Jonathan Kodjia - SOLD

[Matt Collins]

Hows about:

------------------GK------------------
Bacuna ---  CB -----   CB ----Amavi
----Tish-------Jedi------Grealish-----
--------------McCormack-------------
--------Ayew--------Kodija-----------

The width would mainly be provided by the full-backs and one of the striker drifting wide.  Importantly it get three bodies in the centre of the pitch so the team should not be easily over run.

I'd swap Ayew and RMc but agree otherwise.

I agree it's intriguing. We'd need to work on it properly in training as it's quite hard to play the diamond well.

[Ian.]

Hows about:

------------------GK------------------
Bacuna ---  CB -----   CB ----Amavi
----Tish-------Jedi------Grealish-----
--------------McCormack-------------
--------Ayew--------Kodija-----------

The width would mainly be provided by the full-backs and one of the striker drifting wide.  Importantly it get three bodies in the centre of the pitch so the team should not be easily over run.

Just a few flaws in that line up. First not playing Benteke in his strongest position, second we sold him to Liverpool, third is how are you going to clone him into two?

[andyh]

This kid looks like he could be very, very special.

I said before, to me, he looks so much like Collymore at his best.
He has so much pace, power and trickery.

I hope he becomes a superstar for us.

[dave shelley]

I see he has scored this evening against Mali.  Ivory Coast 2-1 up after about thirty minutes.

[GarTomas]

I see he has scored this evening against Mali.  Ivory Coast 2-1 up after about thirty minutes.

And Mali captain looks like Yacouba Sylla

[tomd2103]

Hows about:

------------------GK------------------
Bacuna ---  CB -----   CB ----Amavi
----Tish-------Jedi------Grealish-----
--------------McCormack-------------
--------Ayew--------Kodija-----------

The width would mainly be provided by the full-backs and one of the striker drifting wide.  Importantly it get three bodies in the centre of the pitch so the team should not be easily over run.

I'd swap Ayew and RMc but agree otherwise.

I agree it's intriguing. We'd need to work on it properly in training as it's quite hard to play the diamond well.

I agree with the bit in bold above.  Ayew in the 'number 10' position and McCormack partnering Kodjia, with Gestede as an impact sub.  I'm not sure about Grealish as part of a three man midfield but there aren't really any other options.

[supertom]

This kid looks like he could be very, very special.

I said before, to me, he looks so much like Collymore at his best.
He has so much pace, power and trickery.

I hope he becomes a superstar for us.

Lets help him out and stop playing him out wide. We do love a square peg in a round hole at Villa.

[Matt Collins]

Kodjia with McCormack behind him looks the best bet on paper to me


But I think all his best performances has been with gestede in the pitch, often out wide

[passitsideways]

If we're going to play 4-4-1-1, I would play Bacuna out on the right and get him to come help in the middle of the park since he at least has some familiarity with playing there. At least in that case you can still play Kodjia and McCormack through the middle, and Ayew out on the left, but get a bit more midfield support unlike the 4-2-4 nonsense we've effectively been trying to get by with, which was never going to work with the midfielders we have.

[Matt Collins]

I agree we might need one of the wide midfielders to do exactly that job

I wish we had better alternatives than Bacuna though

We should also remember that playing very attacking formations has done us good as well as bad this season

[SoccerHQ]

Scored a cracker for Cote D'Ivoire yesterday.

They play him as a central striker, Bristol did, we should.

[adrenachrome]

[ozzjim]

Scored a cracker for Cote D'Ivoire yesterday.

They play him as a central striker, Bristol did, we should.

Not rocket science is it. Kodjia and McCormack down the middle.  Ayew and Grealish wide.  Kodjia is wasted out wide.

[Matt Collins]

Scored a cracker for Cote D'Ivoire yesterday.

They play him as a central striker, Bristol did, we should.

Not rocket science is it. Kodjia and McCormack down the middle.  Ayew and Grealish wide.  Kodjia is wasted out wide.

Except isn't that the sort of "424" formation that many feel has been a big problem and leaves us too exposed in the middle? I'd like to play that way but it needs two really good central midfielders who will get through a lot of work

[SoccerHQ]

Scored a cracker for Cote D'Ivoire yesterday.

They play him as a central striker, Bristol did, we should.

Not rocket science is it. Kodjia and McCormack down the middle.  Ayew and Grealish wide.  Kodjia is wasted out wide.

Still too luxury for me.....I actually agree with WM in that we can't play Ayew and Grealish in the same team as they both want to take up the same space in attacking midfield.

With Jack's attitude in recent weeks I think he's played his way out again...non existant at Preston.

Maybe we should go back to the 4-3-2-1 we were playing under Sherwood. Kodjia central with McCormack and Ayew just behind him.