Let's drop defensive midfield formation?

[KingofDraw]

dont like it, we would give up more goals

 

[Blue>Red]

The diffrence would be someone like Lampard, but obviously he's not available, but i really rate scott parker as a box to box worker and playmaker.

-----------de jong-------------
------ireland------barry--------

This is probably the usual in a 3 man mid, or NDJ and Barry in a 2 man. Throw Parker in there instead of barry and it looks a bit more balanced?

 

[Elitesentry]

this is a better team.

.........................Given..........................
Richards......Toure.........lescott.......Bridge
..........................................................
SWP...........Ireland.........Viera.......Bellamy
.........................Tevez...........................
.......................Adebayor.........................


or even better still this formation.

.........................Given...........................
Richards......Toure.........lescott.......Bridge
..........................Viera...........................
...........SWP........Ireland......Bellamy...........
.........................Tevez...........................
.......................Adebayor.........................

 

[Blue>Red]

this is a better team.

.........................Given..........................
Richards......Toure.........lescott.......Bridge
..........................................................
SWP...........Ireland.........Viera.......Bellamy
.........................Tevez...........................
.......................Adebayor.........................


or even better still this formation.

.........................Given...........................
Richards......Toure.........lescott.......Bridge
..........................Viera...........................
...........SWP........Ireland......Bellamy...........
.........................Tevez...........................
.......................Adebayor.........................

great team, but tbh they can be used in a match at different points as Vieira may just naturally sit more and support Ireland at other points, I like that line up though

 

[Marvin]

Truly astonishing formations on this thread. I agree with the view that Barry & De Jong are too similar and also that Barry has the creative edge. But Vieira combined with either of these two is equally problematic. Stevie is such a lost soul at the moment it is really difficult to imagine what our midfield should look like.

I think you've all forgotten what a defensive team looks like.

We finished up with Tevez, Adebayor, Johnson, Petrov on the pitch.

I know this thread is about the midfield, but with the personnel available it has until Vieira's recovery from injury picked itself. Now the question is who loses out for Vieira.

I really hope we beat Bolton because Bluemoon is not a good place to be after defeat. We have a defensive midfield because up until recently Ireland and Vieira have been injured, and Hughes bought Kompany, De Jong, and Barry to cover for playing about 4 forwards

If you want a 5 man midfield with Ireland taking a prominent role then we will have to lose forwards, or if you play SWP, and Johnson you have to lose Bellamy, or Adebayor.

 

[SboroBlu]

I agree there should be changes in the midfield. We were so defence minded yesterday, I bet they couldn't of believed it when they saw that our 3 attacking wingers were on the bench.. That in its self would of lifted them.

When Johnson was brought on he instantly caused them problems. Even a SWP at 75% is better than a Petrov who comes on with the attitude, 'am I only worth 10 mins'.

Last week against Pompey, we were probably still smarting from the rags game... however if they'd of had a decent striker I think we would of drawn or even lost that game.;

Mr Manchini we deserved what we got yesterday. If we approach the bolton game in the same way then I think, well lets wait and see.

 

[Big G]

Holding midfielders are all very fine but we need a couple of playmakers.

This is the only time a woman is right ;-)

None of our midfielders are willing to come for the ball to create any movement, very very static in our play.

 

[Nascent Blues]

i think de jong has to play when fit,, against any team home or away... we could put swp ireland bellamy infront of him... He has the edge over barry for me, especially if we are using 1 df midfielder.. He yesterday stopped many a hull attack, and had only barry to aim for when winning the ball,, thats why we were ineffective on the break.. Last yr when winning the ball, barry was at villa, and we were rapid on the break..

No he doesn't and this is one of the main problems. Why do we need De Jong playing against Bolton ffs? Other teams play certain players against specific games, why don't we? (other than the fact that we're incredibly short in the midfield department). De Jong is ultra defensive so he is more effective when we play the top sides in the premiership. Playing him when we go up against the bottom team allows them to attack more because we automatically end up playing deeper and deeper. I'd probably go with Ibrahim against Bolton, at least he didn't get a fcuking nose bleedwhen he went over the halfway line.

 

[KingofDraw]

i think de jong has to play when fit,, against any team home or away... we could put swp ireland bellamy infront of him... He has the edge over barry for me, especially if we are using 1 df midfielder.. He yesterday stopped many a hull attack, and had only barry to aim for when winning the ball,, thats why we were ineffective on the break.. Last yr when winning the ball, barry was at villa, and we were rapid on the break..

No he doesn't and this is one of the main problems. Why do we need De Jong playing against Bolton ffs? Other teams play certain players against specific games, why don't we? (other than the fact that we're incredibly short in the midfield department). De Jong is ultra defensive so he is more effective when we play the top sides in the premiership. Playing him when we go up against the bottom team allows them to attack more because we automatically end up playing deeper and deeper. I'd probably go with Ibrahim against Bolton, at least he didn't get a fcuking nose bleedwhen he went over the halfway line.

de jong did nothing wrong yesterday, and he does what he is supposed to do and i saw him make a ton of pases up to ade and tevez, but they lose the ball trying to take everyone bcuz once the ball goes up there no one makes runs and its all based on individual talent after that...we need to play a 4 2 3 1 with ireland behind tevez and johnson an swp on the wings..swp make runs and johnson makes runs ireland would be able to pick them out from the middle

 

[Padre]

Whilst formation is a problem, for me the key issue is how deep we are as a team. The deep-lying counter-attack philosophy IMHO will not work long term in a physical league like the PL. It might be okay in Italy but in England you get penned in and have to do a lot of last ditch defending.