Summer 2015 - Transfer Rumours, Speculation & Suggestions

[Toronto Villa]

Systems need players to make best use of them. If the players aren't good enough in one system then any system can defeat it. How many systems did Rodgers play against in the cup final? His players weren't good enough and we beat them. I think it's too easy to get caught up in the pros and cons of systems. Ultimately we need better players that have the versatility to play different ways as the situation demands.

[Dante Lavelli]

Systems need players to make best use of them. If the players aren't good enough in one system then any system can defeat it. How many systems did Rodgers play against in the cup final? His players weren't good enough and we beat them. I think it's too easy to get caught up in the pros and cons of systems. Ultimately we need better players that have the versatility to play different ways as the situation demands.

I agree, but we need - in my opinion - a default/preferred system because we need to know where we focus our spending.

[steffo]

3-5-2 is not a bad shout in the current era. Most teams play narrow football relying on full backs to provide width which we have found out does not work!

There are 3 drawbacks of 352. A) Players to play it B) One of the wide midfield players must be classed as a winger. C) Good sides will exploit the area behind the wing backs.

Currently we have no decent fullbacks so there is no logic in playing 442 !!!!!

[ozzjim]

In fairness, 3-5-2 with Bacuna and Bennett as wing backs getting crosses in, Delph and Another with Grealish in midfield and 2 centre forwards would be interesting. At home it might work really well. Away it might get isolated if pinned back. But a back 3 of Clark, Okore and Richards does look quite interesting. Not slow, fairly decent on the ball and all of an age where if it gelled together it would be ideal, plus Richards can easily bump across to right back and the flexibility is there to slip into a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 if need be.

[oldtimernow]

Now here's an oddity we would have Richards and Richardson who would be older than Richards?

[PeterWithe]

When I think of Richards that interview always comes to mind when he swore after scoring against us, I hope he swears in his signing interview.

[Matt Collins]

How is 3-5-2 simple to operate?

Monty, I'll bow down to your greater knowledge but I think it is quite a simple system, the 3 at the back (easy), the 2 up front (a classic little and large partnership), the confusion arises in the midfield and especially the wing-backs.

There's a reason not many teams play this way any more though. It's awful against a 433 or variant, which so many teams play now. I wouldn't be an advocate at all.

[RussellC]

"Tottenham centre-back Younes Kaboul, 29, is surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane - but Spurs want £5m to let him go. (Guardian) "

From today's Gossip Column. Would be a decent replacement for Vlaar, in my opinion.

[nigel]

How is 3-5-2 simple to operate?

You don't need to be a footballing mastermind to understand how a 3-5-2 operates.

[Monty]

Pretty much everyone has trouble playing 3-5-2 these days, especially if the opposition is playing some sort of 4-3-3. You get no advantage in midfield and doubled-up on out wide, while you find yourself with a centre-back spare who at some point may lose a runner from midfield because he's on his heels, whereas the runner has momentum. No, 3-5-2 tends to do well enough in specific situations or for getting yourself out a rut these days, but everyone who's tried to build a team on it recently has had to give up - even Pep.

[Ads]

We could play 343 or a variation there of. If your defence is quick, and Okore and Richards are if nothing, rapid, then that covers a multitude of positional sins.

[ozzjim]

It can work if flexible enough for one of the 3 to step up into the role picking up an advancing midfielder. But would then get way to complex for our lot!

[nigel]

Pretty much everyone has trouble playing 3-5-2 these days, especially if the opposition is playing some sort of 4-3-3. You get no advantage in midfield and doubled-up on out wide, while you find yourself with a centre-back spare who at some point may lose a runner from midfield because he's on his heels, whereas the runner has momentum. No, 3-5-2 tends to do well enough in specific situations or for getting yourself out a rut these days, but everyone who's tried to build a team on it recently has had to give up - even Pep.

I understand what you're saying, but, Is that the system or the players that is the problem?
You certainly need the proper wingback in place, as when under pressure will be defending in what becomes a 5-3-2. Gidman and Swain would have been perfect for this role.
People go on about 4-4-2 & 4-3-3 but they're totally different when set up with diamonds etc, too.

If Pep failed, maybe he's not as good as we all thought 

[Matt Collins]

We could play 343 or a variation there of. If your defence is quick, and Okore and Richards are if nothing, rapid, then that covers a multitude of positional sins.

I think villa gave a pretty good account of how to play against that system against Liverpool in the FA cup semi. Not for me (as a regular system). There's only one team who regularly played three at the back last year and they went down. Liverpool, QPR and Man U all ditched it.

Would have big misgivings if that's TS's plan. Not that I think there's much evidence it is

[Matt Collins]

On transfers, it really does seem that cabaye is making come and get me eyes to premier league teams and he's not being linked with the top sides - which shows how short term football can be.

I would 100% have him at villa. I wonder if randy would sanction a loan with a view to buying once new owners are in place (though clearly he couldn't commit to the latter part). I can't believe cabaye wants to play for palace even with the pardew connection.