3-5-2.

[Richard]

As others have said the system is great if the wide men bomb forward - I think the following line up is our best way to go forward :

Guzan

Any 3 of Herd Vlaar Baker Clark

Lowton and one other maybe Delph or Bennett, but def not Lichaj  - new signing perhaps ?

Bannan Westwood and one of Holman/KEA/Ireland/Nzog

Benteke and one of Gabby/Bent/Weimann

[Steve R]

The problem with 3-5-2 is that it is easy for the full backs get pinned back to make it 5-3-2. You then get out-manned in midfield as either or both the opposing full backs have space to move forward and the two up top become spectators.

It depends a lot on the fitness of the two wing backs. Often they are moving 60 yards forward to take part in an attack and then have to retreat 60 to help defend.

The end result is that you can be looking to win the game with 4 or sometimes only 3 players, which is what happened a lot during the Stoke game.

It's a good formation as an alternative tactic, but I'd rather see the midfield beefed up and persevere with 4-3-1-3 as our staple starting position.

Either way, it's nice to have a manager who uses his brain and has the balls to try things.

[SoccerHQ]

Vlaar was pretty good before the injury let's not forget.

[OCD]

It's a good formation as an alternative tactic, but I'd rather see the midfield beefed up and persevere with 4-3-1-3 as our staple starting position.

I would like us to play 4-3-1-3 as well. We might score a few more goals with an extra man. Failing that, 4-2-3-1 should be Plan A.

[thick_mike]

I can see us playing with three centre backs and having Vlaar bombing forward. He likes to go on a run and could be effective. The remaining two centre halfs could then go to a normal back four formation to fill in.

[tomd2103]

When you play 3 CBs, the two outside CBs will somtimes need to carry the ball out of defence.  I think that role would suit Vlaar well.

[villan from luton]

I  think Lambert will choose his tactics considering who we play

[OCD]

Lambert seems to plan for several games at a time. He changed to 4-2-3-1 for the Swindon game and largely stuck to the formation and personnel for a number of games and then he went to 3-5-2 for QPR onwards. I wonder what he'll try next and when?

[Matt Collins]

I think we may stick with 352 (or 343) over our run of hard fixtures, and potentially keep it against Wigan given they play that way too. But I'd expect us to revert to 4231 after that, hopefully with the addition of one or two options to play in the three attacking midfield roles. That ate of the pitch has to be the priority for me. No one has really convinced they should be a fixture there so far, though in principle Ireland and nzogbia should be the most natural fit.

[Eugene Fraxby]

Wasn't a massive fan of the three at the back on Saturday- Stoke just let Baker and Herd have the ball knowing they couldn't do anything with it. It played a big part in our inability to break them down as our main 'out balls' tended to be the two wide centre-backs. We also had next to no width (and when Lowton did get forward we failed to find him)

If we do persevere with it Danny Rose would be perfect for left-wing back and probably available. Although I'd prefer it if they played more like wide-midfielders like Wigan's do- as someone else pointed out you can end up penned in with 5 at the back if you're not very careful.

[PaulWinch again]

Vlaar was pretty good before the injury let's not forget.

Indeed Vlaar should be the first choice centre half for me.

[fredm]

In the first half on saturday, Lowton moved upfield into space on several occasions when we had the ball in the centre left of the park.  Unfortunately nobody got their head up enough to change play and move it quickly out to our right flank to him, we just kept playing it around in the middle or out to the left.  On occasions I was pleading with BB to do one of his 30/40 yarders from one side to the other but he seems to have cut this out of his game at the moment.  If he had done one Lowton would have been in acres of space to attack their full back and maybe pull Shawcross and Huth out of position.

[paul_e]

In the first half on saturday, Lowton moved upfield into space on several occasions when we had the ball in the centre left of the park.  Unfortunately nobody got their head up enough to change play and move it quickly out to our right flank to him, we just kept playing it around in the middle or out to the left.  On occasions I was pleading with BB to do one of his 30/40 yarders from one side to the other but he seems to have cut this out of his game at the moment.  If he had done one Lowton would have been in acres of space to attack their full back and maybe pull Shawcross and Huth out of position.

He pinged an absolute blinder of a pass in the build up to the Benteke chance at the start of the 2nd half.  If it had been played by a media favourite it'd have been shown constantly for the last couple of days.  Much like Westwood doing his little trick by the left touchline to get into space.

[Monty]

In the first half on saturday, Lowton moved upfield into space on several occasions when we had the ball in the centre left of the park.  Unfortunately nobody got their head up enough to change play and move it quickly out to our right flank to him, we just kept playing it around in the middle or out to the left.  On occasions I was pleading with BB to do one of his 30/40 yarders from one side to the other but he seems to have cut this out of his game at the moment.  If he had done one Lowton would have been in acres of space to attack their full back and maybe pull Shawcross and Huth out of position.

He pinged an absolute blinder of a pass in the build up to the Benteke chance at the start of the 2nd half.  If it had been played by a media favourite it'd have been shown constantly for the last couple of days.  Much like Westwood doing his little trick by the left touchline to get into space.

That was honestly Zidane-esque. Not saying Westwood is Zidane obviously, but that was sheer class.

[claretandbeer]

The big advantage is that it allows another forward ,Bent or Weimann , to capitalise on the havoc that Beneteke can cause.
The big problem is that most teams play only one upfront,with 3 defenders it could leave you outnumbered in midfield. Fortunately, Herd is mobile and being a competitive Aussie is willing to venture forward and Clark has very good technical ability and is comfortable going forward.Lowton is an ideal wing back,how did the Sheffield United fans not rate him ? If Bennett is similar going forward,it will be ideal for us .