Discuss Pellegrini (Pt 4)

[OB1]

not convinced, I think it could be Chelsea with Negredo in for Silva from that lineup. I think if you look at Southampton and their possession and physical presence they'll rip us apart with 4-2-2-2 because there's not enough cover, I think he'll go to Garcia but leave us 2 strikers and Nasri with the pace that Fern or Yaya can break with and hopefully stuff them on the counter like Villa did.

It's a game to soak it up, show we can defend and play possum and kill on the counter. Southampton are good enough to pick us off if we go too open, it's one of those "be sensible" ones I think.

The only way we could do what you've suggested would be to play Aguero in one of the wide midfield slots, if I remember correctly at Chelsea e played 4231 with Ageuro lone front man and Silva, Ya Ya and Nasri in the advanced midfield role.

I'm pretty convinced he won't do that, and he'll go 4222 again. In fact I reckon i could predict the team now. Same as last night but Clichy for Kolorov and Negredo for Dzeko.

Put Silva in for Navas and Nasty for Di Michelis and that has to be our strongest side for every game except the hardest ones. I don't think Pellegrini will see this as one of those.

He has of course the option to put an extra man in if it isn't working. It's a tough call, I'm not sure what I'd do. I think on balance the return of Vinny and the way we have been playing I'd also go 4222.

I don't see it as that necessary to be "wide", and I see a diamond with Nasri at the tip working well, suiting our players and keeping it tight when they have the ball, so they can't get through in central areas. In counter attacks at breakneck speed players are much more willing to make the run wide to keep the move going, so I don't see a problem with width unless you want to play a possession game, which I find would leave us too open as has been the case when we've tried it against anyone who's had a go.

So, is your diamond a very narrow one, are you looking at a 4-1-3-2 or a 4-1-2-1-2?

 

[aguero93:20]

Agreed. In regards to January, I can't tell if the manager is serious or if he is trying to keep possible bidding wars from occurring.

all I heard was that he said no sales, Garcia ain't gonna start no bidding wars

Incoming, fellow. Incoming.

tbh I think there will be, I've mentioned this before but soriano said the money would be there if we qualified for cl 2nd round and pellegrinis a smart man, he must see that were lacking personnel in some key areas.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

The only way we could do what you've suggested would be to play Aguero in one of the wide midfield slots, if I remember correctly at Chelsea e played 4231 with Ageuro lone front man and Silva, Ya Ya and Nasri in the advanced midfield role.

I'm pretty convinced he won't do that, and he'll go 4222 again. In fact I reckon i could predict the team now. Same as last night but Clichy for Kolorov and Negredo for Dzeko.

Put Silva in for Navas and Nasty for Di Michelis and that has to be our strongest side for every game except the hardest ones. I don't think Pellegrini will see this as one of those.

He has of course the option to put an extra man in if it isn't working. It's a tough call, I'm not sure what I'd do. I think on balance the return of Vinny and the way we have been playing I'd also go 4222.

I don't see it as that necessary to be "wide", and I see a diamond with Nasri at the tip working well, suiting our players and keeping it tight when they have the ball, so they can't get through in central areas. In counter attacks at breakneck speed players are much more willing to make the run wide to keep the move going, so I don't see a problem with width unless you want to play a possession game, which I find would leave us too open as has been the case when we've tried it against anyone who's had a go.

I cannot for a second believe he'll play a diamond midfield, although I understand your thinking. He's not played it once, even in pre-season. If he surprises me and abandons the 4222 he will surely do the same as at Chelsea, with a 4231. He could do that we Sergio wide left, Ya Ya in the hole and Nasri wide right I suppose. But it won't get the best from Sergio.

It's such a minimal difference that by the time we get the ball back we can turn 4-2-3-1 into a diamond 4-4-2 instantaneously, I just think it's the best way to fit our fit players into a shape that will help to negate the threat of a good, possession based side on their own turf.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

The only way we could do what you've suggested would be to play Aguero in one of the wide midfield slots, if I remember correctly at Chelsea e played 4231 with Ageuro lone front man and Silva, Ya Ya and Nasri in the advanced midfield role.

I'm pretty convinced he won't do that, and he'll go 4222 again. In fact I reckon i could predict the team now. Same as last night but Clichy for Kolorov and Negredo for Dzeko.

Put Silva in for Navas and Nasty for Di Michelis and that has to be our strongest side for every game except the hardest ones. I don't think Pellegrini will see this as one of those.

He has of course the option to put an extra man in if it isn't working. It's a tough call, I'm not sure what I'd do. I think on balance the return of Vinny and the way we have been playing I'd also go 4222.

I don't see it as that necessary to be "wide", and I see a diamond with Nasri at the tip working well, suiting our players and keeping it tight when they have the ball, so they can't get through in central areas. In counter attacks at breakneck speed players are much more willing to make the run wide to keep the move going, so I don't see a problem with width unless you want to play a possession game, which I find would leave us too open as has been the case when we've tried it against anyone who's had a go.

So, is your diamond a very narrow one, are you looking at a 4-1-3-2 or a 4-1-2-1-2?

4-1-2-1-2, Like most teams Southampton get most of their shots in a central area, with 55% in between 6-18 yard line. Worryingly away we concede 15% of our shots against us in the 6 yard box, 6% higher than any other team and 13% higher than the amount we concede at home. So I think we need to be secure centrally, and I think we need to play Zaba as Southampton are also twice as likely to have shots from the left side of the box than the right. With the likes of Lambert and Osvaldo, particularly with their 2nd goal last night, you can see how they could undo us in that weak area for us.

 

[Anonymous]

Tend to agree with Dave ... it'll be 4222 on Saturday.

Having seen Southampton's last few games I personally think they'll cause us less problems than West Brom did. But either way, 3 points by hook or by crooks is all that matters.

 

[Bill]

earth to pelli earth to pelli.

you can't rotate in the prem.

not away at any ground
not with even a 3-0 lead
not when as has been proved goal difference is so vital.

 

[taconinja]

earth to pelli earth to pelli.

you can't rotate in the prem.

not away at any ground
not with even a 3-0 lead
not when as has been proved goal difference is so vital.

No one is going to catch us on goal difference.

 

[Anonymous]

earth to pelli earth to pelli.

you can't rotate in the prem.

not away at any ground
not with even a 3-0 lead
not when as has been proved goal difference is so vital.

No one is going to catch us on goal difference.

Bill was certainly hoping for a catch with that post ... ;)

 

[taconinja]

earth to pelli earth to pelli.

you can't rotate in the prem.

not away at any ground
not with even a 3-0 lead
not when as has been proved goal difference is so vital.

No one is going to catch us on goal difference.

Bill was certainly hoping for a catch with that post ... ;)

I figured but... you know...

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

Tend to agree with Dave ... it'll be 4222 on Saturday.

Having seen Southampton's last few games I personally think they'll cause us less problems than West Brom did. But either way, 3 points by hook or by crooks is all that matters.

Wouldn't expect anything less :P.

I think the possession, our weakness away in our 6 yard box and the presence of the likes of Lambert will cause us plenty more trouble. So'ton are the highest in stats for percentage of shots in the central area at home, and they are identical to WBA for percentage of shots at home in 18 yard box, and more dangerous in the 6 yard box. Southampton also put in more crosses at home, more through balls at home, more long balls at home and more short passes than WBA at home, they have the highest home possession stats in the league, and a higher pass completion rate than WBA, and 5th best in winning aerial duels in the league. They concede the fewest shots at home in the league and the 3rd highest amount of interceptions at home in the league.

So yeah I think they'll be a bigger test than WBA.