The center of the park

[Keanoldinho]

I'm sitting here trying to figure out a well balanced midfield with the players we have and it's near impossible. O'Hara for me is a shoe-in from now on but he needs a partner with experience who sticks the boot in too.

I'm thinking something like this


---------------O'Hara
------------Jenas---Modric
-----Bentley--------------Giovani
----------------Pavo

but the more I think about it the more Modric really seems like a luxury player and one we can't afford right now. He brings nothing to the team defensively and switches off arround our 18 yard box alot.


Ideally something like this would be great

---------O'Hara NewDM
------Bentley Modric Giovani

but we don't have the type of player needed to partner O'Hara unless Corluka is up to it. I'm starting to get really worried because if we don't sort our midfield out to get it balanced then we could really be ****ed this season.

I can't see a 442 working because we don't have a 2 man partnership that brings all the required abilities to the table to be successful. Jenas needs a tough big DM beside him and O'Hara needs something similar with experience and we don't have nothing like that. Zokora is to undiciplined and loves bombing forward. Hudd is just a big slow fecker who can't defend for shit. Bring back Ghaly and Boateng at least they kick people and aint no push overs. Appiah is a free agent to a injury prone one but shit he ticks all the right boxes when fit. Davids to bring him in as a player coach his type of experience is invaluable he could really turn O'Hara into a top player. We are badly lacking something in the middle of the park and until it gets sorted we'll contiunue to get out hussled and out fought by teams we should be competeing against.

[Spur]

Whilst he has yet to perform, Luka is going to be pivotal.

I'm more than happy for JoH to play, but DM should be Charlie.

[MarlowSpurs]

They were talking about this on talksport this morning, how we are severly lacking in the centre

[Ioang]

How about Gunter at RB then

----------O'Hara--Corluka----------
--------------Modric---------------
Bentley------------------Dos Santos
--------------Pav------------------

[Ioang]

but then again Jenas was probably our only performer last night (apart from Gomez, ****up aside)

[Spur]

-----------Charlie-----------
------Luka-------Jenas------
Bentley------------------Bale

-----------Pav--------------

[Keanoldinho]

-----------Charlie-----------
------Luka-------Jenas------
Bentley------------------Bale

-----------Pav--------------


hold up Spur who's going to play LB

the last thing I'd do is take Bale out of defense

he's a LB who gets forward not a LW

[Keanoldinho]

Whilst he has yet to perform, Luka is going to be pivotal.

I'm more than happy for JoH to play, but DM should be Charlie.



My biggest problem with Luka at the minute is his serious defensive short comings. I'm not just talking about Villa yesterday but he continually lets late runners into the box fly right past him and just stand there right outside our 18 yard box watching. That won't cut it in the EPL when you're a midfielder he needs to track runners and help out the defense otherwise he's a luxury player and one we can't afford in a relegation battle.

[MiloMinderbinder]

Boateng still around? At least he gets stuck in and is reasonably mobile even if he is a red card waiting to happen. Anyone else think I'm clutching at straws now?!

If we had a couple more decent CB's I'd advocate playing Woody at DM, he'd break up play and then play the easy ball.

[Spur]

hold up Spur who's going to play LB

the last thing I'd do is take Bale out of defense

he's a LB who gets forward not a LW
Was our best player for the first month or so last year and was playing LW. Last night showed that defensively he is suspect at the best of times. When played LW this eyar he drives forward with the ball and having him further up the pitch with his left peg will only create danger. Also, with his LB upbringing he will know better than anyone how important it is for a LW to get back and help out his LB.

He's a winger.
My biggest problem with Luka at the minute is his serious defensive short comings. I'm not just talking about Villa yesterday but he continually lets late runners into the box fly right past him and just stand there right outside our 18 yard box watching. That won't cut it in the EPL when you're a midfielder he needs to track runners and help out the defense otherwise he's a luxury player and one we can't afford in a relegation battle.
We're not in a relegation battle! We're midtablers maybe, but so far this season has proved predictably unpredictable. That'll continue for a while yet and again after January. Which is obviously good.

Luka needs to buck up, he is playing poorly, but with someone behind him he will flourish. Say we play Charlie behind him and Jenas next to him he's got half the workload to share with Jenas of getting back and helping out. The two going forward will help each other, ably backed up with two delivery specialists in Bentley and Bale.

