Mario Balotelli [On the Road to Ballon d'or)

[Lecter]

At the start of last season when Suarez was suspended, Sturridge lead the line
for a number of games.

Us playing with two up front/using the diamond did not really kick in untol later on when Suarez was back.

Results and form werent that great then where they?

[RichC]

At the start of last season when Suarez was suspended, Sturridge lead the line
for a number of games.

Us playing with two up front/using the diamond did not really kick in untol later on when Suarez was back.

[Lecter]

Perhaps he believes without Sturrdige the two up top doesn't work hence not playing it, remember he sees how the players work and interact with each other on a daily basis.

It does look however we missed a trick on the signings up front for this season.

Maybe but whenever we have gone two up top there is a noticeable upward shift in pressing, movement and in creativity.

Yet the next game its back to 1 up top and more tortuous ****e

[Doc_Piptorious]

Results and form werent that great then where they?

They were so so, but if we are discussing Sturridge as a lone striker, then his side of things went pretty well when used on his own during that period.


It would not be my first choice to use him as a lone striker, but in a pinch he does have the ability to be effective in such a system.

[Lecter]

They were so so, but if we are discussing Sturridge as a lone striker, then his side of things went pretty well when used on his own during that period.


It would not be my first choice to use him as a lone striker, but in a pinch he does have the ability to be effective in such a system.

Still dont get why you revert from system that takes you on a title charge back to a system that is so so and might work for your lone striker at a pinch

Seems a bit daft, doesnt it?

[Doc_Piptorious]

Still dont get why you revert from system that takes you on a title charge back to a system that is so so and might work for your lone striker at a pinch

Seems a bit daft, doesnt it?

I'm not arguing against playing two up front as my own preference would be Sturridge and A.Nother. What I am saying is that Sturridge has shown himself to be very effective for us when he has been used as a long striker.

He got 5 goals from the six games last season in which he was used as a lone striker so he can excel in the role if we were stuck and had no choice but to use him in that manner.

I am certainly not trying to argue a case for playing with one up front all the time though, and certainly not at present given how limited our attack and midfield look in the current system when it comes to offensive play.

[RichC]

Still dont get why you revert from system that takes you on a title charge back to a system that is so so and might work for your lone striker at a pinch

Seems a bit daft, doesnt it?

We don't have many goals in us at the moment I think he's tried to make us harder to score against as playing with two up top we leaked 50 odd goals but we scored for fun, we have neither Sturridge or Suarez to get those goals at the moment hence trying to make us tougher to break down.

Can't say it's worked well as of yet the summer signings have left us well short of quality up top sadly.

[Lecter]

We don't have many goals in us at the moment I think he's tried to make us harder to score against as playing with two up top we leaked 50 odd goals but we scored for fun, we have neither Sturridge or Suarez to get those goals at the moment hence trying to make us tougher to break down.

Can't say it's worked well as of yet the summer signings have left us well short of quality up top sadly.

And making us tougher to break down has worked well also

I still say when we do play 2 up top we look more of a threat than when we dont

We dont look any tighter at the back with this new system yet now look impotent in attack

To me if he doesnt change, we will continue in this rut

The change in system has ****ed so many things (pressing, creativity, speed of counter) and improved nothing (we are still conceeding **** loads)

[RichC]

I don't think anyone has said anything to disagree with that but what you seem incapable or unwilling to consider is why he's changed the way we play. I dont think its worked either but then I don't see the players week in week out and by the looks of it he doesn't fancy ever Lambert or Borini up top and neither Sterling which seems to be advocated as a striker although to my knowledge he's never played a senior game in that position.

It therefore feels as if he's trying to put a system together using the players that he rates and are available

[Lecter]

I don't think anyone has said anything to disagree with that but what you seem incapable or unwilling to consider is why he's changed the way we play. I dont think its worked either but then I don't see the players week in week out and by the looks of it he doesn't fancy ever Lambert or Borini up top and neither Sterling which seems to be advocated as a striker although to my knowledge he's never played a senior game in that position.

It therefore feels as if he's trying to put a system together using the players that he rates and are available

Yep you are right I cant comprehend why hes done it, its ****ing bat**** mental

Whatever he "feels" results tell me it aint working and frankly it doesnt look like improving and its easier to argue that things appear to be gettìng worse

[RichC]

so I give a potential explanation to why he's changed it and ignore it completely the only real option for a two man strike force is Borini of whom he'd tried to bomb out in the summer.

The summer signings have left us a bit toothless up top sadly and even when we weren't we still leaked goals we've now lost a lot of goals in the side and he's tried to shore it up, it's not worked at the moment but we lack options up top which has to some extent be laid at his feet.

[Lecter]

so I give a potential explanation to why he's changed it and ignore it completely the only real option for a two man strike force is Borini of whom he'd tried to bomb out in the summer.

The summer signings have left us a bit toothless up top sadly and even when we weren't we still leaked goals we've now lost a lot of goals in the side and he's tried to shore it up, it's not worked at the moment but we lack options up top which has to some extent be laid at his feet.

I dont buy hes the only option sorry

Lambert has come on a few times as sub alongside Mario and we have seen an improvement in our play yet he wont try them together because Borini is our only option.

Lambert hasnt looked great on his own, neither has Mario. Yet the odd cameo they have played together has seen an upshift in tempo and creativity in the final third

I would also consider putting Sterling up top for now, he did this one portion of a game and again we looked livelier

I dont get why he wont try it because it sure as **** isnt working as is

[Slinky Skills]

This post seems to be absolving Brendan of all blame I cant wear that and dont buy it

We targetted Sanchez is he capable of leading the line on his own?
We signed Lambert and Balotelli neither of whom are capable of playing the lone striker role
Loic Remy is probably the nearest capable of this and I wouldnt class him as proficient either

All in all the whole plan both in terms of transfers AND tactics, system going forward looks a complete ****ing mess and we are rightly reaping what we sowed

Sadly unless Brendan changes tact hes going to come under severe pressure and once you are in that position its almost inevitable what will happen

[Lecter]

I really hope Brendan changes, really do.

I enjoyed watching us last season, I thought we would not be as good this season but didnt expect it to be this calamitous

I think the last thing we need is a change of management, for a start I am not sure who we would go for so its not even worth contemplating imo

However, the football the first season wasnt that great until Sturridge came and we played 2 up top and it was the same last season. The football this season is very very reminiscent of the first part of his first season slow, ponderous, little or no creativity and very little pressure on the ball

Hope he sees sense and reverts to his system of last season as it was bold and adventurous and I truly feel on reflection that is what served him best, because the current system is not working whatsoever

[Gibbo]

For me, the Tottenham game was the only game this season where we looked to play a similar system to last.

And we saw what happened there. I really think we need to find a way to get two up top.