You're Starting XI in Games Against the "Top Six" Clubs

[34DeBardo]

My Team would be :
GK: Hart
RB: Michah
LB: Kolarov
CB: Kompany
CB: Lescott
DM: De Jong
CM: Toure/Nasri
CM: Silva
ST: Aguero
ST: Tevez
ST: Dzeko

 

[g180aj]

------------------Hart------------------
---------Kompany-----Lescott----------
Richards--------------------------clichy
------------yaya----dejong------------
----Nasri-------------------Silva-------
-------------Kun----------------------
--------------------Dzeko-------------

 

[Mancio]

mancini preferite would be

-----------------hart------------------

richards----kompany-----lescott----clichy

zabaleta----de jong----savic----milner

-----------barry-----------kolarov---------

 

[macmanson]

It's a silly question really because we shouldn't have a defined XI, it should be using our squad to nullify our opponents threats and also to expose their weaknesses.

SCUM - Their weakness is their full backs, AJ spit roasted Evra in the Semi Final last year and I think Rafael's positional sense is awful. If you can work situations to get Vidic 1-1 then he's useless. Equally you have to stop Nani, Valencia or Young, whoever plays wide need to be pushed back by Richards and Clichy, if you let them dominate possession they'll destroy you.

CHELSEA - Unknown quantity so far with Boas as manager.

ARSENAL - Their weakness is their strength and physical stature, we should be competing for every ball and being as aggressive as possible without going too far. Set pieces we should destroy them. Defensively you have to stay compact and not let the neat passes inbetween defenders, concentration is the key.

The only problem with this is that the top teams also adapt to our team's style and player selection. United during the preseason seemed to have adapted their style of play to a short intricate passing game to combat Mancini's compact defense which allowed us to keep them out when they used a more conventional 442 and crossing in their previous games. Also as I mentioned in my OP, I think playing them home vs away would probably influence the choices as well.

I think the point of the thread though, is how do we adapt our formation to become more attacking than it was previously given the new talent we have. Do we sacrifice a holding mid to add an extra attacking player? Or do some feel the class of the players we've brought in will allow us to be more attacking even with two holding mids? If you think it really needs to be team specific, do you have some examples against the current top 4 you would use?

As the articles state, we've clearly established our ability to beat the teams on the bottom half, which was our problem under Hughes, and one of Mancini's stated goals. However, as the stats prove, the current tactical choice of 2 holding mids, with the quality we had last year wasn't enough to compete consistently against the teams in the top half. Now in order to take that next step into title winners/contenders, what type of formation changes do people envision?

 

[MAXXI]

-- there ya go --
-------------------
--- James ---
Jihai Dunn Distin Jordan
Sinclair Barton Musampa
Riera Samaras Vassell

LOL ------------------------- LOL
on a serious note would love to see Razak, Weiss, Karim Rekik & Denis Suarez getting a some play time

 

[whothefisAlice]

Too early to tell i'd say. Let's see how the Swansea and Bolton matches go first then assess how we will line up against Spurs and the other big boys.

 

[gerrygowsjockstrap]

Hart

Richards...Lescott...Kompany...Clichy

< De Jong >... < Yaya >

< A top class right winger who can cross a ball whilst running >...< Silva >

Aguero (free roll to drift between midfield & forward line)

Dzeko

Balotelli (Maybe if head screwed on)
Savic (don't know enough about him yet)