Benny's injury

[Bill_Oddie]

Why? VDV is our top scorer, playing him off Crouch/Pav with Bale, Lennon and Modric on the pitch is hardly a defensive line up is it? Get the balance right and the goal will come...we only need one if we don't open up...

What a baffling comment.

What is our record like with VDV + 2 strikers? Baring in mind that's against weak sides too and you want to play that away to Chelsea?

Bill, you're up :up:

Ahem.

It's not so much VDV+1 striker. The thing is the number of attacking players in total. steve, you're right that as long as we play Bale, Lennon and Modric, it's fine in terms of the number of offensive players. But the balance isn't right with these individuals. And this isn't the way we have played. We've been playing Hudd and Sandro. Or one of them with Modric also less far forward.

Essentially, what I'm saying is, we need four attack-minded players. Forget 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 or 4-3-1-2 or whatever and do the Ajax thing (latterly Barcelona) of splitting into Attack and Defence.

Playing Defrouchenko + VDV + Bale is not attacking enough. It's 7-3.

We need to be 6-4 so that we create more chances (something we've been quite good at) and have the people to take them (Something we've been terrible at). The best way to do that is line up with two out and out strikers. VDV could be one of those but we can't do that AND have Modric as an attacking player - one of Modric OR VDV HAS to go deeper than Huddlestone (or Sandro if the Brazilian plays - remember you're left with only one of Sandro or Hudd and they are required to be very deep in this formation) to collect the ball, use it and then show for the return pass. Keeping the ball moving is down to either Modric or VDV. Ergo one of these guys isn't an attack-minded player. You've turned your team into 7-3.

On paper it'd be like:

RB-----CB--CB-----LB
--------Hudd--------

Lennon--Modric----Bale

-------VDV------------
---------D/C/P-------

but unless you want VDV to drop and help be the tempo-setter, the trequartista (Modric) would be essentially a defensive player, a presser. Is this the best way to get the best out of Modric? Not really. If Modric was to fulfil his usual role of keeping the ball moving, being the tempo-setter, that means both Bale and Lennon would be pressers (depending where the ball was). Again, not the best use of their talents.

With Bale and/or Lennon pressing the ball and Modric or VDV deep, what happens is that Defoe/Crouch/Pav gets isolated. Sound familiar? That's because it's been happening pretty consistently all season.

So you have to drop one of the players - probably Lennon - and replace with the presser.

RB----CB--CB-----LB
-------Hudd-------
-------Sandro------
----Modric-------Bale
---VDV----DCP---

On paper this looks ugly but on the pitch it would be hugely exciting and, I believe effective.

Sandro is the busy ****, closing everything down and encouraging mistakes.

Modric would fulfill the role we want him to in the earlier formation but isn't able to because he is shackled by having to close down the ball.

Bale meanwhile has the freedom of the left of the field with Hudd and Sandro covering his runs. Bale should stay wide and push back the oppo Right Back. Sides HAVE to double up against Bale and so he's dragging either the Right Midfield or a Centre Half with him. Good news for Modric and VDV who can operate their craft in these spaces.

Talking of VDV he is essentially 'free' in both the above formations. He's just less likely to go back to behind the midfield in the second because we have better ways to win and to use the ball. He'll be involved higher up the pitch where he has had his success with us. In the 4-4-1-1 you propose, his role is the same as that of Rooney for United this season - which means it is essential he goes back to behind the midfield for the ball. Check out Jonathan Wilson's latest blog on the Guardian about Rooney for why this is a good (and under-appreciated) thing but while it has been great for United, it is counter-productive for our current situation.

You might be looking at our right wing with trepidation (what happens against Cole and Malouda against Chelsea or David Silva and Kolarov when we play City!?) and that's clearly a negative but that's why a more defensive RB is fine (we have tons of options going forward - again, 6-4 > 7-3) and when they need support the double pivot of Sandro and Hudd in midfield do their job, Hudd dropping into CB to support in a Busquetsy type of way. Five at the back with Sandro patrolling in front is pretty tight, I'm sure you agree. Or, at least as tight as we can realistically afford given we MUST score goals and must try to win (not draw) matches.


So, steve, playing A Striker + VDV + Modric + Bale + Lennon doesn't work if we want to attack as we don't win the ball. You do say 'get the balance right' and that's definitely the key. This is critical as in our current formation, these players do not provide the right balance. Hence why we are better off/more likely to find a win (because we will have a better chance of scoring more goals) playing with two strikers and four attack-minded players.

