Finding a striking partner for Darren Bent

[cdbearsfan]

Odemwingwie from the Albion for me please. He would be the perfect foil for Bent but would score quite a few himself too. I think those pair together would be like Beardsley and Cole.

[Dante Lavelli]

I'm not sure Bent needs a partner to be honest. Remember he persuaded spurs to spend 18m on him by playing as a solo striker for Charlton.

Assuming we stay up we could be under estimated a tad next year resulting in teams pushing up against us (like when he was at Charlton) leaving space behind for him to exploit.

Based on this I'd prefer us to go with a 433 or 4231. With Gabby as deputy (or in the front 3).

[LeeB]

If we get to keep Kyle Walker I would give him a blast as a striker in the pre season friendlies.   Sure as can be he is no full back but there is one hell of a player in there struggling to get out.

Blimey, he's only a kid. young players are notoriously inconsistent and i think its a bit early to write him off as a FB on the back of a couple of iffy games

I agree. Still, I like the left-fieldness of the idea!

Kevin Phillips and Andy Carroll both started out as full backs, so it's not unknown.

I like the cut of Brian's jib.

[Clampy]

Bent definatley needs someone alongside him. It dose'nt have to be a prolific goalscorer or someone who's going to pass the ball to him. It needs someone else there to pull defenders away so Bent has more space in the box, which is what Ashley was'nt doing. Heskey would be ideal for me, but in the long term, i'm not sure who to be honest.

[Mazrim]

I agree with those saying Bent needs a "number 10" with him, or as others might call a trequartista.
Young tried but I dont think he's natural to it.

I think Sturridge could play that role. But the job description basically reads as somebody who can link everything around him and still weigh in with goals. He has to act as a fulcrum with the wide guys, striker and midfilelders all operating around him. He has to link it all together but not everything has to go through him or we become predictable and easily neutralised. What we basically need is another Merson or to get Milner back. Or more likely discover some up and coming South American genius. They seem natural to the role.
I could see Adam doing a job as a cheaper alternative. Although he'd be more of the link man than a forward.

[WikiVilla]

Robbie Keane ?

[PaulTheVillan]

I would like to see Heskey & Bent given a game together. Stoke at home would be the game to do it.

[Mazrim]

Robbie Keane ?

No.

[Monty]

I think having a specialist 'trequartista' in a 4-4-1-1, or 4-2-3-1 even, would be marked out of the game too easily, especially if he is by nature a second striker because he would then be inclined to play too far forwards (like Ashley this season). I would look at Liverpool yesterday and add them to the list of teams benefitting from an all-round 4-3-3 - people are going on about a 'partnership' between Suarez and Carroll, but while there's a good understanding Kuyt is also playing up with them, as Suarez almost always plays from wide. We need fluidity in midfield and up front, midfielders all capable of hassling and tackling an opponent and playing the final ball, forwards who are all as capable of setting up each other as finishing - and able to close down opponents high up the pitch.

[citizenDJ]

I wonder if Joe Cole could do the No.10 job for us? As in, the support striker, not the Prime Minister.

[Merv]

Joe Cole. I'd forgotten all about him.

This much-vaunted 'No.10' type is going to be very hard to find, I think. Personally, I think our best tactical options next season would be to fluctuate between a 4-4-2 with someone (maybe Gabby, maybe not) alongside Bent, and a 4-3-3 with a front three of Bent flanked by two wide men/wide strikers - Albrighton, Gabby, Downing, Young (if he stays, unlikely), a new signing. The midfield trio behind could well be Makoun, Delph - and one more, the attacking midfield player who we don't yet have at the club.

[PaulTheVillan]

What about Bannan?

Albrighton Makoun Delph Downing
Bannan
Bent

That would be with Young leaving an no-one else coming in. Which would be worse case I guess?

[Monty]

What about Bannan?

Albrighton Makoun Delph Downing
Bannan
Bent

That would be with Young leaving an no-one else coming in. Which would be worse case I guess?

I like that, but re-spell it I think:
                                                            Bannan Makoun Delph
                                           Albrighton                Bent               Downing

Obviously Marc and Downing would interchange, and with the midfield as well, but I think it's better to notate it like that to emphasise the fact that there shouldn't be 'playmaker' pressure on Bannan. With Makoun and Delph also capable of incisive passing and with all of those three hard-working and hassly (I think Makoun will win the ball a lot more in a three) that could well be a very good midfield with and without the ball.

[Concrete John]

I think Delph offers a lot going forward, so if we're playing that 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 formation I'd like to see him being the most forward of the central three:-

Makoun
New Signing

Albrighton
Delph
Downing

Bent
 
Were we to also have options for 4-4-2, then that 'number 10' type player would also be needed and that would mean Delph sitting out.  Guess it's a squad game so we should be equipped for both formations.

[WikiVilla]

How far away is Gary gardener from breaking into the first XI