the left side problem

[bol-uk]

I wouldn't have thought so mate, but martinez appears to have no faith in him

Nor do I after what I have seen but there must be a player in there somewhere. Jose don't buy crap too often

 

[streeky]

After the international break, assuming Mirallas and Oviedo are back and McCarthy's injured isn't serious I'd go with:

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
McCarthy Besic
Oviedo Barkley Mirallas
Lukaku

Eto'o, Gibson and Naismith would be in some people's and can't argue with them but this is just my opinion.

I always had Oviedo down as an attacking full back ?

 

[SteRobbo84]

I think long term the problem is more to do with our right side. Mirallas for me is far better on the left with Pienaar and Oviedo as back up. On the right; McGeady hasn't done enough IMO while Naismith, Barkley, Lukaku and Eto'o are wasted out wide. Too early to judge Atsu properley but from what I've seen he looks turd. If we signed a decent right winger in Jan we could have an attack of
(Signing) Barkley/Naismith Mirallas
Lukaku/Eto'o

 

[Raino85]

Id try Garbutt there and see how that went to be honest. Maybe its abit late to try it now with important games but should of been something to think about pre season maybe or carling cup

 

[marty mcfly]

someone made a point earlier that Aiden often hogs the sideline and doesnt drift in enough, and that makes colemans effect down the right ineffective. cant wait for kev to come back. he is literally one of our best players. i think eto out right and kev on left or the other way around could be a potent move. but i think eto in the middle is the best place for him. i think rom out right has its positives too

I think that's due to our tactics. Mirallas and Deulofeu where told to do the same thing to stretch the width of the pitch.

 

[marty mcfly]

We must have sold half the team today if that's the case.

You don't think Martinez sees Naismith as one of our better players?

I think from the games he's played in and been rested for I think he's one of the first names on the teamsheet at this stage. That's not my opinion, I just think that's what Martinez thinks.

 

[marty mcfly]

Nor do I after what I have seen but there must be a player in there somewhere. Jose don't buy crap too often

Did Jose buy even him?

He did say that he thought he was making a mistake going to us because he thought he wouldn't get game time which must mean he doesn't rate him much. tbh That was the first thing that worried me about Atsu.

 

[marty mcfly]

I always had Oviedo down as an attacking full back ?

He is but he's probably our best option at the moment.

 

[Hellerad]

3-5-2 would solve everything if we had more than 2 healthy CBs.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Oviedo in left midfield

Baines or Garbutt at Left Back

 

[Tree13]

I think long term the problem is more to do with our right side. Mirallas for me is far better on the left with Pienaar and Oviedo as back up. On the right; McGeady hasn't done enough IMO while Naismith, Barkley, Lukaku and Eto'o are wasted out wide. Too early to judge Atsu properley but from what I've seen he looks turd. If we signed a decent right winger in Jan we could have an attack of
(Signing) Barkley/Naismith Mirallas
Lukaku/Eto'o

Is the right answer.

I would take Deloufeu back in a second, if he was availble. Visibly a better player than McGeady and Atsu, and would allow Mirallas to be used on the left.

While Pienaar, Oviedo and Mirallas are all hurt I'd like to see us use a 433 / 4312 a bit more - or at least I did until Barry got hurt. I think we could go:

Howard

Coleman - Jags - Distin - Baines
(Hibbo) (Browning) (Garbutt)

Barkley - McCarthy - Besic
(Gibson)

Naismith
(Osman)

Lukaku - Eto'o​

- McCarthy would drop in between Jags and Distin when we have the ball, as Barry has been doing, allowing Coleman and Baines to push forward.
- Barkley and Besic would have a fair bit of link-up play to do, but both are young and bold enough to carry the ball forward.
- Naismith , Lukaku and Eto'o could constantly switch positions with each other and would not be as isolated as they often are as the lone striker in our current system.

I simply think this would see our best players on the pitch in a system where none of them are out of position (albeit we'd be asking Barkley to play as an orthodox CM rather than a 10). I'd use McGeady and Atsu coming off the bench against tired defenders and change into a 4231 - taking 2 of the front 3 off along with one of the midfielders.

And then I'd turn FIFA off.

 

[streeky]

You don't think Martinez sees Naismith as one of our better players?

I think from the games he's played in and been rested for I think he's one of the first names on the teamsheet at this stage. That's not my opinion, I just think that's what Martinez thinks.

Most people on here post their best starting 11 and with everyone fit naisy isn't in it. Mc Carthy and Naismith's work rate allow everyone else the platform to play and Martinez knows that.

 

[marty mcfly]

Most people on here post their best starting 11 and with everyone fit naisy isn't in it. Mc Carthy and Naismith's work rate allow everyone else the platform to play and Martinez knows that.

I'll be honest be wouldn't be in mine either. I think he plays too far forward and leaves us a little bit short in midfield. I also don't think he links up well with Lukaku plus he plays in Barkley's position.

But he does score goals and that's what the game is about so I no longer get pissed when I see his name.

 

[bluegirl]

Might be a stupid question but can Garbutt play left wing or is he just a left back?

So many good options at left back, not enough on left wing!

 

[Tree13]

Might be a stupid question but can Garbutt play left wing or is he just a left back?

So many good options at left back, not enough on left wing!

I think long term the problem is more to do with our right side. Mirallas for me is far better on the left with Pienaar and Oviedo as back up. On the right; McGeady hasn't done enough IMO while Naismith, Barkley, Lukaku and Eto'o are wasted out wide. Too early to judge Atsu properley but from what I've seen he looks turd.

@bluegirl , didn't we cover this in the January 2015 transfer thread a day or two ago?

Our left side is plenty strong enough (Pienaar, Mirallas, Oviedo), it is merely hampered by injuries at the moment. The right side is the problem - there is Mirallas and then a distinct drop in quality and durability, because McGeady is both inconsistent and apparently incapable of playing a full 90 minutes, and Atsu has shown very little so far (although in fairness to him he's not had even a tenth of the game time McGeady has).

Mirallas is better on the left; give their respective ages, I would expect Mirallas to take Pienaar's starting spot away by this time next year, but in order for that to happen we need a starting-standard RW.