I seem to be the only one

[D.Boon]

Who thought for 25 minutes last night we were playing total football.

 

3-4-3, 3-5-2, 5-3-2. 4-4-2. Totally flexible.

 

5 or 6 players who you would struggle to say were playing in any particular fixed position. West Ham barely touched the ball.

 

Great stuff

 

[Case]

You're not. For the first 25/30 minutes of the second half we were sublime, and then Pennant unfortuantely got brushed aside, the lino went for a hand shandy and the rest was torture.

 

But we won it, and three years ago we wouldn't have.

[Hugh]

Yeah but DIC pulled out of the deal so it hardly matters seeing as we'll be bankrupt in days....or so some would have you believe.....

[Sion]

I was also suprised by how little Kuyt was applauded for his goal, I thought it was amazing. If that was Rooney it wouldn't have been off the news for weeks.

[DJM]

Yeah but DIC pulled out of the deal so it hardly matters seeing as we'll be bankrupt in days....or so some would have you believe.....

 

 

Some of the football last night was sensational to watch. And all that without investment....

[Hugh]

 

Some of the football last night was sensational to watch. And all that without investment....

 

Yes but when Gerrard, Carragher, Reina, Alonso, Kuyt, Crouch, Bellamy, Agger and the rest all learn of the demise of the DIC deal they will immediately ask for a transfer and Rafa will join Real next week....so again, it hardly matters....

[Guest Sabre]

It was weird watching it because at some points I just wanted to know who was playing where!

[Guz]

Agree totally. It's a bit frustrating actually because you know that when we turn it on we can produce some excellent stuff and are a class above most teams we play. Did well last night though.

[Euphrates]

I agree as well, but I did feel that Finnan and Riise didn't get forward enough from their starting positions of wingback. We had no width as a consequence and were relying on very good interplay between the front three and Gerrard.

 

It was almost as if we had to score those two sublime goals because we did nothing to create easy chances.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm still pleased overall, it was an away match and for large chunks of time we looked like we were at home, but the game could've been written off as a contest after 30 minutes if we were able to capitalise on our early domination.

[Cobs]

i thought the formation looked a mess in the first half, got it together for 20 excellent minutes in the second and then totally took our foot of the gas after that - should have put them to the sword a bit more than that.

 

 

 

anyway - hope we revert back to 442 on Saturday

[Bootle Buck]

I thought the whole game was wierd. WHu looked so nervous and lacking in confidence that they looked more like an away team. We looked determined to give nothing away too. With very little width from both teams the game became scrappy and the passing from both teams was poor. However, we never really seemed to have to panic or get frustrated and looked very patient. After 2-0 we took our foot off the pedal as WHU looked dead and buried. There goal made for a nervy finish but we really didn't break into sweat. I thought WHU were garbarge and show little bottle or heart.

Edited February 1, 2007 by Bootle Buck

[Maldini]

I can see us playing 3-4-3 more regularly. Thought it worked fairly well. I'd say Aurelio is probably better suited to it than Riise too.

[Tosh]

Thought Finnan supported the attack very well. Riise had a mare, imo.

[Ben 23]

Riise had a mare

 

And yet it was his best game so far this season. I'm not actually joking either.

[Rimbeux]

Have to say, I'm not sold on 3-4-3. Things that really bother me are the lack of natural width and therefore options in spreading the play. Also I don't think the front three have the right balance to play it, yeh I know two of em scored!

[Maldini]

I agree about the width, that's why I think Aurelio is suited to it better, his delivery from the left is far better than Riise's.

 

Disagree about the forwards though. The three of them have different games. Crouch holds it up and gets flicks, Kuyt drops off and Bellamy looks to get in behind.

 

In reality it was was more of a 3-4-1-2 with Kuyt in behind the front two (and everywhere else)

 

I'm not saying we'll play it full time, but it's there as a viable option now.

[Rimbeux]

I agree about the width, that's why I think Aurelio is suited to it better, his delivery from the left is far better than Riise's.

 

Disagree about the forwards though. The three of them have different games. Crouch holds it up and gets flicks, Kuyt drops off and Bellamy looks to get in behind.

 

In reality it was was more of a 3-4-1-2 with Kuyt in behind the front two (and everywhere else)

 

I'm not saying we'll play it full time, but it's there as a viable option now.

 

 

I just think that in an ideal world, you'd have Garcia or Kewell instead of Kuyt or Crouch, I think it would improve the movement and variation. I also think that 4-3-3 would suit us better in the movement and variation, and with the players we have..

[Cobs]

In reality it was was more of a 3-4-1-2 with Kuyt in behind the front two (and everywhere else)

 

I'm not saying we'll play it full time, but it's there as a viable option now.

it really wasn't

 

 

it was 3-4-3

 

more variety in their movement came in the 2nd half but it was definitely 3-4-3

 

 

 

it is an option but we should be able to beat relegation strugglers playing most formations, i guess it's a work in progress before we try it against a top side home or away, certainly don't want to see it against Barca or the Mancs

[Maldini]

Kuyt's starting position was definitely deeper than Crouch and Bellamy's. That's not the case when he plays in a 2

[Cobs]

i only watched it from behind the goal but i disagree and the other two were playing much wider than they ever would in a 2

[Maldini]

I'd agree they were playing wider alright, but Kuyt was definitely starting a little bit deeper, it was only 10-15 yards though.

 

We went old fashioned 3-4-3 when Pennant came on.

[Cobs]

3-4-3 before that

 

there was Bellamy left Crouch middle and Kuyt right, Bellamy right, Crouch left and Kut central

 

it changed a fair few times

 

 

 

didnt really click until that 20 mins at the start of the 2nd and that was largely

 

Kuyt Crouch Bellamy

 

as i recall.

[Guest Scot]

3-4-3

 

norman was 7 years ahead of his time. A visionary.

[Cobs]

norman !

 

[Guest Scot]

NWA over the tannoy next. Norman = Gillett?