High Five o

Not very bad, but not good. Defending to deep, and we are not taking our counter attacks as good as i would expect. Jonas giving away the first goal tbh, We need a creative offensive midfielder to replace Nolan imo.

Hmmm, can see some mileage in that story. Huntelaar is on a road to nowhere at Milan, and OM is after a striker desperately. Hope this does not materialise.. ben arfa wouldn't fit in the milan team tbh Why not? Could be the understudy to an aging Ronaldinho..? Don't think he'd go from sitting on the bench at Marseille to sitting on the bench at Milan tbh. Isn't that wishful thinking though..? Milan is a massive club and I don't think he will say no to the chance of joining them in favour of playing week in week out with the likes of Nolan and Smith. He may not play every week, but he would play with world class players and everybody knows Milan are in need of rejuvenation, so he should get plenty of opportunity to prove what he can do.. Please dont talk sense in this thread okay?

:clap2: Remember how fucking great Jonas looked on the opening day at OT two years ago? Howay the lads! Ay, it was crazy, one of the best debuts i have seen tbh.

Haha, loved that post man Come On!!!!

Just woke up, worst hangover in a long time, thought it should be a shit day. Made some egg&bacon and read this tread This tread is fkn gold,hall of fame??

In other news.... http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/7929/imagesno20matter20whattna9.jpg

If i see you in Oslo this weekend i will slap you in the face

This team need Bellamy. Anyone who don't want him here is crazy imo.

What? If he is nearly as good as Robert im very very happy.

I know that but very strange he isn't included in the qualifying round. Sorry but

Half the forum by the looks of it

Isent Ben Arfa known to be a rebel? If he dont want to play there, i am sure they will let him go. Ben Arfa not happy in a squad, will be terrible for the moral in the dressing room. Its the only thing i have against him coming here also tbh...

Statment from Lerner. http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2118261,00.html

What line has he crossed? Please tell me? Lets face it this whole HBA saga is based on Rumours and the French Press. Who ACTUALLY knows what is going on behind closed doors? I personally don't see what Ashleys Regime has got to do with anything until clear cut FACTS have been made known!

All is pure speculation! http://dsfv.schnuerpel.eu/statement/everyone-calm-the-fuck-down.jpg

Having a good DM enables the wingback to be more offensive. So you will not lose som much in attack. And have a DM to protect the back 4 is not like having 1 more defender, not sure how you can say that tbh. I think some people puting to much in the defensive in a DM. A good DM are involved in all aspects of the game, they play a part offensive, like a deep laying playmaker. But their primary role is to take out attacking runs, closing down and deny the attacking team room infront of the back 4.

