How do we fit

[danperkins]

Poulsen,Gerrard,Merieles & Cole in the team without sacrificing each players best attributes?

Cole was wasted on the left, i know its a horrible area for us but Cole was non existent there, when he drifted in centrally he looked so much more dangerous i.e. ball to Torres for peno.

Unless we play Cole/Merieles on the right not sure how we can fit these players without nullifying them. Awkward


1. Cole--Poulsen--Gerrard--Babel
---------Merieles---------
---------Torres-----------

2. Cole--Poulsen--Merieles--Jovo
---------Gerrard---------
---------Torres-----------

3. Merieles--Poulsen--Gerrard--Pacheco
---------Cole---------
---------Torres-----------

4. Babel--Poulsen--Merieles--Cole
---------Gerrard---------
---------Torres-----------

5. Cole--Poulsen--Merieles--Kuyt (when back)
---------Gerrard---------
---------Torres-----------


6. Cole--Poulsen--Gerrard--Kuyt (when back)
---------Merieles---------
---------Torres-----------




Who on earth to play on the left side i do not know, at this moment in time Pacheco even seems a better option than some. Maxi and Jovo are squad players at best, Kuyt is injured but i wouldn't adverse to playing Kuyt on the left, his work rate would serve well on either flank.

I know Cole seems likeliest option but he has such talent and IMO its a shame to waste it on the left but we genuinely have a serious problem in that position. Getting this setup right is crucial to our season as lack of width and creativity is glaring at the moment.

[Gibbo]

For me;



Babel/Kuyt - Gerrard - RM - Jovanovic/Anyone else

---------------------- Cole -------------------------------

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

IMO Poulsen should be a back up should Gerrard Cole or RM get injured, decent player but I think the above is better for the team

[Rhys]

I'd like to see us play a proper 433 formation, especially at Anfield and away to lesser opposition. I think our team sits far too deep so I think we'd be better off having our midfield push further up the pitch, and only having one sitting player rather than the two we are currently using. Something like the following formation, with an emphasis on keeping Kuyt and Cole high up the pitch, restricting their tendency to drift back into a 5 man midfield.

-----------Lucas------------
-----Gerrard---Ming--------
Kuyt------Torres------Cole

[Exiled_red]

If we are sticking with the current formation, for me it has to be:

Poulsen Miereles
Kuyt* Gerrard Cole
Torres

* this position more than any other is up for grabs IMO with Kuyt, Babel and Maxi all likely to play there at some point

[danperkins]

It's a real conundrum at the moment

[Fierce]

I'd like to see us play a proper 433 formation, especially at Anfield and away to lesser opposition. I think our team sits far too deep so I think we'd be better off having our midfield push further up the pitch, and only having one sitting player rather than the two we are currently using. Something like the following formation, with an emphasis on keeping Kuyt and Cole high up the pitch, restricting their tendency to drift back into a 5 man midfield.

-----------Lucas------------
-----Gerrard---Ming--------
Kuyt------Torres------Cole

Yup, I'd like to see that also

To be fair its not much difference from the 4-5-1 that sees Sg behind Torres and Cole out left though

But I disagree with the OP in that I think Cole is by far our best option on the left, and given Steven Gerrards record behind Torres, I think anyone would be hard pushed to take his place

[Mostar]

If we are sticking with the current formation, for me it has to be:

Poulsen Miereles
Kuyt* Gerrard Cole
Torres

* this position more than any other is up for grabs IMO with Kuyt, Babel and Maxi all likely to play there at some point

Same here

Given we don't have any natural wingers that would be the formation I would like to see more of.

Hopefully Roy (if around) will have some money to spend in January and acquire a winger as right at the moment that is the priority (Ngog really stepped up so we can use him as a second striker).

[red g]

just be nice if we got a balanced squad and it wasnt to much of an issue.

We now have

Gerrard
Cole
Pacheco
Miereles

4 fantastic players ( hoping in RM) to play behind Torres but not one genuine wide man in the whole of the squad. Shambles

[danperkins]

IMO we would get more productivity if we played Cole on the right side and played Kuyt on the left. Hard to know but definitely seems in our current squad COle and Kuyt on either wing will be our strongest options

[danperkins]

just be nice if we got a balanced squad and it wasnt to much of an issue.

We now have

Gerrard
Cole
Pacheco
Miereles

4 fantastic players ( hoping in RM) to play behind Torres but not one genuine wide man in the whole of the squad. Shambles

It is a bit of a joke alright, how have we not addressed these in recent years, ****ing ridiculous so many stop gaps and millions wasted.

[Shaggy]

But I disagree with the OP in that I think Cole is by far our best option on the left, and given Steven Gerrards record behind Torres, I think anyone would be hard pushed to take his place

Haven't seen the OP as he's on ignore ...but Cole has spent most of his career playing on the left. Certainly he's never strung any games together playing off a frontman. At West Ham he was, unbelievably, an orthodox CM and for Chelsea and England it has always been from the left. That's where he's always played, that's where he should play.

[Neil Young]

The most effective way for us to get the best out of Poulsen is for me to lend him my mobility scooter.

[Gibbo]

The most effective way for us to get the best out of Poulsen is for me to lend him my mobility scooter.

Does this mean the end for Lucas then these suggestions?

[dom9]

Haven't seen the OP as he's on ignore ...but Cole has spent most of his career playing on the left. Certainly he's never strung any games together playing off a frontman. At West Ham he was, unbelievably, an orthodox CM and for Chelsea and England it has always been from the left. That's where he's always played, that's where he should play.

He was anonymous yesterday.

[Shaggy]

He was anonymous yesterday.

And?