With the squad we have...suspensions, Johnson etc don't have a lot of options so I'm going for this line up: Pants Vergini, O'Shea, Brown, Rev Watmore, Larsson, Rodwell, PVA Wickham, Defoe
--------Pantillimon------------ Vergini---Oshea---Brown--Rev -----------Bridcutt------------ --------Larsson--Rodwell----- Alvarez----Defoe---VanAanholt If we need to go more attacking or chasing the game take Bridcutt off for Fletcher and go 4-4-2
Both good shouts so far, it will be interesting to see what he does, in an interview on some station Dick was painted as a dedicated watcher of football, so he will have watched a lot of our games and may know more about us than we think. I hope this so, for time is not on our side, but I have a suspicion we will be OK. just.
------------------Pantillimon------------ Rev---Oshea---Brown--VanAanholt ------------------Catts----------------------- -----------Larsson--Rodwell------------ Alvarez---------Defoe------Wickham
stick Adam Johnson in, police haven't charged him, he is innocent until proven guilty and to be honest who else is there???
------------------Pantillimon------------ Rev---Oshea---Brown--VanAanholt Larsson--Bridcutt -------------wickham------------ Alvarez---------Defoe------Watmore
Pants O'Shea---------Virgini Jones------------------------------------------Rev Larrson----------Rodwell Watmore--------Alvarez------------PVA Defoe COME ON!
-----------------------------Pants--------------------------------- Rev----------JOS-------------------Brown----------------PVA ----------------------------Bridcutt------------------------------- -------------Larsson--------------------------Rodwell----------- ---Watmore---------------------------------------Alvarez------ ------------------------------Defoe------------------------------
Vito Vergini OShea Brown Rev Jones on bench Watmore Larsson Rodwell PVA Rev and PVA could work well together Whickham Defoe do we need the height,weight etc of a motivated Whickham? Fletcher back-up On the evidence so far,what can Alvarez provide?
Swap Wickham for Alvarez, and I'd go for that. Wickham is Sunderland's fastest player (according to sports data compiled by EA sports), clocking in at 21.4mph - 16th fastest in the premier league.
I only know what he provided Inter as he hasn't played once in his natural position. He's too slow to play wide. When Gus played him on the right it made his game one dimensional, he could only cut in as he didn't have the pace to beat the fullbacks on the out side (but at least he had he stronger side to cut in on). When Gus played him on the left like he did against Villa he wasn't fast enough to beat the fullback on the outside and because it was his strongest side it took him for one dimensional to none dimensional. Same with Rodwell being played in an advenced role he's never played anywhere else. He's a CB who was developed into DM, asking him to be a box to box and at times even a AM is completly alien to him. We shouldn't be writing off these new signings until they've had runs in their natural position. It's why Connor has had no grief off me this season. I will not write off players who are being hung out to dry, out of position by a clueless gaffer. I don't think it's fair myself.
With a bit of common sense Bridcutt and Gomez should never play for us again and Cotes is back to the binders sharpish Pants 3 CBs Vergini, JoS, Brown 2 WBs Rev and PvA 3 CMs Larsson, Rodwell and Alvarez 2 Strikers, Defoe, Fletcher Bench, Mannone, Wickham, Jones, Whatmore., Madrone, Agnew
So you want our fastest player in a small pocket behind the main striker. No much opportunity to him stretch his legs out. Would you not rather pick a system where he can play upfront? There's nowt I've seen in Conner that suggests to me he can play anywhere but as a striker. Cetainly not as an AM where he needs a soft touch, composure, eye for a pass and the ability to retain the ball which I think he can't do any of that. I'd rather have Conner running onto the ball into space, he's dangerous when he does that. I think Conner can change games coming of the bench into his natural role when Defoe gets tired. Out score Defoe and he''d start getting the nod over him if I were in charge.
It s where I'd play him against West Ham. We'll be wanting to keep it tight against them imo, and having Wickham play in the pocket will give us a outlet. play the ball in front of him and allow him to run onto it and against he west ham defence. When we have possession and are attacking, he can play next to Defoe who I think needs to play off a strike partner. Wickham speed will allow him to run into good positions when our wingers (Watmore/PVA) get the ball further back. Alvarez would be too slow to be useful on the break.
I think playing him out of position is just doing something we've been doing all season. I don't understand why folk don't want people in their best positions, if they're not young enough of capable of adapting naturally I just think it's detrimental to the player and team. But each to their own, opinions and everything.
It would be more natural to him than been on the wing. I wouldnt have him as an AM, more a secondary striker playing just behind Defoe. But as you say, it all about opinions.
