Cheers Oslo. I sort of agree with you, although, having seen bolton's defending on MOTD I'd quite like to see Cisse right up top. Having said that, I have said on another thread that I wouldn't mind seeing Cisse on the right of a 4-2-3-1.
Oh and by the way............I didn't need it, but you're right, the offish confirms that we started 4-2-3-1. Not sure we'll hear from Yappy again on the subject!!
The bench. just a feeling Hughes might do this. i wouldn't but if hes willing to start with one up front at home then i reckon he might away aswell.
I can't see him leaving Cisse on the bench...he must be straining at the leash!! He could start him on the right of the midfield 3 and change to 4-4-2 later?
I think Cisse will start too, be very surprised if he doesn't. I see him playing in the 3, but in a very aggressive, forward role, probably on the right intitially but with a clear instruction to get in the box with Zamora, and interchange with others especially Adel.
The whole discussion on tactics/formations has left me scratching my head. I only gave up playing footie a few years ago and yet sometimes when i read these threads discussing formations, i think i have been away from the game for light years. I think it's very simple really. When you play with one recognised forward then you either play with 5 defenders (3 centre backs and 2 wing backs) and 4 midfielders (many possible combination here) or 4 defenders (flat back 4) and 5 midfielders (many possible combinations here). When you play with 5 midfielders, normally the intention is to flood the midfield particularly against stronger opposition. These 5 midfielders MUST be inter-changable depending on where players are on the pitch when we have or have not the ball. A manager can normally identify 1 or 2 of these players to have a defensive role. Some teams play with 1 of the 5 in a sitting role all the time and some teams actually have 2 of the 5 with full time defensive responsibility. Either way the roles of these 5 players will change depending on if the team is home or away, ahead or behind, need to win or not etc etc. Top players can easily understand the various roles required of them and within any game these 5 players can go from a 1-4-1 to a 2-3-1 to a 5-1 etc etc depending on managers instructions. Very rarely will a team stick rigidly to any one formation for a full 90 mins. I think whats very important is that if you play with 5 midfielders then you have the right balance of defensive players, creative players, pace, width etc etc within this group of 5 players. A team must have at least one if not two players within this 5 who can run at and get behind defenders. Going forward will be very fluid and players use their skill and experience to open up the opposition with quick passing and movement, while normally all 5 will be behind the ball when the opposition have it, allowing us to break at pace when we get it back, i.e the counter attack. If i have lost touch with the game, then please can somebody point this out to me. Otherwise it's very simple and i can't understand the fuss. A team playing with 5 midfielders will change their midfield 5 formation several times within a game and what looks like one formation will quickly change to another. Sorry, rant over.
Spot on. He looks to be more dynamic than any other forward we have and we need his goal threat rather than hoping he can cross the ball. I'd assume it will be back to 442 and a similar side to the Wolves starting XI (with Diakite in the middle alongside Barton with Tarbs and SWP out wide).
Cisse was playing on the wide right for Lazio, utilising his pace, an option would be to put him in SWP's place in a 4-2-3-1. I'd rather have him upfront as we need to win on Saturday...
Am i right in saying Cisse was unhappy being played on the right at Lazio ? Think i read somewhere that he wanted desperately to play out and out striker up front as thats where he feels he scores all his goals from. I can see him scoring a few for us as Zamora lays the ball off brilliantly. They seem a good combination IMO.
Think these two could cause a lot of trouble for opposition defenders. For the first time this year we have several options this Sat up front, in midfield and at the back. Will be very intersting to see who he picks and in what formation.
Christ I hope not! We finally found our way back to a system that works for us 4-2-3-1 on Saturday, after weeks of disorganisation! Cisse can play in the 3 instead of SWP but it doesn't mean he needs to play wide right! SWP never gets crosses in anyway, these came mainly from our 2 backs Saturday. Cisse can get into the box with Zamora as much as in a 4-4-2, but we are more solid defensively in 4 2 3 1 and more flexible in attack. Cisse will just have to work back like SWP!
I hope MH does play the pair upfront, Cisse will scare the hell out of the Bolton backline, the 4-4-2 is MH's favoured formation and the only concern is the midfield balance...
If it hasn't been said already I thought Hill and Derry had their best games against Everton. I have no idea what the near future holds for either of them but they at least deserve credit for their performances. Another 2 points dropped though, should have won the game easily, Everton were not the hardest of teams we have faced and all 3 points would not have been un-deserved. Nice to finish with 11 of ours on the pitch!!!
In fairness, we looked good for the points against Wolves until we hit the self-destruct button. I also don't think MH's ego would cope with adopting NW's preferred formation.
l think MH's ego would cope with adopting NW's preferred formation.[/QUOTE] . I think it's the preferred formation to many if not most teams in the PL, so reckon he just may manage!
Can't agree with this Oslo. 4-4-2 looked like a great option for Cisse and Zamora together until the former got himself sent off. Everyone can see the one thing we lack is a consistent goal threat and that is not well served with a lone target man even away from home. Just because the coaching police have been saying that 4-4-2 is dead for the last couple of seasons doesn't make it true - good managers will choose a formation that best suits their players on the pitch. The current best starting 11 for me would be: Cerny Young Onuaha Ferdinand Troare SWP Tarrabt Diakite Buzsaky Cisse Zamora
