After watching the Villa game, it got me thinking. Since Adam's injury, is it me or have we carried on playing our 4-5-1. This may sound crazy as we played J rod and Lambert. But it appeared to me that Lambert was playing as more of a CAM with Ramirez on the left and Punch on the left. What's everyones opinions on this, is it a 4-5-1 or a 4-4-2 and, more importantly is Rickie more influential in CAM or as an out and out striker. As a side note, i have been extremely impressed with J rods movement, and although not as strong, or as good finisher as Rickie, do feel he is just as good option as the loan striker as he works hard and has excellent off the ball movement. Thoughts?
As someone else said on another thread, to play 4-5-1 (or 4-2-3-1) properly we need to have Ramirez playing where Rickie was playing and Rickie playing where Jay Rod was playing. To do this we need Adam back! Against most of the teams in this league we shouldn't be playing 4-4-2. I would suggest putting Rickie on the bench for a half and making Rodriguez a lone striker and see how he gets on. Then bring Rickie on second half.
Rickie was excellent in the AMC position. Trying to define the formation is pointless - sometimes it's 4-4-2, sometimes it's 4-2-3-1, depending on what the strikers are instructed to do.
Agree. Formations now have to be fluid, so calling them a name is fairly pointless. The modern player has to be fluid on the pitch during a game and so the "formation" flexes during a game.
Yeah we were still basically playing 4231, with Rickie in the 'Ramirez role'. And yes, Rodriguez had a good game. Both of those observations have already been made on the match thread though.
I agree about formations having to be fluid, but I'd rather have Rodriguez up front on his own, chasing down defenders and getting on the end of things with Lambert behind. Otherwise Lambert will end up coming deep into midfield/out wide and we'll have no one in the box to supply.
I think our main selection problem is that Lambert is our best support striker, and our best centre-forward. He can't be dropping deep creating chances and also be the guy finishing all of them off. We need to clone him. That, or Rodriguez could work on his composure.
To think Lallana was playing the number 10 in pre season. Ramirez has been disappointing on the left but that could also be a fitness issue. Think Guly should play left side until Lallana returns or we get someone in. The more Lambert & Rodriguez play together the better they will become. Could work out like Beattie & Ormerod with Rodriguez matching that work rate of Bret, but we do need to get Rickie in the box. Can't remember him having a clear chance in open play for a couple of games.
This is nothing new with or without Adam and with or without another striker on the pitch. Rickie is always switching positions (albeit normally with Adam) and is a great link in our forward line. Often allows others to go past him. Normally does this more second half. Like I say normally on the left where he and Lallana will work together but he has been swapping with Ramirez and Puncheon as well. Our 'front four' as such are very fluid and mobile which is why we are so good to watch. The Man Utd game I screamed 'get in ther foo**n Lambert'. this was for the second goal and the rest of the pub foolishly said 'Lambert didn't score Schneiderlin did'. I said 'Who made the goal?' before turning away lifting my little boys up in the air and celebrating together. Then thought Oops I just swore Only opposing fans think Lambert is like Grant Holt.
