Now, the wheeling and dealing is far from over, but it is so far, so good in the transfer market at the moment. Let's assume nothing else happens and think about the team that could kick off next season.
Our problem under Zola was that we lacked shape. Time and again we saw players played out of position and asked to do jobs they were patently unsuited to. Poor Noble found himself parked either wide right or wide left, Diamanti and Stanislas were used on the wrong flanks, Spector was out of position at left back, we fielded a midfield without any goal threat whatsoever when Zola teamed Kovac, Parker, Noble and Behrami together.
Well, a number of those issues have already been resolved. Barerra brings pace, width and a goal scoring threat to the team. If we retain Cole, he should relish the greater supply of balls into the box. Meanwhile, Hitlersburger has a tasty left foot and offers goals from midfield too. I have blogged about our urgent need for a centre back, but if Kovac were to be used as a true anchor man, in midfield, then Da Costa and Upson may be up to doing the job, with Tomkins allowed to develop as an understudy.
How about this for a team?
Green
Faubert, Da Costa, Upson, Ilunga
Kovac
Barerra, Parker, Hitlersburger
Diamanti
Cole
I reckon that team would be good for a top 10 finish personally. The squad still needs fleshing out and I can't see a place for Behrami, unless he took the Kovac role, but Grant, unlike Zola, seems to have a shape in mind and looks as if he is recruiting players to fit the jigsaw, taking into account where we are lacking.
Whisper it quietly, but I am feeling optimistic about next season. I hope we retain Diamanti personally and my chief concern is that we are losing our British / English emphasis. That team only features four Englishman, and all four have been linked with other clubs. There is, of course, one other nagging worry. It is a tough start to the season and should we get off to a bad start, we may struggle to recover.
14 comments:
When everyone was fit, Parker anchored the midfield with Kovac as his replacement. That allowed Berahmi play tucked in on right. Collison should not be forgotten in that position either. Agree with the rest. Could be a good season if we get one good striker and a decent right back. No need for any centre halves.
Collison wont kick a ball before January sadly. Parker is too good to anchor. We need him box to box. We don't want to "tuck in" on the flanks, we need width!
the only width you have is coming from Barrera. Hitzlesburger plays centre midfield so would parker. So tht would only have one wide player. Surely if you want width we want want to get another wide player.
The formation would enable both Faubert and Ilunga to work the flanks, with Diamanti also free to float wide right or wide left. The formation is fluid, allowing a back 5 with 4 in midfield when we lose the ball, or a back three with the fullbacks pushing up when in possession.
During the good season with Zola, Parker anchored a diamond with Collison and Behrami wide and Noble at the point. It worked really well. We played teams like Everton, Chelsea and Liverpool with this four against their (very muscular) five and were very competitive. Good, on-form, fullbacks (which we had at the time) give the width while protecting the defence. Playing a 3-part diamond with a winger is a good option for home games so Barerra's a good addition to compete with Stanislaus. I'd say we'll do both sometimes with a deep-lying striker and other times two up top.
Question: Did McCarthy play behind a striker at Blackburn sometimes?
I like the idea of that, but you need the players, Faubert yes goign forward, and crossing the ball is a great player, defensively questionable thouhg, Ilunga I just wouldn't say he could do all of that to a good standard, he would be the weak link unless he recaputred form which I can't see happening, I'd like to see more of Daprela, but bring in a more expreinced left back, who can help tutor Daprela, and one who is of better quality than Ilunga.
What wing does BERRARA play? Hopefully he is a left winger,then that would enable FAUBERT our best wing player up to now to play on the right.Would much rather see FAUBERT playing on the wing outright than as a wing back.Thats why I prefer the 4-4-2 formation where players are not required to fulfill two roles in a match.Concentrating on one role will produce a far better performances from a player without knackering him out .Defence is still weak in my opinion,need a right back,centre back and a couple of utility full backs for cover.DA COSTA,TOMPKINS,GABBIDON are centre backs and SPECTOR is not up to the job as cover.Our midfield of FAUBERT,PARKER,HITZLPERGER,and BERRARA looks okay but no real cover on the wings of any quality.Up front I would still like to see a goal poacher or two added of some quality.
I suspect 4-4-2 is dead Essex. Spain, Germany and Holland have shown that a more fluid structure is needed.
The only problem is that Faubert can't defend!
I would be amazed if we have any sort of decent start to the season with the current personnel. It will be interesting to see the reactions of the fans a few games in. Whatever happens, we CANNOT begin the season, with the fixtures we have, with our current back five (keeper included).
If we can replace Upson and Green, I'd go with the rest of your team HF.
Did you say poor Noble? Poor as in God didn't give him enough pace or sharpness?
It is a tough start to the season and should we get off to a bad start, we may struggle to recover.
Is this one of those 'i blogged before anyone that we would struggle' moments?
I would like to see the Hammers pursue New Zealand striker Shane Smeltz, who would come cheap from his A-League contract and would be up to the demands of the Prem. Certainly he would add depth to the attack. Smeltz impressed in the World Cup in all 3 games the Kiwis played with a goal against Italy to cap it off. He is an absolute goal poacher with speed to burn and a real appetite for work. Doubters might like to note that he has been top scorer for the last two A-League seasons and his quality has been well-noted by seasoned obsevers at the WC.
I'll second that idea Zito.
The boy is good and would certainly do a job for us.
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