It's the way forward.

[Keanoldinho]

Was our best player for the first month or so last year and was playing LW. Last night showed that defensively he is suspect at the best of times. When played LW this eyar he drives forward with the ball and having him further up the pitch with his left peg will only create danger. Also, with his LB upbringing he will know better than anyone how important it is for a LW to get back and help out his LB.

He's a winger.

We're not in a relegation battle! We're midtablers maybe, but so far this season has proved predictably unpredictable. That'll continue for a while yet and again after January. Which is obviously good.

Luka needs to buck up, he is playing poorly, but with someone behind him he will flourish. Say we play Charlie behind him and Jenas next to him he's got half the workload to share with Jenas of getting back and helping out. The two going forward will help each other, ably backed up with two delivery specialists in Bentley and Bale.

It's the way forward.


I disagree. Bale is always solid at LB and I've yet to see him get done by a winger defensively. yesterday he had Daws playing beside him which is enough to make anyone look bad.

Our left side would be much better with Giovani cutting in and Bale bombing forward getting down the line. We just need a DM who can cover him when he gets forward like wise for Hutton on the right when he gets back. Maybe Charlie or JoH are the answer.

Ekotto is shite and Gilberto doesn't seem much better in his few cameos so if we move Bale out the defense it just causes another problem.

[Keanoldinho]

Was our best player for the first month or so last year and was playing LW. Last night showed that defensively he is suspect at the best of times. When played LW this eyar he drives forward with the ball and having him further up the pitch with his left peg will only create danger. Also, with his LB upbringing he will know better than anyone how important it is for a LW to get back and help out his LB.

He's a winger.

We're not in a relegation battle! We're midtablers maybe, but so far this season has proved predictably unpredictable. That'll continue for a while yet and again after January. Which is obviously good.

Luka needs to buck up, he is playing poorly, but with someone behind him he will flourish. Say we play Charlie behind him and Jenas next to him he's got half the workload to share with Jenas of getting back and helping out. The two going forward will help each other, ably backed up with two delivery specialists in Bentley and Bale.

It's the way forward.



and Spur judging by early season form we look prime candidates to be smack bang in the relegation dog fight

if the EPL had 40 teams we'd be midtable but unfortunately it only has 20 so we're last

this is our worst start ever in the EPL, the signs aint good my friend we are there for the taking by any team with good organization and a strong work ethic.

[Spur]

and Spur judging by early season form we look prime candidates to be smack bang in the relegation dog fight

if the EPL had 40 teams we'd be midtable but unfortunately it only has 20 so we're last

this is our worst start ever in the EPL, the signs aint good my friend we are there for the taking by any team with good organization and a strong work ethic.

The season is like 3 or 4 games old. Being bottom means we've started badly it doesn't mean we're fighting relegation!

[choda]

What the f*ck is wrong with Huddlestone? He got his chance last night and he was back to being a slug, looking completely unlike a midfielder again. I have to go back to my assessment that he is never a midfielder and his only chance is as a centre back.

Next game I want to see Charlie (I'm assuming this is Corluka, lol) and Jamie O'Hara in the middle of the park, no f*cking excuses. O'Hara is a great lad that never lets you down. Corluka has the ability to play there and I'm assuming he's a lot more mobile than the slug, we have to try it.

Zokora is just a bad joke, Jenas is penis.

Jenas is a squad player at best and the Zok shouldn't even be at this club. Modric, gio, bentley all just need time and a patience, they will come good.

And I thought Lennon was great last night, he just had f*ck all help. I'm glad we kept him because he is a player that can stretch the game.

As for Bale if his main ability is destroying defences, which he does on a regular basis, then maybe he should be used further up, but at the same time if his best role is potentially lb then we need to give him games there to develop. We also have players for lw. I don't think he is a liability at left back. He has had some errors but not near an Ekotto or Dawson level.

[choda]

No chance of a relagation battle, give it time.

[Keanoldinho]

The season is like 3 or 4 games old. Being bottom means we've started badly it doesn't mean we're fighting relegation!


It's 4 games in and we've already lost 2 home games we shoulda won and one away game we shoulda won. We're showing no signs of improvement so as it's shaping up right now relegation wouldn't be hard to see happening. We don't have a Berby or Keano to bail us out shit we don't even have a Defoe. Were are the goals going to come from?

