Do we play five in midfield?
Wednesday, 03 September 08, 07:31 AM · Comments (113)
So the transfer window went quietly by for Villa and even though I was hopeful that Dean Ashton might be upgrading his claret and blue shirt I am not too disappointed.
Generally our squad has been improved during the last two months and with Gareth still there I am feeling confident. The only shortage seems to be with the strikers and it is interesting that Martin O’Neill states on the Official Website that he is looking to give Nathan Delfouneso some games.
It still leaves us with only four recognised strikers and an injury to either Carew or Gabby would leave us very thin on the ground. However, I think Martin is thinking more about five in midfield and only one up front.
During his first months at Villa Martin used Gabby and Luke Moore in wide positions, almost as wingers, with a lone striker. I believe he is thinking about having Ashley Young on the left and Milner, or Gabby, on the right with big John alone in the middle.
The advantage of this would be that it would allow us to accommodate both Barry and Sidwell in midfield. This would, I think, allow Sidwell the opportunity to bomb forward and score his famous goals from midfield. I see the midfield lining up as, from left to right, Young, Barry, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, Milner with Carew alone of front.
Reo-Coker would get my vote as I think we need that defence minded holding midfield player. Petrov has performed well so far this season though, so with Gardner we will have healthy competition for the central midfield position.
The idea of that five in midfield certainly appeals to me and if it works it could be England’s midfield for the 2010 World Cup. Perhaps by then we could have Dean Ashton, of Aston Villa, as the lone forward too!
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I'm a big fan of five in midfield; if only because you only need one striker to score a goal.
Also, if you've got youth and pace on your side, which we have in Milner and Young and Gabby - they should be able to support the lone striker very quicklyand provide options.
It's also not really five in midfield all the time - it's more a 4-5-1 when we need to be, but when we've got the ball it's 4-3-3; it's adapting to the game that you're playing.
i was thinking the same thing last night andy with exactly the same line up allowing our team to switch consistently throught the game from 4-5-1 to 4-3-3 when needs be, it will definatly throw opponents off their stride and allow us to play different styles of football to accomadate different teams styles of play
reo-coker could find his feet as the makalele role sitting in the centre of the feild and allowing the other 4 mids to attck at will while he mops up any attacks etc....
not just the players mentioned we have cover in all positions on the field now which will add compitition to our talented squad which is a position villa have not found themselves in for a very long time i am personally happy with what mon has done this season and he has broken his own mould by buying early in the window and getting his targets in before the last day of the window and for the first time (i think) in his managerial career has not signed one player on deadline day
the future really is bright utv
4-2-3-1
Big John, Young(left ss) Gabby/Milner(right) Sidewell(AM)/Barry Petrov(CM)/barry/sidwell Cookie(DM) L Young Davids Laursen Shorey.
The more headaches for MON, the better! Competition in goal, defence and options up front, I love it. Ash, Milner and Gabby can interchange positions during games, the opposition won't know their arses from their elbows
UTV
Reply to johnnybear1982:
Blimey, have we signed Edgar Davids and a fella named Sidewell when i wasn't looking
I would definately agree with playin 5 in midfield and reverting to 4-3-3 on attacks. It must be the way forward if we all seem to think the same!
MON will know exactly what he's doing with this squad, and I can only see an improvement on last season!!
UTV!
Mmmm...Thought similar myself, even though it can get frustrating with one striker because they always get shut out. That would have been the case last year, however this year we have midfielders that could easily be strikers and therefore give a strong adaptable attacking midfield. The opposing defences should be run ragged..!
I would love to give Salifou a regular chance in midfield, he has vision and lays the ball off with great accuracy. He plays well for the reserves and looked calm and confident against HF. I have just been looking at the formation you mention in midfield Andy and looking to get Salifou in there as a starter. But I just can’t, because I like that midfield you have got as a starting 1st team. It then struck me just how strong we really are, especially in midfield...! You can just see a lot of open play goals coming from our midfield this year.
A good balanced article Andy and one that even the moaners or the sheep should not be able to start ranting and raving at each other. Looking forward to good open debate on this one.
I’m sure someone will still mention Man City or how long they have been a supporter and how many Villa shirts they have bought somewhere in the thread..?!
Reply to __AA__:
Well said Andy
I like the idea, the players you've chosen and think it quite likely. And let's not forget our goals come from all over the park, not just from two strikers, another reason this would work well for us.
