Scott Sinclair - now gone

[old man villa fan]

I can't remember him much at Swansea.  What position did he play and in what formation.

[passitsideways]

I can't remember him much at Swansea.  What position did he play and in what formation.

http://www.whoscored.com/Teams/259/Archive?stageId=5476

So a 4-2-3-1 with Sinclair on the left, which is basically what I think we should eventually aim to be playing. Gana and another midfielder, Sinclair/Grealish, Grealish/Gil, Adama/Gil in the three behind the striker.

[Villa in Denmark]

I can't remember him much at Swansea.  What position did he play and in what formation.

http://www.whoscored.com/Teams/259/Archive?stageId=5476

So a 4-2-3-1 with Sinclair on the left, which is basically what I think we should eventually aim to be playing. Gana and another midfielder, Sinclair/Grealish, Grealish/Gil, Adama/Gil in the three behind the striker.

That's surely made for Sanchez.

[passitsideways]

I can't remember him much at Swansea.  What position did he play and in what formation.

http://www.whoscored.com/Teams/259/Archive?stageId=5476

So a 4-2-3-1 with Sinclair on the left, which is basically what I think we should eventually aim to be playing. Gana and another midfielder, Sinclair/Grealish, Grealish/Gil, Adama/Gil in the three behind the striker.

That's surely made for Sanchez.

It really depends on how you view the double pivot anyway. If you treat it as primarily a solid defensive platform, then Sanchez would probably be best-suited. But, just as an example, that German WC team controlled possession well enough as a unit so that Schweinsteiger and Khedira could take turns to push forward (with the other covering) and provide an extra threat in the final third. In that case, I don't see why you couldn't make a case for Westwood (who so far has passed the ball more purposefully) or Veretout (whose reputation as a big prospect seems to be greatly attached to his ability to create chances from midfield). It does look like Gana is currently and will be our best all-round midfielder though.

[Matt Collins]

Great to see more goals and he grew into the game. Should have had an assist too

Still don't see him as the answer to our no 9 problems, but he could play in a pair. Would be great if I'm wrong

[Doorbell]

The main problem - I see - of Sinclair playing as a striker is whether he can play with his back to goal i.e. as a pivot to hold up play and an 'out' ball.
That said, Sinclair / Grealish / Gil / Adama could be a very fluid front four, forcing us to play passing football rather than using the 'out' ball/hoof too often.

This is exactly what I want to see and even as a lone striker, with the other three attacking, Sinclair could still ghost in.

[Matt Collins]

Yeah but you've got to be able to build off the striker with his back to goal in English football. You just have to

If Sinclair can do that it would be great because I agree with all the other positive points. But I don't see it

[Rigadon]

He reminds me a bit of Thierry Henry, not as good, but moves with the same smoothness on the ball.  He could be a really decent centre forward I think.

[paul_e]

Yeah but you've got to be able to build off the striker with his back to goal in English football. You just have to

If Sinclair can do that it would be great because I agree with all the other positive points. But I don't see it

Why have you got to do that?  Is it because it's what other teams do?  Arsenal don't play that way at all and they're regulars in the champions league.

I think if you can make intelligent runs and open space for players to run into you can do very well if you have the right players in the 3 in behind, with Ayew and Veretout to settle and compete for those positions as well I think it's certainly something we should look at.  I think Kozak offers a similar option in that he is also not great with his back to goal but does offer good movement and gets into good positions to have chances.  I'd like those 2 to be the main options at 9 for the time being so we can let Gestede have short cameos and be an aggressive option from the bench.

[Stirchley Villain]

He's scoring goals.

[Ron Manager]

He's scoring goals.

Five in two. Any more of that business and Chelsea or Man City will be offering us a kings ransom to sign him!

[olaftab]

Yes beam me smile up Scotty!

[Matt Collins]

Yeah but you've got to be able to build off the striker with his back to goal in English football. You just have to

If Sinclair can do that it would be great because I agree with all the other positive points. But I don't see it

Why have you got to do that?  Is it because it's what other teams do?  Arsenal don't play that way at all and they're regulars in the champions league.

I think if you can make intelligent runs and open space for players to run into you can do very well if you have the right players in the 3 in behind, with Ayew and Veretout to settle and compete for those positions as well I think it's certainly something we should look at.  I think Kozak offers a similar option in that he is also not great with his back to goal but does offer good movement and gets into good positions to have chances.  I'd like those 2 to be the main options at 9 for the time being so we can let Gestede have short cameos and be an aggressive option from the bench.

Whenever I see giroud that's exactly what they do. I don't mean play long balls. But if you're a team like villa I can't see how you can do without someone who shows for the ball with reliability. Benteke was great because he did that up top and down the channels. Gestede is all the former and gabby, Ayew and Sinclair the latter.

[ciggiesnbeer]

He's scoring goals.

Yup. Sometimes you just have to let a goal scorer just keep his place based on his results. When players get in a run of "Lucky they were there" moments the best thing to do is let them keep at it regardless of how it is happening.

[Matt Collins]

I don't think anyone is suggesting leaving him out!