Sandro is now undroppable.

[Rocksuperstar]

Bayern in for Sandro.

 

[dimiSpur]

Bayern in for (and evidently already taken) Eric_s's ability to comprehend what he's reading.

 

[ThorntonSpur]

no player is undroppable as indicated by a number of posters. He ahs it seems turned the corner but is still elarning. he was again along with gomes our best player on saturday against wigan.

I think he is the type of player that could let us try 3 at the back in the pre season this summer

kaboul dawson gallas

huddlestone sandro

lennon modric bale

vdv
one other

 

[dimiSpur]

I think long term, a 3-5-2 is the way forward for us possibly, what with two ready made wing backs in our ranks - Walker and Bale. Imagine a side of

Gomes; Kaboul, Dawson, Gallas; Walker Bale; Huddlestone, Sandro, Modric; van der Vaart; Striker.

Maybe even just one of Huddlestone and Sandro, with Luka next to them, van der vaart in the hole with 2 strikers.

 

[sloth]

Huddlestone has to play in our side when fit - whether its Sandro thats dropped, Modric shifted out left or further forward in place of VDV, or we change our system, we need Huddlestones passing ability in that midfield.

I think we tend to overhype players when they're playing well and overdo the criticism when they're having a dip. Sandro looks like a great defensive midfielder, but watching Man City yesterday, their "DM", Toure, was bursting forward and joining in attacks really well. So he's not in that class yet.

I still think our strongest team includes Huddlestone and Luka in the centre, as they seem to control games with their passing. Away to teams like Real though tomorrow, Sandro is a definite must start. There are games that require different players, it's good to see we have variety in abundance in midfield areas. It's upfront we lack that choice!

I think long term, a 3-5-2 is the way forward for us possibly, what with two ready made wing backs in our ranks - Walker and Bale. Imagine a side of

Gomes; Kaboul, Dawson, Gallas; Walker Bale; Huddlestone, Sandro, Modric; van der Vaart; Striker.

Maybe even just one of Huddlestone and Sandro, with Luka next to them, van der vaart in the hole with 2 strikers.

Just going to write the same Dimi, it satisfies all of the above observations. We'll never go for it of course, especially with Redknapp at the helm, but it definitely accommodates all our best players in their best positions (bar Lennon perhaps) and makes the best use of our current depth in certain positions and lack of depth in others.

Gomes
Gallas, Dawson, Kaboul,
Sandro Huddlestone
Lennon Modric Bale
Vdv*
Crouch​

* Or two strikers of your choice.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

I agree with those who say that no player is undroppable.

Form is a fickle thing as we've seen so often with our players (and those of other teams).

The key for Harry is to put players on the pitch when they are having a good run of form and to replace or substitute them when they aren't. Sounds simple but isn't always easy to spot when they are finding form again.

I like Harry and what he's done for us so far and I don't like criticising him but it does seem obvious that he has his favourites and perseveres with them, benching or shunning other squad members who might do a better job on the day, even if means altering our tactics and formation, and that doesn't always work in our favour. Making earlier substitutions when a player is having a bad game sometimes seems a more sensible option.

 

[Mr Pink]

I think we tend to overhype players when they're playing well and overdo the criticism when they're having a dip. Sandro looks like a great defensive midfielder, but watching Man City yesterday, their "DM", Toure, was bursting forward and joining in attacks really well. So he's not in that class yet.

I still think our strongest team includes Huddlestone and Luka in the centre, as they seem to control games with their passing. Away to teams like Real though tomorrow, Sandro is a definite must start. There are games that require different players, it's good to see we have variety in abundance in midfield areas. It's upfront we lack that choice!

Toure had more of a license to get forward and De Jong was more the DM yesterday in their 4-4-2.

I agree with your second paragraph though, spot on.

 

[Mr Pink]

What about when we don't have the ball? You expect us to dominate possession against the likes of Real and Barca?
Man city, bolton, sunderland etc had become stronger. We must continue to improve too. Its the fact that we did not improve our strikers that we now find ourselves struggling to repeat our top 4 finish.
As BC has mentioned countless times (and its true) but some here conveniently ignored, last season when huddlestone partnered Modric in CM, we had less possession when playing against good teams even at home. So saying that the two of them can control game is simply rubbish. You control game by having most of the possession.
So I am still waiting for someone to tell me what kind of chances can hudd create that even our misfiring strikers can convert effortlessly?
Our other problem is conceding goals and Sandro is hence vital to the team, especially almost every defenders are out injured.

Its not rubbish either, were you actually watching the games? So we beat Chelsea, Arsenal, City, in the run in last season and just fluked it!!!!

Infact I have never seen us dominate Chelsea, or any other big gun for that matter, like we did that day.


Jog on with that theory mate! :wink:

 

[Mr Pink]

Very interesting what Adebayor has said recently about what City were talking about in the dressing room at halt time at WHL in the opening fixture of the season....

Basically eulogising about how good we were, and how good we were going to do this season!!!!...Hudd and Modric totally dominated that half of football.

 

[steventhfc]

Where'd you see that?

 

[Mr Pink]

Where'd you see that?

Give me a minute and I'll find it...

 

[dimiSpur]

Minutes up.... :wink:

 

[Mr Pink]

There was another article, but :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...rm-against-Tottenham-in-Champions-League.html

 

[Spurger King]

There was another article, but :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...rm-against-Tottenham-in-Champions-League.html

Nice interview. I like him even more now. Anyone who runs the length of the pitch just to take the piss out of some Arsenal fans can't be all bad.