Would this work?

[Bingo Lewis]

Concentration on the CM partnership

SWP----De Jong---Silva----Jonno

--------Balo--------Dzeko

What do you reckon? Too small?
Silva gets more stuck in than he's given credit for. Think it'd line up more of a diamond with silva pushing on and nige staying put.

[Blue In Bolton]

I think that line-up is currently spot on Bingo. The obvious change being a bona fide right winger/ midfielder brought in during the transfer window and cover /competition for Silva. Like it alot and I don't give a monkeys about it being too small as it would be encouraged to pass through the midfield and have natural width to provide crosses for the strikers. However, you just know he will go with 3 central defensive midfielders and try and sneak a one goal win.

[CityFanFromRome]

Concentration on the CM partnership

SWP----De Jong---Silva----Jonno

--------Balo--------Dzeko

What do you reckon? Too small?
Silva gets more stuck in than he's given credit for. Think it'd line up more of a diamond with silva pushing on and nige staying put.

It could but because of what yourself said, Nige would need help from AJ and SWP when we are not in possession because Silva does get stuck in but still he usually remains more up the field, ready for when we get the ball back.

[Tokyo Blue]

I'd be wary of giving Silva too much defensive responsiblilty. It might take his focus away from his primary job of making goals. On the other hand he does, as you say, put himself about a bit more than you might expect.

It would be interesting to see that six in action. It could work if Johnson and SWP were fairly responsible when we are not in possession. Who would you be thinking of as fullbacks behind the two wide men? Richards and Zabaleta?

Hmm. On the whole I like it.

[Bingo Lewis]

I'd be wary of giving Silva too much defensive responsiblilty. It might take his focus away from his primary job of making goals. On the other hand he does, as you say, put himself about a bit more than you might expect.

It would be interesting to see that six in action. It could work if Johnson and SWP were fairly responsible when we are not in possession. Who would you be thinking of as fullbacks behind the two wide men? Richards and Zabaleta?

Hmm. On the whole I like it.

Yep. Micah and Zabba. I'd love to see it, but think maybe this saturday is too much of a gamble for trials.

[Tokyo Blue]

I'd be wary of giving Silva too much defensive responsiblilty. It might take his focus away from his primary job of making goals. On the other hand he does, as you say, put himself about a bit more than you might expect.

It would be interesting to see that six in action. It could work if Johnson and SWP were fairly responsible when we are not in possession. Who would you be thinking of as fullbacks behind the two wide men? Richards and Zabaleta?

Hmm. On the whole I like it.

Yep. Micah and Zabba. I'd love to see it, but think maybe this saturday is too much of a gamble for trials.

I'd seriously consider putting that team out in every league game we've got left and the final if we get there.

[El_Quince]

Milner for SWP for me, but otherwise yup.

[Mark Garrett]

Would prefer to see Milner central midfield alongside De Jong with Silva in front.

No way can Silva be relied upon to play central midfield alongside Nigel with 2 wingers and 2 centre forwards.

[Blue Since 76]

de jong
Milner Silva
SWP Dzeko AJ

Nige provides bite, Milner more box to box, silva craft. Width from wingers and crosses into box, with silva/milner supporting dzeko when they can.

After an hour, milner off and either Yaya if we need a goal or barry/Vieira if we're winning and just trying to kick lumps out of nanny. Tell milner he's only got an hour and you expect to have to carry him off the pitch. Not a day for anyone to be conserving energy.

If the words banjo and barn door start to come to mind with Dzeko, swap him for Mario and swap the wingers round. Potentially Silva to the left wing and Yaya for SWP.

With 10 mins to go, if we're losing, I expect everything thrown at them, not just knocking the ball round in midfield like usual.
Rag mate pointed out that VdS's injury means he can't kick, hence he takes short goal kicks to the centre halves. So from every goal kick, push right up and make him kick and chase everything down to stop them building from the back.

[Bingo Lewis]

The point with wingers sending in crosses with only 1 up front is invalid for me.
1 forward against two defenders going for a cross? Its gonne be hard.

[brite blu sky]

I like the two fwds in that with the idea of pinging crosses in. However with FBs looking to get forward and cross I'm not totally convinced that the sacrifice of some extra defensive muscle would be a good idea most of the time in the prem, that said Spurs seem to get away with it a lot so... or do they?

Sat is too much for that experiment probably as we haven't tried it out in games. shame that.