Is there a better system?

[Ted Hughes]

I wonder whether the two central midfielders will play a bit higher up the pitch once Vinny is back. The distance between midfield and attack is a big problem at the minute, but I can't help but wonder whether Pellegrini is aware of our vulnerability at CB and is making the two CMs sit to provide a bit of protection.

Tbh, even against Newcastle, I think we had problems with a lack of protection there.

I don't think we can hack it without doing something about that; either an extra body in there or the whole team needs to work back 50% better.

It clearly isn't working, as you say (look at the early opportunities Hull carved out), but I think that's the intention.

What , you mean the whole team working back ?

Yeah I think so, but I think he has his work cut out to get all of the players to do it. Playing two up top makes it harder too.

[s1ty m]

No idea about systems, but Yaya playing deep us a total waste of his talent. It's really criminal as he is amazing in the final third.

[Bleed_Blue]

We seem to be too afraid and bad to go forward, if the last defence line goes till half line there is a long ball and defence goes into shambles and we are just too afraid after that. Looking shaky like anything can happen and dont get that confidence back soon enough.

I think there should be proper system as if Kolorov/Nasti is going forward then the right flank and rest should adjust a bit. Similarly Zaba should be allowed those run forward and rest of the defence and team should position itself keeping that in mind.

I thought Pellegrini is going to bring that flare, not afraid of the goals oppositions score, will keep attacking all the time. WTF happened to him, talking about clean sheets, seriously expected him to play more attacking when he talked about beautiful football all summer. Come on we almost won against Bayern, won against AC Milan, why are we pissing ourself because of teams like Stoke ??

Then again let the defence woes be over and lets give him time, but praying that he remembers what he promised.

[Colin the King]

The problem I see is that despite having plenty of midfielders in the squad, none of them are disciplined enough to naturally play a holding role well, in the way that either Barry or de Jong would have done in the past.

Touré, Fernandinho and Rodwell like to push forward and are arguably a lot more comfortable the higher up the pitch they go. Milner's best assets are his energy, drive and delivery from wide so it's either as a right/left sided winger or box-to-box in the middle. Garcia is a liability and can't be trusted anywhere.

As a result, it doesn't matter what variation of those 5 we play in the middle, there are going to be frailties in a 4-4-2 system. Our best bet is therefore surely to go with 3 in midfield, at least if all 3 are inclined to push forward there should be enough coverage for them to take turns hanging back.

[Ted Hughes]

The problem I see is that despite having plenty of midfielders in the squad, none of them are disciplined enough to naturally play a holding role well, in the way that either Barry or de Jong would have done in the past.

Touré, Fernandinho and Rodwell like to push forward and are arguably a lot more comfortable the higher up the pitch they go. Milner's best assets are his energy, drive and delivery from wide so it's either as a right/left sided winger or box-to-box in the middle. Garcia is a liability and can't be trusted anywhere.

As a result, it doesn't matter what variation of those 5 we play in the middle, there are going to be frailties in a 4-4-2 system. Our best bet is therefore surely to go with 3 in midfield, at least if all 3 are inclined to push forward there should be enough coverage for them to take turns hanging back.

I've been saying all along that we would be better like that, but I don't think for one second that the Count doesn't know that is an option. He is so far choosing not to play that way.

I don't think he wants a 'holding' mid as such either. He is hoping that he can get away with two taking it it turns to go forward/sit back & that the whole team defends as one to make up for the lack of a general holding player.

I have no problem with that if we have the right players to do it & the time to pefect it.

Pissing about with it for a season, then sacking him because it didn't work well enough, would be a disgraceful waste of time & money.

[Wooders]

4-3-3 seems to make sense given the current squad options available to us

3 central midfielders can release yaya a bit so he can strive forward