Seen a few people dropping what they think our formation will be next year into random comments so thought I'd make a thread where people can post their thoughts! I can see us going with one similar to this... LLoris Walker Vertonghen Kaboul Ekotto Sandro Paulinho Lennon Bale Chadli Adebayor And our "reserve team" that could cover the first team in the PL and Europa League. Friedel Naughton Dawson Caulker Rose Huddlestone Dembele Townsend Holtby Gylfi Defoe That is a pretty decent squad as that "B" team could challenge for a europa league spot on their own. The thing this highlights for me is a couple things: We don't need Dempsey, Do we need another winger (young back up) as I'd prefer both Gylfi and Holtby in the middle rather than on the wing and we desperately need a new reserve goalkeeper next year!! Also no "New Strikers" Please until we have signed one
Not so worried about the formation now: we've got a lot of versatile players and will be very solid in midfield so I expect the front three to be given a free rein. I might even be tempted to go with something like Bale, Chadli and Sig up front.
As I said on another thread, we are being geared up to play 4-3-3 Lloris Walker Vertonghen Kaboul Assou-Ekotto Paulinho Sandro Dembele Lennon Ade Bale With Bale moving inside a lot, hopefully Dembele or Paulinho could be released left to cover the area on the pitch, but Bale must be encouraged to play a lot of the game there to feed Ade and Demebele/Paulinho in the centre. If we keep Hudd, I'd like to see him and Carroll covering the centre spots/be plan B - with Jake covering for Sandro. Big Tommy fan! Holtby, Siggy and Townsend can cover the wider positions and JD can be rotated with Ade. WIth Caulker and Dawson, we have top class defensive alternatives, Rose and Smith to cover the full backs. A big thank you and sad goodbye to Naughton and parker imo.
I still think a 4-2-3-1 suits Bale better, even though that means only 2/3 of Sandro/Dembele and Paulinho can play (unless we play one of the latter two farther forward. The solution, to me, is play 2/3 of them on a rotation basis--and figure the chances of 1 of them getting hurt are too good. LLoris Walker Vertonghen Kaboul Beni rotate so we start 2/3 of Sandro Paulinho & Dembele Lennon Bale Gylfi/Chadli Adebayor
On a related note (and I was going to start a thread about this but here seems as good a place as any to discuss it) what do people think the likelihood of Bale playing as our main striker next season are? This article has the quotes from April where AVB talks about Bale playing as a striker. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2915...-most-effective-as-a-striker-says-villas-boas I think that if you watch some of his movement when he has played in the 'free role' he does tend to pop up making runs off the centre backs where you would traditionally see the striker...and clearly these quotes in the article seem to suggest that AVB has seen enough in training and on the pitch that Bale could adapt to the position. Obviously he's never going to be a full on 'back to the goal' no.9 but the days of such players seem to be by and large gone anyway. I don't want to hijack this thread by the way so if anyone feels that there is enough in this to warrant another thread then of course get it moved Anyway in terms of lineup I'd agree with much of what is posted on here Lloris Walker - Kaboul - Verts - BAE Paulinho - Sandro - Dembele Lennon - Defoe - Bale Thats (obviously) a 4-3-3, if Bale was to play as a striker then move him in and have Chadli on the left. Alternatively drop Lennon and play Chadli etc. you guys get the idea I know. The advantage of a 4-2-3-1 instead of this, with 2 out of Paulinho, Sandro and Dembele rotating in the '2', is that it allows us to develop Sig and Holtby in the no.10 position where I, along with many others believe that they could become very influential for us in the future. Now we've got Chadli we may see Dempsey move on because he's not needed to play no.10 and not really needed out wide. We now have enough players potentially not to need our utility man! Anyway your thoughts on Bale up front...as I said if you guys think I'm derailing the thread I'll make a new one but it seemed to fit in here
There's certainly lots of options now. I don't think we need another winger. We've got Townsend, Lennon and Chadli.. and that's without even considering Bale, who is probably our strongest winger! as things stand, I wouldn't mind us lining up like this: Lloris Walker Kaboul Verts Benny Paulinho Sandro Dembele Lennon Bale Chadli I think Holtby needs to learn how to become a deeper playmaker and compete with Dembele. - I just don't see him working anywhere else in a direct 4-3-3. However, In a 4-2-3-1, he could be very useful in that central spot within the "3". As for Sig... I dunno. IMO, he did ok, but he wasn't ideal in a 4231 last season as he lacks pace. It's hard to work out where he fits. Hudd and Parker are gonners IMO, which leaves Carroll trying to break through and even tougher midfield than last season. - Difficult for him also.
No problem with me Huddlefro I'd love... and hate to see him play centre forward. On one hand if it works he could be the deadliest player on the planet and we would have a very very succesful season. On the other hand if we move him into a striker role and he does poorly at this stage of his career / the fact he's now getting media coverage from everywhere on the planet, and he has a few poor games or struggles to be as effectual as last year and we start losing games, the entire world's media will jump on his back and we have a downward spiral with his confidence which can destroy a player at the stage he is at. It's a gamble for us and him, and im sure they'll make the right decision but as for where I think he should play... probably left wing but give him a completely free reign.
If we can just sort out our forwards, then we'll have plenty of options and be able to change things around a bit, depending upon what's needed.
The Huddlefro and anybody else don't be shy in starting a new thread. It's a simple job to merge threads if they are doubled up. As you say your posts fits here quite well but it could also have been a new thread. You get extra points for a new thread as well
on that subject, I've just dished out rep to about 8 or 9 people. We don't rep each other enough, which is surprising really. we have the best posters on not606! feel free to spread the rep love this way too!
Just found out how to do this so I will make sure too Thanks Tots! Returned the favour as it helped me see how it works Thanks to you too WY lol
With current players, I'm leaning towards: Lloris Walker, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Ekotto Paulinho, Sandro, Dembele Lennon, Bale, Chadli False 9/ Bale as the striker. IF and big IF the recent Soldado links come to life and we do sign him, then I'd stick him up front, have Bale and Chadli playing as inside forwards with Lennon dropping to the bench. Though Dembele's place isn't too safe, want to see a lot more from him this season otherwise I'd stick Sigurdsson in but push him a bit further up.
Both decent players but I think Sig offers more in the final 3rd. Both have a lot more to give and prove next season but Sig came to life in the latter half of last season and I'd like to see more of that.
