New formation

[Johnny]

I wasnt being critical, i was actually complimenting the impact of the formation. Naturally, it went "wooshing over your head "

**** me I`ve,accidently logged onto 6CM or gone back in time to the old KT days.maybe i read your post and answered it considering your past posts.

[Craig_H]

Well that's a bit silly then isnt it?

And on your offer...i'll pass thanks

[Johnny]

Well that's a bit silly then isnt it?

And on your offer...i'll pass thanks

Being silly is not exclusive to you DJ.

[DannyMan2006]

It is obvious to me that this is the best formation for the players we have available. 7 out of 7.

We should have won most those games, but we should win at least 30 games a season. Only games v chelsea, Man U, Arsenal and Everton should pose a threat.

That's 90 points plus 8 other games if we go by the "should be winning anyway" theory. Absoloute rubbish.

[Craig_H]

Being silly is not exclusive to you DJ.

The Palladium awaits mate...

[dww]

It is obvious to me that this is the best formation for the players we have available. 7 out of 7.

We should have won most those games, but we should win at least 30 games a season. Only games v chelsea, Man U, Arsenal and Everton should pose a threat.

That's 90 points plus 8 other games if we go by the "should be winning anyway" theory. Absoloute rubbish.

I'm simply arguing that there are other factors which can't be decoupled from the formation at this time. Largely the winning streak has coincided with Torres hitting top form - is that caused by the formation change? I'm not sure that anyone could tell.

I like the formation but I think there is a real danger that people are getting carried away with what is a very good run of form. I think the formation is good and one that Rafa has wanted to implement for a long time but it is not as if we haven't tried it before this season. In some ways I think that Rafa moving Kuyt to the right has been a masterstroke but I'm going to wait to pass judgement until we have played a PL team who I feel genuinely threatened by.

The 90 points thing is clearly a gross simplification of what I was saying - I'm pretty sure that 5 wins in a row in the league is not that much of a statistical anomaly if any at all given a more reasonable final points tally. We went on a 10 game winning streak the end of 2005 start of 2006 with Traore as first choice left back for example - I suspect the correlation was not causative.

[redsarebest]

i think it is perfect for Gerrard. It gives the advantages of having him central without the defensive disaster that usually results from that.

Was watching Man Ure highlights wondering how anyone could beat us if we had Ronaldo instead of Kuyt!

Deffo here to stay - reserves were same formation in last outing despite not really having the personel for it

[Craig_H]

i think it is perfect for Gerrard. It gives the advantages of having him central without the defensive disaster that usually results from that.

Was watching Man Ure highlights wondering how anyone could beat us if we had Ronaldo instead of Kuyt!

Deffo here to stay - reserves were same formation in last outing despite not really having the personel for it

We'd have probably won the league by now.

[willa1975]

I like the new formation in that it puts our best players on the pitch in positions that favor them. I think it's great that it accomodates our three best midfielders (Gerrard, Alonso and Mascherano) while allowing Gerrard and Babel more license to go forward and support Torres. It also helps to have Aurelio and Arbeloa, who can both provide some additional width going forward. If we had Agger fit to bring the ball forward out of defense, and someone like Mancini or Ribery out right instead of Kuyt, we'd be absolutely ****ing deadly.

That being said, if Gerrard, Babel or Torres gets injured, we're ****ed. Without Babel, we haven't got a decent ball carrier out wide. Without Gerrard, we've got no attacking thrust through the middle. And without Torres, we're basically going back to 4-4-2 with Kuyt and Crouch up front, not a pretty picture.

I think our best, most realistic bet, would be to go after Menez in the offseason. I'd also love to see someone like Agbonlahor in our team, but he'd probably cost more than Torres, being English and all.

[Craig_H]

Same can be said of the mancs without Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez.

Chelsea have the most matchwinners of the big four IMO, you can count Drogba, Anelka, Lampard, Cole...and you could argue a case for SWP, Malouda, Ballack too.

[willa1975]

Same can be said of the mancs without Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez.

Chelsea have the most matchwinners of the big four IMO, you can count Drogba, Anelka, Lampard, Cole...and you could argue a case for SWP, Malouda, Ballack too.

I agree with everything you just said. The mancs have got three matchwinners...precisely the ones you mentioned, and have been carried to a greater degree by Cristy than we have by Gerrard and Torres.

But, that doesn't change the fact that we need another difference maker in attack, and another forward who could expand our "possibilities." We've got two match winners in Gerrard and Torres, and I believe Babel has the potential to become one. Add one more to the mix, and I could easily see some of our frustrating draws becoming wins, and us being in the title race.

[Craig_H]

I agree with everything you just said. The mancs have got three matchwinners...precisely the ones you mentioned, and have been carried to a greater degree by Cristy than we have by Gerrard and Torres.

But, that doesn't change the fact that we need another difference maker in attack, and another forward who could expand our "possibilities." We've got two match winners in Gerrard and Torres, and I believe Babel has the potential to become one. Add one more to the mix, and I could easily see some of our frustrating draws becoming wins, and us being in the title race.

I wouldnt dispute any of that.

[El Jefecito]

If we had Agger fit to bring the ball forward out of defense, and someone like Mancini or Ribery out right instead of Kuyt, we'd be absolutely ****ing deadly.

Schweinstiger????

[saj]

Schweinstiger????

NO - He's flopped badly at Bayern in the last 2/3 seasons. A lot of Bayern supporters have turned on him - this is according to my Bayern supporting friend.

[El Jefecito]

Same can be said of the mancs without Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez.

Chelsea have the most matchwinners of the big four IMO, you can count Drogba, Anelka, Lampard, Cole...and you could argue a case for SWP, Malouda, Ballack too.

Rooney 8 goals. Is that a match winner?
Tevez 11 goals. Match winner?