We need a diet for Hudd,

HRH, surely bale will stay as #10 if we stay with 4231. If we go to 433 he'll go right, and we'll need a creative midfielder

I'd like to see him with a full pre-season and fully match-fit before writing him off. He'd been out for almost 2yrs barring a little spell in 2010/11, and had niggly injuries this term.

Even not being first choice, he's a good asset to have in the squad. Unless we can buy an orthodox CM to replace him with that range of passing, and that will accept not being automatic first choice, it'd be madness to let him go

i like tommy but it may be time for him to move on. fulham would seem like a good destination. he would run the show.

comment by Analog (U17200)
posted 2 minutes ago
HRH, surely bale will stay as #10 if we stay with 4231. If we go to 433 he'll go right, and we'll need a creative midfielder

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Bale isn't a #10 for me. That player should be the hub of everything offensively, and have that ability to pick a pass - be that threading balls through and finding the small gaps or getting the wide players involved.

Is that Bale? Not for me. I know it's an unfashionable view but I think he thrives but the team suffers when he plays through the middle. For me he starts wide and comes in centrally from that initial position, whichever side that may be

I agree HRH, which is why switching to a 433 might be the best idea, have him cutting in from the right

If Bale is played through the middle there is no way we should be playing with two out-and-out wingers either side of him. Far too open and too little in the way of keeping good possession.

It should be a winger one side , and a player that starts nominally wide but drifts inside in front of the CMs on the other - a technically good player, one like Woolwich had doing a similar role in Pires. Similar to what Luka did for us in 09/10 at LM or Rafa in 2010/11 at RM - albeit a bigger goal threat than Luka and quicker/fitter than Rafa.

This would also mean the fullback behind this player having heavy attacking duties to give us width. We have one on the right that can do the job, we'd need one for the left too so both sides are options.

Perhaps if we signed the right type of #10 he'd also be able to do this job if needed, from either side, giving us options galore.

Analog - the type of player I'm thinking of is another similar to Siggy (who I like). I actually think Siggy can do any of the jobs - #10 behind a striker, the deeper role in a 433, the nominal wide position with overlapping FB, or orthodox CM - but he is really our only option in this regard that will pop up with goals AND has legs and technique, and we really need another in that vein. Preferably one that is a bit more refined with the ball. I see Holtby as an orthodox CM to be honest.

bale should play on the right of the attacking three imo

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Chronic - I think Bale did very well there as the season progressed.

In an ideal (realistic) world how would you line your 433 up with Bale on the right? Another inverted winger on the left? An orthodox winger? Attacking fullbacks on one or both sides?

How many of the current personnel do you think would work?

Which position(s) for that style (and that style alone)
needs strengthening most?



For me when he plays right we need an attacking fullback behind him (we have Walker) a player on the left to give width (we may have Townsend back) and a technically accomplished attacking midfielder/#10 (which we don't have in my opinion)

Ideally for me next season we should have a couple of key players brought in that enable us to change system completely during a game by using only one or two substitutions. There were times this season when whole formations were unavailable/unworkable due to our lack of natural width in key positions.

We shouldn't be concentrating on playing in one particular way, whether that be because it suits our best XI or suits a particular player, but should be looking at being able to perform in a variety of ways. Every other team is different and what works v one doesn't work v another.

Obviously have a default Plan A, but Plan B/C shouldn't be an afterthought and cobbled together on the hoof, but a proper way of playing.

I would have a right footed player on the left. Siggy style but a better, quicker player with a goal threat

Siggy I would have as an alternative in one of the two attacking midfield spots along with holtby

When you think about it, we have a very versatile and flexible midfield. Lots of players can play in lots of position. Perhaps it's a case of our players are jacks of all trades, master of none

Chronic,

Perhaps it's a case of our players are jacks of all trades, master of none

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Or perhaps its more that hardly any of them have played (or been able to play) in their preferred positions.

Can you give any examples to back that up chicken? I am struggling to think of many

Chronic,

Dempsey, Siggy.

Or even Holtby..

Dempsey stated at Fulham and before coming to spurs that he is most comfortable/suited to the LM roll so that isnt true.

Chicken....????? Those are just names. I was kind of hoping for your explanation as to why they are playing out of postion.....

The whole point about those three is that they are versatile players. I couldn't tell you what either of those three best positions are because throughout their career they have moved about all the time

What are their best positions?

Edin,

For Fulham, he seemed to play in a kind of left forward position though, whereas for us he has played in a tackling deeper midfield role.

And before anyone thinks it, its not a dig at AVB - its just the way we set our team up (around Bale) it isn't giving the others to play in their stronger positions.

Same as Siggy, i'd love to see him just behind the striker, not quite as a No.10, but in a Lampard role, where he arrives late into the box.

And Holtby has played in a few different positions so i'm not even sure where his best position is.

It depended under which Fulham manager though, he played more in the left forward roll under Jol, but definitely played more as a midfielder under Hughes and Hodgson. He is hardly out of position playing there though.

Edin,

He is hardly out of position playing there though.

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I didnt say out of position, i just said they haven't been played in their preferred positions - which i believe is true. Would you go along with that?

No not really as I dont believe one position is Dempseys preferred position to another.

Edin,

You dont think Dempsey has a preferred position?

Well I dont think he has a preference over LM or LF personally.