MON has said he believes that Gabby can get 20 goals this season which must mean he will figure more so I wouldn't be surprised if he's often the sole striker.
I thought we already played this, but more of a 4-3-2-1 with Gabby and Young as the 2 behind Carew.
I think it changes between 4-3-3, 4-3-1-2 and so forth as we go forward, such is the versatility of our attack.
I think the 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation will come in handy if we have an injury up front, or we're playing a team with a superior midfield, but I think he'll want to stick with the 4-4-2/4-3-1-2 that has proved to be successful for the moment.
It could work, as long as the work was being put in, mainly by the attacking 3 of the midfield (Sidwell, Young, Milner) then we'd have every chance of scoring goals. And if it doesn't - during a game - you can switch it back to 4-4-2 without making a sub. Young could easily go up top and Barry out wide, the same with Milner - he played up front against Coventry and ran them ragged (O'Neil was in the stands too)!
The only prob with Milner going up is NRC or Petrov would have to go out right an open themselves up for criticism off some ppl on here!
Reply to RM4:
i doubt the villa players come on this website.
4-3-3 in attack and 4-5-1 sounds like the best option to accomodate our talent in midfield. With one lone striker there is a chance that big John could be isolated and marked out of games, although saying that on sunday against liverpool it was as though we only had one striker because Gabby did nothing, he didn't even look interested. We could have done with another forward to give Gabby a kick up the backside, we need to get more out of him week after week.
Back to the formation, when all fit we have a very good midfield and the only way i can see it is being 5 across midfield. MON would rather take off our full backs and play our midfield talents out of position so what will happen when Sidwell is fit? 7 midfielders playing all over the place????
We all know nothing compared to MON so i'll finish off by saying I still have faith in our manager and he knows what he's doin.
^ I don't think he meant it like that lol
I'm personally looking forward to seeing more of Salifou, great passer.
5 or 3 or 4 it doesn't matter were not going to win anything so what's the point.
Taglor do you actually support Villa?
Well done Taglor, bring the general feeling of optimism down with a huge bump!
Taglor, why do you still come on here? A couple of weeks ago you told us how you were giving up supporting the villa and off to your local non league team.. So off you go, goodbye. Do us all a favour.
I don't think Chris knows alot i mean come on his pic he's in a toilet
Reply to Jay_Villafan:
ha ha....the only pic I had of myself on my phone when I signed up.
If it means gettin people to join OleOle just to ask me why my pic is in a toilet then thats great!
Doesn't mean I dont know anythin though!
Chris are you on the bog?
Reply to Jay_Villafan:
sorry Jay_Villafan, that was supposed to be for keefvilla.
Reply to Jay_Villafan:
No just standin in a toilet room....are you obsessed with this or what?!?
Reply to taglor:
Jesus thank F**k your not in charge you negative twit spelt with an 'a'.
I can only imagine your not much of a team player or have never played any sport at all competativly in your life with that shit negative attitude.
Or maybe your a f**ckin Blue nose
I like this idea but for one thing, the fact that im not overly sure that Big John would flourish as a lone striker, even as a target, and if he is stuck up thr front on his own, losing confidence, that's pretty much the same as picking up and injury, maybe a little more destructive to the team. I reckon for it to work, and this may be getting a little more pedantic on positions, you would have to play NRC/Petrov/Salifou at RDM, Barry at LDM, Milner on the Right, Ash on the left, with Sidwell and Gabby sitting in behind Carew further up the pitch. That would leave us with only 3 at the back, (and i'm banking on Cuellar being a raging succer here), but i honestly think if we have Barry and another sit back in front of the back 3 that this sort of formation could work. Again my only qualm with it would be that unless we went to 3 in the backs i think Carew would be far too isolated to play well/lose his impact when teams double up on him. Good thread though, should be a very healthy debate by the time its done
back to football now anyway. John Carew up front on his would be the way to play against the big 3 lets face it liverpool have dropped away so its only a 3 now. It'll be good to play it against a weak team first see how we get on.
