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I was discussing this in the match thread last night and after looking at a few videos i thought it needs its own thread. I was saying that we only need a few little tweaks to shore up the midfield

We offer up so much space in the middle of the park, it is criminal. Over and over again the match highlights show teams playing it around the middle of the park and getting direct runs at our defenders.

Below is a photo of the liverpool game.



Henderson is in the centre circle completely unmarked, Gerrard could easily pass to him and he turns facing our goal with time to move forward and look up. Fernando is to far ahead of the player in behind him and is ball watching.

I would like to see Yaya and Fernando in line with Couthino and protecting the back 4 and let Silva and Nasri come more central to create the link with the attackers. Moving Silva and Nasri infield when we dont have the ball would allow Aguero and Dzeko to push further forward and really stretch Liverpool. This would obviously open up the wings to be attacked but it is better than letting opposing teams have a free run at us down the middle. Also, if we have teams stretched up the park, their full backs will be less inclined to bomb forward.

Another shot from the West Ham game below. Again a midfielder in between our midfield and defenders with all four midfielders ball watching.



Is it too simplistic to say that fix this midfield issue and we will shore up the defence, solidify the midfield and support the attack. It is going back to Pellegrini's favoured (apparently) 4-2-2-2 formation by stretching the pitch and making us solid up the middle

FA cup winners 2006 wrote:I was discussing this in the match thread last night and after looking at a few videos i thought it needs its own thread. I was saying that we only need a few little tweaks to shore up the midfield

We offer up so much space in the middle of the park, it is criminal. Over and over again the match highlights show teams playing it around the middle of the park and getting direct runs at our defenders.

Below is a photo of the liverpool game.



Henderson is in the centre circle completely unmarked, Gerrard could easily pass to him and he turns facing our goal with time to move forward and look up. Fernando is to far ahead of the player in behind him and is ball watching.

I would like to see Yaya and Fernando in line with Couthino and protecting the back 4 and let Silva and Nasri come more central to create the link with the attackers. Moving Silva and Nasri infield when we dont have the ball would allow Aguero and Dzeko to push further forward and really stretch Liverpool. This would obviously open up the wings to be attacked but it is better than letting opposing teams have a free run at us down the middle. Also, if we have teams stretched up the park, their full backs will be less inclined to bomb forward.

Another shot from the West Ham game below. Again a midfielder in between our midfield and defenders with all four midfielders ball watching.



Is it too simplistic to say that fix this midfield issue and we will shore up the defence, solidify the midfield and support the attack. It is going back to Pellegrini's favoured (apparently) 4-2-2-2 formation by stretching the pitch and making us solid up the middle

Interesting thoughts and pictures.

re the scouse 2 photo and Fernando, what purpose does mdm serve ?

The worry is all the opos players are on the turn and 6 in the WHUFC pic same in the scouse pic, send this to Pellers or tweet Vinny. and ask wtf is that about, as I am 1005 sure that will be the same with Roma and the Rusckies, what shape might be a better title, no offence.

There's a thread called "the engine room".

If that blow-in, annoying cunt, phips understood what it meant, you could be in trouble now.

Original Dub wrote:There's a thread called "the engine room".

If that blow-in, annoying cunt, phips understood what it meant, you could be in trouble now.

I was going to comment in that one but it seemed to have turned into a discussion about Roy Keane or a similar midfielder. My point is, we dont need major personal changes, the players we have is good enough, its just the positioning and shape of the midfield needs tweaking

Hazy2 wrote:The worry is all the opos players are on the turn and 6 in the WHUFC pic same in the scouse pic, send this to Pellers or tweet Vinny. and ask wtf is that about, as I am 1005 sure that will be the same with Roma and the Rusckies, what shape might be a better title, no offence.

It is happening in every game. We seem to revert to a flat midfield 4 without the ball. We dont man mark and only rush in and put pressure on when they receive the ball, usually chasing them back towards our goal. SS had the stats that 54% of spurs attacks against us were down the middle, although they didnt come to much, it shows that teams are setting up to play us that way

The idea is that when the opposition enters the player's zone the player rushes to meet him to press and try and force a mistake or turn over possession (occasionally we single someone out for special attention but it's still within a zonal framework) - the problem is that there's no failsafe if one of the central midfielders is having a bad game or just can't be arsed.