Next formation for Rafa...

[Welhung]

To be honest, I think we do have the players for it.

We have a solid enough back 4 most of the time. We have full backs who are capable of getting forward. Finnan is a superb crosser of the ball with either foot, and Riise is a good attacking full back even though I think a lot of people don't like him (I do personally).

A midfield three of Momo Xabi and Our Steven can't really be bettered.

Then you have a target man in either Crouch or Kuyt.

In terms of the other two spots, Bellamy is very mobile and capable of going wide when needed. Kuyt himself has the ability to drift wide and link play, as he did for Holland in the World Cup. And Garcia is capable of causing a lot of damage when on form and is perhaps the ideal person for such a role.

Gonzales may also excel in such a role.

I don't think its a bad idea at all. I can't claim to be completely au fait with how this formation works in detail, but from the limited grasp I have it would appear to be something the players would be suited to.

It would also probably satisfy both camps in the Gerrard debate, and Stevie himself.

Why is it that everyone always says that this midfield trio cannot be bettered? They play like ****E together. Everyone so far can better them.

We need a tricky attacking minded midfielder who isn't afraid to get forward and wreak some havock in the opps backline. Sure Garcia gives the ball away, but he's the only one who has any magic in his bag. Played in a attacking mid possie for a few games might not be a bad idea as long as 2 of the 3 "unbeatable" midfielders we have play there with him.

Another thing. Why is it that no one is confident enough to have a poat on goal from outside the box. We are getting the ball close enough, but then phaff around and end up losing it. If you keep hitting the ball from long range often enough it will eventually go in. Our players should grow some ****ing balls and have a go once in a while. Not just stevie, who at the present couldn't hit the target even if he was taking a penalty with no keeper.

[Morph]

We need a tricky attacking minded midfielder who isn't afraid to get forward and wreak some havock in the opps backline. Sure Garcia gives the ball away, but he's the only one who has any magic in his bag. Played in a attacking mid possie for a few games might not be a bad idea as long as 2 of the 3 "unbeatable" midfielders we have play there with him.

Isn't that Stevie G?

[dww]

Back in Champ Man 2 the formation: 2-3-2-3 used to work a charm for me and no one would expect it. I'm going to recommend it to Rafa. I think we have the players for it too:

-----------------Reina
----------Carra--Agger/Hyypia
Finnan--------Alonso-----------Riise
----------Momo-----Gerrard
Bellamy-------Crouch-------Garcia

[Morph]

Isn't that just 4 3-3 though? And if the full backs played further up, we'd proabably conceed goals for fun

[Red Chilli]

Back in Champ Man 2 the formation: 2-3-2-3 used to work a charm for me and no one would expect it. I'm going to recommend it to Rafa. I think we have the players for it too:

-----------------Reina
----------Carra--Agger/Hyypia
Finnan--------Alonso-----------Riise
----------Momo-----Gerrard
Bellamy-------Crouch-------Garcia

I'm sure he'll give it serious consideration

[The incredible igor]

I would love to see us try a 3-5-2.

------------------Reina
-------Hyypia----Carra-----Agger
Finnan----------------------------Riise
-----------Momo-------Alonso
-----------------Gerrard
------------Crouch----Kuyt

It'll mean alot more running for Finnan and riise if we want to get enough width going forward but we can always stick Stevie G on the right wing if we're stuck

[dww]

Isn't that just 4 3-3 though? And if the full backs played further up, we'd proabably conceed goals for fun

The important difference is that Finnan and Riise would not be asked to defend, so maybe I would swap Gerrard and Aurelio in (with Zenden coming into midfield for Gerrard). It is a very serious formation and should not be discounted out of hand

[Morph]

I dismiss it because it would conceed goals simplae as that a team with wingers would tear it appart.

[dww]

You appear to be suffering from the illusion of my seriousness.

To be honest we all know that Rafa will play a formation somewhere between a traditional 4-4-2 and his favoured 4-2-3-1 in pretty much all games. Not sure why people make such a big fuss out of it. So far this season our problems haven't been with formations but the fact that our players seem incapable of playing with heart or passing consistently to one another.

[Morph]

Agreed, there's nothing wrong with last years formation and players, it's just we are playing ****.

That said I'd like to see Rafa try a 4-3-3 at least once to see how it worked out for us.

[dww]

I think it would be good (at least in some games) if we played it like Spain did early in the world cup. However i think that Rafa will always want to get his tactics working as he feels that in the long run they are the best. His record suggests he knows what he is talking about so at the very least until the end of the season I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

[Morph]

I don't see that it would hurt to try it in certain games this season, tonight might have been a good opportunity, but IRWT and all that.