I did watch my local team last night Dorchester Town drew 2-2 with Team Bath and it was great and I didn't feel ripped off funding millionaires that won't win anything. It just made me hate the premiership monopoly even more and I think this whole Man City thing will hopefully go some way to killing it. If we win ANYTHING this season come back on and take the piss out of me but I am 100% sure we wont. I don't class 6th as winning anything it bores me to tears. I am not alone and a lot of people are getting fed up with the monopoly and prices, I mean how much to watch that crap at Stoke or against Liverpool? Also I have said before this is no snap decision I have watched mediocrity at Villa for 2 Decades that is a long time of no achievement and I see no change in it, like Damian said quoting Mark Hughes Man City have signalled there intent with Robinho, have we with Shorey? I would love to be bought by an Arab company why the hell not? It's the stuff dreams are made of nobody would say oh you won a treble but it was bought and that let us bother us because who cares we could win a treble.
Petrov should play a more attacking midfielder. He is the only player with a decent passing game. Reo Joker looks good running up and down but he cannot pass or set anything up.
Do we play five in midield?
When Carew or Gabby get injured we better had. Fonz is promising but neither him or Marlon (bless him, he tries *sniff*) are starting line-up material, I think.
Anyway stuff the football....Has anyone seen a big box of 'Karma' out here..?
Its definatley the way to go! Its as everybody is saying, its 4-5-1 when we need to defend but 4-3-3 when we go forward! COunter attacking football at its best!
Reply to Jay_Villafan:
We already know it works from a couple of seasons ago when Angel was the lone striker with Agbonlahor and Moore attacking from the wings. Juan's link up play was spot on. It worked a treat. But now we have what I consider better players to do that Job, in terms of Young and Milner playin on the flanks.
Lookin forward to the next game, more than I can say for the shitty England games comin up!
Reply to Villa_Chris:
Times change just because it worked then doesn't mean it'll work now.
Jay and Chris...You realy need to get together..There's loads of pent-up sexual frustration between you two..!
good point
3-5-2
davies laursen cueller
Reo -Coker
Milner/gabby Sidwell barry/petrov young
carew
bags of pace and a side full of runnin
Hope you were'nt saying mine was a good point Chris..!
ha ha ha ha little things like that make your day a whole lot better
ha ha no it was to Jay..... prob will see him after actually, he does live accross the road!
It was bloody good timing with your reply though Chris..! Priceless..!
sorry meant to have gabby up front and Salifou in midfield
Although there may well be some merit in the 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation, especially given the number of midfielders we have, I still think we're light up front (and I'm sure Mon agrees, given his desire for another striker). Carew won't play every game between now and January, and yet without him the 4-5-1 doesn't look so clever. If Gabby were able to play as a target man up front then I could see the sense, but I'm not sure he can (though MoN may of course know better). And even if Gabby could play that role, I'm still not convinced that we have enough competition up front; Gabby and Carew will be assured of a start, unless MoN rests them.
There is perhaps some sense in MoN not getting a striker in this window, so I'm not going to berate him, but I still feel that we're going to drop points we otherwise wouldn't between now and January, when a top 4 spot is there for the taking.
Best idea i have seen today!
UTV
villa4life
i dont belive Martin will drop gabby but i think he needs to!he wont be able to play that wide right position becuase he hasnt gt a footballing head on him! MON seem reluctant to drop petrov when he is playing bad so when he is playin well we have no chance! Friedel-young davies/ceullar laursen shorey(until bouma is back)-Milner Sidwell/Petrov NRC Barry Young- Carew
As Rick_Eight says, despite a decent goal tally Gabby often drifts out of the game in his current position. Carew does well holding up the ball, but I don't think he often finds lots of space in the box to work under the status quo. When he is in possession near the box it's not usually Gabby it's laid off for. If we keep long balls upfield to a minimum given the extra cover on Carew and people work hard to get upfield and support build-up play it could work very well.
thank god delfouneso will play, i dint get him on my shirt for no bloody reason! delfouneso no.14 cmon!
I actually like that formation. It would have to Carew up front as you would need someone capable to hold the ball up while the wide 2 of Milner and Young get forward to support. Would probably work better away from home as like you said it come become defensive when we don't have the ball as a 4-5-1 and then become an attacking 4-3-3. You could then have NR as the ball winner and probably Barry and Sidwell as the midfielders breakingio th box to get on the deliveries from Young or Milner.
To play a lone striker you obviously need someone who can hold the ball up and Carew can certainly do that (even though his touch on Sunday was shocking - one off me thinks). Gabby as a lone striker would not work. But if we did play that formation we would need players to bomb forward to support otherwise it is so frustrating. Saying that, rarely does gabs get on the end of big johns flicks anyway. Gabds did go missing against LV, i remember one point when he made a run and the ball didn't get to him so he stopped and turned around to walk back annoyed, in the meantime the ball had been put back over the top for him to run on to. Wake up Gabby you got potential put in the effort!
