Our style of play

[frank the tank]

I said about 2 months ago, that I didn't get the signings of Sakho and Ilori after Kolo settling in so well.... Sakho is a good player but not what we needed.... Agger, Skrtel and Kolo - with Kelly and Wisdom also coming through - was more than enough for a team not in Europe this season... If I was Wisdom or Kelly then I would leae because if we are buying Sakho and Ilori, then they are unlikely to make it.... (Or maybe a loan to someone like Southampton, Swansea)

I still think that 433 is the way to go. Especially against the so called lesser teams. With 3 centre backs, if you are behind at all then there is so little flexibility without making substitutions and BR the ends up looking like a bit of a clown.... It is useful to have the flexibility to go with 3 centre backs but I see that as a formation to turn to when we need to hold onto something as opposed to starting against someone like Palace at home!!! Also, I genuinely think that we need to pla the same formation every game to properly evolve as a team...

With all our players fit, then I'd like to see a team of Mignolet, Johnson, Kolo, Sakho, Agger at lb, a midfield 3 of Lucas, Gerrard and Henderson, with Coutinho given a free role behind SAS... Playing Sahko next to Cissokho is too risky as they are both new. Agger can get forward and still sty very solid and this would also get BR out of having to drop one of Sakho / Agger. Henderson offers flexibility tactically as the game goes on and if we were winning, then bringing on Enrique / Cissokho for Coutinho, Sturridge or Suarez means the 3 man centre back pairing can slot straight in.....

Overall the future is very bright. The debates on this forum no longer involve the likes of Hicks, Gillett, Hodgson or Konchesky!!! Happy ****in days!!! I also think tht Luis Alberto, Joe Allen, sterling, Ibe and young fellas like Sinclair, Yesil can all add strength....

[Slinky Skills]

We could do with Cabaye IMO. Would work well in our system.

You can wave Cabaye to any chance of us getting him.

Would love him though he's ****ing quality, he's just a prick that's the only thing but we're a team of pricks anyway so he'd fit in nicely.

[Tee]

You can wave Cabaye to any chance of us getting him.

Would love him though he's ****ing quality, he's just a prick that's the only thing but we're a team of pricks anyway so he'd fit in nicely.

Hahaha. Hahahaaaa

[Sarb]

I said about 2 months ago, that I didn't get the signings of Sakho and Ilori after Kolo settling in so well.... Sakho is a good player but not what we needed.... Agger, Skrtel and Kolo - with Kelly and Wisdom also coming through - was more than enough for a team not in Europe this season... If I was Wisdom or Kelly then I would leae because if we are buying Sakho and Ilori, then they are unlikely to make it.... (Or maybe a loan to someone like Southampton, Swansea)

I still think that 433 is the way to go. Especially against the so called lesser teams. With 3 centre backs, if you are behind at all then there is so little flexibility without making substitutions and BR the ends up looking like a bit of a clown.... It is useful to have the flexibility to go with 3 centre backs but I see that as a formation to turn to when we need to hold onto something as opposed to starting against someone like Palace at home!!! Also, I genuinely think that we need to pla the same formation every game to properly evolve as a team...

With all our players fit, then I'd like to see a team of Mignolet, Johnson, Kolo, Sakho, Agger at lb, a midfield 3 of Lucas, Gerrard and Henderson, with Coutinho given a free role behind SAS... Playing Sahko next to Cissokho is too risky as they are both new. Agger can get forward and still sty very solid and this would also get BR out of having to drop one of Sakho / Agger. Henderson offers flexibility tactically as the game goes on and if we were winning, then bringing on Enrique / Cissokho for Coutinho, Sturridge or Suarez means the 3 man centre back pairing can slot straight in.....

Overall the future is very bright. The debates on this forum no longer involve the likes of Hicks, Gillett, Hodgson or Konchesky!!! Happy ****in days!!! I also think tht Luis Alberto, Joe Allen, sterling, Ibe and young fellas like Sinclair, Yesil can all add strength....

I think the future is bright I agree. I totally get the signing of Sakho though. Can't rely on Toure for a whole season and Sakho is going to be a top top signing. Ilori was just pointless though. Don't forget Skrtel was pretty shaky prior to returning to the team and most of us didn't want to rely on him at CB this season. He has proved us wrong

I want us to try 3-5-2 with Coutinho instead of Moses. Victor was bang average on Saturday. Coutinho in his role could be great

[ronanm]

Ilori's only 21 or something I think and is just in the door. Bit early to write him off

[Alex]

Ilori turned 20 in Feb. He hasnt even played for us yet has he? One for the future him, along side Alberto.