And brett, if we don't play 6-4 regardless of the opposition, we simply aren't attacking enough. We have to win matches, not draw them. Getting a point at Chelsea is useless. Look at City this season. They've stuck with 7-3 until three weeks ago when they suddenly played Tevez+Balotelli+Silva+Johnson (they also scored almost immediately after bringing Dzeko on against Blackburn, after being frustrated with a 7-3 before then). This coincided with them going clear in 4th and actually looking likely to catch Arsenal.


If we play my way (actually Harry's way, to be fair - he set up with two strikers + VDV + Bale against West Brom) then we are going to give it a real go and are likely to see more high scoring games between now and the end of the season. The alternative is to keep it tight (7-3) and aim to win by the odd goal. In the Premier League, that often ends up in drawn matches - at the very least you can see how a game with 2 or fewer goals in gives us less chance to force a win than a game with five or more goals in it?

Hence my earlier comment (which I'm suggesting you rather regret asking me to clarify if you've managed to sit through all the above).

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Modric's best quality is the way he takes the ball deep and converts defensive possession into attacking possession, the presence of a second defensive midfielder would put paid to this. Furthermore, having two widemen to aim for instead of just one brings the best out of the little man because he has more options, it's like giving a centre forward a net twice as large to shoot at in a way. If there's just one outlet, we'll see far fewer beautiful through balls by our magician.

A look at the results in the past 18 months when we've had Modric, two widemen and two forwards (for the sake of this argument VDV is one of the forwards) tells it's own story. Burnley away aside, I can't remember a loss with this though I'll be happy to be shown one.

The 'Modric is pressing so he's wasted' argument just doesn't fly, off the ball all midfielders should be pressing anyway. On the ball he's not pressing. On the ball, in dead centre, he's in a place where he can receive the ball from anywhere and spread the ball to anywhere. He is the player best equipped to do this. Let Lennon, Bale, Kranjcar and Pienaar be widemen. Even VDV if necessary (though I'm not so comfortable with this). But in a league where most midfields are packed with brutes who cannot use the ball, we need someone dead centre who a) is effective when under pressure and b) is able to draw that pressure so that the more attacking players can be free. None of Jenas, Sandro, Huddlestone and Palacios are able to do this. Why do we need two DM's to break up play when the majority of the opposition don't have players who can thread a through ball or dribble down the middle? Matching physicality with more physicality is not the way we play, playing around that physicality with skill and imagination is what we do, and we do it very well when using the 4411/442 with Modric + 1 centre and two wingers.

 

[steve]

BO response appreciated.

Balance isn't just between defence and attack but across the pitch. We saw it in 2 halves against Villa at home earlier in the season when VDV started right with 2 up front and then Pav came off with Lennon on. The SHAPE was better, our RB not only got better protection but also had an option on the ball, and as BBLG rightly points out it gives the midfield options both ways.

Football is a fluid game, people move about the pitch and your 7-3 and 6-4 descriptions of defence and attack are not hard and fast - don't full backs get forward? Sometimes CB's? Is it beyond Lennon, Bale, Modric even Sandro appearing in the box to score. When we build attacks slowly at times 8 of our players will be in the oppositions half especially at home with 4 or more players in the box sometimes.

A midfield of Sandro, Lennon, Modric and Bale can win the ball back if instructed too. Drop VDV on the holding midfielder (when we don't have possession) and you even things up. Modric won more tackles against Arsenal than Huddlestone did so did VDV so I did see an argument there. Plus with Bale and Lennon you are able to spring from defence to attack very quickly.

Anyway with BAE injured I think this is largely irrelevant. I think he'll shove Bale LB, stick Modric left, play Hudd and Sandro with Lennon right and then VDV off Crouch at Chelsea which I don't mind. Modric hasn't dominated away from home in 3 years at Spurs so moving him left to then tuck in with Bale getting down the outside makes sense to me. I'd play Jenas over Huddlestone personally for his extra athleticism and generally better away performances but Harry won't.

I certainly think that team is a 6/4 or 5/5 at times if we're gonna use this dry and prescriptive description of the way a team plays - I just think football the Spurs way is more fluid than that or should be.

 

[Mr Pink]

Modric's best quality is the way he takes the ball deep and converts defensive possession into attacking possession, the presence of a second defensive midfielder would put paid to this. Furthermore, having two widemen to aim for instead of just one brings the best out of the little man because he has more options, it's like giving a centre forward a net twice as large to shoot at in a way. If there's just one outlet, we'll see far fewer beautiful through balls by our magician.

