Your formation + starting 11 V Leicester?

I'm now of the opinion that our current playstyle either isn't working or has been figured out by the opposition causing it to become completely ineffective. So I looked into fixing this problem by addressing the two main problems -

1) players too keen to play the long ball

2) Too much emphasis on bypassing the midfield straight for the striker

My solution to a weak, overwhelmed midfield is to add more players to that midfield and design it using players less prone to a long ball.

The formation, potentially unsurprising to many, is a 4-5-1/ sneaky 3-3-3.

Marshall
Connolly, Hudson, Turner, Taylor*
Campbell*, Kim, Cowie, Whitts, Noone
Gestede*

The players with asterisks indicate where I'm slightly unsure about that specific decision. Campbell in midfield might raise some people's blood pressure but he's not really. In my mind my striker and two wingers are effectively three strikers in disguise. Campbell and Noone are safe enough with the ball and not afraid of getting stuck in so when we're on our heels they add weight to our midfield numbers and can allow us to overturn the ball and keep it. Once the ball is in Leicester's half however both of them are going to go forward to join Gestede. Both of them are fast too, and can give their full backs a real headache and maybe open some gaps for the other two.

He is asterisked however asking with Gestede because while Rudy suits this tactic on paper I'm not entirely convinced he's up for it against the best team in the league. If he isn't, Campbell would take the centre forward position, Noone would go right wing and Bellamy takes the left wing.

The second problem is Taylor. I want numbers in our midfield, when our two wingers become strikers I want our full backs to become midfielders. That requires attacking talent, that Taylor is still shaky on. My alternative is give Lappin a go who is a natural left midfielder with a great left foot. My hesitation is I'm not even sure if he's match fit.

Whitts inclusion is heavily dependant on form. I can't being myself to drop him, but if I was Malky he would be warned just before coming out that if he doesn't deliver he won't play the second half.

So, what are your ideas and opinions on my own?

don cowie is more of a defensive midfielder, you using him to lock it down?? whitts role or a change
only hope they dont use gestede for hoof and hope
still fail to understand the absence of mutch

I actually agree that Gestede should start. Though I think if Bellamy is match fit I've no doubt he'll start.
Assuming Hudson is back then:

Marshall
Connolly - Hudson - Turner - Taylor
Noone - Gunnarsson - Kim - Bellamy
Gestede - Campbell

Seemed to be some nice link ups at the end between Gestede and Campbell on Tuesday and seeing as we like hoofing long balls so much, we may as well add a bit of height.
No Whitts for me I'm afraid. Time to let Kim lead the midfield.

I totally agree with you about how we've been figured out by teams, perfectly true. Hence, when we signed fraizer teams didn't really know how to aproach like they may have done before christmas. But it would appear now they hae realised 'stop campbell = stop the goals'. So we do need to try something different. Your inclusion od Gestede may puzzle sum, but i've got to admit i totally agree with you, when he came on against derby (albeit 5 mins) he won EVERYTHING in the air. So i think it'd be better playing him upfront WITH campbell, for the flick ons etc. So my team fro leicester would be:

Marshall

Connolly Hudson Turner Taylor

Kim Gunny Whitts* Noone
Campbell
Gestede

*With a license to get forward, Gunny's no sloth and he knows how's to get stuck in, give him the defensive duty for a game. See what impact it has allowing Whitts to work his magic again!

I wanted someone big or who would be dominating in the air, only Helguson and Gestede are classic target men and I have more faith in Gestede than I do Helguson. I might be the only man in history to pick a centre forward and not expect him to score goals, but in my head while he would take his chances when they come, nodding them down to Campbell of Noone will prove far more dangerous.

I wouldn't pick Gestede if I could, if argue that the squad are screaming out for another target man, one with the aerial presence of Gestede but the eye for goal of Campbell.

Anyone know if Ibrahimovic is interested?

All the best teams these days play with a 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 formation - something which would suit us.