[Keanoldinho]

What the f*ck is wrong with Huddlestone? He got his chance last night and he was back to being a slug, looking completely unlike a midfielder again. I have to go back to my assessment that he is never a midfielder and his only chance is as a centre back.

Next game I want to see Charlie (I'm assuming this is Corluka, lol) and Jamie O'Hara in the middle of the park, no f*cking excuses. O'Hara is a great lad that never lets you down. Corluka has the ability to play there and I'm assuming he's a lot more mobile than the slug, we have to try it.

Zokora is just a bad joke, Jenas is penis.

Jenas is a squad player at best and the Zok shouldn't even be at this club. Modric, gio, bentley all just need time and a patience, they will come good.

And I thought Lennon was great last night, he just had f*ck all help. I'm glad we kept him because he is a player that can stretch the game.

As for Bale if his main ability is destroying defences, which he does on a regular basis, then maybe he should be used further up, but at the same time if his best role is potentially lb then we need to give him games there to develop. We also have players for lw. I don't think he is a liability at left back. He has had some errors but not near an Ekotto or Dawson level.



Lennon was the same as he always is great at getting to the byline and shit at crossing

[Chaydle]

As shocking as it was last night, we did improve when JJ came on, he gave us some energy and impetus in the middle of the park.

I would certainly give O'Hara a go, he has bags of energy, passion and can pass and move. To accomodate Modric it has to be 5 man midfield.

------Jenas----O'Hara-----
Bentley----Modric-----Dos Santos
--------Pavyluchenko-----

[spursmadnick06]

[QUOTE=choda;103237]

Jenas is a squad player at best and the Zok shouldn't even be at this club. Modric, gio, bentley all just need time and a patience, they will come good.
QUOTE]


We are a better side with Jenas in, Stats prove this and so did the first 30 minutes of yesterdays game.

Jenas is clearly a useful player to have around as he can fill in in a variety of positions and do well.

Maybe Modric will come good maybe he wont, at the moment he looks like a 6 stone piss ant who will be bullied easily.

[choda]

As shocking as it was last night, we did improve when JJ came on, he gave us some energy and impetus in the middle of the park.

I would certainly give O'Hara a go, he has bags of energy, passion and can pass and move. To accomodate Modric it has to be 5 man midfield.

------Jenas----O'Hara-----
Bentley----Modric-----Dos Santos
--------Pavyluchenko-----

Jenas played well last night, I praised him but it's all too rare. He's as shit as the Hudd, the Zok in his own way. We are a cake walk for anyone down the middle. O'Hara is the only winner since Davids and we don't f*cking play him.

[MiloMinderbinder]

Lennon was the same as he always is great at getting to the byline and shit at crossing

He's a waste of space, time, breath, skin and a bullet.

**** off back to Chapel Town you little bastard. He's more interested in going clubbing after the game than playing for his club, same goes for Huddlestone.

I humbly suggest if you see either of these two ****s out in London you make it clear to them they ought to **** off home and get on the training ground rather than get pissed and chase birds.

Time for performance related pay me thinks. Don't play well, don't get paid well. Simple.

[Spur]

As shocking as it was last night, we did improve when JJ came on, he gave us some energy and impetus in the middle of the park.

I would certainly give O'Hara a go, he has bags of energy, passion and can pass and move. To accomodate Modric it has to be 5 man midfield.

------Jenas----O'Hara-----
Bentley----Modric-----Dos Santos
--------Pavyluchenko-----

He came on left.

Plays better when played out of position it now seems.

I think he should have a go up front where he has no defensive responsibilities. When he has these is where it goes wrong.

[wayne wonder]

All this crap is giving me sleepless nights 1st its keano and berbs leaving then its the shit transfer window then its crap performances in the league and we're ****ing bottom i kid you not CURSED this club is CURSED.

Before we start taking the p*ss out of the spammers and geordies we need to make sure our own house is in order :o

[MiloMinderbinder]

He came on left.

Plays better when played out of position it now seems.

I think he should have a go up front where he has no defensive responsibilities. When he has these is where it goes wrong.

JJ is out only hope for a holding midfield player at the moment. Seen him do it before to great effect, only problem is he is lightweight. I think you've got it arse about face Spur, he's very responsible defensively (not like Dawson who is responsible for our shit defence) but not so great going forward.

