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

[tomd2103]

Why is everybody so eager to see the back of Bent, the one player we have who is guaranteed to score goals for us?

I have no idea. I'll be glad to see him back in contention.

I wouldn't say he's guaranteed to score goals for us, as we play a system that doesn't suit him

And without wanting to go over old ground, if we have a striker who has scored a f*ckload of goals at his other clubs (and in his first year or so with us), maybe we should think about playing a system where we might score occasionally.

If our new system were generating stacks of goals then I'd no problem leaving him out. But as it's not, maybe it's time to start using the tools at our disposal.

DO we have the players to do so? I think 4-4-2 with Bent and Benteke would work well personally, but you need good wide men that work hard and a real pair of centre mids that can work their arses off. And drop Gabby again.

I like Bent, and hope he stays and scores again like he did before, but it will take a lot of service to do so.

We don't have the players to play a 4-4-2 Jim.  We don't really have enough quality out wide and we are far too lightweight in central midfield to play that formation (in my opinion of course).  If we are going to play two up front, then the only formation I can see working for us is 3-5-2.   

[ozzjim]

Are there any sides that play 2 out and out forwards successfully at the moment? Spain played 4-6-0 in the summer and won the competition which was ridiculous in the extreme.

I agree that 3-5-2 would be the only way to make it work, Lowton and Bennet would have more space going forward and the midfield would not be totally over-run. Not too dissimilar from what Wigan have done going 3-4-3, which in reality is the old 3-5-2 as Maloney or whoever takes that role drops in to make it a 3 in the centre. It would also give Clark some support and might make us a bit more resolute at the back. The Baker would fit in alongside Vlaar and Clark ok too.

[nigel]

Why is everybody so eager to see the back of Bent, the one player we have who is guaranteed to score goals for us?

I have no idea. I'll be glad to see him back in contention.

I wouldn't say he's guaranteed to score goals for us, as we play a system that doesn't suit him

And without wanting to go over old ground, if we have a striker who has scored a f*ckload of goals at his other clubs (and in his first year or so with us), maybe we should think about playing a system where we might score occasionally.

If our new system were generating stacks of goals then I'd no problem leaving him out. But as it's not, maybe it's time to start using the tools at our disposal.

Dave is spot on.
It's time to look at a system that will bring the best out of Bent.

Disagree.
Unless you're suggesting we go and re-buy Young and Downing, or players of similar ilk, of course.

How did he manage to score so many at Charlton then with Darren Ambrose, Matt Holland and Radostin Kishishev being his main supply line, or at Sunderland when he had Frazier Campbell, Jordan Henderson and Bolo Zenden?

It's not like it was Stanley Matthews pinging crosses in for him.

He scored  goals for us, under Houllier, with Young and Downing which was why I mentioned them, and to be fair, I'm eternally grateful that he did, too, as they probably kept us up.

The reason he scored for Sunderland and Charlton is, obviously, because their system suited him.
I noticed that you omitted Spurs from your example, he didn't score many there because their style didn't suit him. They've survived without him, I'm pretty sure we can too.

What you're saying is that Lambert has to change his footballing style and managerial philosophy to suit one player, and that would also mean the other 10 players have to fit in too.

It's time to move forward

[David_Nab]

He was Spurs top goalscrorer in his last season there

[hawkeye]

Are there any sides that play 2 out and out forwards successfully at the moment? Spain played 4-6-0 in the summer and won the competition which was ridiculous in the extreme.

I agree that 3-5-2 would be the only way to make it work, Lowton and Bennet would have more space going forward and the midfield would not be totally over-run. Not too dissimilar from what Wigan have done going 3-4-3, which in reality is the old 3-5-2 as Maloney or whoever takes that role drops in to make it a 3 in the centre. It would also give Clark some support and might make us a bit more resolute at the back. The Baker would fit in alongside Vlaar and Clark ok too.

Has Lambert ever played 3-4-3?

[ozzjim]

Are there any sides that play 2 out and out forwards successfully at the moment? Spain played 4-6-0 in the summer and won the competition which was ridiculous in the extreme.

I agree that 3-5-2 would be the only way to make it work, Lowton and Bennet would have more space going forward and the midfield would not be totally over-run. Not too dissimilar from what Wigan have done going 3-4-3, which in reality is the old 3-5-2 as Maloney or whoever takes that role drops in to make it a 3 in the centre. It would also give Clark some support and might make us a bit more resolute at the back. The Baker would fit in alongside Vlaar and Clark ok too.

Has Lambert ever played 3-4-3?

He changed to it during games last season. We have seen the tinkering with the side that was predicted, but not the formation on the pitch like he did regularly through games at Norwich.

[Risso]

Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Baker Lichaj
Clark KEA
Weimann Ireland Gabby
Bent Benteke

That's how I'd go for the forseeable future.

[Salsa Party Animal]

I would try to see if we can play Bent, Benteke and Weinmann together.

[Mister E]

...
I agree that 3-5-2 would be the only way to make it work, Lowton and Bennet would have more space going forward and the midfield would not be totally over-run. Not too dissimilar from what Wigan have done going 3-4-3, which in reality is the old 3-5-2 as Maloney or whoever takes that role drops in to make it a 3 in the centre. It would also give Clark some support and might make us a bit more resolute at the back. The Baker would fit in alongside Vlaar and Clark ok too.

I argued this a while ago, partly to suggest that Delph would make a good left WB and partly to address the fact that we seem to get overrun through the CMF. With Lowton and Delph as WB, and a three from a combo of Baker, CC, Vlaar and Lichaj at CB we'd look a lot stronger throughout th erest of ht epitch.

Having said all of that, the current 4-3-2-1 also works for me; subject to getting some wins under our belt!

[pauliewalnuts]

Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Baker Lichaj
Clark KEA
Weimann Ireland Gabby
Bent Benteke

That's how I'd go for the forseeable future.

I doubt if even fielding 12 men like that would improve us much *wink*

[PaulWinch again]

Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Baker Lichaj
Clark KEA
Weimann Ireland Gabby
Bent Benteke

That's how I'd go for the forseeable future.

I doubt if even fielding 12 men like that would improve us much *wink*

Ha ha indeed, I'd also have Westwood in the side. Saturday apart we've looked a better side since he started playing.

[danlanza]

Fhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svgtiaDPhzE&feature=g-all-lik

Flog Bent and have Benteke and this guy upfront.

[eastie]

Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Baker Lichaj
Clark KEA
Weimann Ireland Gabby
Bent Benteke

That's how I'd go for the forseeable future.

                       Guzan

Lowton.     Vlaar.    Baker.      Bennett

             Clark. .   Westwood

       Ireland/bannan           Weimann/gabby

                 Benteke.    Bent

       
That's how I'd go if all fit with Ireland or bannan , and Weimann or gabby .

[ozzjim]

I would certainly have KEA in with Westwood, but then I would move Clark to left back and Baker in alongside Concrete. When fit I would get NZogbia, Gabby and Benteke up front, with Bannan or Ireland, depending on form.

The other option is a back 3 of Clark, Baker and Vlaar, Lowton and Bennet as wing backs and a 3 of Ireland Westwood and KEA, with Benteke and Bent up front.

[pbavfckuwait]

That is the problem how we play at the moment we need all 10 outfield players working, how many people have stated on here if the service is not right Bent might as well not be on the pitch, we have not got the players in the team at the moment that can supply him, so if thats the case give me a working Benteke and for all his faults a working back Gabby  and if need be where I think he is wasted a wide Andy, but a Bent does not work for the team Bent woks for his self.