We need some pace at the back presuming Bruce plays 4-5-1: Elmo, Oshea, Brown, Ricco Catts Sess, Vaughn, Gardner, Larsson Ji/Wickham IF Bruce is tempted by 4-4-2 (attack arsenal from the get go and put them on the back foot - they are weak down the middle): Oshea, Turner, Brown, Ricco Sess, Vaughn, Gardner, Larsson Ji and Wickham Tounkara, Elmo, Catts, Laing, westwood, colback, mcclean
I'd love to see an attacking team go at Arsenal, but anyone with an interest in football (including my 6 year old grandson) can predict what Steve Bruce's team and tactics will be. Here is the team.... Mig O'Shea....Turner....Brown....Richo Elmo....Gardner....Catts....Larrson Sess Ji Dong Won or Connor Wickham
Considering the quality of Arsenal's side and the fact it's the Emirates, it's obviously not a match which you guys are favoured in, and not one in which people outside SAFC would be overly shocked or appauled if you lost, so I was wondering how you guys would feel if you did end up losing? Would you personally feel an increased urge for Bruce to go, or would you respect that it's a very tough game even if the manager and team were playing with top form?
Playing Richardson behind the main striler and Sess on the wing is something which I too have thought about for a while.
One of lifes many mysteries is Richardson, by far his best games in a Sunderland shirt came playing in the hole, a real threat and goal scorer. Why is he never played there, we all know the question but we still have no answer.
With no Bardo, expect to see Richardson continue at left back and a surprise start for Meyler in a 4-5-1 set up Mig O'Shea, Turner, Brown, Richardson Elmo, Catts, Vaughan, Meyler, Larsson Sess
The only problem you have there is Sess is a winger, it is one of SBs poorer ideas that he can be converted to a striker. IMHO he may be down to play in the hole but he is better when he runs at players from out on the wing cos' he has pace and can dribble, attributes that are lost when playing in a static position behind Bendtner. I know this is amoot point but that is what I thinks anyhow. So whilst Wickham is the bigger unit to play up front, his first touch lets him down (from the little I have seen of him). So paradoxically I would probably play Ji and Wickham with them swopping roles on the wing and in the CF position, hoping it might cause more problems for Arsenal than us. I would then effectively have a 5 man midfield, nobody in the hole, as Mcbardo is still serving his ban and therefore Rico is our only option as LB, with Sess on the wing together with Larsson, Gardner and Vaughn the rest of midfield, Meyler and Colback as back-ups, we do not have anymore forwards, so Elmo + a keeper and a back up defender(Laing?),Titus is in the clink/suspended. Catts can stay on the naughty step for a while yet. Read more: http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=635523&page=2#ixzz1aTvcmf6Y
Whoa I see a lot of your fans suggesting taking Richardson out of his "natural Bruce" role at left back. I have to say as a Newcastle fan I find this idea abhorrent.
For me id go 442 and get at get at them ......................mig................... Elmo.....oshea....brown....Rico... Larsson..gardner..vaughan.sess .................ji........wickham......
I would love to see that team and formation, but sadly it won't happen. SB will stick with the 4-4-1-1 formation that he alone has faith in
Which is why he is on borrowed time. id atleast like him to go down swinging punches. he has nothing to lose in a bizarre way
Me too. The fans would appreciate him much more if he set the team up as an attacking force and at least tried to win a game convincingly. It's plain to me that he is managing with fear and would rather employ tactics to try not to lose a game, rather than go out and win it. Borrowed time indeed....
