Wide forwards.

[Syn_13]

Also the wing backs aren't lazy and are team players.

They also get into the box when the ball is on the opposite flank, Lichtsteiner is great at this.

Absolutely love Lichsteiner. He may go down like a sack of spuds at times but he's a quality full back both in attack and defense. I've never seen a player that runs as much.

 

[THOWIG]

Absolutely love Lichsteiner. He may go down like a sack of spuds at times but he's a quality full back both in attack and defense. I've never seen a player that runs as much.

Yes, puts Walker to shame.

 

[tobi]

Absolutely love Lichsteiner. He may go down like a sack of spuds at times but he's a quality full back both in attack and defense. I've never seen a player that runs as much.

Javier Zanetti probably edges him in that department

 

[THOWIG]

Javier Zanetti probably edges him in that department

In my top ten players of all time.

 

[mrlilywhite]

In my opinion, Bale has always been a wing back. In this role he sit`s deeper and can give the team more options. imo he is almost ideal, He can run and has superb pace, Is an immense crosser and has stamina to burn, In that role he can drop deep crosses in or get to the byline to cross, Also, I noted far too often last season just how bloody quick he was over half the pitch length, The strikers struggled to keep up , At times the momentum of his runs broke down due to having to hold up the ball to allow the striker time to get in position, There are many more good reasons why that is his best position.

Using wingbacks imo suits the players we have Bale, Walker, Naughton and Disco are more than capable of playing in that position. Aaron Lennon would obviously be sacrificed as I can`t see what he could offer.

 

[Syn_13]

Javier Zanetti probably edges him in that department

I'll give you that. Zanetti ran out of his mother's womb and hasn't stopped since.

 

[noahrobert]

In my opinion, Bale has always been a wing back. In this role he sit`s deeper and can give the team more options. imo he is almost ideal, He can run and has superb pace, Is an immense crosser and has stamina to burn, In that role he can drop deep crosses in or get to the byline to cross, Also, I noted far too often last season just how bloody quick he was over half the pitch length, The strikers struggled to keep up , At times the momentum of his runs broke down due to having to hold up the ball to allow the striker time to get in position, There are many more good reasons why that is his best position.

Using wingbacks imo suits the players we have Bale, Walker, Naughton and Disco are more than capable of playing in that position. Aaron Lennon would obviously be sacrificed as I can`t see what he could offer.

Agree with this.

I don't think Bale has the trickery or nous to advance and be the best left forward/ winger in the world. He could easily become the best left wing back. However Should bale add trickery to his game that would be another matter, he is at present all pace, power and a fricken awesome left foot.
In modern football full backs/wing backs can make the difference between a good team and a great one. A ever growing importance in this position. I really think Gareth Bale should be (cliche) our Roberto Carlos!

 

[west indie]

Bale whipped a ball in yesterday, defoe didnt read it and lennon was no where to be seen as it flashed across there box, replace them 2 for ade and dempsey and im sure we will see the best of bale and a return to goals in the first half of games, better cohesive build up play and movement.

 

[peter123]

Bale has played very well, in fact a couple of his best games were in a 433 (Norwich away, Swansea home for example) and many, many times I have seen him play equally as badly as he has in the first three games, as a wide left in a 442/4411. It's not about the formation with him per se.

I actually think the 433 suits Bale the best, three midfielders in there gives him more license and a little less responsibility.

You could not have him in a midfield 3. He's liability in the forward three half the time. He is lazy. Not lazy in the "doesn't want to run" lazy, he's mentally lazy. I watched him yesterday and in the first minute Norwich had an attack down our left. They had a throw I think and he started off marking his man, then immediately as the first pass was made he completely switched off, stood still and let his man run off him into acres of space. Luckily Norwich fucked upped the piece but no thanks to Bale. And this is a problem. AVB needs to review shit like this with him, sit down and show him the video and make it abundantly clear that this is completely unacceptable. If he's doing it in the first minute then you can imagine how much he's doing it in games. It drives me fucking nuts. It's such a basic requirement. Any top manager worth a wank will be pointing this out to him. I've seen Moyes substitute players for not doing once when they've been doing it all game.

This is so true... we have the opposite problem with Kyle Walker wasting possession by being selfish. Moyes is a manager that would have taken us further than Redknapp IMHO but I guess he's lined up for the united job?

 

[Locotoro]

Lloris - GK
BAE. - DL
Walker - DR
Vertonghen - DC
Kaboul - DC
Parker - DMC
Sandro - MRC
Dembele - MLC
Dempsey - RWF
Bale - LWF
Adebayor - FC

This is our strongest team once the players have gelled and adapted tote system. Lloris as the sweeper keeper quick off the line. Walker and BAE as the pacy wingback threats from wide. Vertonghen as the archetype ball playing centre half. Kaboul as the commanding physical presence. Parker the Anchor man making interceptions and breaking play. Sandro as a box to box all action type covering every blade of grass. Dembele the attacking powerhouse with the technique to create and score. Bale as the wide speedster getting to the line and whipping the ball in. Dempsey as the winger /forward non stop running and getting to the back post. Ade as the focal point of the attack and goalscoring target man

 

[ravo]

As fas as I know, the key to a good 4-3-3 is to have one winger and one wide forward. The wide forward is often the same footed as the winger (eg Bale on the left as winger and Hulk on the right as wide forward), so cuts in to shoot, as well as making box runs.

