Two More Things to happen to this Team for me....

[The Gem]

I believe we have 2 more things to do before this team will be one to be reckoned with this season.

I think 2 more signings are needed to shore up the defense and to add a real threat in front of goal.

One more Quality Defender and a Proven Goal scorer in this division or a drop down from the Premier League.

I'm sure we have different opinions however for what its worth here is mine.

So Far My Team is as follows:

1 Kuszczak

2 Bridge
3 Greer
4 An Other - Dunk - El Abd - Elphick
5 Bruno

6 Lua Lua - Buckley - Noone
7 Vicente
8 Bridcutt
9 Lua Lua - Buckley - Noone

10 CMS - AN Other
11 AN Other

 

[Marshy]

Centre half NO, Centre Midfield YES

 

[7:18]

Center Midfield and Striker and we are sorted

 

[perseus]

To avoid the obvious: the squad does look rather specialist for a Total Football team. Short of Buckley learning a deeper midfield role, we might need a utility player. I thought Spain would not have won the Euro without Ramos, a destroying defender who was happy on the ball in midfield. So a Ramos type of player would be an asset if we could find one.

 

[Smythe]

Agreed central midfielder not central defender, we have Greer, El-Abd, Dunk, Elphick plus Vincelot and Calderon have both covered well there if they needed to.

 

[Bold Seagull]

1 Kuszczak

2 Bridge
3 Greer
4 An Other - Dunk - El Abd - Elphick
5 Bruno

6 Lua Lua - Buckley - Noone
7 Vicente
8 Bridcutt
11 AN Other
9 Lua Lua - Buckley - Noone

10 CMS - AN Other

Gus isn't going to suddenly start playing 4-4-2 in my opinion. In the above edited formation, the team needs a midfield enforcer, height, speed, tackling. Bridcutt and this player to sew up the middle of the park.Vicente to be free just in front of them, wide player either side, centre forward up front on his own.

 

[ees complicated no?]

CB - No
CM - Yes
ST - Yes

Job done

 

[Mellotron]

Centre back is arguably the area we have the most strength in depth. Greer and El Abd were 2 of our best 3 players last season - we definitely don't need to waste any money on this area for me.

 

[Silk]

Centre half NO, Centre Midfield YES

This

 

[Bald Gull]

If Vicente is going to play just behind the centre forward, then we only need one more player in my opinion (for the starting 11) and that is a midfield enforcer/box-to-box midfielder.

We don't need another centre forward unless we're going to play 2 up front - which we hardly ever did last season.

Team as it stands today:

Kuszscak

Saltor Greer El-Abd/Dunk Bridge

Bridcutt

Lua Lua/Buckley Vicente Dicker Lua Lua/Noone

CMS


In this team, only Dicker would ideally need to be replaced, to be challenging for promotion. If he does need to play 4-4-2, then presumably Vicente would play wide left and we would need to bring in a midfielder and forward (who can hold ball up, win headers etc.)

However, I would add that, without Navarro, we are lacking in depth for the Defensive Midfielder/Bridcutt role (if he got injured/suspended)

 

[mreprice]

I know this was pointed out at least 100 times last year, but clearly it has to be done again.

If you think we can play five purely attacking players - two wingers, Vicente and two strikers - you are wrong!!!!

 

[lawros left foot]

What about Barnes,top scorer last season,good second half of the season,and a Gus favourite.Deserves a starting place IMO.

 

[NickBHAFC18]

I would like to see Barnes with a starting role up front without his defensive responsibilities, I think he could double his tally.

 

[The Gem]

Why Wrong?

The way we played last season did not help CMS at all, OK he could have done better with the chances he did have, however to get the best out of him he does need help, he will never get that in 1 man up top.

I know this was pointed out at least 100 times last year, but clearly it has to be done again.

If you think we can play five purely attacking players - two wingers, Vicente and two strikers - you are wrong!!!!

 

[The Gem]

What about Barnes,top scorer last season,good second half of the season,and a Gus favourite.Deserves a starting place IMO.

Barnes..... I cant see him being in front of any of the players mentioned above, I think Poyet has laid down the marker to the fringe players in the Argus last week

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

2 Bridge
3 Greer
4 An Other - Dunk - El Abd - Elphick
5 Bruno

Interesting switch of fullbacks. I would start with Bridge on the left, and Bruno on the right.

 

[NickBHAFC18]

Barnes..... I cant see him being in front of any of the players mentioned above, I think Poyet has laid down the marker to the fringe players in the Argus last week

Barnes was top scorer last year, and one of Poyets favourites. He wont be a fringe player, maybe a sub, but he'll get a lot of game time.

 

[The Gem]

Interesting switch of fullbacks. I would start with Bridge on the left, and Bruno on the right.

Just numbered them Bridge would be Left and Bruno Right

 

[severnside gull]

Priority one for me is the midfielder.

Last season when we were "under the cosh" it was one of four factors that brought it about:

1.Having the ball passed round our wide defence
2. Having the ball passed through or over our central midfield
3. Giving the ball away cheaply as we came forward out of defence leaving everyone out of position/on the wrong foot
4. Playing too deep

We have taken steps with Bruno and Bridge to deal with point 1. Point 2 and 3 are crucial - we need someone with physical presence to command midfield; someone able to run with the ball and hold it when there isn't a pass available but also able to spot and play an accurate pass to maintain possession in key areas. If they can get forward and support the attack, especially at set pieces, then well and good but the key function is to keep the ball and to release the rest of the midfield to commit forward. It would immediately obviate the need to play Barnes as a defence-minded forward allowing him (or whoever) to fully commit to scoring goals.

Defending too deep is an easy situation to get into and hard to get out of. With your captain and loudest voice committed at the back it is often tempting to rally around him where a midfielder with experience and good vision can "captain" the midfield and ensure that we are not drawn to deep and do not lose shape.

Scoring goals will come from a better shape and the ability to move the ball with greater freedom and control (and hopefully speed) in midfield. Another striker giving a height option would be an asset but it is in no way as essential given the level of offensive potential we already possess.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

What about Barnes,top scorer last season,good second half of the season,and a Gus favourite.Deserves a starting place IMO.

THIS! I can't believe so many people dismiss Barnes after last season. He is learning fast, does what he asked/told to do, and adds importance defensive qualities to the team.