--------------------------Marshall------------------------

Connolly--------Turner--------Hudson---------Taylor

----------------Gunnarsson----------Cowie---------------


Conway/Noone/Kimbo-------Whittingham-------Noone/Kimbo/Conway


--------------------------------------Campbell-------------------------------------


Cowie will provide cover for Gunnarsson to move forward, acting as a 'double-pivot' to alternate runs.

Germany, Spain, Barcelona, Madrid all use it (just to name four sides)

Marshall
Connolly - Hudson - Turner - Taylor
Noone - Whitts - Kim - Bellamy
Campbell - Mason


All out mentalist style attack from the opening second

davewebber65 wrote:don cowie is more of a defensive midfielder, you using him to lock it down?? whitts role or a change
only hope they dont use gestede for hoof and hope
still fail to understand the absence of mutch

Cowie defensive mid, Whitts attacking mid, Kim box to box is my midfield three combo. Mutch is Whittingham's sub if he doesn't perform in my plan.

And agreed gloves, a 5 strong midfield is becoming more and more common thanks to the Spanish game. The pure striker role is being phased out there at a worrying speed, Messi for example isn't really a striker, he sits deep in the midfield more as an attacking midfield, and Madrid thanks to Ronaldo are showing a great striker is not a necessity.

Thankfully though, with the exception of spurs' bale and Swansea's Michu a striker with a good first touch and quality finishing is still highly valued in the British game. I think it would be sad if we lost strikers entirely.

A notable absentee from all of your selections is Tommy Smith. He and Campbell are on the verge of forging a partnership. The signs are there, but it just hasn't clicked yet.

I would be inclined to start Smith, not Gestede, as an out and out striker alongside Campbell, but please, please give us Noone & Kim in support.......

TDA wrote:A notable absentee from all of your selections is Tommy Smith. He and Campbell are on the verge of forging a partnership. The signs are there, but it just hasn't clicked yet.

I would be inclined to start Smith, not Gestede, as an out and out striker alongside Campbell, but please, please give us Noone & Kim in support.......

Smith, according to RBMB's unofficial head scout Kamuza had a bad game last week, in particular for not dropping back to help the defence as much as he could. So he's simultaneously being benched as punishment and doesn't fit the role my two wingers would need of assisting in defence and attack.

Gestede deserves a start, his sub appearances have been difference makers in the last few games and his ability to control high balls on the box is very effective. Dropping Campbell would get me lynched and I also know he's played wide right in a 4-3-3 before, so it was the obvious place for him allowing Gestede to centralise. If Gestede under performed, Campbell would go centre and Smith would probably take wide right. In my initial post I said Noone would go right and Bellamy take left, but I think Noone and Bellamy rotating in the left winger role is better. Noone is much more effective on the left, and if I'm right and Bellamy's poor form is overexertion the limit to the games he plays might pay dividends.

Marshall
Connolly - Hudson - Turner - Taylor
Bellamy- Mutch- Kim - Noone
Gestede - Campbell


Time to mix things up in the middle and let's put Noone back on his native left.

Gestede did enough for me to start the next game - Whitts and Gunnars need a rest...(and a much needed kick up the arse)

Seriously what is it that everyone can see in Gestede? I know he is taller than the rest of the squad but in my books it just makes us useless in areas where we previously had no capacity... Now we have capacity in the air but no capability...

Let's not forget...

Il Isvan totale strie dégingandé de pisse

Jackanackanory! wrote:

Marshall

Hudson

Gunnarsson Cowie

Whittingham

Noone Campbell Helguson Gestede Bellamy Conway

Pressure's on Hudson, then....

The Tonker wrote:

Jackanackanory! wrote:

Marshall

Hudson

Gunnarsson Cowie

Whittingham

Noone Campbell Helguson Gestede Bellamy Conway

Pressure's on Hudson, then....

Oh Tonker. Tonker, Tonker, Tonker.

You forget - the pressure is always on Norwich.