As long as we can accomodate Sidwell in our midfield with barry and young i'm happy.
An MON, please no more players out of position unless absolutely necc. Young and Shorey over Reo and Barry everytime.
Recoba and Appiah are decent strikers and available to sign for free from next week. Maybe worth a punt? We then have cover for Big John which would be nice.
The more i see Gabby the more he reminds me of Vassel. All pace but very little ball skills or guile. Hopefully im wrong. I would have loved to have MON buy a different type of striker who has a bit more creativity like Gudjohnson or even McFadden from the blues would have been a nice option to come on during a game when the long balls up aren't working like against Stoke.
Looking forward to an interesting season this year whatever formation we use. Things are definitely looking up for Villa.
Really glad to see Milner back at VP.
It always surprises me how little patience so many fans show.
Are we turning into Newcastle??
I doubt we will break into the top 4 (or top 3 if you prefer)this season but I'm just happy that I can watch each game with the feeling that we will win unlike a few years ago.
If Taglor is really a Villa fan he should be used to not winning anything. If thats all you're interested in support Man U, Chelsea, or Arsenal like everyone else.
Up the Villa
Curbishly's quit. I wish we'd have gone in for Ashton now knowing how unstable West Ham are.
Yeah, strange that, the fact I want my football team to win isn't it?!?! Beejazus some of you are such wooly sheep, go on follow the flock and don't listen to any of the birds telling you about the foxes.
Reply to taglor:
Its one thing wanting to win things with Villa, totally putting them down until they do (Taglor), and another in wanting Villa to succeed and support them along the way (everyone else).
Since Lerner and O'neil took over, Villa have progressed majorly and more time and growth will see Vila hit a new level.
Like Villatill_idie said..... go and support Man U, Chelsea or Arsenal if thats they way you support your team.
Reply to Villa_Chris:
Bravo lol!
ha ha
Taglor is that depressed about villa i bet he's at home listenin to coldplay. He wants to get a grip and support the team instead of running them down anything can happen in the world of football.
Reply to Jay_Villafan:
Haha Coldplay.....their new song is pretty upbeat to be honest
Ha Ha
. Our fans are alot more upbeat for the season ahead than any coldplay song
Reply to Jay_Villafan:
I think Taglor should download 'Dont worry be happy' by Bobby McFerrin! That never fails to make me smile!
Reply to Joevillan:
Kick*
Reply to Villa_Chris:
haha villa fans make me laugh
as for taglor he can go and watch dorechster cus im sure we dnt want him.
I want manofpi to come on so i can virtually kcim his spotty a*s
The only reason i can see MON not signing a striker is that he does intend to play 5 in midfield, or maybe the same sort of formation he played when Carew was up front on his own with Gabby and Luke Moore supporting.
I like 5 in midfield as long as we don't play.... the long ball.
taglor just because your foxes got relegated last season cheer up you vermin
sheep arent that wooly at this time of year
No, the sheep in my field have just been shorn.
Taglor - pessimistic but funny. I'd argue that if we optimists are sheep, then you Taglor are not offering anything new in the misery camp. You're a sheep, just a negative one.
Friedal
Young Laursen Culleur Shorey
Milner Reo Coker Sidwell Barry Young
Carwew
Sorry completely off topic however i have just bought the new home kit online and the website states its out 2008-2010 shirt does this mean the kit will stay the same for the 09/10 season >??
Reply to Ugly_Betty:
Nah, Taglors the shepherd. Not sure if he has any sheep though ^^
for that endorsement tags I want some K back for the one you stole from me!
If it wasn't for the taglors of this world, the world would be worse off. Firstly the 'sheep' would have nothing to 'moan and whinge' about if the taglor's of this world were not around..!
tags..your a Leg End...keep up the good work pal..!
Not sure why my last two replies got change out of order. Damian those Kiwi bugs are back in the system mate!
