Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[Rick_avfc]

Why do some many people still think we are going to resign NRC?  I thought he left because he wanted more money and we were not prepared to offer it to him?  What has changed now?
I know its only a rumour but have noticed a few posts using NRC in there teams.

[Mazrim]

If we're assuming Gabby and Bent will be a conventional front 2 then does anyone else think we will play a diamond formation? 

With NRC or a new DM sitting I think the players we have have enough versatility to cover the central positions and the 'hole' while also being able to offer width.

This is probably in the wrong thread but I think it could be one possible answer as to how to fit Bannan in the team and play 2 up front.

McLeish said we'd play with two strikers, wingers and overlapping full-backs. That's straight 4-4-2.

Or 5-3-2 a la Sir Brian.

Well then the overlapping full backs and wingers are the same players. 5-3-2/3-5-2 often won't work these days for many reasons, but I might prefer it to the looming return to inferior MON-ball. There's no point in playing the right system with the wrong players, but equally if you have good players they can be ruined by the wrong system, and I fear that might happen to Bannan and Albrighton.

Dont get me wrong Monty. I'm not suggesting playing that way for a second, nor do I think we will.

I agree, it will be a mix of 4-4-2 at home, 4-5-1 away.

Attacking mobile fullbacks, wingers, box to box midfielders and 2 strikers. (home)
Attacking mobile full backs, wingers, tbox to box midfielders, 1 destroyer, 1 striker (away).

[Ryu]

I hadn't picked up on the raiding full backs and wingers comments. I was just trying to think what I would do with our current personnel if Gabby and Bent were definitely starting up front.

With my optimistic hat on I'm taking it to mean AM has some good attacking signings in mind!

[Rick_avfc]

Roberto Carlos is rumoured to be leaving russia.....may be we should sign him as one of our overlapping full backs?  lol

[Chris Smith]

If we're assuming Gabby and Bent will be a conventional front 2 then does anyone else think we will play a diamond formation? 

With NRC or a new DM sitting I think the players we have have enough versatility to cover the central positions and the 'hole' while also being able to offer width.

This is probably in the wrong thread but I think it could be one possible answer as to how to fit Bannan in the team and play 2 up front.

McLeish said we'd play with two strikers, wingers and overlapping full-backs. That's straight 4-4-2.

If you play 2 wingers there's not much room for overlapping full-backs. I assumed it would be winger one side with the full-back getting forward on the other which would give you scope for a 4-1-3-2 perhaps.

[UsualSuspect]

Roberto Carlos is rumoured to be leaving russia.....may be we should sign him as one of our overlapping full backs?  lol

Alan Wright Could do a job

[Monty]

It does worry me, Maz. The two in midfield won't realistically be able to break forward without leaving us massively exposed to the counter. That means that they'll have to play deep, leaving a huge gap between the midfield and the forwards. That leaves the two in midfield completely isolated, often outnumbered and outmanouvred and unable to dominate possession in meaningful areas, a situation exacerbated by the fact that we don't have a creative forward who drops deep to link. As a result we'll resort to direct long balls and constant, predictable, one-dimensional crossing with little-to-no variation. Having just sold our best winger to boot. I don't see that system getting results.

Chris, as far as I know he mentioned wingers plural, which ties into the idea that Albrighton and Downing will quite possibly be two first-choice starters next year. Maybe only one overlapping full-back like when MON played Cuellar at right back, but still two wide wingers.

[Mazrim]

I hope he intends to go for Walker.

[Ryu]

Our CMs sitting too deep was a big problem for us last season, and it put more pressure on a already vulnerable defence. When we had Milner he had the stamina and power to relieve the pressure having two out and out wingers puts on the defence. You need very good players in the middle to cope with lots of marauding wide men, so signings in there would have to be made to play that way IMO.

[taylorsworkrate]

I hope he intends to go for Walker.

I'd love Walker to sign permanently, but would be stunned if he's not Spurs first choice right back next season.

[Caiphus]

I know a lot of people think Gabby is too technically deficient to be a link striker, but it's not like he has ever exploited his pace by playing on the shoulder of the last defender.  He has gotten quite a lot of assists in his career as well as goals, I think he could be a serviceable link forward.  His first touch and through balls would be a bit crap but i think he can get into positions to hit his flat hard crosses from the channel between the 6 and 18 yard boxes where defenders seem to let him get the ball.

[UsualSuspect]

Our CMs sitting too deep was a big problem for us last season, and it put more pressure on a already vulnerable defence. When we had Milner he had the stamina and power to relieve the pressure having two out and out wingers puts on the defence. You need very good players in the middle to cope with lots of marauding wide men, so signings in there would have to be made to play that way IMO.

I agree totally with that. Last season and the season before we sat far too deep - mainly because of Petrovs appalling fitness. When we had Milner he used to do the work of 2 players and could cover petrov's arse which we missed greatly last season.

That is why I prefer a 451/433 as it gives you an extra body and stops u being overun.

On the subject of Walker, I think old redface would slap a ridiculous price on him that we would struggle to meet

[pedro25]

If we presume Ireland doesn't get a look in then I think 5 of our front 6 picks itself in Albrighton, Makoun, Delph, Downing and Bent, which leaves Gabby or Bannan for the other position, I think it may often be Gabby at home and Bannan in the hole away.  I think Gabby will play as more of a marauding support striker like Ash did a lot last season, whilst Bannan wide might work too, with just one conventional winger, especially if we sign an attacking Walker style full back.  Walker said he preferred playing behind Downing as he would drift inside allowing space to be exploited on the outside.

[Merv]

You need very good players in the middle to cope with lots of marauding wide men, so signings in there would have to be made to play that way IMO.

That's my main concern about us playing 4-4-2 as things stand right now. Our midfield players aren't strong enough to play with two central midfielders: two/three years ago we had Barry, Petrov in his prime, NRC, Milner. Even when Milner played RM he was a player who dug in deep, could play narrower.

Now we've got Petrov past his best, Makoun, Delph, Bannan. Any three of those four we'd be okay... any two we're vulnerable. Need one big midfielder coming in this summer.

[noodles_]

Or maybe, just maybe we'll play a solid and unspectacular 4-5-1. Staunch defense, hard working, men behind the ball, organised with swift counter attacks and Bent scoring 80% of our goals. I'll settle for that this season.