Fox says sacking Lambert would be like flicking a coin??

[peter w]

I think Lambert wants to play Cleverley as much as possible to try and persuade him to join us in the summer. To be fair I think that his performances are limiting his movement possibilities in the summer so I shouldn't worry too much about dropping him.

[silhillvilla]

Whatever you think of Cleverley, him and Westwood can't play in the same side.

Nor does a Westwood / Sanchez combo work

[Monty]

Whatever you think of Cleverley, him and Westwood can't play in the same side.

Nor does a Westwood / Sanchez combo work

Straightforwardly wrong. It's a classic match of styles.

[hilts_coolerking]

Whatever you think of Cleverley, him and Westwood can't play in the same side.

Nor does a Westwood / Sanchez combo work

Straightforwardly wrong. It's a classic match of styles.

Take it easy Monts, these are matters of opinion.

[Monty]

Fair enough, that does look a bit more strident than I meant it. How about 'straightforwardly wrong I think'? *winky whatnot*

[Ad@m]

Whatever you think of Cleverley, him and Westwood can't play in the same side.

Nor does a Westwood / Sanchez combo work

Straightforwardly wrong. It's a classic match of styles.

Take it easy Monts, these are matters of opinion.

Nope, Montys right.

[hilts_coolerking]

Nope, Montys right.

Straightforwardly right or just vanilla right?  I wasn't actually debating whether he's correct or not.

[Ad@m]

Nope, Montys right.

Straightforwardly right or just vanilla right?

I'm not sure I know the difference!

[edgysatsuma89]

Sanchez and westwood, as someone mentioned earlier, is a classic stopper-passer combo. It would just be making sure that Westoods passing becomes more forward thinking and 'defence splitting'.

-------------- Sanchez -------Westwood-----------
Gil-----------------------Delph---------------------Sinclair
---------------------------Benteke--------------------------

I don't even know if Delph can be as effective further up field, but I'd atleast like to see it tried. What's being tried at the moment with everyone hugging each other is pointless.

I've put Sinclair there not having any idea how good he is anymore. Maybe Grealish but he won't get much of a chance. N'zogbia is perfect (insert maniacal laughter). Bacuna? God knows, just try something.

I'm not deluded though. I fully expect cleverley starting every game.

[Monty]

I think Delph has the engine to break from midfield into the box and be able to recover defensively.

[ChicagoLion]

I think Delph has the engine to break from midfield into the box and be able to recover defensively.

yep I think giving him a free role is not a bad shout.

[Monty]

I'm not sure about an entirely free role, but certainly more like Lampard had at Chelsea, ie the guy whose actual job it is to make runs into the area.

[old man villa fan]

Sanchez and westwood, as someone mentioned earlier, is a classic stopper-passer combo. It would just be making sure that Westoods passing becomes more forward thinking and 'defence splitting'.

-------------- Sanchez -------Westwood-----------
Gil-----------------------Delph---------------------Sinclair
---------------------------Benteke--------------------------

I don't even know if Delph can be as effective further up field, but I'd atleast like to see it tried. What's being tried at the moment with everyone hugging each other is pointless.

I've put Sinclair there not having any idea how good he is anymore. Maybe Grealish but he won't get much of a chance. N'zogbia is perfect (insert maniacal laughter). Bacuna? God knows, just try something.

I'm not deluded though. I fully expect cleverley starting every game.

I was thinking about that formation earlier.  It has become clear to me that both Gabby and Weimann can only play in their main position.  Gabby has become very limited in that you have to knock the ball in front of him and let him chase it, a bit like school football.  He does not think quick enough to move into space.  Weimann looks as though he is working hard when he drops deep.  He is working hard but he drops too deep and lacks the ability/touch to turn with the ball, so just plays it back but does not have the pace to get into the position he should be in to take a return ball or the second ball in a triangle.  Weimann should only be played as a second forward.

The problem I have with Westwood is his lack of pace with and without the ball, his lightness in the tackle and his wanting to drop too deep to take the ball off the defenders or Guzan.  By dropping so deep it just allows the opposition to reform.  He then lacks pace to move forward with ball and draw/commit players before passing.  Sanchez is far better at breaking up play, although he can be careless with his passing when he tries to do too much.  One problem with playing both is that they are both essentially slightly right of centre players.

Sinclair was a better player than being a player told to stick on the touchline as he has when he came on yesterday and Arsenal.  Playing this way just makes it easier for a fullback.

With that formation I would be encouraging Gil and Sinclair to get closer to Benteke to pull defenders and midfield players deeper to create space for Delph.

Having said all of that, there is a much chance of this happening as finding that bomber on the moon.

[DeeBoy1]

Feels like we should change the name of this thread...no-one seems interested in discussing Tom and his coin flicking any more!

[ez]

I started thinking there was some sort of clause in his contract when he was played on the right wing earlier in the season but after seeing Sanchez dropped yesterday and Cleverley start I'm now convinced.

Probably not a 'must play' clause but probably a clause which increases the loan fee every time he doesn't start when fit.

Then we should sub him as soon as the ball goes out of play for the first time.