How do you think Malky is setting up the starting eleven?

The signing of Cornelius indicates Malky wants to play with a target man, which complicates issues when considering Maynard and Campbell, our other starters, are more pure strikers. So, what do you think is Malky's plan formation wise?

For me, it's some sort of take on 4-3-3

Connolly, Hudson, Turner, Taylor
Mutch, Kim, Gunnarrson (maybe Whitts),
Campbell, Cornelius, Bellamy

As far as I know, Maynard has limited experience in a wide forward role, so I couldn't fit him in. Potentially he's cover, but it seems a bit of a waste. But again, don't quote me on that because my knowledge of Maynard is very minimal.

Ince, assuming he's joining, could either take over Campbell's role relegating him to back up, or be deployed in place of one of the central three midfielders and promoted to an attacking midfield position when we feel we can dominate a match.

i agree, lets say for arguments sake we get our signings:

connolly - hudson - turner - taylor
--------wanyama/gunnar---------
------kim---------mutch/whitts---
ince-cornelius/campbell/maynard-bellamy

however malky used to be a defender didn't he so 2 holding midfielders would be more likely.

connolly - hudson - turner - taylor
--- wanyama --- gunnarsson ---
ince/campbell - kim - whitts/bellamy
------- cornelius/maynard -------

that way we can fit more in the team. mutch can replace gunnar or kim, moving forward or back as needed. i see cornelius as a bit of a bully to defenders, will be very handy against the lesser teams but against the big teams we have no chance of bullying them so chuck maynard on instead for skill and flair over power. then when the oppo are tired late on bring cornelius on to finish the job nick a point or two.

DrewBlue wrote:i agree, lets say for arguments sake we get our signings:

connolly - hudson - turner - taylor
--------wanyama/gunnar---------
------kim---------mutch/whitts---
ince-cornelius/campbell/maynard-bellamy

however malky used to be a defender didn't he so 2 holding midfielders would be more likely.

connolly - hudson - turner - taylor
--- wanyama --- gunnarsson ---
ince/campbell - kim - whitts/bellamy
------- cornelius/maynard -------

that way we can fit more in the team. mutch can replace gunnar or kim, moving forward or back as needed. i see cornelius as a bit of a bully to defenders, will be very handy against the lesser teams but against the big teams we have no chance of bullying them so chuck maynard on instead for skill and flair over power. then when the oppo are tired late on bring cornelius on to finish the job nick a point or two.

I love your second formation, it's very similar to my own but dropping the two wingers back a bit deeper is probably a lot more sensible considering we will probably find ourselves outgunned regularly.

I d disagree slightly with your 'not using Cornelius because he can't bully defenders' logic. Top premiership defenders are going to lose a problem for all our strikers no matter what their style. They are used to handling the likes of Dzeko, Crouch, Carroll Etc barreling towards them yes, by they are also used to nimble players like Aguero and Tevez. I don't think there is any specific type of player that has an advantage simply because they've probably encountered them all already. I personally see the best tactic being throwing both at them - consider the idea of Cornelius playing the role of a wrecking ball while Maynard/Campbell/Bellamy dribble their way troug the carnage. You saw flashes of how effective it could be on the rare occasion Man City paired Dzeko and Aguero/Tevez up front. Even top defenders struggle when the danger could come from absolutely anywhere.

marshall

   turner or replacement and hudson, plus a new left back and right back.

bellamy, mutch, kim, campbell (he used to play out wide for previous clubs)

                                      maynard and cornelius

could be fanciful and add ince and or the celtic lad, but don't think he will come. though we may pick up ince

Marshall

New RB/LB
Hudson
Turner/Barnett (think he'll come back)
Connolly/Taylor (depending on which side he signs someone new)

Mutch
Kim
Whitts/Immers

Bellamy
Campbell
Cornelius

Don't think Wanyama'll come, think Immers is more realistic so I've pencilled him in. Even if we sign Ince, there's a high chance he won't start anyway with the front 3/2 wide midfielders & 1 striker I've put down there.

I'd be more than happy with that team to start the new Prem season, and think that's easily a better starting line up than 6/7 Premier League teams could manage.

I think it's going to be a variation on 4-3-3 / 4-5-1.
Pacey wingers surging forward on the break, with Kimbo linking through midfield.

I would settle for Red's line-up but with a new right-back.

Given that the options suggested include alternative players, you have got to wonder where it will leave the likes of Noone & Mason, who don't even rate a mention in any of these line ups.  Presumably, the alternatives would be on the bench, plus a goalie and if only one other defender, that leaves one or two bench places.........


.........also to consider Conway, Cowie, Rudy, Smith, Ralls......it's going to be a long frustrating season for some of these players!

This gives us all box to box midfielders even on the wings. Players who can attack but also have a solid work rate making us hard to break down. Double up and sit 8 when needed. It also gives us an attacking outlet when needed to counter and pace up front in Maynard to get on knock downs. Cornelius also a threat from set pieces.

All four: Kuyt, Wanyama, Aron and Bellamy are high work rate individuals so this would make us tough to break down as they'd drop back, go forward, like Chile did in the world cup to get at teams and frustrate them with high pressure.

As for subs it'd be nice to sign one or two faster players: Ince, Campbell, Kim, Whitts, Turner, etc.

This would give us the much needed pace off the bench to add a threat later in games. Ince on for Bellamy or rotated when needed. Campbell on for Maynard meaning never giving the defenders a rest. Kim on when extra creativity is needed or for Kuyt right wing. Whittingham if we dominating midfield and can cope with 1 DM.

I'd personally grab Wanyama for £10m, Kuyt for £1m, new RB for £5m, CB for £5, Ince for £8 and then call it at that with the rest being frees.

Total:

£10m Wanyama
£8m Cornelius
£1m Kuyt
£10m on RB and CB (£5m each or £2m for one, £8m other, etc.)
£8m Ince

£37m on transfers - £12m over Tans quoted £25m which I think was a figure he gave not to show his hand in the market. Then get the rest on free transfers. Hardly massive spending.

QPR spent £61.5m in their first season. We'd be nowhere near that sum. We'd also have more young players ready to slot in when the likes of Bellamy and Kuyt retire. Kim slots in perfectly right wing as an energetic player who can cross and cut in to link up, Ince on the left wing takes over from Bellamy. When those wages are off the books we can strengthen the left back position and so on. Just clever planning is needed.

I think key next season is making us hard as hell to break down. It worked for Stoke, its not pretty but it gets results. Vital draws away from home vs top teams could be the difference between 42pts and surviving or 38pts and going down.

I think that's a pretty good assessment Barney, but will take some wheeling in the market to get the right squad together.......have some flair on me anyway

TDA wrote:I think that's a pretty good assessment Barney, but will take some wheeling in the market to get the right squad together.......have some flair on me anyway

 

i would like to see a back row of

brayford, barnett, hudson and hunt at the very least. if better defenders become available then go for them. taylor is ok going forward, but gives away too many free-kicks in dangerous positions.

the only addition to the midfield i would have is ince. no to wanyama. big-head