Barton will do as DM. Barton is a box to box midfielder, as is Guthrie as is Gosling. We need someone to just sit in front of the back 4 and break attacks up. The only person who barely resembles that is Smith, and he's not exactly an expert at it. No we don't. We seemed to do alright when we had Speed and Lee together. That is ages since mate, football evolve. Pretty much all the good teams have a good DM to offload the defence. And it allows the fullbacks to go on offensive runs more often. It might be the most important role for our team next season.... if you are going to play two orthodox wide men in a 4-4-2 (or 4-4-1-1) then don't have a DM. 2 clever box to boxers are much better. yes pretty much all the good team have a good DM, pretty much none of them play a standard 4-4-2 like we look to be sizing up for. I see your point, but i still disagree. 442 old school style did not have a dedicated DM, but most have it now. They are not so defensive as in a 433 or 4231, but they are there, and they do a job. When Manu are playing 442, carrick usually play DM. He holds back and play in support. He is a deep defensive playmaker when in attack, and a "protector" when in defence. He is there to interupt a counter attack, and try to break down play. Two box-box will leave a massive hole infront of the center backs. Exposing them for a lot of pressure, especially on counter attacks. Wingbacks will be forced to stay more in defence due to this. and i'll disagree here, two box to box men feed off each other and don't leave the gap as they read each others game and one drops into a position where they can get to the protective position (gary speed was excellent at this, getting into positions where he can aid position aswell as help the centre halves or full back. todays game is more about movement and nouse than ever before. having a dedicated DM negates this. you'll find there will be arguments over who are the good DM's as many will say they are just central midfielders doing their job at doing a bit of everything (ie scheinsteiger and khedira above) I agree with you that todays game are more fluent than before, and positions are not that strict are the was before. A good box-box is a player (imo all of this by the way) is a player who bombs into the oppositions box when possible, and track back when ball is lost. Often they are on the wrong side when a team breaks down play. They tend to be more a good allrounders, often with a edge in attack. (Gerrard, Lamps, scholes etc) However they are often missing the "defensive" mindset of a good DM, and thats why i am more fan of two dedicated roles on the middle. Essien is a perfect expample of near perfect box-box imo, he is so much better when he is allowd to go forward for Chealsea. Also, he is good defensive. But those players are rare. I am more found of specializing a play to do a primary job. A DM dont have to be a bulldozer, and they rearly are in todays game. What we look after in a DM are a player with a good football head, capable to read the game, and anticipate a situation before it happens. Be there to intercept the passings, pick up runs, kill open spaces so the attacking team are neglected much room to roam. Not many players are excellent on this, does who are, tend to be "anonymous" work ants on the middle. What i look after are 2 players, with specializing in two different roles, one primary defensive, and one offensive. As you say, its very fluid now, and todays top midfields can do both. So if we break down a attack, and the primary DM is in a great counter position, he will go for it, and the OM will hold back in the more deep role. But in normal play, the roles are reversed. There are two aspects of this, its the formation on the paper, and they players filling the roles. But this is just how i look at it, and persons and managers have different views of it. *WTF does this have to do with Ben Arfa anyways This is my post on the Ben Arfa tread. My view is that in a 2 man CM we can not afford a so deep role as in a 3 man CM. But imo we need a player with a DM mindset, who have the football head and the skill to protect the back 4. He needs to read the game perfect, and be able to pick up attacking play. Modern DMs is not the bulldozer type "all in" tackler as we remember (a little like Mascherano ), but a smart "playing" DMs as Carrick, Busquets Mikel etc. We dont currently have one of these, Guthrie & Barton is far to often out of possition defensive. Smith is a old school bulldozer type, he does not have the "smartness" in play to pick up oppositions attack, way to often he rushes into a tackle ,and are quite easy to get out of position.

What a backpass

I think its a good thing. Let some "unknown" teams from smaller leagues get a chence to play with the big boys. Spread some money to smaller clubs, it will mean the world to them. I think its fucked up anyways, Champions league should be the winners of all the leagues in europe. Not 4 teams from the major leagues. Max 2 from each league should be max But money rules i guess.

Great!! Hope we win this and get Barca next round Thanks for the updates Ash!

