This is changing. 3-5-2 and 4-1-2-1-2 are coming into fashion. We play against a lot of teams with two up top now.
Most teams play with one or three attackers though. I know some have been playing with 2 upfront, that's why I like 3 at the back as an option. I suppose forwards is a better way of putting it than attackers.
Not to nit pick but if we are prepared to say Wanyama as a CB within this system, whats to say that Cork couldn't equally be used in that same facility? TBH I can't see what the difference here is. Wanyama is an old fashioned 'stopper' in my eyes. That doesn't mean he is instantly an obvious choice for CB.
For that, we may need a natural goalscorer, the rare player who can convert 75% of any chances that come his way. Rickie might still fit this category, but he doesn't get into the positions so often anymore.
I've joined this late and can't be bothered to read all the posts but I've scanned most of them. I don't think the system is our problem and I certainly don't think we should change our system to accommodate Wanyama. Fans focus too much on formations anyway as in practice modern tactics are designed to be fluid - the formation we play varies a lot during a game, with and without the ball etc. It's the instructions given to the players that are important. I have reviewed all of the games we have lost this season recently and I believe there are two key things that have held Saints back this season, one that is easy to fix and one less so: 1. Lack of squad depth e.g. we would have got something from the games against Villa and Spurs if we had better back up in defence. 2. Susceptibility to the counter attack e.g. Agbonlahor's goal at St Mary's, Odemwingie's goal at St Mary's. This was an issue last season too e.g. versus QPR. It is particularly frustrating where we are dominating games, one quick ball over the top and bang. I have no idea how we stop this! Get a quicker CB possibly? The inability to convert chances in the final third is often quoted as being our problem but judged objectively I don't think this is the issue. I appreciate that others have made some of these points already, just throwing my opinions in the ring.
Hohoho Scottish football is poor, that's classic. He's played there for Celtic and Kenya, to my knowledge, and quite possibly when he was in Belgium too.
The problem, I think, is that our build-up play can be very slow at times (or maybe you could call it "patient"), that inevitably we play with the whole team pushed up, more often than not with our full backs beyond the midfield. As such we are always going to be vulnerable to a quick counter attack. I would prefer to see (not all the time) a 50/50 ball into the opposing penalty area rather than keeping possession, which simply enables the opposition to get players behind the ball.
You and I are polar opposites aren't we?! I'd rather we kept it more than not. A 50:50 ball, usually ends up with the opposition getting the ball; then we won't score.
Bayern Munich just kept passing the ball until their moment arrived...their possession stats must have been impressive. Now we just have to score as they did and we're home and hosed
i was gonna dispute ur understanding of 50/50 using higher mathematics, but then i thought it through and ur perfectly right! If they get the ball they get the ball, if Lambart puts it wide they get the ball, if Lambart scores goal they get the ball. Prob better to knock it back to Boruc!
No, we aren't. Its not something I want to see all the time. But sometimes we speed out of defence into the final third only to stop and work the ball backwards waiting for the perfect opportunity. On these occasions I would like sometimes to see a cross which may or may not work out. From where I sit, I can see Pochettino very well and I can tell you he gets frustrated when quick breaks are slowed down. Obviously he favours keeping possession or the team wouldn't keep doing it but you can also see that he wants it to be quicker. I'm certainly not suggesting a "hit and hope" strategy. I love the passing and watching the opposition chasing shadows, but sometimes I would like to se us chancing our arm, to risk losing possession but also maybe, a strike on goal.
That's fair enough, I was just getting scare of the "get it in there" gang that sit near me. Of course, we occasionally must take a chance.
I like that Tokyo, particularly the "if Lambert Scores, they get the ball" line. ****, we had better just keep it
A little bit more mobility and a little bit more quality. Toni Croos' goal was worthy of LeTiss at his best, and Robben was in unstoppable form. But Bayern were, above all other things, patient, which does back up your point about keeping the ball. If you can pass it around on the edge of your opponents box, eventually you'll pull defenders out of position and gaps will appear.
Being patient is fine if you know you have the cutting edge when required and that you can take advantage of the opportunities when they arise………..obviously!!