A look at the results in the past 18 months when we've had Modric, two widemen and two forwards (for the sake of this argument VDV is one of the forwards) tells it's own story. Burnley away aside, I can't remember a loss with this though I'll be happy to be shown one.

The 'Modric is pressing so he's wasted' argument just doesn't fly, off the ball all midfielders should be pressing anyway. On the ball he's not pressing. On the ball, in dead centre, he's in a place where he can receive the ball from anywhere and spread the ball to anywhere. He is the player best equipped to do this. Let Lennon, Bale, Kranjcar and Pienaar be widemen. Even VDV if necessary (though I'm not so comfortable with this). But in a league where most midfields are packed with brutes who cannot use the ball, we need someone dead centre who a) is effective when under pressure and b) is able to draw that pressure so that the more attacking players can be free. None of Jenas, Sandro, Huddlestone and Palacios are able to do this. Why do we need two DM's to break up play when the majority of the opposition don't have players who can thread a through ball or dribble down the middle? Matching physicality with more physicality is not the way we play, playing around that physicality with skill and imagination is what we do, and we do it very well when using the 4411/442 with Modric + 1 centre and two wingers.

1) Thats key - and why we want our best player on the ball as much as possible to in turn affect the game as much as possible.

2) Modric is brillant at that, probably the best in the League in that department.

Those qualities you mention are exactly why I see Modric in central midfield. In any case his intelliegence helps from a defensive point of view anyway. He reads and understands the game that well he can make clever little interceptions, he can also nick the ball back because he's gritty and comptetive. His anticipation is excellent.

Just needs to work on his shooting, and perhaps his composure infront of goal needs a little polishing. If he improves in this area we'll have one of the best midfielders in the World at the Club. He's already well on course anyway.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

BO response appreciated.

Balance isn't just between defence and attack but across the pitch. We saw it in 2 halves against Villa at home earlier in the season when VDV started right with 2 up front and then Pav came off with Lennon on. The SHAPE was better, our RB not only got better protection but also had an option on the ball, and as BBLG rightly points out it gives the midfield options both ways.

Football is a fluid game, people move about the pitch and your 7-3 and 6-4 descriptions of defence and attack are not hard and fast - don't full backs get forward? Sometimes CB's? Is it beyond Lennon, Bale, Modric even Sandro appearing in the box to score. When we build attacks slowly at times 8 of our players will be in the oppositions half especially at home with 4 or more players in the box sometimes.

A midfield of Sandro, Lennon, Modric and Bale can win the ball back if instructed too. Drop VDV on the holding midfielder (when we don't have possession) and you even things up. Modric won more tackles against Arsenal than Huddlestone did so did VDV so I did see an argument there. Plus with Bale and Lennon you are able to spring from defence to attack very quickly.

Anyway with BAE injured I think this is largely irrelevant. I think he'll shove Bale LB, stick Modric left, play Hudd and Sandro with Lennon right and then VDV off Crouch at Chelsea which I don't mind. Modric hasn't dominated away from home in 3 years at Spurs so moving him left to then tuck in with Bale getting down the outside makes sense to me. I'd play Jenas over Huddlestone personally for his extra athleticism and generally better away performances but Harry won't.

I certainly think that team is a 6/4 or 5/5 at times if we're gonna use this dry and prescriptive description of the way a team plays - I just think football the Spurs way is more fluid than that or should be.

I've clearly not explained it very well as this way of looking at football is far from dry or prescriptive. It underscored the two most fluid and dynamic football clubs and philosophies in history - Ajax and Barcelona.

Quite simply, it is revelatory and, rather like quantum physics, if you're not amazed by it then you probably haven't understood it properly. I really urge you to check out Jonathan Wilson's superb blog and also the posts of InOffMyLeftShin on here in years gone by, which clearly do the philosophy more justice than I can. It demonstrates perfectly why we need to be playing four distinct attacking players at present. Plus what exactly is meant by attacking players (ie not just those who can arrive late into the box). It's not "my" 7-3 or 6-4, they belong to football.

But the news I am less capable at describing football tactics than Johan Cruyff or Pep Guardiola is, I suppose, no surprise.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

Modric's best quality is the way he takes the ball deep and converts defensive possession into attacking possession, the presence of a second defensive midfielder would put paid to this. Furthermore, having two widemen to aim for instead of just one brings the best out of the little man because he has more options, it's like giving a centre forward a net twice as large to shoot at in a way. If there's just one outlet, we'll see far fewer beautiful through balls by our magician.

