On Saturday

[dww]

I can see that argument. I don't necessarily feel that two holding midielders is negative if you release your fullbacks and allow Agger to bring the ball into midfield. I'm not convinced Gerrard is great at setting the tempo of a game which is why I would put him further forward.

[Scratch]

People are attempting to bash Plessis because he appears to have usurped Alonso in the starting line up, even tho they don't actually play similar roles, but that matters not as people look at the starting line up, see one name and not the other and then proceed to watch a match with their anit-plessis glasses on, ignoring all the good work he does and focussing on the misplaced pass or the backwards pass instead.

I think he's performed quite well, so far. More so against Sunderland than against Leige, where he obviously had to cover for Alonso's ineptitude... Plessis is more like Mascher, and needed to protect the back line allowing the fullbacks to get forward, a role which he has performed admirably i think.

[Craig_H]

I can see that argument. I don't necessarily feel that two holding midielders is negative if you release your fullbacks and allow Agger to bring the ball into midfield. I'm not convinced Gerrard is great at setting the tempo of a game which is why I would put him further forward.

So 4231 then?

It's my preferred system but with the Olympic nonsense, we still dont yet have the personnel for it. Unless you'd play Plessis and Alonso in the holding roles, which i guess is what you're hinting at.

So it'd be:

-------------Pepe

Arbeloa---Carra--Agger----Dossena

--------Alonso----Plessis

Gerrard-----Keane-----Yossi

------------Torres

[red g]

isn't it obvious!?

we are the greatest fans in the world but we still need a scapegoat if we don't play like 1970's brazil, no riise, pennant and voronin could be on their way? lets bash the new lad in the middle who has stepped up from the ressies to cover lucas/masher whilst at the olympics

it is riduculous, arsenal were not good on Saturday and Scum were lucky as **** yesterday only Chelsea impressed over the weekend

[the rev leeroy brown]

i'd like to see pennant play on saturday. kyut is a better player but pennant is more direct and if boro do sit with 10 men behind the ball penant would be the better option to through some crosses into the box no?

[Craig_H]

Pennant is an interesting one. I dont rate him but every player has their uses and Pennant could come in handy on saturday.

Kuyt will play though.

[Shaggy]

No way will they park the bus IMO. Southgate has gone out on a limb to promise Boro fans they will play open, expansive, attacking football at the expense of some of the bus-parking they did last year. Of course he'd have to be mental to go gung-ho at our place but I do think they'll have a go at us. It's kinda no-lose for them - Southgate will have this down as a no-pointer for them and anything more would be a bonus.

[Reece]

If Pennant is going as it appears than I'd rather we played El Zhar ahead of him.

[Kenneth]

FFS dramaqueens, there is no anti-plessis thing going on, just I, and a couple of others, think he isn't ready to play in the heart of our team in such important games. He's played 2 games and been substard in both, not ****, not embarrassing, just not good enough to have +ve effect on our performance, almost definitely due to nerves. Maybe bringing him on when we're leading, saving him for CC games etc would be the best approach.

[the rev leeroy brown]

not seen enough of el zhar to make a judgement. whats his final ball like? crossing any good? skills?

[the rev leeroy brown]

FFS dramaqueens, there is no anti-plessis thing going on, just I, and a couple of others, think he isn't ready to play in the heart of our team in such important games. He's played 2 games and been substard in both, not ****, not embarrassing, just not good enough to have +ve effect on our performance, almost definitely due to nerves. Maybe bringing him on when we're leading, saving him for CC games etc would be the best approach.

[Reece]

not seen enough of el zhar to make a judgement. whats his final ball like? crossing any good? skills?

Well I think at the moment I'd still play Kuyt ahead of him, but my point was that I'd rather El Zhar play than Pennant if he is off anyway.

[El Jefecito]

Well I think at the moment I'd still play Kuyt ahead of him, but my point was that I'd rather El Zhar play than Pennant if he is off anyway.

Sod that. I don't see El Zhar being around long-term anyway, so play whoever is most likely to get us a win. That'd be JP out of those two.

[dww]

So 4231 then?

It's my preferred system but with the Olympic nonsense, we still dont yet have the personnel for it. Unless you'd play Plessis and Alonso in the holding roles, which i guess is what you're hinting at.

So it'd be:

-------------Pepe

Arbeloa---Carra--Agger----Dossena

--------Alonso----Plessis

Gerrard-----Keane-----Yossi

------------Torres

Exactly - thats the team I posted earlier in the thread

[Craig_H]

Gerrard on the right. He wont like that