Ok following on from the "Drop Charlie" thread what side would you play against Spurs, not the side that you think CR will put out....... I'd go with... Green Isla, Ferdinand, Calker, YSY Sandro, Henry Phillips, Vargas, Zareta Austin Thoughts?
Wouldn't change a thing from that lineup Tramore. If Taarabt is fit then he should replace either Vargas or Zarate though.
For me, while attacking this would leave us short of creativity, I'd swap out Vargas for Niko (shame about Fer). While we know Matty will get the crosses in, I don't think it would give us the person to thread the killer ball through the middle, or spot the runs. Having said that, why not give it a go we have definitely put worse set-ups on the pitch and there would be loads of energy up front.
Based on his performance on Wednesday night, I wouldn't have Nico anywhere near the starting 11. From the team you list in the OP Tramore, think I would prefer to see Hoilett start instead of Zarate.
Based on his performance after he came on against Arsenal (he was simply awful), I do not believe that Niko really deserves a starting place. I'd like to see Vargas & Zarate given an opportunity to play a part in Spurs game, or Taarabt if fit. Those three players can potentially use their skill to create or score a goal out of nothing. For a change we also need to try and get on the score sheet first against Spurs, which will really bring the crowd into the game.
Not the time to drop Furlong. If that was to happen he should have been taken off for Isla on Weds.. Green Furlong Onouha Caulker Yun Phillips Henry Sandro Zarate Austin Vargas Vargas should be given a run up front.
Who else do you then see giving creativity from the middle ? Limited choices, Niko isn't a central Midfielder, never going play well there, same as you would never put Adel there and expect him to play well. Vargas runs onto the ball or with the ball same as Zarate from what we have, so little option. If you are only going to play one up front IMO you need some creativity in the middle.
I agree with Tramore's team in the OP - if Onuoha fit then I would go with him before Ferdinand/Caulker. That 3 behind Charlie looks creative, energetic & pacy and I think Zarate & Vargas will track back when required. We really missed Fer on Wednesday evening... Also agree with Kilburn's comment above about giving Vargas & Zarate a go - Kranjcar was awful when he came on.
Green Isla (Furlong nursing an injury I think), Rio (Neds face too bad), Caulker, Yun Phillips, Sandro Henry, Vargas Zarate Austin Tarbs still injured So Benh McCarthy, Hill, Zamora, Hoillet, Doughty,, and the last man standing SWP It is getting desperate on the playing front (but suspect Ned will make the bench)
I have to say that I got a bit of a mauling for daring to suggest that CR had got it wrong against Arsenal with his 4-4-2 hoof ball tactics and yet almost everyone on here, with the exception of Beth, has gone for the 4-2-3-1 formation that I was advocating.
To be fair Col from memory there were one or two posters who didn't share your view on things as at times I think you said it was more 424 as the 2 wide men Phillips an Hoilett weren't tracking back as much as they should..........did anyone say we shouldn't play 4231? Can't recall anyone being against that formation as it gives us more flexability and allows us to play the ball on the ground rather than the hoofing up to OBZ. If we had tried to play Arsenal at their own game we would have been slaughtered....it may not have been pretty to watch but to a certain extent it was effective during the first half, less so in the 2nd half as they upped a few gears and gave us bit of a footballing lesson for 30 minutes. Do we have the players to do 4231 well, I don't know but we've seen it work already this season and Spurs aren't as good as Arsenal so it may be worth a go playing the ball to feet and a lot of movement from the 3 behind Austin. Opinions eh?
Opinions for sure mate. Playing 4-4-2 against such a good footballing side wasn't the worst idea as a kind of antidote to what they were doing. I just feel that the two wide players have to be completely switched on to their roles and I didn't agree that either of them were, especially Phillips in his defensive duties. However, you're right. That was a separate debate to whether we should play 4-2-3-1. In answer to your question, I do think we have the players to play 4-2-3-1, although we miss Fer and Taarabt to fill that No10 role in the centre. Kranjcar could do it if he was fit and looked like he gave a stuff. Three good, nippy footballers behind Charlie, with two defensive midielders behind them would work against anyone imo. Not saying we'd win, but that system would at least be better on the eye than hoof ball.