A look at the results in the past 18 months when we've had Modric, two widemen and two forwards (for the sake of this argument VDV is one of the forwards) tells it's own story. Burnley away aside, I can't remember a loss with this though I'll be happy to be shown one.

The 'Modric is pressing so he's wasted' argument just doesn't fly, off the ball all midfielders should be pressing anyway. On the ball he's not pressing. On the ball, in dead centre, he's in a place where he can receive the ball from anywhere and spread the ball to anywhere. He is the player best equipped to do this. Let Lennon, Bale, Kranjcar and Pienaar be widemen. Even VDV if necessary (though I'm not so comfortable with this). But in a league where most midfields are packed with brutes who cannot use the ball, we need someone dead centre who a) is effective when under pressure and b) is able to draw that pressure so that the more attacking players can be free. None of Jenas, Sandro, Huddlestone and Palacios are able to do this. Why do we need two DM's to break up play when the majority of the opposition don't have players who can thread a through ball or dribble down the middle? Matching physicality with more physicality is not the way we play, playing around that physicality with skill and imagination is what we do, and we do it very well when using the 4411/442 with Modric + 1 centre and two wingers.

Yes. But in a 4-4-1-1 where he plays with Bale and Lennon, two of three of them have to have their MAIN role as pressing. It has to be or we don't win the ball back. My point is that this is not Modric's key strength. Why not play Sandro who's brilliant at pressing and can cover tons of ground then get Modric which you amply demonstrate can use the ball better than anyone else we (or possibly any side in the league) has?

As to your final sentence, it's a matter of opinion. I see us able to compete very well with the formation you propose. It's served us pretty well without securing us a berth in the top four. Wit it, we've had lots of tight games where we might or might not have sneaked a winner - Arsenal (H), Chelsea (H) last season/West Ham (H) this season/Man Utd (always). But we've also seen times when we don't get enough support around our lone striker because opposition only have to worry about VDV or one or two distinct attacking options.

We're now at the business end of the season and there is nowhere left to hide. Four wins or Goodnight Vienna. To play the percentages is fine. But the percentages are not in our favour.

Hence why I don't think one up top is good enough.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I'm very much and advocate of Sandro in the middle, at the expense of Huddlestone though, not to play with Huddlestone. I think that with both Modric and Sandro there, the need for Huddlestone (especially while his form is poor) is largely reduced.

There is always the option of two up top with VDV still in behind and the same 4 in midfield but the widemen as wingbacks, go completely for broke as it were. I'm not dead against this actually now that Ekotto is out.

Gomes
Gallas Dawson Kaboul
Lennon spaaaaaaaaaace Bale
Sandro Modric
VDV
Defoe Pav​

I think Gallas and Kaboul both have the pace to cover Bale and Lennon adequately, while Lennon and Bale are both fit and hard working enough to not neglect their defensive duties. I'd love to see it in fact (maybe with Crouch instead of Pav) but I doubt our manager will try it, I doubt many would in fact. I've always had a major soft spot for this formation though, I think that with the right players it could be lethal.​

 

[WhiteStripe]

I'm very much and advocate of Sandro in the middle, at the expense of Huddlestone though, not to play with Huddlestone. I think that with both Modric and Sandro there, the need for Huddlestone (especially while his form is poor) is largely reduced.

There is always the option of two up top with VDV still in behind and the same 4 in midfield but the widemen as wingbacks, go completely for broke as it were. I'm not dead against this actually now that Ekotto is out.

Gomes
Gallas Dawson Kaboul
Lennon spaaaaaaaaaace Bale
Sandro Modric
VDV
Defoe Pav​

I think Gallas and Kaboul both have the pace to cover Bale and Lennon adequately, while Lennon and Bale are both fit and hard working enough to not neglect their defensive duties. I'd love to see it in fact (maybe with Crouch instead of Pav) but I doubt our manager will try it, I doubt many would in fact. I've always had a major soft spot for this formation though, I think that with the right players it could be lethal.​

Glenn, is that you?

 

[cusop]

I'm very much and advocate of Sandro in the middle, at the expense of Huddlestone though, not to play with Huddlestone. I think that with both Modric and Sandro there, the need for Huddlestone (especially while his form is poor) is largely reduced.