Both Lennon and Bale can play in a 4-3-3, but the problem is that they are both, IMO, wingers. Neither seem to have the WF mentality. As a result, Lennon would almost need to be the back-up. Ideally, with Bale playing as the winger in the first team, it would be best for us to have a left-footed RWF. That said, I understand Dempsey is pretty good with both feet. Siggy could probably play out there as well. Hell maybe Dembele could play there (but I don't think it's making the best use of his qualities).

So, as much as I love Lennon (and I'm a big fan), I'm not sure how well he work in AVB's preferred formation, if Bale is also playing. The formnation could look like this:

Lloris​

Walker - Gallas - Verts - BAE​

Sandro​

Dembele - Siggy​

Dempsey - Ade - Bale​

This issue for us is the RWF role. Any of Siggy, Dembele or Dempsey could play there. Dempsey would be my choice though.

The other option would be to move Bale back to LB and play Dempsey as left wide forward, with Lennon on the right. A 4-3-3 with a defensive mid is made to support attacking fullbacks (like Bale and Walker). I have a sneaky feeling that if Bale did go to Spain, he would play as a FB, making runs from deep, which IMO is his strength.

Hope some of that makes snse.

 

[noahrobert]

As fas as I know, the key to a good 4-3-3 is to have one winger and one wide forward. The wide forward is often the same footed as the winger (eg Bale on the left as winger and Hulk on the right as wide forward), so cuts in to shoot, as well as making box runs.

Both Lennon and Bale can play in a 4-3-3, but the problem is that they are both, IMO, wingers. Neither seem to have the WF mentality. As a result, Lennon would almost need to be the back-up. Ideally, with Bale playing as the winger in the first team, it would be best for us to have a left-footed RWF. That said, I understand Dempsey is pretty good with both feet. Siggy could probably play out there as well. Hell maybe Dembele could play there (but I don't think it's making the best use of his qualities).

So, as much as I love Lennon (and I'm a big fan), I'm not sure how well he work in AVB's preferred formation, if Bale is also playing. The formnation could look like this:

Lloris​

Walker - Gallas - Verts - BAE​

Sandro​

Dembele - Siggy​

Dempsey - Ade - Bale​

This issue for us is the RWF role. Any of Siggy, Dembele or Dempsey could play there. Dempsey would be my choice though.

The other option would be to move Bale back to LB and play Dempsey as left wide forward, with Lennon on the right. A 4-3-3 with a defensive mid is made to support attacking fullbacks (like Bale and Walker). I have a sneaky feeling that if Bale did go to Spain, he would play as a FB, making runs from deep, which IMO is his strength.

Hope some of that makes snse.

Good post! Think it would be worth a try at the following; [maybe as a substitution if chasing a goal]


Lennon. Ade. Dempsey

Gylfi. Sandro. Dembele.

Bale. B.eryl(verts). Kaboul. Walker

As it stands ...Friedal.

 

[Mikegold]

I was thinking after yesterday's game if Villas-Boas would ever play 343 or a variant of? Ala

Friedel

Gallas
Caulker
Vertonghen(sweeper)

Lennon
Sandro
Dembele
Assou Ekotto

Dempsey
Bale
Adebayor

Considering Bale used to be a LB wouldn't it be better to put Walker in Midfield and Bale LM?

 

[TheAmerican]

Bale's play will pick up. No one has been controlling the middle of the field and opening up the play. Bale excels when he has space on the wings. A great example of this was his play against Inter in the CL. Once we have our play in the middle of the field settled, it will draw players, opening up the wings and space for Bale and whoever ends up playing on the right wing.

 

[Kendall]

Playing 4-3-3, then playing a left winger on the left and a right winger on the right kinda defeats the object IMO.

The West Brom and Norwich games highlighted an issue we have in that we drive out wide, then put a cross in to nobody.

I actually wouldn't mind seeing:

Sandro​

Dembele _____ Sigurdsson​

​

Bale Adebayor Dempsey​

Or

Dembele Sandro​

​

Bale Sigurdsson Dempsey​

​

Adebayor​

​

 

[tttcowan]

Bales development has certainly stalled. He still has some of those mental issues Harry talked about imo, he seems scared of getting injured frankly. Now with a lack of quality in our midfield I can see it stalling even further and he just doesn't seem to be ready/willing/mature enough to take on the responsibility of running the show, which is frankly hard to do from his position anyway... Ask Ronaldo about those times he goes missing for Portugal. If you're a one man team(not that we are... kind of) it ain't the best position to be that one man.

He struck a frustrated figure against Norwich and to be fair in my opinion, what would best for him for his own development is moving on... Just sayin.

 

[THOWIG]

Considering Bale used to be a LB wouldn't it be better to put Walker in Midfield and Bale LM?

Yes definitely. Sorry was just a quick idea as to how it might look.

 

[StockSpur]

not suited? not arsed more like. they need to put some effort in, weve been here before with lennon, he's an impact sub in the making.

 

[StockSpur]

too many times during the game yesterday i saw bae, walker, lennon and bale making passes and then playing statues, dunno what happened to the simple tactic of give and go, or, if you dont have the ball find space...

quote me on this, if dempsey takes lennons spot, he will get walker involved down the wing and then cut inside looking to get on the end of the cross, i guarantee it, footballers also need to have some sense. Right now i dont see cohesion between lennon and walker i see conflict.

 

[Donki]

not suited? not arsed more like. they need to put some effort in, weve been here before with lennon, he's an impact sub in the making.

Totally agree, formation, tactics, bullshit! Some fucking effort would be nice, some sign of motivation the reason we didnt win is the players didnt look up for it.