Goals from wide positions

[Morph]

Just watching the Sky Sports program previewing the final and thought that this was an interesting talking point:

14 of our 18 goals in the CL this season have come from wide positions, maybe this will give some clues to the players who will start and the tactics we'll use, particularly if Milan play quite narrow as most expect

[REDSCOUSER]

Yeh, RAFA is always on the ball in his preperations. Zenden/Pennant on the flanks it is then.

[Shaggy]

Which makes the 'rumoured team' all the more mind-boggling to me - i.e. no Crouch. He's scored most of our goals en route, we score most of our goals from wide areas and Milan struggle to defend crosses.

To me it's all quite simple...but then I'm not a top manager and Rafa is.

Kuyt isn't great in the air and if Pennant plays, then surely so must Crouch.

[Sir Bob]

I'd play Crouch but i'd be amazed if Rafa left Kuyt out.
i'm sure we'll play 5 across the middle with Stevie playing off Kuyt. Zenden, Masher & Alonso are certs also. That leaves Pennant out wide with the usual back 4 .

overall , a pretty solid team but you do wonder how much of an attacking threat we'll be. kuyt must stay upfront and not drift back into midfield. Its no use playing Pennant if theres nobody in the middle to get on the end of things. The games got 1-0 written all over it, lets hope its in our favour.

[einar]

I would not mind seeing Bellers and Crouch start. They would have not chance against Crouch in the air and have a really hard time with Bellers pace.

Plus if we press them high and use two strikers to pressure the back four they cant play their game.
Then they have not target man up front to pass to so we should control the game.

Then put on Kuyt after 60 min and he would destroy them.

[Shaggy]

Bellamy is absolutely guaranteed to be on the bench, IMO.

[einar]

Bellamy is absolutely guaranteed to be on the bench, IMO.

Common sense tells me that to, but I have a hunch.

[Sir Bob]

Common sense tells me that to, but I have a hunch.

For Bellamy to start that means a 442 with SG out wide as Rafa will play Masher & Alonso in the middle. We were too attacking last time in my view & gave Kaka far too much room and he destroyed us. Rafa won't do that again. It'll be 5 across the middle with Sg playing off Kuyt.

[einar]

For Bellamy to start that means a 442 with SG out wide as Rafa will play Masher & Alonso in the middle. We were too attacking last time in my view & gave Kaka far too much room and he destroyed us. Rafa won't do that again. It'll be 5 across the middle with Sg playing off Kuyt.

I´m not so sure. We did fine against Barca with 4-4-2

[dww]

For Bellamy to start that means a 442 with SG out wide as Rafa will play Masher & Alonso in the middle. We were too attacking last time in my view & gave Kaka far too much room and he destroyed us. Rafa won't do that again. It'll be 5 across the middle with Sg playing off Kuyt.

Unless Bellamy starts wide which is a suggestion I have seen/heard. not something I would consider myself.

[Sir Bob]

I´m not so sure. We did fine against Barca with 4-4-2

Maybe, we'll see tomorrow of course but personally I'd be surprised if its not 451. Having said all that, I can never predict Rafa's tactics.

[einar]

Maybe, we'll see tomorrow of course but personally I'd be surprised if its not 451. Having said all that, I can never predict Rafa's tactics.

I know what you mean.

[Darth Marty]

i wish we started with kewell and crouch.
Not going to ****ing happen though...zenden and kuyt it is.
I think zenden isnt fit for our reserves and im not at all happy at that prospect.

[bigfooty]

If Kuyt starts as the lone striker tomorrow our formation for the first 60 minutes or so will be 4-6-0.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Common sense tells me that to, but I have a hunch.

The Bells

The Bells





Sorry. I couldn't resist.