There is always the option of two up top with VDV still in behind and the same 4 in midfield but the widemen as wingbacks, go completely for broke as it were. I'm not dead against this actually now that Ekotto is out.

Gomes
Gallas Dawson Kaboul
Lennon spaaaaaaaaaace Bale
Sandro Modric
VDV
Defoe Pav​

Not bad but again the issue now becomes pace on the right hand sided defensibly or do you expect that to come from Lennon..
I think this is line is an effort to find a position for Dawson to be honest.

 

[Mr Pink]

I'm very much and advocate of Sandro in the middle, at the expense of Huddlestone though, not to play with Huddlestone. I think that with both Modric and Sandro there, the need for Huddlestone (especially while his form is poor) is largely reduced.

There is always the option of two up top with VDV still in behind and the same 4 in midfield but the widemen as wingbacks, go completely for broke as it were. I'm not dead against this actually now that Ekotto is out.

Gomes
Gallas Dawson Kaboul
Lennon spaaaaaaaaaace Bale
Sandro Modric
VDV
Defoe Pav​

I think Gallas and Kaboul both have the pace to cover Bale and Lennon adequately, while Lennon and Bale are both fit and hard working enough to not neglect their defensive duties. I'd love to see it in fact (maybe with Crouch instead of Pav) but I doubt our manager will try it, I doubt many would in fact. I've always had a major soft spot for this formation though, I think that with the right players it could be lethal.​

Looks great...but in practice is Bale hard working enough defensively? I dont think he is personally, although he definitely has the stamina for it so he should be.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

I'm very much and advocate of Sandro in the middle, at the expense of Huddlestone though, not to play with Huddlestone. I think that with both Modric and Sandro there, the need for Huddlestone (especially while his form is poor) is largely reduced.

There is always the option of two up top with VDV still in behind and the same 4 in midfield but the widemen as wingbacks, go completely for broke as it were. I'm not dead against this actually now that Ekotto is out.

Gomes
Gallas Dawson Kaboul
Lennon spaaaaaaaaaace Bale
Sandro Modric
VDV
Defoe Pav​

I think Gallas and Kaboul both have the pace to cover Bale and Lennon adequately, while Lennon and Bale are both fit and hard working enough to not neglect their defensive duties. I'd love to see it in fact (maybe with Crouch instead of Pav) but I doubt our manager will try it, I doubt many would in fact. I've always had a major soft spot for this formation though, I think that with the right players it could be lethal.​

That's lovely in an attacking sense. But we'd be caught out. By having Hudd as the sitting part of the double pivot Sandro can fly in to challenge the oppo's man in possession. In this formation, Modric sits and thus isn't far enough up the pitch for him to create goalscoring opportunities when we hit teams on the break.

The perfect example of why the above is really a 7-3 and thus not particularly attacking, despite the offensive-minded full backs.


Did you see IOMLS's double pivot thread by the way? I must look that up again. It was a true thing of beauty.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I didn't see it, I'll look it up as I do love his threads.

See, what you see as a waste of Modric because he's not far enough up the pitch, I see as a greater use of his talent as it enables him to dictate play by converting defensive possession into attacking possession.

Also, 4 people quoting me in a row, even if to disagree with me... awesome!

 

[Bill_Oddie]

Sorry, I'm going to continue as I can imagine people just saying that "Modric doesn't need to 'sit' as we've got five at the back."

And I'll say, as manager of Dynamo Hypothetica FC, that I'll play three across the front, which will push back our entire back five. Imagine the team above against Drogba, Kalou and Malouda say. You're not going to get any of our five moving forward against them, right?

Now imagine how we'd be if Sandro goes to challenge Essien who has the ball. And Modric is playing up the pitch. Who's that in space? Who's got Lampard? Who's got him? He's in acres. Who the fuck's got Lam... too late. 1-0. Gift of a goal to the best driving midfielder in the league. Bugger.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

I didn't see it, I'll look it up as I do love his threads.

See, what you see as a waste of Modric because he's not far enough up the pitch, I see as a greater use of his talent as it enables him to dictate play by converting defensive possession into attacking possession.

True. But we only have three men up top and Modric with the ball at his feet in front of our back four/five. It's too few. Hudd could be that man and Modric ready to receive it thirty yards nearer goal with the same three men around him. Sexier, yes? You know that shit's sexier. Go on. Say it's sexier.

Also, 4 people quoting me in a row, even if to disagree with me... awesome!

