What would be your starting line up if everyone was fit ?

[DaSpurs]

Lloris
Kaboul Vertonghen
Sandro
Lennon Paulinho Eriksen Townsend
Lamela
Soldado Adebayor
​

Ideally I like the idea, a lot. But I see it just inducing overwhelming congestion in the middle and consequentially highly susceptible to counter-attack or a decent through-ball. However, I do agree with you that traditional fullbacks are rapidly becoming obsolete.

 

[idontgetit]

The day of the full back being obsolete is not far from us my son. It just needs one brave maverick to try it either with my formation, or instead of two strikers and a free role playmaker behind.... one striker and two invested wingers. That's right... my formation has inverted and traditional wingers! Those traditional wingers would have to work hard of course and track back, but they'd still primarily provide width going forward, and hence more space for the inverted wingers/ free roll playmaker to roam and pull defenders in all directions for the 1/2 forwards. Then, a ball player in the middle to link play and turn defence into attack, Modric style, and a high energy box to box player to always be available as an outlet wherever the ball is on the pitch ala Gerrard, guarded by a defensive midfielder with all the energy, athleticism, strength, pace and height to play two roles in one effectively by double up as a centre back when the opposition have the ball on the flanks (see Vieira for Arsenal or Toure for Barca), but just plain smash it when the opposition attack through the middle, and two centre backs who are clever and comfortable enough to peel into the full back slow when the opposition attack down their side (Pique and Puyol when they were good/ young).

Out of possession, a well drilled unit with defined roles who can deal with all forms of onslaught. In possession (and with a 6 man midfield, there should be a lot of this), a free flowing attack which can literally burst forward from any angle and exploit all areas of the pitch.

Hence, full backs not needed.

The problem comes when Lennon or Townsend track back to defend and their positional awareness causes problems with not picking players up or playing forwards onside. It could work like you say but probably would require players who have grown up with the system rather than those shoe-horned in to it

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

same as the OP, but with Capoue in for Paulinho.

or, alternatively, any lineup without Lennon in it.

 

[parklane1]

Lloris

Walker Kaboul Jan Rose

Sandro Eriksen Dembele

Lennon Ade Townsend.

 

[Kirayid]

------------Lloris-----------
Walker-Kaboul-Verts-BAE
-----Paulinho--Sandro-----
----------Eriksen-----------
Lamela----------Townsend
------------Ade-------------

 

[Tottenham_God]

Any team aslong as Sandro is in it

 

[faze_coys]

Lloris
Walker - Kaboul - Verts - Rose
Sandro
Dembele - Paulinho/Eriksen
Lamela - Ade - Eriksen/Townsend​

 

[$hoguN]

The problem comes when Lennon or Townsend track back to defend and their positional awareness causes problems with not picking players up or playing forwards onside. It could work like you say but probably would require players who have grown up with the system rather than those shoe-horned in to it

It would require you to absolutely control possession at all times of a game, as any time the opposition got the ball they would chip it out wide in behind the wingers and cause the same problems as what a 3-5-2 gives you. In fact they would be magnified as your 2 CBs could actually be up against 2 strikers meaning your midfield would have to be totally switched on or you end up conceding whenever a player ghosts into the box late.

 

[TH1239]

The following team could compete for the league title, in my opinion, if fit and given a run of games together:

Lloris
​

Walker Chiriches Vertonghen Rose

​

Lamela Dembele Paulinho Eriksen

Soldado Adebayor​

 

[bceej]

Lloris
Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Rose
Sandro Paulinho
Lamela Eriksen Townsend
Adebayor​

 

[WiganSpur]

_______________Lloris

Walker___Chiriches___Vertonghen___Rose

_________Sandro_____Dembele

Lamela_________Eriksen_______Townsend

______________Adebayor

You have to pick the team rather than individuals sometimes (someone tell the past few England managers who insist on picking Gerrard & Lampard in the same midfield when the evidence shows they don't work together).

Sandro & Dembele just work together. They just do. Whatever you think about them indivdually versus others, they are a great PAIR.

Townsend is just a constant threat/outlet and yes, he shoots too often and yes, he sometimes takes on that one extra man too many, but he'll learn this with time and the way he just gets the ball and drives at the opposition shouldn't be underestimated. Walcott does this for Arsenal, with a lot less skill than Andros does and he wins them a lot of goals/free-kicks/penalties because of it and is generally vital to their play when on good form.

Lamela is hopefully the more refined version on the right-side and Eriksen is just quality.

We miss that partnership. They bring the best of each other IMO. And the annoying thing is I don't think they've started a game together in a CM2 this season.

 

[chris_theo]

For me Sandro and Dembele must start together as the two in front of the defence. Last season they were (along with Bale) the only positive section if our team. In front if go Townsend, Eriksen and Lamela with Ade by himself.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

The problem comes when Lennon or Townsend track back to defend and their positional awareness causes problems with not picking players up or playing forwards onside. It could work like you say but probably would require players who have grown up with the system rather than those shoe-horned in to it

It would require you to absolutely control possession at all times of a game, as any time the opposition got the ball they would chip it out wide in behind the wingers and cause the same problems as what a 3-5-2 gives you. In fact they would be magnified as your 2 CBs could actually be up against 2 strikers meaning your midfield would have to be totally switched on or you end up conceding whenever a player ghosts into the box late.

Agree with both of these. It would need players who had grown up with it.It would need to be ten years of training pitch before it saw the light of day. But then... Imagine... Imagine this if it worked....


(Maniacal cackle)

 

[jezz]

BIG GAMES REQUIRES A BIG TEAM

LORIS
WALKER CHIRI VERTS ROSE
CAPOUE SANDRO
HOLTBY/BENTILEB
LAMELA SOLDADO/ADE ERICKSEN

SWITCH IN PAUL FROM WEAKER GAMES FOR CAPOUE OR SANDRO

 

[mil1lion]

For me it would be;

Lloris
Walker----Kaboul----Vertonghen----Rose
Sandro----Dembele
Lamela----Eriksen----Townsend
Adebayor​

 

[spurslenny]

Radical, but.......

3-5-2

Lloris

Kab-daws-verts

Lennon-dembele-sandro-eriksen-townsend

Ade-soldado


Until lamely and Paulinho hit form they can sit on the bench. Otherwise in for lennon/townsend and eriksen/dembele respectively depending on opposition.

Bench: Friedel, vlad, walker, chadli, sig, capoue, kane.


Edit: even walker in for lennon

 

[Nine while nine]

Radical but I'd play 2 right backs, 2 central defenders, 4 central midfielders, a right winger and a centre forward as my outfield 10.

Whispers: Hey, Les, I still don't think they've twigged I post on their forum.

Les: You think?