Karim El Ahmadi CONFIRMED (Reply #278)

[pedro25]

Hes a very right footed player so wonder whether he will be used on the right side of midfield or central...or may be even as part of a central midfield duo if PL reverts to 4231 formation.

El Ahmadi - Makoun
Albrighton - Ireland - N'Zogbia
Bent

I'd have Holman or Gabby over Albrighton but otherwise it looks potentially very strong.  With Holman, El Ahmadi and Makoun coming in I doubt we will need all of Bannan, Clark, Herd, Gardner, Delph, Albrighton, Carruthers so I think either loan out say Caruthers and Gardner or sell 2 of Bannan, Delph and Albrighton

What happens if we get any injuries or suspensions if we've sold or loaned out everyone else? 

Everyone? I said 2, which would leave a pool of 10 midfielders, hopefully with youngsters like Johnson pushing through also.

[KRS]

Hes a very right footed player so wonder whether he will be used on the right side of midfield or central...or may be even as part of a central midfield duo if PL reverts to 4231 formation.

El Ahmadi - Makoun
Albrighton - Ireland - N'Zogbia
Bent

I'd have Holman or Gabby over Albrighton but otherwise it looks potentially very strong.  With Holman, El Ahmadi and Makoun coming in I doubt we will need all of Bannan, Clark, Herd, Gardner, Delph, Albrighton, Carruthers so I think either loan out say Caruthers and Gardner or sell 2 of Bannan, Delph and Albrighton

Yeah theres many combinations of players that can be used in that set up and would be wise to use the squad fully rotating the players and giving valuable game time to the younger players. Obviously there are injuries and cup competitions to take into consideration too, so would rather a few were sent out on loan rather than sell if they are surplus to requirements initially.

Hopefully we'll strengthen the defence now and get rid of the likes of Hutton.

[ozzjim]

Lambert was known to pick a different team every week depending on who they were playing at Norwich, so having options may well be the key for him.

For example, away at Arsenal you may play Herd, Makoun and Karim to stifle them through the middle, with Holman and for an example of another link Whittingham out wide, who are sure to give you some defensive cover out wide too, but carry a threat going forward. But at home to Wigan, we may only need one of the 3 holding player, and need more pace, so a Matt Phillips right and NZogbia left, with Gabby and Bent up top and Ireland in the side too may help. Horses for courses and all.

[nigel]

Good news if he signs. With Karim, Brett and Chris in midfield we should have plenty of energy. Just need a Sid like sprayer of great balls and we may have the making of a decent midfield.

Bannan or Makoun?

[Monty]

Good news if he signs. With Karim, Brett and Chris in midfield we should have plenty of energy. Just need a Sid like sprayer of great balls and we may have the making of a decent midfield.

Bannan or Makoun?

Agreed, both of whom I'd pick ahead of Herd. And I see Holman as more of a wide attacker than a midfielder anyway.

[pestria]

Hes a very right footed player so wonder whether he will be used on the right side of midfield or central...or may be even as part of a central midfield duo if PL reverts to 4231 formation.

El Ahmadi - Makoun
Albrighton - Ireland - N'Zogbia
Bent

He may well do but 5 out of those 6 are either unproven or underperformers.

Good to see us looking to solve the problem positions though - useful start from Lambert

[villadelph]

Hes a very right footed player so wonder whether he will be used on the right side of midfield or central...or may be even as part of a central midfield duo if PL reverts to 4231 formation.

El Ahmadi - Makoun
Albrighton - Ireland - N'Zogbia
Bent

He may well do but 5 out of those 6 are either unproven or underperformers.

Good to see us looking to solve the problem positions though - useful start from Lambert

Disagree. I don't know why Marc is in that line up but throw in Gabby or Holman and all six of those players are experienced veterans.

[olaftab]

I thought I'd make a moronic comment anyway.

That's the spirit. If we never made moronic comments life would be very dull.

If only my boss thought the same way.

You are not supposed to do it all the time. Just when it's  not appropriate!

[Surrey Villain]

Lambert was known to pick a different team every week depending on who they were playing at Norwich, so having options may well be the key for him.

For example, away at Arsenal you may play Herd, Makoun and Karim to stifle them through the middle, with Holman and for an example of another link Whittingham out wide, who are sure to give you some defensive cover out wide too, but carry a threat going forward. But at home to Wigan, we may only need one of the 3 holding player, and need more pace, so a Matt Phillips right and NZogbia left, with Gabby and Bent up top and Ireland in the side too may help. Horses for courses and all.

You are assuming N'Zogbia and Gabby are going to offer more than just walking onto the pitch this season?  If he can get either of those two playing to their undoubted ability he will save a fortune in transfer fees which can be spent on buying a new back five.

[SirSteveUK]

........ but maybe Mark is one of many promising young players who get the big time and big money and think they do not have to improve

Hope i am wrong

Don't think he is the "Bertie Bigbollox" type of player:

But, even during his summer holidays, hard-working Villa winger Marc Albrighton has been displaying a ‘no pane, no gain’ attitude by helping his mates clean windows.

Albrighton swapped his boots and shinpads for a bucket and sponge to join Bolehall Swifts boss Daren Fulford and his son Conor on their round in Tamworth town centre. While the 22-year-old wideboy will be hoping to climb the Premier League ladder with Paul Lambert’s Lions next season, he has always tried to stay grounded and close to his hometown.

[eastie]

El ahmedi will be a useful addition , i hope that paul will make major defensive changes too and would like to see clark in central defence  alongside a new centre half and full backs.

Has culverhouse joined us or has paul recruited any other backroom staff ?

[KRS]

Hes a very right footed player so wonder whether he will be used on the right side of midfield or central...or may be even as part of a central midfield duo if PL reverts to 4231 formation.

El Ahmadi - Makoun
Albrighton - Ireland - N'Zogbia
Bent

He may well do but 5 out of those 6 are either unproven or underperformers.

Good to see us looking to solve the problem positions though - useful start from Lambert

It was just an example mate...there are a number of options to fill any of those positions which has to be a good thing for PL and the squad as a whole. Hopefully we'll see a few more transfers soon and give us more options at the back too.

[john e]

If no one made moronic posts on here there'd only be 15 posts a day.

all of them mine   

[PeterWithesShin]

If no one made moronic posts on here there'd only be 15 posts a day.

all of them mine   

Without the moronic posts your post count would be 3   

[supertom]

Lets see how players like Albrighton do with Lambert. I'd like to thing he'll have his confidence boosted and will thrive. For the first half of Houlliers season he was superb. He ran out of steam. Under McLeish, like a lot of our attacking talent, he looked ill at ease and just lacking in confidence completely.

I'm not gonna write him off just yet. When he's on it he's a good player. He likes taking people on and is capable of delivering real quality from out wide. The thing with Marc too is he'll try his luck at taking people on a lot. An attack minded manager will encourage that, where-as McLeish probably kept track of everytime he gave the ball away and tore into him. I'm guessing, but it may have been that way in part. He seemed to be a little shackled as did all of our attackers.