How we can survive - Getting the basics right. 4-4-2, Hard work, determination and a bit of luck.

No way I'd drop Shelvey.

 

I think 2 up top is a must! We can't keep clean sheets so need to score goals to stay up at the end of the day.

I've always stated I want to see Mitro and Cisse up top together for an extended run of games as they will work well together. Cisse isn't going to skin 2/3 players and curl a beauty in but he is a poacher who can feed of the scraps and layoffs from Mitro.

BUT

This leaves me in the predicament of what to do with the rest of the squad... We are not good enough to play 4-4-2 because we couldn't organize a piss up in a brewery let alone a compact midfield 4 who work together like Leicester's. Unless you went with something along the lines of Colback - Shelvey - Saviet - Anita who are all deeper cm's by trade but who understand the importance of covering the back 4 with Townsend, Siss and Wij on the bench to go more attacking.

Maybe a 5-3-2 with Wing Backs - Janmatt and Haidara to provide the width. Mbemba - Colo - Dummett at the back. Mbemba and Dummet can cover in the wide positions and Colo sweeping up anything that gets through. Again though who would you take in a midfield 3? Wij and Sissoko bombing on either side of Shelvey who sits in front of the back 3?

Its a tough one and t.b.h. I don't think the squad is good enough to study, practice and understand a change in formation so i think we will continue with 4-2-3-1/4-3-3.

 

Perez needs to be dropped. He looks tired.

 

Well that's one way of describing his recent performances...

 

He's done nowt for a while. Maybe Rafa will inspire him? If not, Rolando?

 

I'm stuck between De Jong or Cisse to partner Mitrovic up front.

Some people suggest we need someone to drop back into midfield, but we don't really. We don't need 5 midfielders to pass the ball around.

Just look at our recent goals. They've come from one direct ball down the middle or from a cross. We've threatened from direct balls into the box or onto a player, not trying to piss about in midfield.

De Jong can drop back sometimes if needed, but we really need a 2nd presence in the box.

 

It's critical we get players in the box. I'm not too worried about talking tactics tbh. I think Benitez has got it sorted. He knows how and when to change things up. He will probably start something like 4-2-3-1 to try and keep it tight as we are not exactly in the business of banging in loads of goals. But he won't mess about if we need to get the win and get the players on the pitch that will get in the box (cisse!). The boss will play his part. It's just a question if the players can do theirs. Our squad is pretty fkd. You feel every weekend that the team is a bit makeshift.

 

What about like how England played? More or less 4-3-3:

 

I like us playing 4-3-3 as I always kind of think it suits us but I don't know if we have the players or the teamwork to do it at the moment. I always think you need good movement and discipline to fill in the gaps. Having said that if they could make it work I'd play...
Gini - Mitro - Townsend
Saviet - Shelvey - Siss (Anita maybe)
-Whatever we can cobble together-
Elliot

Basically I'm hoping Sissoko can have a good day and get us a goal or set one up. That could make a big difference to our survival.