A little snippet of the quotes Mourinho made the other day that I think rings true for us as well: I think we are in the same boat, especially in the back. We are so light in midfield that only Allen is really to come in ( Coutinho will be in there for sure of course but maybe wide if we go 4-3-3 again). You could also say the same for our formation as we have seen results with both but there is a still a big ? on the 3-5-2. I do like some of these sentences by Mourinho though, a lot of confidence in your work and what you put out you get back.
Migs Johnson - Toure - Agger - Enrique Lucas - Henderson Gerrard Suarez - - - - - - - - - - - Coutinho Sturridge
For me, Sakho over Agger, Coutinho in the no.10 role and Moses out wide. Not sure who to drop, Hendo or Gerrard, probably Hendo though and have his energy coming off the bench.
As I said on the 'back three' thread; the only question mark for me is between Sakho and Agger for the LCB spot. I opted for Agger because that back for worked at the start of the season.
4 1 2 1 2 diamond that easily changes to 4 3 3 Mingo Johnson Toure Agger Enricky Lucas Gerrard Hendo Coutinho Suarez Studge
-------------Suarez Suarez Suarez Suarez Suarez --------Suarez Suarez -------------Suarez ------Suarez Suarez Suarez
I like 3-5-2 but it's a ****ing headache as to who we leave out, so if we go back to basics mine is - -----------------Migs-------------- Johnson---Toure---Sakho---Jose ---------------Lucas-------------- --------Gerrard------Hendo------ -----------------Ford-------------- ----------Sturridge---Suarez----- Not much width so when the fullbacks fly forward, Lucas, Gerrard and Hendo have to be on their game and cover. Ford HAS to play in the hole, that's why I don't see a traditional 4-3-3 working with our first 11. A 3-5-2 would work well ONLY with Johnson and Enrique playing, but then one of Hendo, Lucas or Gerrard would have to sit out for Ford.
Think it is interesting everyone has basically left Moses out although I thought he did well for us when he was playing in the 4-3-3 and gave us nice width and something new outwide. Coutinho and Hendo have both shown they can play wide too. I do like a 4-4-2 diamond though but think we need to get some more width in our team ( higher up the pitch width).
Moses should be used as our first sub on the half hour mark (in most games) to add that an extra element of directness or width. Who would you leave out to put Moses in?
As of today... not january i beleive that this may be our best team. sahko and agger would be a question to me but this line up is just about it.... however putting i nrodgers speak henderson would be further up with gerrard
Hendo or Gerrard, depends on the team. Against Arsenal, I know Gerrard is such a key figure head but the mobility of Arsenal left Gerrard chasing shadows. Would have been nice to see Moses and maybe even a Sterling come on ( despite him being a bit crap at the moment) to add just an injection of pace and mobility and pin them back a bit.
on moses. not that impressive for me... he's not going wide enough. don't like him that much. reserve at best. we should not be buying him. finally..... look to both defense and attack. skylarkers team is fine as long as players are assigned (suarez and coutino) to go wide and defend when we are defending. it must go 4-5-1
Do you think he was adding to the team at the beginning of the year? When we were more 4-3-3? I thought he was, still needed some time to settle of course but I like that he can create on his own and would like to see the front four of Moses, Coutinho, Suarez, Sturridge especially as that front three can interchange at any moment and be comfortable. Think it would cause a lot of havoc.
I agree with MITO - Moses is hardly a world beater and we have better imo. He's a loanee too so I don't like the idea of playing him week in week out - for me he's a decent sub to bring on to inject some directness if needed. Quite simply we need a TOP quality box to box midfielder that run's his ****ing arse off for 90mins and gets everywhere and in everyone's faces, I think it's pretty clear our midfield is our priority position to strengthen in Jan.
Agree with the midfielders and been saying it for awhile. My problem at the moment is I don't think we have enough quality CM's and would rather have something different, ie Moses, than the same plain jane that we are working with. Not saying we should buy him, not saying he is unreal, but I think he offers something different and at the very least pins back wingbacks and keeps the defenders honest. Would I rather have Mata out there? Of course! But think the Hendo, Gerrard, Lucas are starting to show the cracks now that 3-5-2 has been introduced.