Leandro Bacuna - Sold

[sirlordbaltimore]

I still think Okore is the better option at RB. He's got pace and power and won't just hoof the ball. Surely a way better defender than Bacuna??

Even more logical for me would be Okore playing at RCB where he's supposed to and Richards at RB where he'd be free to push up the pitch just as he likes to

[class-of-82]

With a back three you defend as a five and attack as a midfield five
For me it should be
                                              Guzan
              Richards.         Lescott.            Okore

Hutton.         Sanchez.     Westwood.             Amavi
         
                    Gil.                Grealish
                         
                            Gestede/gabby/Kozak


See this manager stuff is easy

[KRS]

Where do Traore and Gueye fit into that formation?

[Hookeysmith]

Luna was in another league of crapness altogether.  At least Bacuna doesn't play with his arms tied behind his back.

Did anyone else notice against Leicester nearly every time the ball came into the box Richards did the same sticking chest out whilst holding arms behind back. I think it's something he learned on the continent about not hand balling

I think it's gash

[Villa in Denmark]

With a back three you defend as a five and attack as a midfield five
For me it should be
                                              Guzan
              Richards.         Lescott.            Okore

Hutton.         Sanchez.     Westwood.             Amavi
         
                    Gil.                Grealish
                         
                            Gestede/gabby/Kozak


See this manager stuff is easy

Okore is as right footed as Staunton was left footed.

If you really want to play that way it would have to be

Okore Richards Lescott.

[class-of-82]

Gueye in for Sanchez then and Sinclair and Traore in for grealish or is it Sinclair in for grealish.
Or shall I leave them on the bench just my thoughts

[LeeB]

Gueye in for Sanchez then and Sinclair and Traore in for grealish or is it Sinclair in for grealish.
Or shall I leave them on the bench just my thoughts

All of them go on the bench before Grealish.

[RussellC]

With a back three you defend as a five and attack as a midfield five
For me it should be
                                              Guzan
              Richards.         Lescott.            Okore

Hutton.         Sanchez.     Westwood.             Amavi
         
                    Gil.                Grealish
                         
                            Gestede/gabby/Kozak


See this manager stuff is easy

Okore is as right footed as Staunton was left footed.

If you really want to play that way it would have to be

Okore Richards Lescott.

I think Lescott's lack of pace and mobility would be an issue on the left handside of a back 3. Also, the central player of the 3 really needs to be a decent ball player, so I'd be looking at Ilori to do this if that's a formation we're going to be looking at. My choice (longer term) would be;

Richards - Ilori - Clark

[Dave]

I know thIs is a bacuna thread
But for me with the players we have its crying out for a back three of Richards lescott and okore or Ilori
With Hutton and amavi wing backs
Worked out ok for sir Brian

I agree with this. I'd play with 3 centre backs and 2 wing backs which would take pressure off the problem right back position. We have strong central defenders and I'd love to see 2 wing backs bombing down the flanks. I'm pretty sure this is in Sherwood's long term thinking as well.

It depends on who we are playing against - It's a formation that stopped being popular (i.e stopped working) when teams starting playing with runners behind a central striker rather than two up front. In Little's day most of the league played a pretty standard 4-4-2.

When you have one focal striker (like most of the league use now) then you have three defenders all covering that same threat. The end result is that your centre-backs are likely to get drawn towards the ball and end up out of position. It's a recipe to make our defence even more confused than it is now.

It's all well and good doing it just because it means Amavi can get forward more, but doesn't allow for what you lose elsewhere. If we're playing against a straightforward 4-4-2 then fine, but against most of the league then we'd likely end up in a bit of a mess.

[silhillvilla]

Luna was in another league of crapness altogether.  At least Bacuna doesn't play with his arms tied behind his back.

Did anyone else notice against Leicester nearly every time the ball came into the box Richards did the same sticking chest out whilst holding arms behind back. I think it's something he learned on the continent about not hand balling

I think it's gash

Agree, it's become fashionable to do it though,  Chelsea players do it

[Clark W Griswold]

With a back three you defend as a five and attack as a midfield five
For me it should be
                                              Guzan
              Richards.         Lescott.            Okore

Hutton.         Sanchez.     Westwood.             Amavi
         
                    Gil.                Grealish
                         
                            Gestede/gabby/Kozak


See this manager stuff is easy

Okore is as right footed as Staunton was left footed.

If you really want to play that way it would have to be

Okore Richards Lescott.

I think Lescott's lack of pace and mobility would be an issue on the left handside of a back 3. Also, the central player of the 3 really needs to be a decent ball player, so I'd be looking at Ilori to do this if that's a formation we're going to be looking at. My choice (longer term) would be;

Richards - Ilori - Clark

To be fair, Gareth Barry wasn't blessed with lightening pace but looked like Carlos Alberto in that position when he first broke into the team.

[john e]

he takes a lot of stick on here,
 but that first time ball he put over last night was perfection

[PeterWithesShin]

That was Amavi.

[john e]

That was Amavi.

That was Amavi.

just testing

[john e]

I thought the goal from  Libor Kozak was pretty special as well