Pav and Bent

[Dillspur]

I think these two CAN play together, Harry needs to define their roles, Bent is more than capable to playing the "little man" he has the speed to get in behind most defenses, when we brought him many of us felt he was more versatile than Defoe because he could do his job (Defoe’s) but also play as the "big man". From what I've seen of Pav so far (and I think there's still more to come) he can without question be the "big man" he's strong in the air and holds the ball up well.

If I was Harry I'd give them a good run of games clearly defining each role.

 

[knilly]

i also think they could make a very decent partnership.

if harry can fit modric in behind them without unbalancing the midfield, then everyone would agree he's cracked it.

with pav and modric i think it was just a case of the settling in to a new country, new league and new team. better to come methinks

 

[tony_parkes]

What is the best midfield though if you play with 2 up front? Modric and Huddlestone play best as part of a 5 man midfield imo. Modric's best games have been when he is given more of a free role behind the striker.

I think that with the current squad 4-5-1 is the best way to accommodate the players at our disposal. Remember Pav is cup tied for Europe so at least with 4-5-1 there is more consistency in terms of selection and formation.

 

[cabinfever]

i also think they could make a very decent partnership.

So do I. Anyone got any idea how tall they are?

 

[belsunz]

Bent and Pav can play together. But I think that Modric is a no-goer in a 2 man centre midfield tbh. If Harry decides to play a flat 442, he'll put Modric at LW with somewhat of a free role. Still think Modric can excel playing behind one striker. It gives us options as well, as we saw against L'pool.

And one more thing Dillspur: from what I've seen from Pav, he doesn't look too strong in the air.

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

4-5-1 is the way to go at the moment.

 

[kcmei]

we have no inventive strikers and that is why harry is going for keane.

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

we have no inventive strikers and that is why harry is going for keane.

lol.

 

[PT]

We saw Modric going on the left yesterday when Pav came on and we went to
4-4-2.

He was naturally drifting in to central midfield and was leaving the Left Back Corluka exposed.

He eventually got hauled off and Lennon gave balance to the midfield by going left midfield and also playing a conservative game by helping protect Corluka when defending.

If we go 4-4-2 to accomodate Pavlyuchencho, then Modric will be made redundant in what he does best. We don't have the necessary quality at the club to allow his luxury in midfield.

 

[Dillspur]

What is the best midfield though if you play with 2 up front? Modric and Huddlestone play best as part of a 5 man midfield imo. Modric's best games have been when he is given more of a free role behind the striker.

I think that with the current squad 4-5-1 is the best way to accommodate the players at our disposal. Remember Pav is cup tied for Europe so at least with 4-5-1 there is more consistency in terms of selection and formation.

This does makes sense, we do need consistency. I know I'll get Slated here! But I'd go for:


------------Pav - Bent


Zokora - Jenas - Modric - Bentley


Bale - Woodgate - King - Hutton


With Bale bombing down the left, Zokora would push infield more (playing the David’s role that Jol used) so we'd effectively have a five man midfield allowing Modric to play more advanced. Again I think the important thing is to define Zokora's role, I've seen him break up play time and time again only to give the ball away, he needs to play the simple pass and let Modric, Jenas and Bentley dictate our attacking play. Huddlestone has great vision but he's just to slow.

 

[kcmei]

note that huddlestone has been playing in all the games so far. I think harry sees him as a first team player ..

 

[belsunz]

If we go 4-4-2 to accomodate Pavlyuchencho, then Modric will be made redundant in what he does best. We don't have the necessary quality at the club to allow his luxury in midfield.

Do not agree with that. Modric can play LW perfectly for us. Like he did it for Croatia on a couple of occasions. It's part of his instructions to drift to the centre then and create space for an attacks of the LB. Edgar Davids had the same instruction when he played for us (though a very different player). Still firmly believe Modric can make play from LW for us, if we swith to 2 strikers.

 

[Goldman]

We saw Modric going on the left yesterday when Pav came on and we went to
4-4-2.

