that Avb views him a player that will take time to settle and he likes having Townsend cut in from the right. We all know Soldado needs service and support but unless Avb changes the team it's really just us banging our head against the wall wondering why Avb can't see we need more width. Townsend still offers width on the right, so that's why I like him there and I also think we have missed parts of Lennons game but I think AVB will always want someone like Siggy cutting in and hopefully Lamela will end up being a success. Anything to keep Chadli on the bench!
"Unnecessary isn't it? The one chance for a Saturday game and we don't get it." Basically the Europa and any reasonable domestic cup run condemns a club to perpetual sunday KOs. Thank you, UEFA.
Yeah, I meant AVB's use of our wide players, rather than just his use of Lamela specifically. I don't mind if Lamela's deemed not ready at the moment but those that are ready need to be used better. I'm going to start going for Chadli hattricks in the prediction league to balance out all the hate you're giving him
I'm hoping we can do more to take advantage of unsettled defenses without losing the effectively combative midfield play.
"I'm hoping we can do more to take advantage of unsettled defenses without losing the effectively combative midfield play." The Cardiff game is the pattern you want away. Being patient, choking the opponent in MF, and returning the ball to their final third quite quickly after their attempts to clear their lines. The problem with AVB is that he seems to treat every PL game as being an away game.
Lloris, Walker, Chiriches, Dawson, Vertonghen, Sandro, Paulinho, Townsend, Holtby, Sig, Soldado Friedel, Naughton, Dembele, Lennon, Lamela, Eriksen, Defoe Maybe wouldn't have played Paulinho but that looks pretty decent. Love the bench.
