Where will Ireland fit ?

[sfx412]

Ireland in midfield as a direct replacement for Milner ?

I can't see any alternative with the system staying virtually the same, but perhaps increasing the midfield at the expense of a winger would be advisable to cover his suggested weaker defensive abilities.

[jonzy85]

I think people are going a bit overboard on Ireland's supposed defensive 'weaknesses'.

It is true that in his finest season for City he was famous for making those runs into the box and getting on the end of chances to score goals.

However, that tied in with teh system that City had. Ask most City fans and they will rave about his work rate.

I think if he is asked to play in the middle as part of a 2 he would be effective both defensively and in attack.

The flip side to the argument is should we be trying to get the best out of him and thereby deploy him in a more advanced role and play Petrov and NRC as the 2 holding midfielders? This would mean playing just 1 up top, but if we had 2 of Young, DOwning or Albrighton out wide, I still think it would be a dangerous formation.

I'm sure both systems will be tried at different times and that's not even considering the possibilty of any new signings.

[BedsVillain]

I think KMac showed he's willing to play 4-2-3-1 so I expect Ireland to play in the middle of the 3, with NRC or a new dynamic midfielder (Flamini/Defour/Witsel??) coming in to provide more cover. I think then Ireland, Ashley and either Downing or Albrighton still have the freedom to switch those advanced positions.

For Sunday if he starts I would imagine we'd go with:

......................Friedel.............................

L.Young......Clark......Dunne......Warnock

................NRC..........Petrov................

Albrighton.......Ireland...........A.Young

........................Carew.........................

[DrGonzo]

I'd rather see Ireland playing higher up the pitch than petrov/nrc and behind Young in that free role.  He is a direct replacement for milner, no?  What's the problem with seeing him as that?

[Concrete John]

I think KMac showed he's willing to play 4-2-3-1 so I expect Ireland to play in the middle of the 3, with NRC or a new dynamic midfielder (Flamini/Defour/Witsel??) coming in to provide more cover. I think then Ireland, Ashley and either Downing or Albrighton still have the freedom to switch those advanced positions.

For Sunday if he starts I would imagine we'd go with:

......................Friedel.............................

L.Young......Clark......Dunne......Warnock

................NRC..........Petrov................

Albrighton.......Ireland...........A.Young

........................Carew.........................

Whether you call it 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1, that's the team I'd like to see.  If you consider Downing and Gabby on the bench, then we'd have excellent options to change it if something is not working.

However, I'd expect a straight swap of Milner for Ireland in the team we saw against West Ham to see how it works.  If we do lose a bit of defensive rigidity, then we bring NRC in for one of the widemen.

[Darth Villa]

I think KMac showed he's willing to play 4-2-3-1 so I expect Ireland to play in the middle of the 3, with NRC or a new dynamic midfielder (Flamini/Defour/Witsel??) coming in to provide more cover. I think then Ireland, Ashley and either Downing or Albrighton still have the freedom to switch those advanced positions.

For Sunday if he starts I would imagine we'd go with:

......................Friedel.............................

L.Young......Clark......Dunne......Warnock

................NRC..........Petrov................

Albrighton.......Ireland...........A.Young

........................Carew.........................

Yep I agree, I just scetched that out on a post it note. That's the line up I'd like to see Sunday.

[lessealey]

I would rather go with something more offensive
...................Big Brad
L Young..Clark...Dunne...Warnock
.................Petrov.....................
...........Ireland...Downing...........
Albrighton....................A.Young
.................Gabby....................

I know your going to say that Downing is too light-weight for the centre but I think this will be his best position. I do not think he would be much use in a midfield two but I think he would be good in a three

[Concrete John]

I would rather go with something more offensive
...................Big Brad
L Young..Clark...Dunne...Warnock
.................Petrov.....................
...........Ireland...Downing...........
Albrighton....................A.Young
.................Gabby....................

I know your going to say that Downing is too light-weight for the centre but I think this will be his best position. I do not think he would be much use in a midfield two but I think he would be good in a three

The same players in a 4-4-1-1 with Ash behind Gabby or Carew would work better, IMO.

[darren woolley]

Yes i would go with 4-4-1-1 i like that system.

[TimTheVillain]

I would rather go with something more offensive
...................Big Brad
L Young..Clark...Dunne...Warnock
.................Petrov.....................
...........Ireland...Downing...........
Albrighton....................A.Young
.................Gabby....................

That's what I'd go with if Gabby is fit.

[sfx412]

seems a pity if Gabby is fit to drop our in form winger, but could we fit Ireland, Gabby, Downing, Young and Carew in the same starting 11 ?
Without losing some defensive capability in midfield

[JUAN PABLO]

Ashley Young, Marc Albrighton and Stephen Ireland in the same team ..  Cant wait

[Dante Lavelli]

I think KMac showed he's willing to play 4-2-3-1 so I expect Ireland to play in the middle of the 3, with NRC or a new dynamic midfielder (Flamini/Defour/Witsel??) coming in to provide more cover. I think then Ireland, Ashley and either Downing or Albrighton still have the freedom to switch those advanced positions.

For Sunday if he starts I would imagine we'd go with:

......................Friedel.............................

L.Young......Clark......Dunne......Warnock

................NRC..........Petrov................

Albrighton.......Ireland...........A.Young

........................Carew.........................

That'd be my team for Newcastle with the aim of improving on NRC in this transfer window.
I'd prefer gabby up front and Cuellar as CB, but I reckon all players would get plenty of time on the pitch to keep them all happy.

[BILL DE VALL]

he will play where Ash played last time behind and
linking up with whomsoever is playing stricker that day
or
if you play 2 upfront he will play in central midfield-darting forward or wide to double up on a fullback

[The Man With A Stick]

I've a feeling Downing might play Sunday, with Albrighton rested.