Just a thought... We're being linked to attacking left backs, namely Baines and Coentrao (plus Rose may be in Andre's plans next season), so am I alone in thinking part of the plan next season is to have Bale play behind the striker, with Sigurdsson tucking in on the left of the attacking trio as Baines/Coentrao get forward? It makes a certain amount of sense.
could well be. But i'd actually rather see Townsend operate in that "Sigurdsson" position as it's more natural. - And that's saying something, as I actually want Townsend to be a LW understudy to someone else who's the same, but more experienced. We lose so much width with Gylfi on the left, which in turn makes the central areas more congested and doesn't leave bale any space. we need a "touchline hugger" like lennon, but on the left.
I completely agree RWAEB I'd actually put Dempsey in the "Lennon" category, as we realised a central role wasn't working. If I was to make a prediction as to how we'd balance this out (not thinking like Roo here, but more what AVB might be thinking), it would be that Huddlestone, Demps and Gylfi could be moved on. I like huddlestone. I think he brings calmness to the team, he has a brilliant pass, he's strong and he's creative. However, I think AVB sees him as slow/immobile and not suited to his preferred style, so therefore he'd be one to make way sadly. Gylfi was wanted by Reading in January. He's failed to hold down/ make an impact in his favoured position and hasn't exactly had the best time with us, so maybe he'd be moved on too? Dempsey hasn't really worked out and doesn't fit anywhere particularly well, so perhaps he'd be the 3rd. if Bale has become this freerole striker and that's to be permanent as of now, then perhaps we only need 1 striker, but a number 9 style? Bale, Benteke, Defoe is a good mix of players and offers different attributes. Iwas going to talk about creativity and wing options, but Infact, I'm going to end it there. There's too many if's and but's which are causing formation discussions to give me a headache! All I know, is that it's an unbalanced mess at the moment!
The irony is I think Harry had a similar plan, playing Bale at left back with Pienaar on the left, replicating the Baines/Pienaar partnership at Everton. Slight problem, Pienaar was permanently injured, and pushing Bale to left back sounds like a baffling choice to make.
For sure, if you want to play a high tempo game, which it seems that AVB would like to do, then Huddlestone is not your man.
Breaking news from twitter. "Tom Ince to arrive in the summer. Personal terms are done. Just fee to be sorted - formality. wants to come, we want him."
Fixed. Could happen and it's well known that we're interested in him, but I won't credit it til I see him holding up the shirt and saying that we were his boyhood club. Lots of goals, lots of assists and he's good on the ball. Not sure how he'd fit into the overall plan though, as he clearly wants to be playing every week.
haha we'll see! I know you're all sceptical of the "twits". everyone knows how sceptical I am in general, but other than the final day of the last window, this guy has been pretty spot on. watch this space! if he does sign, that's the "competition for Lennon" problem sorted out!
Oh, I was convinced he was on the right? well that's a spanner in the works. and surely like for like with Townsend? The mind boggles.
Townsend seems to play on the right most of the time now. Left-footed, but most of his managers this season (Villas-Boas, Pearce, Redknapp) seem to prefer him cutting in from the right.
I hate that. Defenders suss it out in minutes, then make the player cut in, where a team mate then mops up as there's no space. At least a run down the wing can result in a corner. it also takes the central players out of the game as there ends up being too many opposition bodies around them.
Depends upon how it's used and how capable the winger is of using his other foot. Townsend's pace and right foot allow him to be a threat both inside and out, so he's less predictable. If the idea is to have him and Ince in reserve, then I think that'd frighten a lot of tired legs. Our problem is when we have players that will always cut in (Sigurdsson, Dempsey) and nobody making space either at full-back on their side (Naugton) or on the other wing, when Lennon's out.
Brings me back to the lack of balance again. It's a mess to be honest. A player like Tom Ince is not a priority.
My take is Townsend will be competition for lennon and for ince (if he comes) as he can play on both sides (but seems to be more effective on the right). I'd sell Danny Rose if Sunderland do offer £8m for him. Naughton should go as will Gallas, Bentley and Gomes. As much as I like Benny I think he's gone...seems like he's fallen out of favour with AVB. Adebayor should be encouraged to go...as he cost £5m we can in theory let him go on a free to sweeten a deal with another club...it's a shame as he could be an immense player but in all honesty has been inconsistently dire at best! at best I can see us making £15m on those deals (benny £6m Rose £6m and Adebayor £3m) at worst £10m. I can also see Huddlestone going as he is not mobile enough for the way AVB likes to play...I like Hudd but can't see him staying...I think we'll get £5-7m on him and I can see Harry Kane being sold for £2m which could give us a total of around £20m plus it will free us money from all those wages. The striker I'd most like is Benteke...he's everything Adebayor should be...strong, good at holding the ball up, fantastic in the air, a good finisher and really hungry. He won't need to get used to the Premier League and we could afford him...on the downside others will be in for him and he seems happy at villa so if they survive as seems likely he will probably stay with them.
it clears us out a bit RCL, but a massive chunk of that money you mention would have to go on a LB, surely? doesn't leave much for a striker, which we need regardless of letting Kane and Ade go! Does that mean we might actually make a net spend this summer?! No. We'll sell Bale!
We made a decent profit last season so thought there was money in the kitty...anyway...surely we can just play with Dempsey up front!!!!!!
I think that a lot depends upon whether we qualify for the CL or not, but I just don't see a lot of balance in the squad at the moment. I'm pretty sure that Villas-Boas would like to replace Assou-Ekotto, Huddlestone and Adebayor, but past that I'm not certain. Does he want to keep Dempsey or Sigurdsson? Where does he see Holtby playing? Cover for Bale in the hole, perhaps or competition for Dembele? Do we need to look at replacing Parker and is there room in the squad for Livermore? Our midfield's a bit of a mess when you get past the starting line-up and the injury to Sandro, plus Bale's new role seem to have buggered even that.
There's a thread on the Mackems board giving each player a one word review for the game against Villa. The contributions for Rose so far are: Superior, rampant, decent, terminator, prickly, cream, quality, best, exception and excellent. Given that they conceded 6 goals, that's pretty impressive for their left-back.
basically what I've been trying today, but it's taken me 3 essay's to do so I wouldn't know where to start!
