New blood

[toonviking]

Gordon?

Howe?

What is missing?

Debate!

[Scott Kirkland]

A defender who can play at either side fullback, Winger capable of accurate crossing. And a midfielder who can replace Bruno, when he gets injured or suspended.

[Jammy89]

A midfielder that can patrol in front of our defence.

Also - a full pre-season with the squad unencombered by transfer issues.

[Ragatino]

A midfielder that can patrol in front of our defence.

Also - a full pre-season with the squad unencombered by transfer issues.

Cover for Hall before he get's another bad injury. Not BDB, he needs to cover at CB, Thiaw and Botman need competition to raise their levels and focus.

Hall needs competition and someone to share the load.

Aside from a LB, I agree with Jammy.

Most important is a DMF. A guy who just sits and mops up and stops the No.10s finding space between the lines CBs and the CMF 3.

Suffocating that dimension of attack from oppositions give Tonali, Bruno, Miley, Joelinton & Ramsey the peace of mind to know that there is someone dedicated to plugging the gaps.

That's the platform that will enable the Midfield to play higher up, closer to Woltemade, pushing him & The wingers higher up. With Bruno and Tonali spending more time on the front foot more goals will come.

Best for off defense is attacked. Having that back door shut facilitates that.

[Zippity]

Most importantly for me, is a creative midfielder.

We can't unlock defences and just pass it sideways and backwards endlessly meaning teams have plenty of time to get back into position.

[toonviking]

Most importantly for me, is a creative midfielder.

We can't unlock defences and just pass it sideways and backwards endlessly meaning teams have plenty of time to get back into position.

This for me as well. Then we also can make it a 4-2-3-1, with both Tonali and Bruno or use one of them with J7.

We need a real No10 I think.

I would also give a wote for a top GK


Tino---Thiaw---Botman---Hall
------‐----Tonali----Bruno-----------
Gordon-------No10-------Barnes
----‐--‐--------Woltemade----------

[Ragatino]

This for me as well. Then we also can make it a 4-2-3-1, with both Tonali and Bruno or use one of them with J7.

We need a real No10 I think.

I would also give a wote for a top GK


Tino---Thiaw---Botman---Hall
------‐----Tonali----Bruno-----------
Gordon-------No10-------Barnes
----‐--‐--------Woltemade----------

This is the formation that wins me everything every time I play Football Manager, or PEZ.

Howe is a 4-3-3 man. The midfield 3 can play a 2 - 1 with a more advanced '8' supporting the striker but the manager doesn't play a 4-2-3-1.

Which is why Ramsey was signed, the legs a runner from deep.

In recent matches Joelinton has been playing higher up. It worked really well against PSV, terribly against Villa.

The formation change isn't the issue. It's the roles and execution of those roles within the 4-3-3.

If Joelinton, Ramsey, Bruno, Miley, Tonali, Willock were capable of linking the play, sliding the ball through to the striker or playing in a winger breaking in the channels every match we'd not be having this discussion.

The club's intense and committed attempt to bring in Kees Smit.

[OwdBillCook]

This for me as well. Then we also can make it a 4-2-3-1, with both Tonali and Bruno or use one of them with J7.

We need a real No10 I think.

I would also give a wote for a top GK


Tino---Thiaw---Botman---Hall
------‐----Tonali----Bruno-----------
Gordon-------No10-------Barnes
----‐--‐--------Woltemade----------

Looks good to me. A chance to make proper use of the big man.

[HughieG]

All of the above, but since we cannot change the past and are not looking to invest this window from what I can tell, what we mainly need now:

Tactical flexibility.

Eddie, who has all my support, needs to incorporate a vertical style of play which means we can start Wissa and Woltemade together and expect a much more productive outcome. We need to be less dependent on the wingers and encourage Bruno and Tonali to make clever, creative passes in between spaces of the opposition central defence.

The link-up play between strikers and midfielders must be improved. Stop passing it sideways and expect the wingers to produce, it's clearly not happening at the moment.

[Ragatino]

The link-up play between strikers and midfielders must be improved. Stop passing it sideways and expect the wingers to produce, it's clearly not happening at the moment.

The few really dangerous attacking moments v Villa were when the CMFs slip the lines and player though to the attackers.

More of that is needed. The wide players haven't delivered in the assist department. Gordon and Murphy's numbers have dropped off a cliff.

Barnes has continued his scoring levels but never been that prolific assist machine from out wide.

When a team parks the bus the tactic should be send up Sven & Mallick to join Woltemade.

Out number the opposition CBs with 3 of the biggest players in the team.

The opponents counter attack will be about pace. To counter act that, drop the wingers back to CB, man mark the opposition attacking players for pace. They can still deliver balls from deep.

Push the full-backs Hall & Tripz high and wide knowing they are covered by the pack of the Wingers playing deep as defenders. Tripz has no chance in a foot race to remove that as an option.

Tonali acts as sweeper and QB supporting the Wingers at CB giving a 3 man rear guard as protection.

- Botman - Woltemade - Thiaw
Hall - Joelinto - Trippier
- Bruno -
- Gordon - Murphy
- Tonali

Joelinton have push to make an overload of 4 in the box. A really Stoke City Pulis inspired sledge hammer of a formation. If the plan is to put 170+ crosses into the box, flood the box with height.

With the Gunners bringing back Big Sam/Pulis anti-football tactics and being applauded for it why not take it to it's ultimate conclusion?