Team News for saturday


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He is usually our only goalscoring threat from midfield though and the only one who can break in behind the back four.

A bit of balance and a 'back to basics' 4-4-2 would give the necessary support to allow the Welbeck-Gyan combo to do its work through the middle, though. Richardson could still break beyond the line from fullback. The purported team is so lumpy and unbalanced. Too many players playing an unnatural role.
 
A bit of balance and a 'back to basics' 4-4-2 would give the necessary support to allow the Welbeck-Gyan combo to do its work through the middle, though. Richardson could still break beyond the line from fullback. The purported team is so lumpy and unbalanced. Too many players playing an unnatural role.

I agree, it's either left-back or behind the striker in a 4-4-1-1 for Richardson for me. In a 4-4-2, Cattermole is neither quick enough nor carries enough presence to offer the required protection if Richardson was to break, and it's pointless playing him, or anyone else for that matter on the left-wing with a right-footed full-back behind them.
 
He's good at playing off the striker in a 5 man midfield, in a midfield 4 he's useless.

Passing isn't great, gets caught in possesion a lot.

He does and his touch isn't great, but I think with a good holding midfielder and natural balance either side you can get away with it more. I think he could struggle if he plays centrally tomorrow because of the lack of what will come from full-back.
 
Didnt Bruce say that he thought Richardson could break into the England squad as a left back?

An then proceeds to play him every position but!?
 
He does and his touch isn't great, but I think with a good holding midfielder and natural balance either side you can get away with it more. I think he could struggle if he plays centrally tomorrow because of the lack of what will come from full-back.

I'd play Zenden alongside Catts and Muntari on the left tomorrow.
 
Didnt Bruce say that he thought Richardson could break into the England squad as a left back?

An then proceeds to play him every position but!?

He did :lol:

It's simply very average management to continue to keep picking Bardsley there because he has done well, even though it's to the detriment of the balance of the side. If Bardsley is playing so well, he'll have no problem slotting back into his natural position.
 
Didnt Bruce say that he thought Richardson could break into the England squad as a left back?

An then proceeds to play him every position but!?

Second best left back behind Cole wasn't it?

To be fair to Richardson he filled in behind Gyan when Bent left and did a cracking job. For the proceeding games we didn't seem to play to his strengths, typical. Lately he's been injured so he probably hasn't got a clue where he fits in with Brucie's plans, much like all of us.

Bruce doesn't seem to know himself. I always think it's best to play players in their preferred position, unless we're desperate.
 
I'd play Zenden alongside Catts and Muntari on the left tomorrow.

Wouldn't be against that at all, think Zenden's continued exile by Bruce is baffling to say the least, only problem with that midfield would be complete lack of pace and natural width. Richardson left-back is the obvious shout but unlikely to happen so I think I'd go with Sessegnon/Cattermole/Richardson/Zenden, although you can make a case for Malbranque ahead of Richardson, but again you have big issues with lack of pace there.
 
He did :lol:

It's simply very average management to continue to keep picking Bardsley there because he has done well, even though it's to the detriment of the balance of the side. If Bardsley is playing so well, he'll have no problem slotting back into his natural position.

Basics of management- play people in the right position.

No centre backs at right back, no right backs at left back and no left backs in midfield.
 
Wouldn't be against that at all, think Zenden's continued exile by Bruce is baffling to say the least, only problem with that midfield would be complete lack of pace and natural width. Richardson left-back is the obvious shout but unlikely to happen so I think I'd go with Sessegnon/Cattermole/Richardson/Zenden, although you can make a case for Malbranque ahead of Richardson, but again you have big issues with lack of pace there.

Zenden was on the radio last week. He didn't seem happy at all and it sounds as though he'll be away at the end of the season. It didn't seem as though he'd had a lot of communication with Bruce and has pretty much been left in the dark.

I must admit though, although he's a canny squad player he's not getting any younger so if he were to leave I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. However, we've been playing like shite for months now and any change for me I'd look on positively. I do disagree with players being played out of position though.
 
Basics of management- play people in the right position.

No centre backs at right back, no right backs at left back and no left backs in midfield.

Totally agree, he's had Ferdinand right-back ahead of 3 recognised right-back's in the squad in Bardsley, Elmohamady and Angeleri, it doesn't make much sense at all and it's blindingly obvious that it's not helping us too much at all. It seems like he puts a square peg in a round hole and if it does well he assumes it will work for a number of games. It's akin to putting a lot of masting tape around your broken glasses, they may hold together for a while but they are still fucked nonetheless :lol:
 
He did :lol:

It's simply very average management to continue to keep picking Bardsley there because he has done well, even though it's to the detriment of the balance of the side. If Bardsley is playing so well, he'll have no problem slotting back into his natural position.

Well said. The thing is though, I don't think Bardsely has been playing well.

I'm sick of hearing the "He's committed" and "He's our player of the season" spiel. It just shows how shite our football has been if he's player of the season. He may be most improved player but to be honest, he couldn't get much worse could he? I thought he'd have been pushed out of the club a few seasons ago yet he's still here and considered to be a modern day Cafu by some on here.
 
This would be my starting team.....

GK - Mignolet - Done nothing wrong of late
RB - Onouha - Have really missed him of late
LB - Richardson - Best position for him overlapping down the left
CB - Turner
CB - Mensah
RW - Sessegnon - With Onouha getting forward more than Anton, it will stop teams being able to double up on Sess and i reckon he could beat most full backs in a 1v1
LW - Zenden - Can get the crosses in and Rico overlapping makes up for Zendens lack of pace
CM - Catts - We need his bite and i think we'll see a big performance
CM - Muntari - The lad is slowly getting better, you can see some of the passes he picks out he is oozing quality, needs more time to get fitness up.
CF - Gyan
CF - Welbeck

That's the team i'd go for and pray Brucie does also!
 
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