earnie playing on the wing? really!? why on earth would you put the championships greatest poacher outside of the box
A few times last season bellers would run down the wing and cut the ball back for someone to get on the end of it just outside the box, too often did the ball go back out to the wing, or go backwards. I'd like to see a confident Whittingham hammering every ball he recieves just behind the front too, we all know he has the accuracy!
I disagree, I would much rather see Whitts on the left whipping in crosses for a big centre mid to get on the end of, either to head at goal or knock down for Bellamy or Conway to get on the end of. We know he has the accuracy from a dead ball outside the box but I can't recall him doing it from open play too often
I'd like to see Cardiff play 4-3-2-1 with three players sat in front of the back four when the opposition have the ball, and then we could push up into a 4-1-3-2 when we were in possession, we'd need a decent holding player to help cover the back four, a no nonsense foot in player who can win the ball and get it up to the front five quickly, could be a role for Blake if he can get his act together................or maybe Quinn if we can get this lad from Boro, if we can get the players used to this system, I think it could work, it has the advantage of being solid defensively, when needed, and fluid enough to give us attacking options, it takes hard working players to make it work, but Porto have had great success with it, without any real "superstars". IF Bellamy came back, he along with Conway as the two playing off the main striker would have loads of freedom to get at the opposition, and support when we were going forward, OK we don't know who we are going to have on the pitch yet, but "The Beast" is big enough and strong enough to make a bloody nuisance of himself as the lone striker, and a better footballer than a lot of people give him credit for...........................I told you I should have got the job
It's a good call Proph but maybe Porto only had success with it because of the style of play over there is different that on these shores. They play a style more like Brazilian, slower basically. What with our football being so much faster the 2 helping out the holding would have to be supreme athletes with the ground they would have to cover. Not impossible but maybe too complicated. Malkay might be looking for a number 2 though mate, get your application in quick
Just got in after stopping off after work for a beer and spot of grub in Richmond enjoying the sun and the view across the Thames... Anyhow, what I find most surprising about this thread is that so many on our board get infested with certain 'visitors' and yet this one, which plainly includes their supposed team of interest...and nothing! Proves our theories I guess that they actually have no interest in anything but CCFC...
Blue, who said anything about earnie on the wing? I was thinking more as an attacking partner for Bellamy, the 4 in midfield looking to slide the ball between full back and centre mid. With Bellamy and Earnie drifting across their backline, we could easily pull defences out of shape.
Just to get back to your earlier point on Whitingham Drew. I definitely agree the only place for him is on the left wing/wing forward. DJ gave him a fair crack at centre mid last year put he just can't (and sometimes just plain doesn't) close down or defend. But because Whitts isn't the type of winger to stretch the opposition back line back with the threat of pace or dribbling at pace, it makes using him quite restrictive. Obviously when he's on fire, he's almost worth shaping the side around. Whitts had a much much better season the year before last when Bellamy wasn't here. Unless we play 4-4-2 with Bellars up top, dare I say it - It's one or the other for me. Both are too valuable cash wise to have on the bench... Proph has a good point with a change of shape with and without the ball. This is the modern game now. Though these styles date back to the seventies with Ajax and Holland, Barca and Spain's recent dominance in an age of the highest standards of skill the world over, mean that have set the new standard when it comes to formations of defence and attack. There's always room for the exeptions to the rule (Stoke in the PL, Greece winning the Euros a few years ago), but generally the staus quo has changed. Those teams that don't have at least the ability to change to accomodate this type of play, even if not in every game, will be left behind.
Perhaps we should adopt the gridiron approach and swap players depending on whether we have the ball or not.
This is where we need a good LB who can support Whitts with a decent pass, get him in space with a quick 1-2. Yet another player to add to the list lol. Saying that though if it's pace down the wings that is going to be part of the way we play then it could be time to say goodbye to Whitts? I hate to say it but if Bellamy is to play on the left he would only get game time for a midweek game when Craig couldn't play or on as a sub, far too valuable for that. It's a tricky one for sure but for me it has to be Whitts on the left, Bellers up top, lone or not. Let's see what Malkay thinks hey
I hope we give McPhail a chance. i still think he is a class act when he has the chance to play the role he is suited for. Too often he found himself having to be negative and defensive because of no midfield support, which is clearly not his style. i still like a 4-5-1 that becomes 4-3-3 as you go forward.
