Who do you want as the next manager? New poll option.

[Monty]

I think it would allow us to get more midfielder on the pitch though, so would actually work well.

When compared to 4-4-2 it would, but not when compared to 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. Wing-backs aren't really midfielders, and it can often end up stretched. However, if Bielsa were our manager he'd inevitably do his 3-3-1-3 routine with mental pressing and so forth, which would be fun, so if Martinez did the same who could complain?

[Moorski]

We like straight lines in England lol

[Monty]

We like straight lines in England lol

We do. We like players to stay 'in position', which means running up and down the pitch in very specific rectangles. We don't really understand interchanging, and even wingers swapping sides is a novelty. Pundits gasp open-mouthed when Swansea do so much as move off the ball, or when the Spurs midfielders end up wide and beyond the striker, or when Arsenal's defenders pass the ball calmly out of tight situations. Tactically, we foster a culture of idiocy in this country. Fortunately, it's finally started to change.

[rob_bridge]

If we do get Martinez (who I actually wanted last summer) I hope he can sort out the defense as well as play attractive football. Its been a shambles for so long now with silly mistakes and especially set pieces.

With our lack of attacking ability we just create most of own problems welcoming the bombardment from the opposing team which eventually leads to these mistakes or goals from set pieces. So maybe a more forward thinking manager might fix a lot of our problems without too much tinkering.

He has quite interestingly gone to a back 3 in the last 3 months to make up for the lack of pace in Caldwell I think, and they have improved a lot since, both going forward and at the back. I loved our wing back system under Brian Little and wonder if the system would actually suit us quite well, with Clark being the ball player with Baker and maybe Dunne. NZogbia could play left wing back, and maybe buy a forward thinking right back. Maybe I am talking out me arse though.

The three at the back has been mainly to, as you say, compensate for Caldwell's inability to run, as well as make up a shortfall in midfield and counter two-striker systems, with two man-markers and a man spare. It wouldn't work at Villa so much though, I feel, as we're less likely to come up against two-striker systems (especially at home) and we have more to gain by fielding as many midfielders as possible from what we have, rather than relying on wing-backs. However, it shows he's tactically flexible and willing to take a risk.

Exactly - flexibility. Change ot blame if it isn't working.

[James]

The more I think about Martinez the more I think Lambert would be a better fit! Still, so long as McLeech goes, that's the main thing!

[tomd2103]

We like straight lines in England lol

We do. We like players to stay 'in position', which means running up and down the pitch in very specific rectangles. We don't really understand interchanging, and even wingers swapping sides is a novelty. Pundits gasp open-mouthed when Swansea do so much as move off the ball, or when the Spurs midfielders end up wide and beyond the striker, or when Arsenal's defenders pass the ball calmly out of tight situations. Tactically, we foster a culture of idiocy in this country. Fortunately, it's finally started to change.

I don't like the man, but Gary Neville did an excellent assessment of this after the Wigan game on Monday night.  He was asked a question about which formation England should use in the summer and gave a pretty good analysis of why the lack of flexibility in England's system has cost them at major tournaments. 

[Monty]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/11/brendan-rodgers-swansea-city

Reading that article considering our current state is tear-inducing.

[ozzjim]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/11/brendan-rodgers-swansea-city

Reading that article considering our current state is tear-inducing.

Incredible, and light years from the way we are operating.

[russon]

Returning to the thread title my answer would be Martin O'Neill. He'd have a full summer to galvanise us and re-energise the club, he did it before he can do it again. Can't see it happening anymore than I can see a bluenose qualify for MENSA but I'd love to have him back.

If not, then Lambert or Martinez. I'd have Wincey Willis or Pipkin rather than McLeish mind.

[ROBBO]

So you would be happy to have him back, well he walked out on us at a time to do the club the most damage, he left us with very average players on huge contracts who we had to let the contracts run down on because nobody else would be silly enough to take them on and he had a phobia about foreign players. Next to McCleish he would be the last manger i'd have back.

[Greg N'Ash]

Returning to the thread title my answer would be Martin O'Neill. He'd have a full summer to galvanise us and re-energise the club, he did it before he can do it again. Can't see it happening anymore than I can see a bluenose qualify for MENSA but I'd love to have him back.

If not, then Lambert or Martinez. I'd have Wincey Willis or Pipkin rather than McLeish mind.

Nurse!

[ozzjim]

So you would be happy to have him back, well he walked out on us at a time to do the club the most damage, he left us with very average players on huge contracts who we had to let the contracts run down on because nobody else would be silly enough to take them on and he had a phobia about foreign players. Next to McCleish he would be the last manger i'd have back.

Agreed. One dimensional tactics, poor use of budgets and massive ego. DOL, MON and Eck are a trio of evil I would never want back at our club!

[russon]

So you would be happy to have him back, well he walked out on us at a time to do the club the most damage, he left us with very average players on huge contracts who we had to let the contracts run down on because nobody else would be silly enough to take them on and he had a phobia about foreign players. Next to McCleish he would be the last manger i'd have back.

It may not suit your argument to concede this but the difference between 6th place and 17th place finishes is a battle for European football instead of Championship doom and during O'Neill's era we were capable of revolutionary stuff like crossing the halfway line and even scoring from corners.

[mr underhill]

agreed but it cost 200 million to do it

[ozzjim]

So you would be happy to have him back, well he walked out on us at a time to do the club the most damage, he left us with very average players on huge contracts who we had to let the contracts run down on because nobody else would be silly enough to take them on and he had a phobia about foreign players. Next to McCleish he would be the last manger i'd have back.

It may not suit your argument to concede this but the difference between 6th place and 17th place finishes is a battle for European football instead of Championship doom and during O'Neill's era we were capable of revolutionary stuff like crossing the halfway line and even scoring from corners.

We were, away from home. At home we played piss poor foootball and could not break sides down, to which O'Neill thought throwing on Carew and Heskey together was the answer and still playing on the counter attack. It may not suit your argument to acknowledge that he spent so poorly in terms of fees AND wages that we ended up with an unbalanced squad, with little re sale value for the highest earners and mediocre quality. MON had the golden ticket, and pissed it up the wall, the players knew it and the best ones wanted out, while the opposition knew it to the point that John Terry even admitted it was a tactic to wait for us to burn out in games and then exploit it.