How shall we play after january?

[Archie]

Just wondering how we'll play when we'll have recovered all our injuried players and (hopefully) will have taken advantage of  the January transfer window.

GH seems to like best the 4-2-3-1 formation, that probably should be:

GK
Lichaj (L.Young or a new RB) - Cuellar (Dunne) - Clark (Collins) - Warnock
Downing  (NRC, Petrov or a new CM) - Bannan (Ireland)
Albrighton - Delph - Young
Heskey (or new forward)

In this scheme it's not easy to find a place for Gabby. Infact, the 4-2-3-1 requires a good central forward that plays near the goal  (and he is not) and two midfielders  that play as wingers on the flanks (and he is not).

Gabby is a second forward, and the scheme that most suits him is 4-4-2.

GK
Lichaj (L.Young or a new RB) - Cuellar (Dunne) - Clark (Collins) - Warnock
Albrighton - Delph - Downing (Ireland  or Petrov) - Young
Heskey (or new forward) - Gabby


The 4-4-2 may become a 4-3-1-2 with AJ behind the forwards rather than on the left wing.

GK
Lichaj (L.Young or a new RB) - Cuellar (Dunne) - Clark (Collins) - Warnock
Albrighton - Delph - Downing (Ireland  or Petrov)
Young
Heskey (or new forward) - Gabby

But I don't like this formation, as it sacrifices Bannan, that I think is one of our best prospects.

So, I'd go with 4-1-2-3.
This scheme requires:
- three central midfielders, one  holding (Downing, NRC or Petrov), one box to box   (Delph/Ireland) and one  creative and attacking (Bannan/Delph):
-  two forwards (that become one forward and one midfielder against the top teams) on the flanks (Gabby/Albrighton and Young) and one central forward (Heskey). 
So it could be:

GK
Lichaj (L.Young or a new RB) - Cuellar (Dunne) - Clark (Collins) - Warnock
Downing (Petrov or NRC)
Delph (Ireland) - Bannan (Delph)
Albrighton (Gabby) - Heskey (or a new forward) - Young

This formation may become easily a 4-1-2-1-2 with Young behind Gabby and Heskey rather than on the left wing.

[German James]

So Ireland's definitely going then?

[cdbearsfan]

I know how we will play in March. Badly.

It's tradition.

[Shrek]

Bit technical eh!

[cdbearsfan]

4-4-1-1

Friedel
L Young Cuellar Collins Warnock
Downing Ireland Delph A Young
Messi
Fabiano.

[BedsVillain]

4-4-1-1

Friedel
L Young Cuellar Collins Warnock
Downing Ireland Delph A Young
Messi
Fabiano.

That line up was looking pretty good until the end!
What were you thinking?!

[cdbearsfan]

That's the team for the Carling Cup, if we're still in it.

Obviously I'd keep Petrov and Heskey for the league. Messi's alright but he doesn't track back. Not good enough.

[olaftab]

I think we should play to win every game...no? OK

                                  Friedel
                  L Young Collins Clarke Warnock
                               NRC      Delph
            Albrighton                          Downing
                                          Young

                              Agbonlahor

[olaftab]

I know how we will play in March. Badly.

It's tradition.

Luckily we only have two games!

[timeoutbigbar]

Ireland and Delph in a midfield two? Imagine that....

[brontebilly]

Ireland and Delph in a midfield two? Imagine that....

we would be annihilated. Ireland could well be a midfielder if he matured a bit but maturity and Stephen Ireland doesnt quite sound right. He has played well right midfield at times for City and his long forgotten country and I'd give him a few chances there until his confidence picks up. He could start by showing an improved workrate - actually try and tackle players rather than looking like he is going to before running by like a fairy. Still a talent but the fancy flicks arent working so he needs to concentrate on the simple passes for the moment.

Archie, Gabby is not a second forward. He is crap next to anyone else and is pretty impossible to play with. Up top by himself he is at his best on the shoulder of the last defender. His pace alone will force the opposition to defend about 10 yards deeper than at present.

[Dante Lavelli]

I agree with brontebilly there.  Gabby isn't a partnership striker.  He has played best when deployed as a solo solo striker.  Last season he developed into a pretty decent target man too.

I think we should therefore persevere with the current 4-2-3-1, although the system (for me) encourages flexibility and means we can change and adapt during games.

[*shellac*]

Casillas (Buffon)
Alves (Maicon)
Puyol (Ramos)
Pique (Vidic)
Lahm (Evra)
Pirlo (Essien)
Xavi (Alonso)
Iniesta (Fabregas)
Ozil (Kaka)
Ronaldo (Messi)
Heskey (Owen, Cole, Doyle)

We will be world beaters.

Every game, the stats will read as:

Shots on goal - 63
Shots on target - 48
Goals - 2
Crosses - 2,856
Possession - 75%
Passes - 1,254,785

[Archie]

Archie, Gabby is not a second forward. He is crap next to anyone else and is pretty impossible to play with. Up top by himself he is at his best on the shoulder of the last defender. His pace alone will force the opposition to defend about 10 yards deeper than at present.

I hope you're right mate, it's actually very diffcult to say which is his role being an atypical forward, but I think he did his best in partnership with Big John.

[darren woolley]

I agree with aftab235's formation and team.