The game against Sunderland was there to be won. Our motto is " to dare is to do" well, we didn't dare, and we didn't do. Sunderland played like the away team, and almost nicked it.
We played a 4-4-2 with Huddlestone and Modric in the middle of the park for the run in when we finished 4th. We beat Arsenal, Chelsea and City like that. Sandro was playing the holding role brilliantly towards the end of last season, but he seems unsuited to the 4-5-1/4-2-3-1/4-3-3 or whatever you want to call it. I don't think he knows what his job is in that system.
When 'Arry first arrived, we often played with Modric in the hole behind Bent/Pavlyuchenko, so we played 4-4-1-1 to a degree.
Fair comments SG. There are no easy answers, which is what frustrates me when people say things like 'Lennon on the right, Bale on the left, sorted', when such a combo is obviously far from perfect, and well short of 'sorted'.
Toon fan in peace. Why not go 433?? Friedel Walker King Kaboul BAE Modric Parker VDV Lennon Ade Bale That would be absolutely stonking. It has worked for us and with those players, I can't see why it would fail for you either!
So no love for the 3-2-3-2 I used to use on Pro Evo? Come to think of it, the formation used by Spain (that hybrid of 4-4-2 and 4-3-3) could work... Friedel Walker Kaboul King BAE --- Parker Modric Bale Lennon --- Van Der Vaart --- ---Adebayor ...although we'd probably need to change personnel (i.e. Lennon) to get it to work properly.
I hear you, but I disagree. I remember Harry putting Modric in the hole for the first match vs Arsenal (The 4-4 draw that felt like a win!). Then I remember him trying him in the centre briefly and deciding he needed to be out on the left, until he toughened up. I remember Krancar and Modric consistently vying for that position whilst we waited patiently for Bent and Pav to start scoring as a pair. (and to discover that Bale could play without us losing or drawing.) I remember Harry alway wanting 4 strikers, two pairs. Hence him bringing back Defoe and Keane. I then remember Gudjohnsen playing with Krancar behind him once or twice. I don't remember a consistent 4-4-1-1 until VDV came in, and since he has come in, has anyone else played in the hole but VDV? ... or have we always reverted to a 4-4-2 when VDV is out? Also, Whilst I'm here Ghoddle10... in your opinion, who plays on the right of this 4-4-1-1 when we have our best 11 on the pitch, if it isn't Lennon? I like your front 6. A very decent 4-2-3-1 from where I'm looking. I'd like to see Hudd take Livermore's place in it when he comes back too. However, I think we lose shape though when VDV is on the right and drifts. Walker doesn't always accommodate and compensate effectively in the way that Disco Benny does for Bale. Personally I'd like to see VDV Parker Modric Lennon Ade Bale in a 4-3-3 more often.
I don't like GH's front 6 Lockstock, only 3 recognised goalscorers, a bad idea for a number of reasons, I've gone into a bit of detail on this subject on another thread (Selling Mod/Bale) so I'm not clogging this one with the same thing.
Fair comments Lockstock and NSS. I take the point about not enough goalscorers, but Lennon's hardly prolific is he, and he introduces defensive frailty, if swapped for Livermore, so it's swings and roundabouts.
One of those more than healthy debates GH, that there isn't really a straight answer to. I like shoring up the MF, don't get me wrong, but the Modric role has to be a goalscorer aswell for me.
Yep agreed NSS, a good debate, and no obvious right or wrong answers. It sure would help if Luka could put the ball in the net more often. Maybe the answer is to flog him for £25/30m (I doubt we'd get any more than that) and get in an 'inferior' player who gets more goals. I dunno.
What's hard to understand is how Luka can hit a pass 30 yards, or more, with pinpoint accuracy. Yet when it comes to shooting at goal, he couldn't hit a cow's arse with the proverbial banjo.
I've come across many MFers like it NSS, as I said on the other thread, Mod passes with style using the inside of his foot mainly, when he shoots he uses his instep and thats when it goes to ****, his bodyshape is all wrong and he just lashes at it. It maybe a thing in his head he needs to use power because he's small, I dunno, but if he could try stroking his shots (Thierry Henry style) rather than blasting, it may help....and he may just be totally crap at it, it happens!
For God's sake man, put that into a letter to Harry and Luka (not the might be crap bit). 5 goals till the end of the season and happy days!
The same can be said for Huddlestone. However, focusing entitrely on how their scoring is beloow standard is the sort of stat-happy nonsense that would make you believe that Chris Brunt is a more valuable player than Modric (or Xavi), or that a defensive midfielder isn't valuable to a team because they aren't a regular source of points in Fantasy Football. I'm happy for Modric not to score if he's crucial to the build-up of every scoring move we make, why isn't everyone else?
+1 I don't get these obsession with Modric and his lack of goals, as that isn't his role, players have different roles and when put together, these roles make a team (or not).