I think the trouble people have, is that we have been buying players for the last 4-5 years to go straight into the first team. Nothing has been done for planning going forward. Those two are done with an eye on that IMO.

They could both fail or whatever, but they seem highly enough rated to be able to go back and we get a decent resale value. I bet we would still on Borini if we sold him to an Italian team.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

Ilori turned 20 in Feb. He hasnt even played for us yet has he? One for the future him, along side Alberto.

I think the trouble people have, is that we have been buying players for the last 4-5 years to go straight into the first team. Nothing has been done for planning going forward. Those two are done with an eye on that IMO.

They could both fail or whatever, but they seem highly enough rated to be able to go back and we get a decent resale value. I bet we would still on Borini if we sold him to an Italian team.

What probably skews our perception (and feelings) is that not many of those players have successfully become much-needed first-team players. Alberto is one for the future with an eye on the present, but I find it odd he isn't getting more chances in Coutinho and Allen's absence. Aspas seems to be gotten as an upgrade on Borini, but between the combined value of the two, there's little to no ROI for the first team. Thus far, that is.

[Alex]

What probably skews our perception (and feelings) is that not many of those players have successfully become much-needed first-team players.

They have in the past though, before the period of instability. Look at Lucas for example. He came in young, but was earmarked for the future.

I know he is the best example. But it was something that Rafa was starting to do before he left us. Shelvey would have been a good example of that policy too.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

They have in the past though, before the period of instability. Look at Lucas for example. He came in young, but was earmarked for the future.

I know he is the best example. But it was something that Rafa was starting to do before he left us. Shelvey would have been a good example of that policy too.

True, but I think in the period of instability, the line between first-team and one for the future for new signings became somewhat blurred.

Midfield was a position of strength when Lucas was signed, while we desperately needed a striker for the first team when Borini was.

[Sarb]

Ilori's only 21 or something I think and is just in the door. Bit early to write him off

I wasn't writing him off. Just think that we could have done without him

Alberto looked good when he came on, on the weekend. He was moving the ball on quickly, it's what you need against 10 men. I think he'll be a good signing.

Sakho is only 22/23 or something. Can't see Ilori making a breakthough for a while. I'm all for signing good youngsters, but I also think we need to address the now. I've said a few times that I think Will Hughes would have been good enough to get some game time for us this season if we'd signed him

[Alex]

Will Hughes being good enough and being ready are different things though. I think Sterling is good enough. But he is no where near ready for the first team. He took a foul throw the other day ffs He should be loaned out to develop ala Suso.

But for the future if we had Hughes and Sterling, we could be in good hands. But even then if they turn out parp at least they are young enough to still hold a resale value.

[baitman]

much better pressing against fulham.
too much reliance on our right hand side, no threat from the left what so ever,

goal wise we are doing well, but we severely lack any realistic goal threat from midfield.

Player Total
Daniel Sturridge 8
Luis Suarez 8
Steven Gerrard 2
Victor Moses 1
Martin Skrtel 1
Own Goals 1
Total's 21

[Exiled_red]

much better pressing against fulham.
too much reliance on our right hand side, no threat from the left what so ever,

goal wise we are doing well, but we severely lack any realistic goal threat from midfield.
Player Total
Daniel Sturridge 8
Luis Suarez 8
Steven Gerrard 2
Victor Moses 1
Martin Skrtel 1
Own Goals 1
Total's 21

If the goals start to dry up for Sturridge and Suarez, or one of them gets injured you struggle to see where the goals would come from.

[The_weatherman]

much better pressing against fulham.
too much reliance on our right hand side, no threat from the left what so ever,

goal wise we are doing well, but we severely lack any realistic goal threat from midfield.

Player Total
Daniel Sturridge 8
Luis Suarez 8
Steven Gerrard 2
Victor Moses 1
Martin Skrtel 1
Own Goals 1
Total's 21

Luckily we still have two scoring strikers though. I'd like Henderson and Coutinho to chip in with more.

But I wonder if there is a tendency, when playing with two strikers like SAS, that the midfield will be more of a creator and the chances are mostly created for the strikers. When playing with a striker like Giroud the midfield will get more chances and be more involved in the goals.

[RichC]

Luckily we still have two scoring strikers though. I'd like Henderson and Coutinho to chip in with more.

But I wonder if there is a tendency, when playing with two strikers like SAS, that the midfield will be more of a creator and the chances are mostly created for the strikers. When playing with a striker like Giroud the midfield will get more chances and be more involved in the goals.

The Mancs distribution of league goals this season is similar

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