4411 Ruthledge-----Barton/smith-----Guthrie/Nolan------Jonas | | | Ben Arfa | \/ Carroll \/

Barton will do as DM. Barton is a box to box midfielder, as is Guthrie as is Gosling. We need someone to just sit in front of the back 4 and break attacks up. The only person who barely resembles that is Smith, and he's not exactly an expert at it. No we don't. We seemed to do alright when we had Speed and Lee together. That is ages since mate, football evolve. Pretty much all the good teams have a good DM to offload the defence. And it allows the fullbacks to go on offensive runs more often. It might be the most important role for our team next season.... if you are going to play two orthodox wide men in a 4-4-2 (or 4-4-1-1) then don't have a DM. 2 clever box to boxers are much better. yes pretty much all the good team have a good DM, pretty much none of them play a standard 4-4-2 like we look to be sizing up for. I see your point, but i still disagree. 442 old school style did not have a dedicated DM, but most have it now. They are not so defensive as in a 433 or 4231, but they are there, and they do a job. When Manu are playing 442, carrick usually play DM. He holds back and play in support. He is a deep defensive playmaker when in attack, and a "protector" when in defence. He is there to interupt a counter attack, and try to break down play. Two box-box will leave a massive hole infront of the center backs. Exposing them for a lot of pressure, especially on counter attacks. Wingbacks will be forced to stay more in defence due to this. and i'll disagree here, two box to box men feed off each other and don't leave the gap as they read each others game and one drops into a position where they can get to the protective position (gary speed was excellent at this, getting into positions where he can aid position aswell as help the centre halves or full back. todays game is more about movement and nouse than ever before. having a dedicated DM negates this. you'll find there will be arguments over who are the good DM's as many will say they are just central midfielders doing their job at doing a bit of everything (ie scheinsteiger and khedira above) I agree with you that todays game are more fluent than before, and positions are not that strict are the was before. A good box-box is a player (imo all of this by the way) is a player who bombs into the oppositions box when possible, and track back when ball is lost. Often they are on the wrong side when a team breaks down play. They tend to be more a good allrounders, often with a edge in attack. (Gerrard, Lamps, scholes etc) However they are often missing the "defensive" mindset of a good DM, and thats why i am more fan of two dedicated roles on the middle. Essien is a perfect expample of near perfect box-box imo, he is so much better when he is allowd to go forward for Chealsea. Also, he is good defensive. But those players are rare. I am more found of specializing a play to do a primary job. A DM dont have to be a bulldozer, and they rearly are in todays game. What we look after in a DM are a player with a good football head, capable to read the game, and anticipate a situation before it happens. Be there to intercept the passings, pick up runs, kill open spaces so the attacking team are neglected much room to roam. Not many players are excellent on this, does who are, tend to be "anonymous" work ants on the middle. What i look after are 2 players, with specializing in two different roles, one primary defensive, and one offensive. As you say, its very fluid now, and todays top midfields can do both. So if we break down a attack, and the primary DM is in a great counter position, he will go for it, and the OM will hold back in the more deep role. But in normal play, the roles are reversed. There are two aspects of this, its the formation on the paper, and they players filling the roles. But this is just how i look at it, and persons and managers have different views of it. *WTF does this have to do with Ben Arfa anyways

Barton will do as DM. Barton is a box to box midfielder, as is Guthrie as is Gosling. We need someone to just sit in front of the back 4 and break attacks up. The only person who barely resembles that is Smith, and he's not exactly an expert at it. No we don't. We seemed to do alright when we had Speed and Lee together. That is ages since mate, football evolve. Pretty much all the good teams have a good DM to offload the defence. And it allows the fullbacks to go on offensive runs more often. It might be the most important role for our team next season.... if you are going to play two orthodox wide men in a 4-4-2 (or 4-4-1-1) then don't have a DM. 2 clever box to boxers are much better. yes pretty much all the good team have a good DM, pretty much none of them play a standard 4-4-2 like we look to be sizing up for. I see your point, but i still disagree. 442 old school style did not have a dedicated DM, but most have it now. They are not so defensive as in a 433 or 4231, but they are there, and they do a job. When Manu are playing 442, carrick usually play DM. He holds back and play in support. He is a deep defensive playmaker when in attack, and a "protector" when in defence. He is there to interupt a counter attack, and try to break down play. Two box-box will leave a massive hole infront of the center backs. Exposing them for a lot of pressure, especially on counter attacks. Wingbacks will be forced to stay more in defence due to this.

Barton will do as DM. Barton is a box to box midfielder, as is Guthrie as is Gosling. We need someone to just sit in front of the back 4 and break attacks up. The only person who barely resembles that is Smith, and he's not exactly an expert at it. No we don't. We seemed to do alright when we had Speed and Lee together. That is ages since mate, football evolve. Pretty much all the good teams have a good DM to offload the defence. And it allows the fullbacks to go on offensive runs more often. It might be the most important role for our team next year.... But not someone who "just sits in front of the back 4" like you suggested. Schweinsteiger would be a brilliant example for a perfect DM nowadays. Does he only sit back? No. Edit: Sorry, you didn't suggest that. Hehe, no i dident But i still disagree with you regarding Schweinsteiger. He is more box-box, and Bayern and Germany benefit most from he`s offencive work. I acctualy think Sami Khedira on the other hand, is more of a good midfield anchor imo. *If we are comparing DE WC preformance. At the World Cup, Khedira was attacking more than Schweinsteiger was. You are right i think, dident check my facts before posting khedira was not a good example. But my statment stands, as i dont think Schweinsteiger is that kind of protective DM as i was thinking about. I was thinking more in the tracks of Mascherano, Busquets and to a extend Carrick and mikel... I might be wrong about Schweinsteiger, but i am under the impression that he roams forward to much to be concidered a good DM.