Hi folks. I've heard both of these mentioned as players we need, but wondered if to lots of us, the terms mean the same thing. In my eyes they are pretty different. A right midfielder tends to hug the touchline and often crosses from deeper due to having defensive and ball-keeping responsibilities to see to. He usually has a very accomplished final ball. Someone like Chris Burke is a good example. A winger lets defending take care of itself and focuses on getting in defender's faces. They often (not always) play on their opposite foot for shooting and playing through balls. Tom Ince is one of these. To play with wingers at the top level requires an extra man in the middle to retain the ball because the wingers are often high up the pitch and not always available. I'd be interested to gauge opinion on whether people think it's worth sacrificing one out and out striker to be able to play with attacking wingers? My personal opinion is that it is worth it. The top teams do it already and even our youth team does it. 442 is old hat and tbh isn't fit for purpose either with some of the attacking talent in our squad.
I'm glad someone has raised this point finally . Another example with two of our academy products is bale and walcott. Walcott is a winger Bale is a midfielder. I prefer midfielders but I think we'll be playing 451 a lot this season so it's a toughy.
Nothing as exciting as a winger taking men on and getting in that final cross, but may need more defensive minded players in PL. Toughie.
I don't think we'll play with two out and out strikers that often and it may be a variation of five in midfield (either two wide players pushing on, or a forward dropping deeper in the hole to be a midfielder).
Depends on the formation we play, but I think we basically need another Lallana on the other side. Someone versatile, capable of playing on the right of a 4-4-2 and also in a more attacking winger role in a 4-5-1.
Really looking forward to the cup next weekend where I expect us to get a 1st glimpse of possible formations we will try to move forward with. We worked the 4-4-2 well last season bringing the wide men in for the diamond to win the midfield battle where necessary. We have played Lambert up top with three attacking midfielders in Lallana, Guly & Puncheon in a couple of games. With Jay rod we have a player who can potentially cover lambert and be one of the three. Sharp would be the biggest loser to this formation. Personally I think this 4-2-3-1 is the way to go and can be changed easily to an attacking 4-4-2 and defensive 4-5-1.
At Arsenal Walcott plays as a right winger, although when he played for us he was a centre forward. I belive he classes himself as a striker and this is where he is most effective. His final cross are usually pretty random and in affective. He's good at finishing when he is one on one with the keeper and he has bags of pace so he can get on the end of long balls over the top, like Micheal Owen at his peak (18 years old). Bale has the talent to play as an attacking midfielder or a winger/ wide midfielder.
Possibly playing with wingers and someone in the hole? I'd love to see Lallana in that space linking everyone together. A flat 5 and Lambert isolated would be properly soul crushing, so we need to avoid that. Think some of us have bad memories of England doing that.
Definitely need to have two strikers. Lambert can act as a supplier as well as an out and out striker.
With the quality strikers we have it seems a waste to only have one on the pitch. I do like the 4-2-3-1 though as I think it gives us good possibilities going forward and defending. The preseason is going to be very interesting to see how NA puts the pieces together. Lots of options will make his job harder, but I'm sure he won't complain.
With Lambert, Sharp and Rodriguez as strikers, I bet NA has plans to utilise Tadanari Lee as a winger.
looks like we're going for a 4312, so no real need for wingers! our class lies through the middle of the park, if you move ads to CAM, with 3 of davis,schneid,corky, hammond, chappers.
would like to see this formation, but I fear it is too attack minded for 80% of the games. If you watch highlights of last season 2 things should stand out 1. rickie is awsome 2. when he is attacking the far post, Richardson picks him out to the inch. So I would say delivery is more important than speed and would have Richardson right hand midfield and look for a RB, or play Stephens
I understand that thought, but although we may start that way, I believe we may be forced to playing a fifth midfielder or using the second striker in a deeper role. The stronger teams player with one focal striker and either one at the point of the diamond or two wide midfield/wingers. To be clear, we may play two players who are srikers but I think in many games they will be used in a different role.
