McClaren has got his tactics spot on in the last two games, as well as the formation/line up. We played a more experienced line up, and we tried our best to stop better teams playing their football. This game, we will be expected to take the game to Villa, we can't just try out best to stop them playing football. We have to believe in our ability to pass the ball about. We hoofed it the entire 1st half vs Liverpool and Spurs, because we look scared sh*tless of having the ball in our own half. Then we believed in ourselves later in the game, and played some great football. McClaren needs to make that sink into the players and we need to take the game to villa. We shouldn't just go all out attack, because they will be hoping to sucker punch us on the break. If they get the first goal, it will be very shakey for us. The first goal will be crucial. But good ball retention with calm, confident build up, and using the extra bit of quality and flair we have, we should be able to put them away within the first 45 minutes, which will drag them out of their comfort zone and force them out of their own half, which could lead us to a comfortable win. I'd play this - -----------------Cisse----------- -----------------Perez---------- Wijnaldum--Colback-Anita--Sissoko Dummett--Colo--Mbemba--Janmaat ------------------Elliot------------ I think we should stick with Cisse, as Mitro looks like he wants to kill the opposition players a bit too much. Cisse has held the ball up quite well recently, and I think we should stick with him for now. I'd stick him Cisse up front with Perez playing off him. We need the extra bit of flair Perez can bring. We look a bit more solid with De Jong, but we can't just simply be solid vs Villa, we need a potent attack earlier on in the game. Thoughts?
Would start with the same team as last two games! I personally think Perez has been exhausted and over the festive season can be used as an impact sub whilst in the process we are giving Siem De Jong a chance and improve his fitness!
I think we could be getting ahead of ourselves here. Yes its a very winnable game but for me the main priority isn't going all out attack and trying to tear them apart. We need to be balanced and composed, keep a clean sheet and I'll be happy. 1-0 (or better) would of course be marvellous but failing that 0-0 wouldn't be the end of the world. We need to just get some more points on the board. Until injuries and fitness issues are resolved the keeper and back four pick themselves. The midfield likewise so the only questions for me are up front and the system we use. I agree with your system but just De Jong in for Perez and bringing Perez and Mitro on again at 55-65 minutes mark.
Agreed. I stated in my post that we shouldn't press them too hard early on, and calm, confident build up should be the key. But we cannot just try and leave it late again. We need to put them away reasonably early. First 45 minutes we should be looking to be 1-0 up. The first goal is definitely crucial in this game.
If we score first and then go 10 minutes without conceding then Villa don't look mentally equipped to turn it around barring a thunderbolt out of the blue. If Villa score first and there's half the game to go I still fancy us to get something tbh.
I agree with Tash. I think we need to change it up for this one and I would actually have Perez and even Mitrovic on from the start. Vila are actually us from last 2 games and it will be dangerous to allow them to keep it close for too long. An early gpal could see their heads drop.
Start the same for me. De Jong, particularly at home will be important. Particularly his experience. The youthful exuberance of the Perez and Mitro will help as they hopefully tire. If it ain't broke...
------------------------------Elliot---------------------- -------------Mbemba--- Colo------ Dummett Janmaat--------------Colback--------------------Thauvin --------------------------De Jong----------------------------- Sissoko ----------------------------------------------Gini -----------------------Cisse - Mitrovic--------------------- applying the same work ethic as the last two games, players tracking and getting behind the ball without possesion, but with enough creative force that we can really attack in numbers and make the most of each attack. Maybe even start Perez over either DeJong or Cisse or again use him as an impact sub. We can be pretty sure that Villa will start with one striker, in terms of the wing, Scott Sinclair is their only threat, inless Adama Toure plays, then we need to be cautious of him as he is a real talent, I would love to pinch him off them should they go down. Sissoko and Gini offer our width, but are also just as capable of coming inside and compressing the centre of midfield should we get overun. Any long balls upto Mitro would work with Cisse playing off him anticipating flick on's
Come to think of it - you probably could still include him. His only contribution on Sunday was for the opposition blocking De Jong's goal bound shot.
I don't understand you lads who say start the same way. This is going to be a completely different type of challenge/game. If we seriously resort to playing Hoofballs at home vs the bottom club in the league, then it will be a serious embarrassment, and it's just the sort of football they would consider meat and drink. De Jong will cause Villa no problems at all. I know Perez has been effective coming off the bench, but are we just going to hope Villa don't score, and then come alive again for the final 20 minutes? Nah mate. We need a threat early on. That threat is likely not to come from Cisse or De Jong. We've looked poor the last two games until Perez and/or Mitro has come on, and we can't just shut up shop for 70 minutes, hope the opposition don't score, and play well for 20 minutes.
De Jong hasnt set the world alight in the last two games, granted. However his performances are getting better and they will only continue to get better with more game time. I think we will be able create against Villa, they dont have the same level of midfielders/defenders as our last opponents and may have a bit more time. Im interested to see how he performs.
He has looked slow and doesn't show any quality. His work rate is decent and is hold up play is decent, but he looks sorely average, and with his injury record I don't trust he will stay off the injury table for long.
In answer to the title of this thread I was thinking of using a car and travelling over the Tyne Bridge. Gamewise I would start the same team but expect more control and passing from the start. I don't agree with the comments about De Jong as I also don't think it's a coincidence that we have picked up 2 wins in the 2 games he has started. I think he is a steadying influence on the game and team without standing out.
Saturday's game is going to be different as Villa will come and defend. When we play teams that defend and get men behind the ball, we struggle to break them down. When we play teams that come and attack us on the other hand, we tend to play well as the last couple of results have shown. We will struggle against Villa but I can see us edging it 1-0.
Actually think De Jong was pretty pivotal against Liverpool. Made for the home games. Likes to get beyond the front man which stretches teams. Just that little bit more clever than Perez.
Can't understand the knocking of De Jong. We know he isn't as sharp as he can be yet, but he has showed intelligence in both games so far and helps link the attack with midfield - something we had been sorely lacking in. He would almost certainly have had a goal on Sunday if Cisse hadn't blocked his shot. Especially when we need to unlock a defending team, I think it's important he keeps his place.
There is this myth that you always need pace to be a terrific footballer. It's bollocks of course. De Jong has a tremendous footballing brain and has the technique and ability to change games with a killer pass or shot. He is obviously way short of match fitness due to long term injury and lack of game time since coming back which is making him look lethargic and slow. He's not one of the quickest naturally, but he is being hampered by a lack of first team football which is making him look slower than he is. That will only improve with game time. I personally think he is one of our best players and we haven't seen the best of him as yet. When he gets his fitness and sharpness back he will be lethal and with regular first team football he will be pivotal for us.
Stick with the same team for me. If Villa are going to sit back and defend, let them. We have goals in this team and should be able to bag a few vs Villa. In terms of De Jong or Perez (seems like the only major change most would make) I think De Jong is more likely to grab a goal, against a team who are happy to sit on their own 18 yard line and defend, from a cross or set play than Perez and we will find it tough to get in behind apart from a counter attack from their counters/attacks. Also bringing Perez on with 20-30 to go give us some much needed pace in the last third of the pitch and last third of the game if you start Perez and bring on De Jong would it have the same impact? No is the simple answer. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
