Norway, I agree with Stan: our 3-5-2 looked pretty solid against Hull. It's too early to panic and dump it. The one chink in our armour against Hull, if you exclude defending against set pieces, was Dunne's lack of pace. I find it hard to believe that Onuoha was left on the bench. When he was given a run in the starting eleven last year at CB he started to look really good. And he's quick.
Exactly. Not playing Faurlin and keeping Dunne in were huge mistakes and I fear that we'll see many more from stubborn old Harry!
I appreciate your view Rod. Sincerely hope your right mate. Defintely agree re Ned, one of my favourite R's.
The key to 3-5-2 is mobility, there is not enough with Dunne or Hill, we'll have a long hard season if we try to persist using these defenders, they're just not right for it. Don't be surprised to see Harry try and sign another centre-back along with Diarra to bolster the defensive midfield role...
The fact is, Harry wanted Rio. He wouldn't have been able to contain his glee when the prospects of acquiring him came up. But he knew he couldn't justify bringing in an ailing soon-to-be 36 year as our primary PL CB acquisition. So he needed to bring in Caulker too. But then he also knew he couldn't justify dropping both our CB's from last season...in what on the whole a good defence. "Aha! I'll play 3 CBs in that case" We've altered our entire system for Rio. A player who probably wont be here next season
I don't think he is either, he looked really good Vs Hull. I was expecting a clumsy carthorse but on the whole he's been decent. He may indirectly be our problem though if we've switched to a formation that doesn't suit us on his behalf. I wouldn't ditch 352 yet- we've persevered with it all through preseason & need to give it a proper crack. The jury's definitely out though
Big supporter of Redknapp but we thumped you today because you made us look like world beaters. Your players haven't a clue what they are doing, the entire system/team is flawed playing 3-5-2 and it will never work for your club. Redknapp took us, west ham and portsmouth to their highest premier league finishes by keeping it simple, playing players in their correct position and doing the basics well. Redknapp is a motivator who has a decent grasp on tactics but he isn't a tactician so I worry about your season if you play this system. It may work occasionally, you may beat Sunderland at home but then get thumped the next game. Go back to basics and stay up as you have a talented squad and talented manager.
If the jury is out, why do we revert to 4-4-2 when we fall behind? The play improves and our players seem to prefer this rather than 3-5-2. If we have the players for the 3-5-2 formation according to Harry, then that is the system we should play whatever happens. It sounds like Harry is clueless and the formation is a modern fad to accommodate Rio. I'm sure Ned alongside Rio in a flat back four would be a better defensive line-up. The question is how many games will it take before Harry realises this is not the system for us.
I think you are right that the players basically aren't familiar with 3 5 2 as Norway also said, and it can take months for them to get used to it. We don't have weeks, let alone months. I have said before that I think Traore is a much better player when he has a primarily defensive role, and that for me really showed today in his good 2nd half performance when he seemed to be playing LB in a back 4, compared to a poor 1st half performance very unsure of himself as Wing Back. Caulker and Fer also improved 2nd half, although Spurs taking their foot off the gas made it easier of course.
Watching Manure play at mo and even with there quality players, they are finding it difficult against Sunderland.
Sorry Grif but that's rubbish, every team has adopted the same tactics this season, it's not like we're the only ones. Harry said he's chosen the formation cause it is more attacking and allows for 2 strikers. Where we're failing with the formation atm is with the wing backs, who just aren't giving the back 3 cover in attacks which means they spread, the gaps open and we're getting punished. I think Rio's played well so far, he only made one mistake last week, admittedly for the goal, but I didn't see him do much wrong today, same with Caulker. The most depressing thing for me today is so many fans panicking. For the most part we've got just what we all wanted, a younger and hungrier breed of players, playing more attacking football. Is there anyone who thought it would work over night? Let's give it time and just stick behind the team, why do we have to self implode after one bad performance? Sickening if I'm honest.
It's actually just as much down to the two central midfield players to give cover too. They need to cover the wing backs if they're caught up field. Trouble is, Harry didn't play one naturally holding midfielder today.
I agree, but I don't think that is the point we are making though to be fair (or certainly not what I am saying). The problem today was the clear lack of effort and willingness to work hard as a unit, closing Spurs down. We just didn't do it. That left them with acres of space to run into and pass around us at will. With the system we are playing we have to work hard, otherwise its easy to score against, as was proved today. Everyone needs to be on the same page, moving across as a unit, especially the midfield.
I admit that today there did seem to be a clear lack of effort, that or they feared Spurs. Either way the performance was down on last week which was disappointing, but he reactions I'm seeing all over the place has left me far more depressed than the result.
A few of us were wanting a younger, hungrier breed of manager. Sorry, couldn't resist. We were ok last week, dire today. We'll see how it goes, 12 games. People are pissed off because we've been here before and we, the fans, don't deserve it.
In Redknapps final season with us where we nearly finished 3rd, we lost the first two games of the season 3-0 and 5-1, before going on a unbeaten run of 11 games. Good luck
Part of an article from The Telegraph ... and Redknapp is also struggling with it Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp defended his decision to play with three centre backs at Tottenham, but there are question marks over how effective the formation is in the Premier League. Redknapp’s QPR and Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United are yet to win a Premier League game this season after introducing the 3-5-2 system at their respective clubs. Hull City have largely played with the formation for the last couple of seasons and manager Steve Bruce has so far enjoyed more success than Redknapp and Van Gaal with it in England. Although their central defenders have not been performing particularly well, with the exception of Phil Jones, it is the wing backs who are causing Redknapp and Van Gaal the biggest problems. Mauricio Isla suffered a difficult debut against Tottenham, with the White Hart Lane club constantly doubling up on his side with Danny Rose and Nacer Chadli. As a result, Steve Caulker was dragged over to the right, leaving Rio Ferdinand exposed in the middle. Ashley Young has also struggled with the defensive side of his duties in a wing-back role for United and was caught out in the home defeat to Swansea City. Redknapp admitted after the Spurs game that he has switched to 3-5-2 because Loic Remy does not like playing up front on his own, while Van Gaal appears to be trying to accommodate both Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. Other than asking Bruce for tips, Redknapp and Van Gaal are faced with the choice of defiantly sticking with the formation or making a brave decision over their strikers http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ck-Wilshere-and-why-3-5-2-is-not-working.html So if we are playing this formation to suit Remy (and not Ferdinand), what happens if Remy leaves?
