The Three At The Back Argument - Again!!

[brendan]

You'd lose your house. How the fcuk can you drop Bellamy ??

I also think it would be insane, but let's face it, it's not as if Benitez hasn't pulled off a few shocking "what the ****" formations/ personnel decisions in the past.

[red g]

Trust me - on Sunday he'll play 4-2-3-1 with Crouch up front as the target man. Something like:-

Reina

Finnan Carragher Hyypia Riise

Alonso Sissoko

Pennant Gerrard Zenden/Gonzales

Crouch

I'd put my mortgage on it

hope yr motgage isnt to big!! Bellamy will definitey start.

[Ryan]

Who says Rafa will treat this like a Cup final? He's not guaranteeed to pick what is perceived to be "his strongest XI" by any stretch of the imagination. It's a glorified friendly, with both teams able to make SIX substitutions.

I'm not convinced Bellamy will start either. Reckon Rafa might want to keep something up his sleeve, so to speak.

I'm fairly sure Chelsea will start with a "peculiar" looking XI.

Exactly.

Priority should be given to Sheffield United the following Saturday, and not outwitting Mourinho in some nonsensical "dress rehearsal".

I couldn't give a fcuk about Sunday.

Although I don't really want to lose to that bunch of cockney fcukwits either, now I think about it.

[blacky]

I think with a potentially tricky opening away game and a fairly tough start to the season Rafa will use Sunday to nail down his strongest team/formation. We know after last years experience we need a winning start to the season.

[red g]

Exactly.

Priority should be given to Sheffield United the following Saturday, and not outwitting Mourinho in some nonsensical "dress rehearsal".

I couldn't give a fcuk about Sunday.

Although I don't really want to lose to that bunch of cockney fcukwits either, now I think about it.

My thoughts exactly, one hand it doesnt matter and whoever loses will say so........on the other hand a) its a trophy b) we get to hear maureens excuses c) I hate the chavs d) i ****in hate the chavs

[dww]

Our first choice players such as Gerrard, Alonso, Hyypia and Carragher looked rusty vs Haifa so i would go out with a full strength team if for no other reason than to sharpen them up for the Sheff Utd game.

[Rich]

I'd be surprised if Lil' Luis didn't start on Sunday - he seems to enjoy playing against the Chelski.

[blacky]

He might opt for Luis on the left wing instead of Zenden or Gonzalez

[6sheep]

3-5-2



maybe a formation for the future (notice this does not include sami & does include dirk), depending on the opposition.

there is a this good piece on the fifa site about wing back play, partially c+p`d below

Birth of the wing back

These "defensive strikers", who need to possess pace, stamina and skill on the ball, are known as wing backs. Yet in the past we have seen repeated examples of attacking full-backs who burst forward to join the attack. One such player was Giacinto Facchetti, who played for Inter Milan under Helenio Herrera in the 1960s.

Coaches employ modern wing backs to open up the attack, switch the play to the flank, make full use of the pitch, including the wide areas, and tear apart the opposing defence. The opposing team is forced to move defenders out to the flanks, thus allowing strikers more space in the middle. So the wing back also constitutes a tactical measure.

For years, many coaches have attempted, regardless of the system their team plays, to launch attacks down the flanks along the touchlines, which gives them new attacking options, not least when counter-attacking. It has also brought forth a new type of full-back, or rather, attacking wing player. In many good teams this player is no longer simply the technically limited "destroyer" and nononsense campaigner of times gone by. Instead, he has become something of a key figure with a good technique, the type of player called for and used by some renowned coaches as many as 20 years ago.

In its concluding report on the 1986 World Cup, FIFA's Technical Study Group had, incidentally, already emphasised that the choice of full-backs was becoming "more and more important", as they had "the most time and the most space in front of them". Even teams that subscribe to what is still the most widespread system, 44-2, occasionally switch to 3-5-2, depending on the opposition.

