Is 3-5-2 the answer?

[DeeGame]

We all saw how influential stevie g was when he was moved into centre midfield to play alongside Alonso. There was no doubt before when stevie was on the left flank he was pretty much ineffective. It is his drive & determination we are lacking in the centre and we know he prefers to play in centre midfield. We all know Rafa likes to play 2 defensive midfielders – so is the possibility of playing 3-5-2 the answer?

That way Stevie can play in the centre and be more influential. We can keep Xabi & Momo as our 2 defensive midfielders. Ok we will lose a bit on the width as we will be prone to 2 on 1s if the opposition play 4-4-2. But it is worth the gamble now imo. We could play like this:

------------------Reina----------------
-------Carra—Agger—-Sami------------
Finnan----------------------Riise/Aurelio
-------Momo---Xabi—Stevie------------
----------Crouch-----Kuyt-------------

What do you guys think?

[blacky]

I don't think Finna is offensive minded enough to be a wingback. How about something like this?

.................Reina.......................

...Carra.......Sami...........Agger.....

Pennant....Momo....Xabi.......Risse.

..................Gerrard...................

............Kuyt............Bellamy......

[DeeGame]

Dont think Pennant is capable of defending or getting a cross on target

[blacky]

I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that he improves. The ideal candidate for his position would be Alves so fingers crossed we sign him in January. Apart from Pennant I don't think we have another player who could fill this role unless Rafa opted for Kewell!!

[paulcooper4]

no. ask roy evans

[cobain]

3-5-2 might be the answer, yes... BUT... if we don't use our midfield, then it's pointless! In the last few games we were practicing long passes from defence to attack... And the ball flew over midfield players... So... If we don't use our midfield, we might as well play 8-0-2 or 7-0-3.

[G]

The 4-4-2 that we played to great effect last season is the answer,as long as the same players play the same positions as last season,except I'd have Agger in for Sami,Gonzales wide left and Kuyt alongside Crouch/Bellamy. Gerrard has to play wide right for me with Xabi and Momo in the middle.Goals a plenty in that line up and the ability to be defensively sound too.Pennant can play when Stevie is Knackered.

[friedk]

If you look at the run we went on last season, which besides a small lapse was pretty consistent from October until May, there were only two areas that needed improving - out wide and in attack.

I really don't think we need a change in our system at all, it's an option if required, but on the whole I think 4-4-2 works well.

Kuyt is a class act and should be first choice striker. I've seen enough of Agger this season to believe he will only get better and should play alongside Carra. I believe the qualities of Momo, Xabi and Stevie compliment each other perfectly; which make them a combination that is a cut above most (if not all) other teams. That means SG starting on the right, which I really believe is his best position; he spent all of last season there and he was absolutely sensational. That leaves the left of midfield, and I feel we are missing Kewell in that position. In his absence I would either push Riise ahead of Aurelio or else give Gonzales a run of games.

Someone else said there are 8 essential members of the team, I would add Xabi to that mix. We were too good last season to make the number of changes we have.

We have also suffered from the world cup, but I think we will gain momentum as the season progresses.

Chelsea, unbelievably, have a light squad and I can see them suffering in November - December. Manure are in the same boat.

If JAR is still injured, I would love to see
Reina
Finnan Carra Agger Aurelio
Gerrard Momo Alonso Gonzales
Crouch Kuyt

In our next game

[blacky]

Aurelio and Gonzalez on the left? not sure about that. Aurelio is defencively very naive to say the least and Speedy unproven. If I was goin to play speedy I would wait till Riise is back. Otherwise play Aurelio with Zenden on the left of midfield.

[G]

He might well be unproven but he won't prove himself sitting in the stands.Give him games and lets see what we bought him for.Agree on Aurelio but I'll give him time too.At least he's getting his chance to show what he can do.

[G_Man]

Yes it is the answer, I've been saying it since pre-season.

[bazza76]

IMHO there is not one answer.
the answer is being flexable enough to adapt to different situations and formations. In Rafa we have a manager who can do that. Just thinking that maybe he has not had enough time to prepare the squad this season properly yet to be going 3 at the back, but im sure it will be used this season.

[Red_Polo]

No it is not. Hard work and time are the answers. Changing to a totally different formation because of a few dodgy games sounds like a lazy FM07 style idea to me.

Putting SG in the middle is no bad thing but 3 at the back is not a good idea at all.