4-3-3

[Tooj 17]

Compared to when we played it last season the players to me didn't really seem to know what they were doing last night. As in they all actually weren't sure of what role to take up, appeared to be lacking in clarity from the management. Maybe José going off changed the game plan as he worked well last season with Martins down the left flank, but at times the players just appeared to be lost.

[snakehips 0]

Compared to when we played it last season the players to me didn't really seem to know what they were doing last night. As in they all actually weren't sure of what role to take up, appeared to be lacking in clarity from the management. Maybe José going off changed the game plan as he worked well last season with Martins down the left flank, but at times the players just appeared to be lost.

 

I shouted out during the game: Shearer, what's the plan supposed to be??

[snakehips 0]

Compared to when we played it last season the players to me didn't really seem to know what they were doing last night. As in they all actually weren't sure of what role to take up, appeared to be lacking in clarity from the management. Maybe José going off changed the game plan as he worked well last season with Martins down the left flank, but at times the players just appeared to be lost.

 

I shouted out during the game: Shearer, what's the plan supposed to be??

 

 

Are you that gut that Stevie was complaining about that looks like ravanelli!

 

Okay, I have a little bit of relaxed muscle, but there's no need for that!!!

 

And no, I am a cross between Brad Pitt and Jonny Depp.

[Tooj 17]

Compared to when we played it last season the players to me didn't really seem to know what they were doing last night. As in they all actually weren't sure of what role to take up, appeared to be lacking in clarity from the management. Maybe José going off changed the game plan as he worked well last season with Martins down the left flank, but at times the players just appeared to be lost.

 

I shouted out during the game: Shearer, what's the plan supposed to be??

 

 

Are you that gut that Stevie was complaining about that looks like ravanelli!

 

Okay, I have a little bit of relaxed muscle, but there's no need for that!!!

 

And no, I am a cross between Brad Pitt and Jonny Depp.

 

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7906172.stm

[S-I-S-S-O-K-O 0]

Our midfield can't compete with any other team when there's 4 of them in there. 3 of them stand no chance so 4-3-3 is a complete waste of time.

 

In my eyes the only chance we have is to go 3-5-2 and demand that the widemen GET FUCKING CROSSES INTO THE BOX. I'm amazed that a bloke like Shearer who thrived on crosses hasn't seen that it is imperative that we start getting the ball into the opposition box more often than once or twice a game.

[Isegrim 9677]

I think it is a lack of confidence, crapness of some players and having been messed around too much this season.

 

Last season Keegan came in and it needed a positive result for players gaining confidence and getting more secure about the jobs they were asked to do.

 

This season everything is coming far too late. The players are already at their lowest in terms of confidence. They look frightened at times and insecure. A positive result or maybe even just a goal probably would do wonders to the likes of Owen, Martins.

 

Also I think a big influence has been being subjected to the coaching/managing of Joe Kinnear. He probably did well at the beginning when his team talks could have an inspiring effect, but it became quite clear that the daily work at the training ground had catastrophal effects. The players lack the physical requirements for a relegation fight, not to mention the footballing ability. There is no understanding of each other and that looks like something Keegan worked on from the beginning, because the passing game suddenly improved vastly last year after the murdering tactics from Allardyce.

 

Unfortunately, I think it's all too late now and that Shearer/Dowie have (yet) nowhere near the ability of Keegan to install self-belief in the players in a short time and work with them on the training ground.

[Ayatollah Hermione 13760]

Speaking of crosses, I thought Guthrie put a few decent ones in last night. There was some shit as well but he's certainly more consistent than Ryan Taylor.

[duo 0]

Speaking of crosses, I thought Guthrie put a few decent ones in last night. There was some shit as well but he's certainly more consistent than Ryan Taylor.

He did have a few wayward passes but we didn't have a shot on goal until he came on. And his crossing was far better than what Raylor has produced.

 

With regards the 433 formation - I think the difference between last night and when Keegan played the it was:

 

a.) Confidence - we have none; it's shattered.

b.) Viduka/Martins are not fully fit and it showed

c.) Owen is in the worst form of his life

d.) Butt - no longer the player he was.

e.) We've no left back......you need wings backs to make the formation work.

f.) things I've forgotten.

Edited April 28, 2009 by duo

[Guest Hova]

Our midfield can't compete with any other team when there's 4 of them in there. 3 of them stand no chance so 4-3-3 is a complete waste of time.

 

In my eyes the only chance we have is to go 3-5-2 and demand that the widemen GET FUCKING CROSSES INTO THE BOX. I'm amazed that a bloke like Shearer who thrived on crosses hasn't seen that it is imperative that we start getting the ball into the opposition box more often than once or twice a game.

 

 

Difficult when we have no good wingers. I'd even consider putting Beye on the wing, that's how shit our wingers are.

[Guest alex]

You could play 3-5-2 with Jonas and Duff as the wing-backs imo. Possibly worth trying against Liverpool.

[Papa Lazaru 0]

I think Shearer was right to go 4-3-3, he's seen the utter, utter shite we offer from midfield and decided the only chance was to get all 3 of those strikers in the team and hope they pull out a matchwinner. Sadly for him and us all 3 of them missed an easy chance or else we'd all be sitting here praising Shearer for playing that formation.

 

I don't think he could have done much more really, he started with the formation i would have, when Enrique went off he kept it attacking by playing Duff LB and i might add Guthrie one or 2 wild passes apart was far better than any other midfielder, and he hit 3 good corners in about 10 mins which is more that the rest of them all season.

 

And when Viduka was shot he brought Carroll on and finally he threw Jonas on, so he tried everything really and was let down by poor finishing and that woeful last 20 mins where we disappeared completely from the game.

 

One thing i've noticed is, (ignoring the Chlsea game where Shearer and Dowie had barely had time to do any work with the players) that we've only conceded 2 goals in 3 matches including 2 away games, so it seems they've got some level of organisation into the team, unfortunately not being miracle workers they can't get creativity into it!

[Chaser 1199]

I thought we looked far too narrow, the midfield wasnt linking at all with the forwards, and when the forwards dropped deep, there was no one up top to put it across to.

 

The only time we threatened was from a wide position yet we were trying to put the ball through the middle without success. Martins kept hold of the ball far too long at times and broke up attacks.