Harry = Clueless

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We can then line up the next manager to fail then. We seem to be getting pretty good at it.
Were good at picking **** managers, we are right in getting rid of them though. Same goes for the players, we shouldn't have signed up he wasters in the first place.

LDC was the last manager I was unhappy leaving but then he wasnt sacked.
 
You cant play a 442 with a DCM or indeed a AMC, you need players who can do both jobs.

You can only have a DMC or an AMC in a 5 man midfield.

You can play a variation of 4-4-2 with a defensive midfielder. 4-1-3-2 is a system that allows us to attack and still have at least some cover sitting in front of the back 4. I prefer 4-2-3-1 myself, which can morph into 2 or 3 different formations as the game dictates.
 
Been away and not seen the game. I cannot understand what Arry is doing playing 442 and without a DCM. He seems to have gone from too defensive to way to gungho, as the Reading game seems to have been a similar tactical cokk up to the Burnley one. For me he should play 4231 and stick with it. I'm not at all impressed by Arry and IF we could replace him now with someone who can get more from the players we have then that would be good for me. But without such a Manager being available to come in now we have to stick with Arry this season and hope he pulls his fingers out. Zola?! He's done nothing in his Manager career to suggest he'll get us up.

Spot on Oslo.
 
Good point made by someone or other on the radio just now - when you play 4-4-2 you can't really have one DCM and one ACM - you need two who have both skill sets and an understanding so that they instinctively cover each other.

But not every team can have YaYa Toure and Fernandinho.
 
Good point made by someone or other on the radio just now - when you play 4-4-2 you can't really have one DCM and one ACM - you need two who have both skill sets and an understanding so that they instinctively cover each other.

But not every team can have YaYa Toure and Fernandinho.

That's correct, but you can play one in front of the back 4 with the other 3 midfielders in front of him. Not strictly 4-4-2 but a variation.
 
You can play a variation of 4-4-2 with a defensive midfielder. 4-1-3-2 is a system that allows us to attack and still have at least some cover sitting in front of the back 4. I prefer 4-2-3-1 myself, which can morph into 2 or 3 different formations as the game dictates.

I think that makes us too narrow, I prefer 4231 too as it becomes 451 and 424 and the 2 in the middle means no henry, its a win win!

We destroyed teams when Warnock used it in this division, let's hope there's a change when morrison signs.
 
I think that makes us too narrow, I prefer 4231 too as it becomes 451 and 424 and the 2 in the middle means no henry, its a win win!

We destroyed teams when Warnock used it in this division, let's hope there's a change when morrison signs.

Completely agree. I much prefer 4-2-3-1, although I wouldn't mind Henry being in there.
 
Don't worry, we can always switch the subject to henry to make you feel better!.

Don't get me wrong, I know he's a very average player. I just happen to think we need him in front of the back four as we don't have any other DCMs that are fit.
 
Don't get me wrong, I know he's a very average player. I just happen to think we need him in front of the back four as we don't have any other DCMs that are fit.

I can accept the 'there's no one else' argument but would get worried if people were suggesting him over a fit faurlin for example.
 
That's correct, but you can play one in front of the back 4 with the other 3 midfielders in front of him. Not strictly 4-4-2 but a variation.

Whats the difference between a defensive midfielder in this formation and a sweeper playing in front of the back 4?

Serious question.
 
That's correct, but you can play one in front of the back 4 with the other 3 midfielders in front of him. Not strictly 4-4-2 but a variation.

Whats the difference between a defensive midfielder in this formation and a sweeper playing in front of the back 4?

Serious question.

Sweepers don't play in front of defenders. A sweeper is a defender.
 
Sweepers don't play in front of defenders. A sweeper is a defender.

OK, so a ball playing defender, who can pass and bring the ball forward confidently as well as tackle and head, like Bobby Moore or Franz Beckenbauer, or Vincent Kompany? I'd like one of those. Glenn Roeder is the last one I can remember us having. That's my problem with Henry, he's just an auxiliary stopper, not a proper midfielder. Not his fault, that's what he does. I'd have preferred it if we played Derry there.
 
Sweepers don't play in front of defenders. A sweeper is a defender.

OK, so a ball playing defender, who can pass and bring the ball forward confidently as well as tackle and head, like Bobby Moore or Franz Beckenbauer, or Vincent Kompany? I'd like one of those. Glenn Roeder is the last one I can remember us having. That's my problem with Henry, he's just an auxiliary stopper, not a proper midfielder. Not his fault, that's what he does. I'd have preferred it if we played Derry there.

All fair points SB
Luiz probably fits into that category too. There's very very few good DCMs about now. It's a dying breed.
Henry is a very limited footballer but his positional play is decent. IMO that's the single most important attribute for a DCM.

Very few teams seem to play with a dedicated sweeper now which is surprising considering so many teams now only play with one up front.
For me, the best use of a sweeper comes in a back three where one or two of the CBs mark while the third sweeps behind and also covers the FBs when caught out of position.
A DCM traditionally takes the ball off the back four and initiates play, he should have the ability to up the tempo of the game and must also be a very good tackler. Roy Keane in many ways was the ultimate DCM.
 
All fair points SB
Luiz probably fits into that category too. There's very very few good DCMs about now. It's a dying breed.
Henry is a very limited footballer but his positional play is decent. IMO that's the single most important attribute for a DCM.

Very few teams seem to play with a dedicated sweeper now which is surprising considering so many teams now only play with one up front.
For me, the best use of a sweeper comes in a back three where one or two of the CBs mark while the third sweeps behind and also covers the FBs when caught out of position.
A DCM traditionally takes the ball off the back four and initiates play, he should have the ability to up the tempo of the game and must also be a very good tackler. Roy Keane in many ways was the ultimate DCM.

Pirlo and Rijkaard fit that description too.

I'd love to play that back 3 model, with full backs pushing further forward. We can dream, eh?