As the midfield becomes more and more crowded, teams should increasingly launch their attacks and attempt to breach defences via the flanks, especially if the other team defends with ten outfield players for almost the entire 90 minutes, as became evident at many 2002 World Cup qualifying games in Europe involving top sides and less fancied opposition. This is the sixth and final article dealing with playing systems, their objectives and the changes they have undergone in the course of time. For a long time now it has been impossible to play successful football without orderliness, organisation, a clear assignment of responsibilities and a corresponding positioning of players on the field. It is essential for teams to play systematically, something that is now a matter of course. In football the system takes on the same function as the layout for a newspaper.

Systems and their limitations
Yet all these systems, systems with varying levels of freedom and restraint that come and go, are extolled as the system to end all systems one day and discarded the next, have made football a rather complicated affair. They have given it a certain pseudo-scientific tinge; they have led to opinions becoming doctrinaire and have rid it of spontaneity and carefreeness. Confronted with so many theories as regards systems, some players come to feel they have been placed in a straitjacket.

Although a means of earning a living, for many players football became a complicated business; it was no longer a game with the emphasis on enjoyment, a game to be played freely with the sole aim of trying to score one more than the opposition, a game to be played according to the eternally true and timeless rule of thumb - and this is the key - of marking the opponent when he has the ball and running into space when your own team has it.

Yet the belief many coaches hold in the system does not prevent them from using the wrong players. And the best system is worth nothing if the right players are not available or if they are used in positions unsuited to them. This illustrates the limitations that systems have.

[blacky]

Great reply by the way. I would just query the inclusion of both Finnan and Aurelio. Without Hyppia in our team we lose a lot of the aerial dominance associated with a commanding CB. Whilst Finnan is a neat footballer and Aurelio is also if reports are to be believed I dont think either would have the presence or experience of Hyppia. I know Sami's legs are gone which is why I was promoting the inclusion of Palletta or Agger. Maybe a back three of Carragher, Agger and Finnan????

[fowlen]

I was just looking at the squad list again and thinking about the players we have and the positions they play. After the game the other night I was extremely happy with Pennant on the right wing. Likewise I think Barry/Speedy/Risse on the left wing is a great option. In saying that I also think SG, Xabi and Momo work well as a trio. I don't like playing with a lone striker so that leaves us with the option of a back three. I know this is probably discussed a bit but I thought I would throw it into the arena again. Against Chelsea on Sunday why not try out the following:

Reina

Palletta Carragher Hyppia

Sissoko Xabi

Pennant Gerrard Gonzalez

Bellamy Crouch

In order to play 3 at the back, i think all three really need to be quick, and incredibly fit.
I cannot see Rafa changing a system, that defensively speaking, would be very hard to better.
I also don't think there is any way that one could leave Finnan out of the side at the moment

[dww]

I would want all three to be experienced centrebacks in a back three, with one capable of coming out with the ball and passing a bit. I guess Agger might perform the later role and if he and Palletta adapt quicky then this formation might be doable, however fullbacks in a three seems like madness to me.

[blacky]

I think with the improved squad we have this season we will see Rafa chage formations from game to game if he feels its needed. Last season the team almost picked itself. This year there is much more competition for places and Rafa has more "Options" which is what he has always said he wanted

[Le Chacal]

Rafa is from the Sacchi school of tactics, I can't see him playing anything other than 4 at the back, barring the odd circumstance which warrants it

The zonal marking defence is the only comon point between Benitez and Sacchi...the rest is totally different.

[Redspin]

He'd be mad to drop Bellamy. Rodders has never even looked close to scoring against Abramovich FC, and Bellers offers real striking menace and pace, which the slitty-eyed cockney wanka "JT" *hates*

I think he likes to rotate players and vary tactics within games, hence why Garcia is often on the bench, because when he comes on he can make a big difference if we're struggling. I expect Bellamy will play the last haf hour if indeed Crouch starts. I suspect he wants to ease the new players in gradually, so I'll be surprised if any of them starts on Sunday