Summer Transfer Thread: Speculation, Lies, Absolute Cr*p and Bosman Rumours

[Mazrim]

4-4-2 isn't dead, it just shouldn't be used all the time. No formation is "the one" as far as I'm concerned. You need tactical flexibilty. Lambert has shown that he not only has tactical flexibility but he WILL use 4-4-2 if he feels its right. If everybody uses the same system its not only predictable but tedious and likely to cancel eachother out.

[paul_e]

a flat 442 with 2 wide players a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder is dead, I agree.  I completely disagree with the idea that you can't win anything playing 2 up front.

You have to be more creative though.  defensively a 442 is fine if you get at least one of the strikers to mark the defensive midfielder.  All the top sides use the defensive midfielder and central defenders as their out ball, the strikers need to harry those palyers and strop them having time on the ball.  Once they're doing that well your 2 solid banks of 4 are effective.

Going forward you need the ability to drift.  Have 1 player who holds his position strictly and then let the other 3 play relative to each other and the ball, rather than relative to the pitch.  |For it to work you need players that are good at keeping the ball, if you play that way and don't keep possession then you leave to many gaps.

The problem is, the teams that keep possession well are all playing 451, they keep possession because they train to play that way, not because of the shape.  Once you keep possession well shape becomes a lot less meaningful.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

4-4-2 is no good if you employ out and out wingers as we often did Under Doh'Neill.

In fact it's quite dodgy if you elect to use Albrighton amongst it.

[john e]

I would have thought watching England play was enough evidence that 4-4-2 is a dead system at the top level.

And you think it would have been any different if we had played 4-5-1 ?

To much importance is put on formations, it's the quality of players and the footballing style the manager adopts that counts

[Steve R]

Carroll is a far better footballer than he is given credit for. I still wouldn't buy him though.

The presence of a pink Range Rover in the car park is bad enough; having a burned out chrome one parked next to it would be a recipe for relegation.

[Concrete John]

If you're dropping a striker deep to occupy a DCM, then that effectively becomes 4-4-1-1, which is a system that works, as the deeper striker helps out in midfield and stops in being a 4 v 5.  Spurs played this way last season with VDV and it works very well for them.

But I agree in principle that the players are more important than the formation.

[damon loves JT]

Carroll is a far better footballer than he is given credit for. I still wouldn't buy him though.

The presence of a pink Range Rover in the car park is bad enough; having a burned out chrome one parked next to it would be a recipe for relegation.

Perhaps we could teach him to ride a bicycle. I'm sure one of the players must know how to do it.

[claretandbeer]

Anyone know anything about this Tongo Doumbia, other than that FM stuff?  Is he a defensive or attacking midfielder?  It says on wikipedia he's 6 ft 3 in, so that would suggest to be a strong central player.

Might, if true, be the end on Makoun with him going to Tenness in part exchange?

On the Rennes forum,the fans don't rate Doumbia,saying he's an athlete not a footballer and that he would be easily replaced.Brahimi divides the fans,all agreeing that he 's got great skill and some saying that he's not been played in his true position in the centre of midfield and dictating the play and Rennes will regret
selling him. Others say he's not a team player,has a bad attitude and won't miss him. A lot mention his injury problems,one fan saying that he hopes Aston Villa have got a good medical team

[Mazrim]

It's true that all the top bookmakers take pictures of each clubs car park before deciding on the odds.

[paul_e]

If you're dropping a striker deep to occupy a DCM, then that effectively becomes 4-4-1-1, which is a system that works, as the deeper striker helps out in midfield and stops in being a 4 v 5.  Spurs played this way last season with VDV and it works very well for them.

But I agree in principle that the players are more important than the formation.

I guess the debate is whether your strikers working to win the ball back is a change in formation or a change in philosophy, I'd argue the latter.

[Concrete John]

I think it depends on where he would spend more of the game - up top or behind his partner.  A FB on an overlap does not make him a winger.

[PaulWinch again]

I see Lambo has suggested there's going to be quite a lot of transfer activity still to come.

[Olneythelonely]

Where?

[PaulWinch again]

In the Birmingham Mail. It's good, because we do need a significant change in personel, as too many have failed for us.

[VillaAlways]

Here's the article

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2012/07/10/aston-villa-expect-more-signings-paul-lambert-97319-31359677/