Tiresias

Well yes, but while no Barcalona we aren't in champions league etc. Anyway I agree actually, we're let down by our wingers who aren't going to be scoring goals enough, so should be playing more traditionally, and need a proper striker in the team.

Hmmm in relation to Cabaye thread where someone propose HBA as a trequarista a la messi (which i think is probably too ambitious atm) but wondering if this would allow Marveaux a better role, see krul Simp Colo taylor Santon Tiote Cabaye Marveaux Obertan HBA Gutierrez

I'd agree in attacking midfielder in centre of a 4-2-3-1 with brief to go in for goals, which seems plan, might be worth giving a go in messi role in a 4-3-3 though, hardly be said Messi doesn't make use of dribbling in that role. That is getting ahead of ourselves though, and would be brave, and reliant on HBA to score plenty of goals as well as wingers, it however does bulk up midfield, arguably a more defensive formation,

I agree should play 3 man midfield, but Tiote didn't turn up for the QPR game it seems, and has got better, so easy to read too much into that.

if Ben Arfa is replacing Best effectively I suspect he will do, Best at the moment should be on poaching duties

I'd kind of love him to be a proper false no 9, we'd be suddenly quite cutting edge tactically heh. Rooney and Aguero are probably only other players in league who could and they don't play like that at the moment heh though Rooney in particular does drag the defence about a bit.

His contribution from his passing is enough anyway, it's always a shame when great players don't get plaudits because they're not goal scorers (remember the daily mail's rather mad critique of the spain squad "10 world class players and Xavi" lololol). Cabaye definately looks like he has plenty of goals in him though, which is excellent.

At least 1 of Given's saves don't think a lot in the league would have made, but yeah no use hitting it long range right at keeper

Hope Given hasn't made Cabaye more cautious about his shooting from outside the box, think he'll terrorise a short on confidence keeper.

If he stops getting game time I'd worry a bit about him wanting to move on, and that may agitate Colo as well...may be a bit premature but think he's still very important

Yeah probably actually hardly lacking in the centre.

Jonas definately should be used against stronger teams with good wingers, he'll hold up the wings and get possession, against a team where we really want to be testing their full backs and anticipate being domiinate, there's a good argument for stronger players. Looking at his stats for Aston Villa game his passing was good but he never successfully passed into box, and only once even tried, his shots weren't good either, but his passing was, and he tackled successfully more than Tiote or Colo (not by much) and further up the pitch. I wonder if he could actually be moved into the middle should we lose one of our main midfielders to injury.

is Ben Arfa likely to start? I'd imagine sub appearance. Him, Cabaye and Tiote in midfield is :fwap:

I'd like to see standard expected back line in a 4-2-3-1 with tiote - Cabaye Obertan - Marveaux - Guti Best 60 mins in HBA on for Obertan, Marv moves to left and Guti to right. Sammy on for Best later perhaps.

They're a team looking to prove a point, can't afford to be complacent. If we play well, like against Villa should win though, should at the very least keep a clean sheet.

Still start him ahead of Raylor

isnt he out injured?

Fairly sure the premier league games were cancelled due to worries about fans arriving and leaving on icy conditions, nothing to do with the pitch.

The best premier league team is the one you support, and frankly you'd be a bit odd of a fan not to think that. Unless he means most successful.

Almost week on week pundits say they don't know anything about a player, when if they'd worked out who they were going to talk about they could just do a quick google before MotD, but knowing about football is apparently asking too much for TV pundits. Like the guy who said Mertesacker was no good for Real Madrid, not realising Mertesacker has never played for Real Madrid. And the one who said all Bundesliga teams play in the same style, and people who go on about Gareth Barry as a "top top" player...

I'd rather we risked Raylor than risked Santon early, I'd be rushing him back for a derby or a big game, don't need to now, perhaps a late sub on?

I wonder if he'd be better playing off the striker in a 4-4-1-1 and given fairly free role, but then better players ahead of him there perhaps, but maybe would have preferred that than having Shola up front almost by default in a 4-4-2

Wondering recently if the increasing popularity of 1 striker and 5 midfielders may prompt some brave teams to have a 3 man back line and try a 3-5-2 sort of thing. Doubt it'll happen to be honest, 3 man back lines are used in Italy a bit, where the loss of width isn't so important since most teams play up the middle, but it's hardly been working for Inter at the moment, so skeptical. Might be a decent idea against a vastly inferior team using the 4-5-1 defensively, with little goal threat. Suspect Villas Boas only manager who might try it, but again doubt it. This all has bugger all to do with Cabaye, though I have to say I was skeptical of playing him as deep as he seemed to be, but he seems to have plenty of energy to attack, so happy to see him in the eventual 4-2-3-1 that seems to be the plan in front of defence.

We obviously want wingers who cut inside at the moment, and when ben arfur's playing his central playmaker role, their ability to score is going to be more important. Dunno yet if he can finish well, but he's got the speed. Our passing from deeper midfield is looking good enough to make up

Have to agree with Marveaux starting instead, obertan impact sub for some pace, but we've already got Sammy for that. That said not entirely doom and gloom over him, potential there