Pressed-back

[dave.woodhall]

http://thebirminghampress.com/2014/02/three-too-much-to-ask-for/

[PaulWinch again]

I think that article sums up how I feel nicely, especially every time I see 3 centre halves starting for Villa.

[bob]

I think you have misused the phrase "beg the question".

[Ron Manager]

Well I agree with your summing up Dave. Its very dissapointing that the club or perhaps the club manager has let us down after two encouraging performances.

Mind you this is a club who on their official site honours the death of our top scorer of the 1960s by showing him in a Liverpool kit!

Nothing surprises me with this club anymore. Absolutely nothing!

[Phil from the upper holte]

Ah Benni McCarthy, The player that could have been

[Concrete John]

I don't particularly like 3 CBs, but it's not necessarily defensive - look at Anfield last year.  No, to me it's more or a mentality thing and at 0-1 up we didn't have any conviction to go at them, which had nothing to do with the formation.

[dave.woodhall]

I don't particularly like 3 CBs, but it's not necessarily defensive - look at Anfield last year.  No, to me it's more or a mentality thing and at 0-1 up we didn't have any conviction to go at them, which had nothing to do with the formation.

I agree on the three centre backs. When Brian Little played it, it was exciting  because we had proper wingbacks. Under John Gregory it meant five defenders.

[Monty]

I don't particularly like 3 CBs, but it's not necessarily defensive - look at Anfield last year.  No, to me it's more or a mentality thing and at 0-1 up we didn't have any conviction to go at them, which had nothing to do with the formation.

I agree on the three centre backs. When Brian Little played it, it was exciting  because we had proper wingbacks. Under John Gregory it meant five defenders.

Indeed. Three at the back was brought back recently by Napoli, Guardiola and then Martinez himself. It's not the tactic, it's the implementation.

[Concrete John]

I don't particularly like 3 CBs, but it's not necessarily defensive - look at Anfield last year.  No, to me it's more or a mentality thing and at 0-1 up we didn't have any conviction to go at them, which had nothing to do with the formation.

I agree on the three centre backs. When Brian Little played it, it was exciting  because we had proper wingbacks. Under John Gregory it meant five defenders.

Bacuna and Bertrand can make it work attacking wise for us, but we just need to be more positive as a team with it.

[Monty]

I don't particularly like 3 CBs, but it's not necessarily defensive - look at Anfield last year.  No, to me it's more or a mentality thing and at 0-1 up we didn't have any conviction to go at them, which had nothing to do with the formation.

I agree on the three centre backs. When Brian Little played it, it was exciting  because we had proper wingbacks. Under John Gregory it meant five defenders.

Bacuna and Bertrand can make it work attacking wise for us, but we just need to be more positive as a team with it.

A big problem is not having three in centre midfield as well. Lambert wants two up front with Weimann or Gabby or someone in behind, and it just leaves us with this enormous shortfall in the middle. There's also a lack of cover by only having the two in midfield, meaning the defence has to drop deep and basically do last ditch - hardly conducive for keeping the ball.

[not3bad]

Last season Villa bought the unknown Yacouba Sylla in January when experience was ended

That a typo there?  Good article anyway.

[eastie]

Also helps if the central defenders are comfortable on the ball and can play out of defence rather than just play it long so often, the balance of the team was all wrong at goodison and it was an odd selection - holt contributed very little to the cause and  lambert must take the blame for the side he picked.

[dave.woodhall]

[quote link=topic=51438.msg2524119#msg2524119 date=1391424113]
Last season Villa bought the unknown Yacouba Sylla in January when experience was ended
[/quote]

That a typo there?  Good article anyway.


Thanks, and amended.

[robbo1874]

I don't particularly like 3 CBs, but it's not necessarily defensive - look at Anfield last year.  No, to me it's more or a mentality thing and at 0-1 up we didn't have any conviction to go at them, which had nothing to do with the formation.

I agree on the three centre backs. When Brian Little played it, it was exciting  because we had proper wingbacks. Under John Gregory it meant five defenders.

Bacuna and Bertrand can make it work attacking wise for us, but we just need to be more positive as a team with it.

A big problem is not having three in centre midfield as well. Lambert wants two up front with Weimann or Gabby or someone in behind, and it just leaves us with this enormous shortfall in the middle. There's also a lack of cover by only having the two in midfield, meaning the defence has to drop deep and basically do last ditch - hardly conducive for keeping the ball.

this is spot on. Little's side did have good wing backs, but also quality in midfield. Some of the best football I've seen at villa when they were firing.

[UK Redsox]

I don't particularly like 3 CBs, but it's not necessarily defensive - look at Anfield last year.  No, to me it's more or a mentality thing and at 0-1 up we didn't have any conviction to go at them, which had nothing to do with the formation.

I agree on the three centre backs. When Brian Little played it, it was exciting  because we had proper wingbacks. Under John Gregory it meant five defenders.

First half at Everton, even with five defenders spread across the pitch, Baines seemed to always be in space. The three centre halves seemed too close together.