That's what happens when you write something intelligent, well thought out and well written. :wink:

 

[WhiteStripe]

Sorry, I'm going to continue as I can imagine people just saying that "Modric doesn't need to 'sit' as we've got five at the back."

And I'll say, as manager of Dynamo Hypothetica FC, that I'll play three across the front, which will push back our entire back five. Imagine the team above against Drogba, Kalou and Malouda say. You're not going to get any of our five moving forward against them, right?

Now imagine how we'd be if Sandro goes to challenge Essien who has the ball. And Modric is playing up the pitch. Who's that in space? Who's got Lampard? Who's got him? He's in acres. Who the fuck's got Lam... too late. 1-0. Gift of a goal to the best driving midfielder in the league. Bugger.

...and there comes the benefits of playing two deep lying central midfielders in a 4-2-2-1-1 / 4-4-1-1 / 4-2-2-2 or however you want to classify it.

 

[cusop]

Sorry, I'm going to continue as I can imagine people just saying that "Modric doesn't need to 'sit' as we've got five at the back."

And I'll say, as manager of Dynamo Hypothetica FC, that I'll play three across the front, which will push back our entire back five. Imagine the team above against Drogba, Kalou and Malouda say. You're not going to get any of our five moving forward against them, right?

Now imagine how we'd be if Sandro goes to challenge Essien who has the ball. And Modric is playing up the pitch. Who's that in space? Who's got Lampard? Who's got him? He's in acres. Who the fuck's got Lam... too late. 1-0. Gift of a goal to the best driving midfielder in the league. Bugger.

You really know how to piss on someones fireworks.. But in defennce Lampard will be injured by Sandro early on.. Seeing it Hyperthyroid

 

[Mr Pink]

That's lovely in an attacking sense. But we'd be caught out. By having Hudd as the sitting part of the double pivot Sandro can fly in to challenge the oppo's man in possession. In this formation, Modric sits and thus isn't far enough up the pitch for him to create goalscoring opportunities when we hit teams on the break.

The perfect example of why the above is really a 7-3 and thus not particularly attacking, despite the offensive-minded full backs.


Did you see IOMLS's double pivot thread by the way? I must look that up again. It was a true thing of beauty.

You see I totally understand this line of thought too, and have advocated it to an extent. I like the role Hudd brings to the side, when he's on form of course. The sitting role and being able to use his passing range to switch the play, spring early attacks and of course he has positional discipline and understands his position in the team.

Alongside Sandro who will press and has much more licence from a positional point of view, to pro-actively hunt and press the ball. Its a good balance from that point of view. But will this midfield sit too deep and invite pressure on to us? We have seen Sandro surge forward, and this is what he'll need to do to give us the right balance. There would be a responsibilty on him to drive us forward from central positions so our attacks can knit togther properly and to prevent big gaps appearing. We have to be thinking just as much about on the ball competence as a team as we are for off the ball.

I would worry that all our attacks would go down the wings with the Hudd and Sandro partnership, making us more predictable and easier to defend against.

We would lose that ability Modric has to carry the ball forward through the centre drawing others out of position which others benefit from. He's also a master at keeping the ball in tight spaces which in turn always ends up giving us more options through retaining the ball longer.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

Only three quotes in a row?

You bastards.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

True. But we only have three men up top and Modric with the ball at his feet in front of our back four/five. It's too few. Hudd could be that man and Modric ready to receive it thirty yards nearer goal with the same three men around him. Sexier, yes? You know that shit's sexier. Go on. Say it's sexier.



That's what happens when you write something intelligent, well thought out and well written. :wink:

Only three quotes in a row?

You bastards.

I win...

Though here's your fourth.

It wouldn't just be VDV and the strikers in front of Modric though, because as soon as he received the ball surely Lennon and Bale would put on the afterburners for his to play the ball in front of whoever had been afforded more space by their marker.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

I win...

Though here's your fourth.

It wouldn't just be VDV and the strikers in front of Modric though, because as soon as he received the ball surely Lennon and Bale would put on the afterburners for his to play the ball in front of whoever had been afforded more space by their marker.

Yeah, if anyone can, they can.

The question is: Are you happy then leaving Chelsea with Drogba, Malouda and Kalou against three (at best four if Sandro drops) defenders with no/unbalanced width the second play breaks down?

To be honest, it's the type of risk I could live with in our current quest for wins. But I'd rather play four at the back with Sandro than three.