Things to think about

[nicolai]

My first thread then O_O... Here it goes lol

Now that we've brought Barry in (which is a fantastic buy imo), and taking into consideration the fact Hughes (and the majority of fans) would presumably have Ireland and De Jong in the first 11 for next season, you would think this is an obvious push for a 4-3-3 looking something along the lines of this:

- - - - - - De Jong - - - - - - -
- - - - Ireland - Barry - - - - -
SWP - - - - - - - - - - Robinho
- - - - - - - - ? - - - - - - - - -

Now here's where the problems start:

1. With all the racket going on, the Tevez deal seems to be a big chance of going ahead, and if so there is really only one place he could play in that formation (on the right). Don't get me wrong I'm all for having quality and strength in depth, but a rotation between SWP and Tevez seems too much of a waste of talent either way to me.

2. For all you Kaka lovers. If we hijacked his new deal with whoever it may be, again, there's only one place he could really play (especially if the Tevez deal is concluded), which is in place of Ireland. That being said, I really can't see that happening after Stevie just signed a new 5 year deal.

3. If this does happen, it would seem to me that Hughes would be in the market for strikers along the lines of Drogba/Dzeko, given that it would be a lone striker role. This would also silence the rumours of us having a go at Ribery, unless Robinho were to benched which once again, I severely doubt will happen. This would also free VK to move to centre half which I know there are very mixed opinions about.

So I wanted to get people's thoughts on what they think will happen (with the current transfer rumours and general squad thoughts) now that we have Barry.

P.S. I Would've posted in one of the million threads out there, but this has something to do with everything that's going on and I felt it deserved a bit more attention than just a general post would get.

P.S. Just read Drogba got a new contract at Chelsea, so I guess that takes him out of the running :S

 

[Petetheblu]

I'll be honest and say I that if Kaka came I think he would struggle to knock Stephen out of the side on his FIRST season if S.I shows some of his previous seasons qualities.

If Stephen Ireland was a Brazilian and played abroad and we were linked with him I'd be one happy monkey, if and it's a big if should we land someone like Kaka then I'd still have Ireland in my team because the guy is a magician and for his age is one of the TOP players in the prem. He will become world class with the right players around him and time.
.........Given

Zab..Neddy..Kompany..Bridge

.........De long...Barry

Tevez......Ireland......Robiniho

...............Kaka.

That there ladies and gentlemen is a top four side.

No reason why Kaka would'nt be able to hold the ball up if it was to his feet and lay it off to the two attacking wingers. Ireland would have a field day with his thru balls and his little run behind the defence.

 

[bumbleblue]

I'll be honest and say I that if Kaka came I think he would struggle to knock Stephen out of the side on his FIRST season if S.I shows some of his previous seasons qualities.

If Stephen Ireland was a Brazilian and played abroad and we were linked with him I'd be one happy monkey, if and it's a big if should we land someone like Kaka then I'd still have Ireland in my team because the guy is a magician and for his age is one of the TOP players in the prem. He will become world class with the right players around him and time.
.........Given

Zab..Neddy..Kompany..Bridge

.........De long...Barry

Tevez......Ireland......Robiniho

...............Kaka.

That there ladies and gentlemen is a top four side.

No reason why Kaka would'nt be able to hold the ball up if it was to his feet and lay it off to the two attacking wingers. Ireland would have a field day with his thru balls and his little run behind the defence.

OMG that has actually scared me ... looks like kaka is going to real sadly.

 

[dom]

The fact of the matter is that we have lacked strength in depth in the past (something that the rags and chelski do have).

As a result we have continued to play play players out of position and have pushed injured players on to 'play through the pain'.

This is no way forwrd for a club with bigger ambitions.

We need quality cover and whether MH decides to select on a rotational or form basis is up to him.

What we cant continue with is the vass at right wing / elano at right back crap that was happening in the past.

Strength in depth is waht Hughes is builing. There's always a risk with that of players getting frustrated and wanting to move but if the selection on form policy is adopted I feel that can be a key motivator.

 

[Petetheblu]

I'll be honest and say I that if Kaka came I think he would struggle to knock Stephen out of the side on his FIRST season if S.I shows some of his previous seasons qualities.

If Stephen Ireland was a Brazilian and played abroad and we were linked with him I'd be one happy monkey, if and it's a big if should we land someone like Kaka then I'd still have Ireland in my team because the guy is a magician and for his age is one of the TOP players in the prem. He will become world class with the right players around him and time.
.........Given

Zab..Neddy..Kompany..Bridge

.........De long...Barry

Tevez......Ireland......Robiniho

...............Kaka.

That there ladies and gentlemen is a top four side.

No reason why Kaka would'nt be able to hold the ball up if it was to his feet and lay it off to the two attacking wingers. Ireland would have a field day with his thru balls and his little run behind the defence.

OMG that has actually scared me ... looks like kaka is going to real sadly.

Maybe sadly he his, but you could put me in that lineup and I'd get at least 10 shots at net. So takeaway Kaka and put another decent CF in the side...Say? Santa Cruz, Aguero, anelka, Drogba or a fully fit and hungry Bojinov and you still be talking about a top four side. Although height will be our key we will have to address.

 

[TonyM]

Not saying this would work but???

.............Given...........
Richards XXX Onouha XXX
....Ireland Barry Kaka.....
Tevez ... XXX ... Robinho

Would the new defenders be good enough to not rely so much on DMs? They'd need to be rather extraordinary.
Would the midfield 3 then just have to be hard working rather than having a true DM? We know Ireland and Barry can win tackles.
Would Kaka be able to be as hard working as Ireland is? Maybe he can fight, he has to for Brazil on occasion. (anyone?)
Would Tevez and Robinho be able to track back as required and still be a threat? IMO Robinho has added this to his game already.
Would our new CF be good enough to cover every blade of grass when his flanks retreat? He'd have to be fit as fiddle and ... awesome.

Personally I can't see Kaka fitting in even if by some miracle we got him (at this late stage). But if we did manage to make it work then it'd move us into the media spotlight big time - for all the right reasons. Grasping at straws I think I am!

 

[dannyboy91uk]

Not saying this would work but???

.............Given...........
Richards XXX Onouha XXX
....Ireland Barry Kaka.....
Tevez ... XXX ... Robinho

Would the new defenders be good enough to not rely so much on DMs? They'd need to be rather extraordinary.
Would the midfield 3 then just have to be hard working rather than having a true DM? We know Ireland and Barry can win tackles.
Would Kaka be able to be as hard working as Ireland is? Maybe he can fight, he has to for Brazil on occasion. (anyone?)
Would Tevez and Robinho be able to track back as required and still be a threat? IMO Robinho has added this to his game already.
Would our new CF be good enough to cover every blade of grass when his flanks retreat? He'd have to be fit as fiddle and ... awesome.

Personally I can't see Kaka fitting in even if by some miracle we got him (at this late stage). But if we did manage to make it work then it'd move us into the media spotlight big time - for all the right reasons. Grasping at straws I think I am!

That's exactly the tactic I was thinking about, but I would use Gareth Barry in the CML and use De Jong in the central position with the current team once new acquisitions arrive that might change. That would mean Stephen Ireland covers the right and Barry the left which would basically shut out the opponents if we are under attack.