442 or 451 on Sunday?

Should we line up in the same formation (although not necessarily the same team) as previously, or should we drop one of the strikers and play an extra midfielder (Benny, Marv etc.) to try to pack out the centre and wings and counter Tottenham's obvious threat in that area?

Discuss.

 

Tricky one... Best and Ba are playing well together, but we're going up against a very, very strong midfield. I'm thinking maybe 4-5-1 to start and then depending on how things are going, change to 4-4-2 after about 60/70 mins.

 

This. flood the midfield and try and stop Modric and co dominating the game. If its still 0-0 half way through the 2nd half then we will see how ambitious pardew is!

 

4-4-2. Neither Best nor Ba deserve to be dropped and Pardew has said Ben Arfa wont play as a winger.

 

4-5-1. i dont care if neither of our strikers deserve to be dropped, you play the best suited tactic to win.

Look at Man U, they've changed a winning side and dropped their two best strikers. Fargie's put out the side that will be most likely to pick up some points. If you want to win, there's no room for sentimentality.

 

We will start the same team. Ba has been playing in the hole linking with the midfield and still gives us a threat up front.

 

The team spirit looks fantastic at the minute, so surely someone won't mind taking one for the team and dropping to the bench for a bit. It's not as if we're replacing an in form striker with say, Ameobi or Ranger which really would be an insult.

 

Hmmmmm, i feel bad splitting up a good team.

I'd play

------Ba--------------Best------

Jonas--Tiote-----Cabaye--Marveaux

Santon--Colo-----Taylor----Simpson

------------Krul------------------

or

------------Ba------------------

-----------Ben Arfa-------------

Jonas---Tiote----Cabaye--Marveaux

Santon--Colo-----Taylor---Simpson

-------------Krul-------------------

 

4-4-1-1

 

Actually, instead of 4-4-1-1 I'd play this -

-------------Ba----------------

Jonas------Ben Arfa------Marveaux

-----Tiote-------------Cabaye--------

Santon----Colo-----Taylor----Simpson

---------------Krul---------------

 

4-5-1

Unless the midfield has numbers Spurs will dominate it and will be able to control the gsme from there. They wont be as forgiving if they are controlling the midfield as QPR were

 

It isnt sentimentality, it's form. Best and Ba are playing terrifically, Ben Arfa isnt 100% and playing him in a 4-5-1 is too defensive for a home game.

 

this

 

Just Santon for Raylor IMO, the only problem we have at the moment is Raylor when faced with a decent winger.

 

I'd replace Ober with Marv. Ober is doing quite well, but i think it's time we let Marveaux have a chance. At least bring Marv on as a sub for Ober, but i think Marv should start on the RW.

 

I really dont see the point of playing big strikers who need crosses and then playing inverted wingers (both of whom are unlikely to score as well). Marveaux should be used on the left or in the hole.

 

This. Plus I think Pardew will stick with the same team.

But I'm really scared at the prospect of Lennon vs. Raylor and Bale vs. Simpson..

 

Krul
Simpson Taylor Coloccini Santon
Ben Arfa Cabaye Tiote Jonas
Best Ba

 

They can still produce in swinging crosses which can be far more deadly.

Tiote has produced two quality in swinging crosses and both have ended in goals, one for Best vs Villa, and one for Ba vs Blackburn.

I'm not saying it will work, but it's worth a try is it not? We should experiment a bit.