[Spur]

JJ is out only hope for a holding midfield player at the moment. Seen him do it before to great effect, only problem is he is lightweight. I think you've got it arse about face Spur, he's very responsible defensively (not like Dawson who is responsible for our shit defence) but not so great going forward.

And yet a central midfield between Modric and Jenas is anything but a central midfield.

His runs are what makes him dangerous, being on the ball is not a strong point of his, neither is the tackle. He gives too many free-kicks away when playing deep (although not as many as KPB or THudd). Solution - play him further up the pitch where he has none of these needs or responsibilities.

[MiloMinderbinder]

And yet a central midfield between Modric and Jenas is anything but a central midfield.

His runs are what makes him dangerous, being on the ball is not a strong point of his, neither is the tackle. He gives too many free-kicks away when playing deep (although not as many as KPB or THudd). Solution - play him further up the pitch where he has none of these needs or responsibilities.

See my team that should have been put out yesterday on the Villa thread. I don't think many could disagree with it.

JJ may not be great in the tackle but believe me, you don't have to to do the holding role, chasing down and closing space is all that is required, something JJ actually does very well.

[Spur]

See my team that should have been put out yesterday on the Villa thread. I don't think many could disagree with it.

JJ may not be great in the tackle but believe me, you don't have to to do the holding role, chasing down and closing space is all that is required, something JJ actually does very well.

He runs, we get it. He doesn't do much else KK, closing down space is useless if your going to get left in it. You need a defender in there not a Jenas. Sorry I couldn't think of what to call him - a Jenas. Quite apt don't you think?

Further up the pitch the better he - and more importantly - Spurs play. Further back is not the answer. You need a specialist in there. He ain't no Patrick Vieira, he ain't no Gattuso, he ain't no Carrick and he ain't no Roy Keane. You need someone at least a little like one of those. Jenas ain't it.

[MiloMinderbinder]

He runs, we get it. He doesn't do much else KK, closing down space is useless if your going to get left in it. You need a defender in there not a Jenas. Sorry I couldn't think of what to call him - a Jenas. Quite apt don't you think?

Further up the pitch the better he - and more importantly - Spurs play. Further back is not the answer. You need a specialist in there. He ain't no Patrick Vieira, he ain't no Gattuso, he ain't no Carrick and he ain't no Roy Keane. You need someone at least a little like one of those. Jenas ain't it.

err, Carrick!?

[Spur]

err, Carrick!?

Alright, Xabi Alonso, ball playing, reader of the game.

And I rate Carrick extremely highly anyway so he isn't out of place in that list.

[Keanoldinho]

I think O'Hara is the closest player in style to a proper DM we got in our squad. What I'd like to see if possible is Edgar Davids being signed up as a player coach and taking young O'Hara under his wing because I see afew similarities in their playing style and I believe Davids could help O'Hara raise his game to the next level and become hugh player for us.

Out of all the youngsters in and around the first team Bale and O'Hara in my opinion from the outside looking in are the only ones with the right attitude to really become star players for us. Maybe Gunter and Bostock too but they don't get much exposure so it's hard to judge their attitudes and commitment.

Players like Hudd and Lennon just seem like big egos with little commitment.

[choda]

I think O'Hara is the closest player in style to a proper DM we got in our squad. What I'd like to see if possible is Edgar Davids being signed up as a player coach and taking young O'Hara under his wing because I see afew similarities in their playing style and I believe Davids could help O'Hara raise his game to the next level and become hugh player for us.

Out of all the youngsters in and around the first team Bale and O'Hara in my opinion from the outside looking in are the only ones with the right attitude to really become star players for us. Maybe Gunter and Bostock too but they don't get much exposure so it's hard to judge their attitudes and commitment.

Players like Hudd and Lennon just seem like big egos with little commitment.

Oh how we miss Edgar Davids. Past his best but we never lost midfield with him in the team. He set the tempo for the team and then we still had the quality.

Most people didn't realise anywhere near how important he was. His passing wasn't as bad as made out and it was mainly due to playing him on the left anyway, which was dumb as f*ck.

[Defoe8]

Ideally:

DM - Zokora
RW - Bentley (with Lennon coming on for the last 10mins sometimes)
LW - Santos
AM - Modric

OR this may work, i'm uneasy about it

DM - Zokora
RW - Bentley
LW - Modric
AM - Jenas