what side and formation do you think will improve us ?

If we play 3 CBs then we don't need a defensive midfielder at all.

Also think if Schar was playing we could interleave between 5 at the back and 4 at the back with Schar becoming a defensive midfielder like when Aaron Hughes man marked Del Piero out of the game against Juventus

 

got to get our attacking players collecting the ball facing the goal and in the opposition half together and holding some kind of shape when attacking . it's a clear mix of rafas system and bruces tactics coming through it... not sure anything could be any worse on the eye than that combo

 

But we shouldn't have a holding player at all with 3 CB's. Add in Shelvey dropping deep to get the ball for his hollywood passes and it's a recipe for disaster.

4 a the back, 3 in mid with Hayden starting as DM makes considerably more sense to me. Schar/Fernandez for now, Schar/Lejeune when fit. Hell, I know many disagree, but I'd put Schar as DM if we had Lejeune and Lascelles fit. He's a much better player than Hayden and has played there numerous times for the Swiss.

 

I don't think we have anyone good enough in the squad to play cm in this league … sean maybe but we need a real player and we don't have one

 

jesus Christ we are going to get it on sat !! no formation or swapping of players will do a bloody thing for us in this game ,

 

Joelinton/Carroll
Almiron -------------- ASM
Matty Longstaff - Hayden
Willems - Lejeune - Lascelles - Schar - Ritchie
Dubravka

Joelinton may want a couple of games off but definite no to Almiron. The goals will come.

 

looking at our fixtures we don't have a chance of any points at all until Southampton at home … palace at home ? they will beat us .. burnley away ??? cant see us getting anything off them … I think we might lose every game up to and including man united on boxing day maybe get something of Southampton

 

For me we either stick with what we've got and tighten up how the players link with each other, or go for 4 at the back.

Dubravka
Krafth/Manquillo - Schar - Lejuene/Clark - Dummet
Yedlin - Hayden - Shelvey/S Longstaff - Willems
ASM
Joelinton/Gayle

Subs:
Carroll & Almiron around 65-70 mins physical impact from one pace from the other.
M Longstaff - energy from bench if one of the midfield players starts to fade.

Moving our current wing backs further forward as they are the 2 that look the most composed when overlapping, yer will also provide cover for the full backs.

ASM, Almiron & Joelinton need some support and perhaps rotating them might just relieve some of the pressure. There's talent in there, we just need to coach it and perhaps leaving them starting every week isn't going to do that.

Lascelles is key to the back 5 working as he tends to be the co-ordinator. With him and Richie out we do appear to be missing that senior figure to take charge.

 

Any four. you. fancy

Atzu Colbert Saivet Almiron

Muto Aarons

Let's all do the funky chicken.

 

I agree that's why I said we should go 4-3-3

Also I have previously said I'd have a look at Schar in DM as well with Hayden and Longstaff infront of him as I'd still rate Isaac over Matty (currently) Jonjo and Ki currently.

CM is the problem for us, said it against Wolves a few weeks ago and as I think you and Chaos have been saying we may as well play 7 defenders and 3 forwards as the midfield is completely bypassed in our current system with the long ball over the top towards Joe or for Miggst or St max to run on to.

 

For this club, with this manager, I absolutely agree. We will need 9 defenders playing out of their skin to keep this one down to 2 or 3. I think we may even score first, like Liverpool, but get soundly beaten in the end. I think we'll see the same XI unless any defenders are fit, but transitioning from 5-4-1 to 9-0-1.

However what's frustrating is teams like Norwich have had a go at Man City, with an inferior squad to ours. So why can't we?

Interesting that Alan Hutton, who played for Bruce, said that Bruce would always set his teams up with a massive gap between midfield and attack. This is frightening, because a) it will lead to relegation and b) Bruce is an old fart who's never going to change his basic approach.

 

We need a solid consistent box to box midfielder who can help us keep calm.

I agree with CC, our major problem is we have no premier league quality CM, it's our Achilles heel and why we can't have possession in games.

 

It's that and the formation. Sean Longstaff + Jetro Willems + Isaac Hayden have energy, bite and enough ability to keep the club in the PL. With young Matty stepping in, or Schar for Hayden, that'll work for me. They'll make the front three better, too.

 

I don't think we will be relegated, we are a decent side but lack consistency and a few players. I think we will be better when Ritchie is back on the right and Almiron can drop into the center, if he keeps up this tracking back and winning back the ball he could be very useful in the middle instead of the wing.

And Ritchie can you know, actually score the odd goal. And cross a ****ing ball.

 

and there is the problem

 

100%. Astonishes me that many "experts", Sutton, Shearer, Carra, etc., can't see it and spend all their time bemoaning the effort of Almiron, Joelinton, etc. They should be absolutely lambasting the manager for allowing games to be lost, repeatedly, by the lack of numbers in the middle.

 

442 - here me out...yes we’d be exposed, yes we’d be open and take a few hammerings... But we might actually look a threat.

dubravka
Yedlin - Schar - Lascelles - Dumment
ASM - Shelvey - S Longstaff - Almiron
Joelinton - Carroll

At least players know their roles and we could field a bench with options. Bit harsh on Willems not to make the starting xi.

Bench: Darlow, Fernandez, Manquillo, Hayden, M Longstaff, Willems, Gayle

means we might see if Joelinton can play if we give him a partner!

 

I dont mind that but dummett is dreadful especially at lb... bruce has noted this