He was naturally drifting in to central midfield and was leaving the Left Back Corluka exposed.

He eventually got hauled off and Lennon gave balance to the midfield by going left midfield and also playing a conservative game by helping protect Corluka when defending.

If we go 4-4-2 to accomodate Pavlyuchencho, then Modric will be made redundant in what he does best. We don't have the necessary quality at the club to allow his luxury in midfield.

I agree 100% with that PT. Its a shame really, we have to sacrifice someone, and modric would have to be that player if we were to revert to 4-4-2. It would be nice to see a few games with Bent and Pav up front together, but im not sure we will.

 

[hughy]

I think 3-5-2 might be alright.

Hutton ---Woodgate ----- King

Corluka
Bentley -----------------------------Bale
Jenas-------------
----------Modric

Pav-----Bent

​

I don't know, really. If we're going to play 3 at the back, you'd ideally prefer Corluka ahead of Hutton. But I suppose you'd only play this line-up against a pretty defensive team, so you wouldn't need to worry too much about your defenders.​

 

[knilly]

I think 3-5-2 might be alright.

Hutton ---Woodgate ----- King

Corluka
Bentley -----------------------------Bale
Jenas-------------
----------Modric

Pav-----Bent

​

I don't know, really. If we're going to play 3 at the back, you'd ideally prefer Corluka ahead of Hutton. But I suppose you'd only play this line-up against a pretty defensive team, so you wouldn't need to worry too much about your defenders.​

i think that could work but i think we'd be more likely to see that formation in the 2nd half of a game as opposed to us starting with it

 

[Locotoro]

The benefit in playing 4-5-1 in our current situation is that it gets the best out of our current set of players. Lack of strikers is easily remedied. Packing the midfield with players that are all clearly more suited to 3 man midfield is preferable to a flat 2 in the middle (Zokora, Hudd, Modric, Jenas). Gives Modric the freedom, without immediate responsibilty, to get into space and move the ball forward. Also on Modric, the alternative of 4-4-2 does kind of leave him isolated Modric on the left and drifting inside is a good idea aside from the fact we are naturally weak in defensive midfield cover. At the moment we dont have forwards that can consistently hold the ball and bring other players in so the midfield becomes an even more key area.

A problem 4-5-1 does create is that I dont think it suits Bentley to have one FW to aim for. Bentley's crosses can be magical, but i've noticed he doesn't play the cross to the man like Beckham does. Bentley crosses the ball into the danger areas (near post, far post, between the defence and GK) and although that is commendable, one FW is statistically less likely to get on to his crosses than two would

the wide midfield players really have to be forward/wingers in the Duff/Robben/Ronaldo. Arshavin would be ideal to play wide. A goalscorer from the wing. Especially with Hudd and Modric in behind. Our current wide players simply do not get forward close enough to Bent or Pav. I'm surprised Gio hasnt played as he is exactly what suits this formation.

Our January signings will be very interesting

 

[spurious1]

With our current players 442 does not seem optimal. Modric in a PM role is one of our best players, in LM he's pretty ordinary. But to play him as an advanced PM in a 4 man midfield would require some sort of superhero in the other IM role, not Jenas.

With someone like Lennon or Gio in LM, and Modric in the AM/PM spot, a 451 is sufficiently offensive.

352 is a non-starter, sounds great on paper, but the players could never figure it out.

 

[bubble07]

the problem with playing 2 upfront is how to fet the best out of Modric - who is technically our best player. I just can't see him being effective in a 4 man midfield and I think Harry knows that

 

[Kendall]

I agree and playing 2 up top means effectively playing 2 strikers and 1 in the hole as well as wingers, which is overkill and we're bad enough defensively as it is.

 

[SpurSince57]

the problem with playing 2 upfront is how to fet the best out of Modric - who is technically our best player. I just can't see him being effective in a 4 man midfield and I think Harry knows that

'arry has actually said that, so there's no think about it. In fact, a substantial number of SC members have pointed it out.