Taglor. You evidently think that modern Premiership football is all about money. Well, you're right, it is. Then again top flight football always has been about money. I can tell you stories about the game from the pre-war years (from my parents - I'm not quite that old). The point is that we choose a team, support them through thick and thin, travel miles, spend bags of dough, debate arcane points of tactics over a pint. We become mono-focused where our team is concerned whether they are Prem or Sunday Morning Baptist League. Like music, you can pay top dollar to see/hear the best, or you can go down the pub and see some crap for nowt - you choose. Anyway Taglor, well done! You've got everyone going - including me!! Ha Ha.
taglor
while i have this belief that everyone has the right to say what they want, we all actually know your opinion now and while i actually agree with some of what you say, there is no harm in having a little hope.
could you maybe try to think about the potential?
i would play gabby up front on his own, make the lazy bastard run!
send one of taglors sheep after him he'd sh*t himself enough to run after the ball
formation looks good on paper , but i doubt carew is consistent enough to make it work (too many bambi on ice days)...pity we didn't buy ashton really. Incidentally , is taglor really serious , i have always smiled at his posts because i thought them full of irony ???
The 3 at the back posts deserve some consideration. MON has changed to that formation in the Stoke and Liverpool games when searching for a win in the last 20 minutes.
I don't think we should underestimate Gabby as a lone striker. MON clearly is geeing him up to be a top scorer this season. He works really hard and is learning all the time, it could be the making of him. Carew can be magnificent but he also can be lazy. On Sunday when the ball was played quickly into the box on the break he was still in midfield slowly making his way to where he was needed. Gabby on the other hand really put himself about.
Ref. Taglor
I for one think we need Taglor. He is unique, you don't often see posts quite like his anywhere else. He can stop us taking ourselves too seriously, if he didn't exist we'd need to invent him. My only worry, as I have said before, is his own state of mind and what the damage he can do to himself.
I think the best antidote to his misery is to send him lots of love, Long live Taglor
Reply to taglor:
taglor you sad twat .why dont u travel 7 miles down the road 2 c weymouth a better team who play in claret and blue or travel 12 miles 2 c a team called portland utd who play in your favourite colour blue . keep off this site you are getting boring .avfc forever bluenose no matter where you live dickhead
We have to play 5 in the midfield now, to stop MON looking like a total idiot for not getting his act together and bringing in a striker. By the way, in the paper this morning it stated that Man City owners, The country of Dubai or what ever, are planning a 135m bid for Ronaldo, plus bids for Fabregas and Torres.
PS Taglor really is the shepherd, herding everyone into this particular blog with predictable posts, even Damian had to make a comment this time......lol
PPS, i was supposed to write city of Dubai above
Taglor's right, we are sheep. We're Claret and Blue sheep.....we follow the Villa!
Playing Carew on his own is all well and good in theory, but since he's someone who can't make his own chances he'd need to be receiving them constantly from the midfielders.
Still we lack a natural goalscorer and that's what's going to hurt us I think. Carew is decent but let's not get carried away, that's all he is - decent.
Carew is better than decent and the fact he was a straight swap for the worst forward villa park has seen Baros it was a great deal. Carew with our midfielders supportin there will be plenty of goals
Reply to vivavilla86:
I disagree to an extent. His overall play is what makes him better than a decent player, although is goalscoring is 'decent' I suppose. Carew can be 'unplayable', a phrase made by more than just O'Neil last season.
Reply to Villa_Chris:
Yeah he can be a beast every so often, but only usually against the poorer central defenders in the league. My main concern about playing him on his own is that against the better clubs we're going to struggle to score.
Reply to vivavilla86:
Has anyone read the match report for the reserves last night on the official website? or even go?
It sounds to me Routledge play exeptionally well....again. I have seen him in a couple of games for the reserves and I also went to the HF game last Thursday, and I have to say he's impressed me.
His touch is second to none, absolutely superb. Infact I dont think there is anyone in the Villa team that has one as good as him. Also his determination and ability to run at players and beat them is top. I feel a bit sorry for him that Milner has come in to play on RW, although the competition is always healthy.
Just thought I would give him a mention
Reply to vivavilla86:
Sorry that wasnt a reply to you Vivavilla..
..
Reply to Villa_Chris:
We know he's got potential. the reason he was cheap as chips was because he's never managed to fulfil it consistently when it matters. I think Salifou's touch is comparable when we finally get to see him. I also think Delfouneso will be big this and next season.
Salifou is getting a lot of respect for his appearances in the reserves. Against HF he looked really composed and his passing was impressive. I would like to see him a bit more this season too. I agree with you about Delfouneso. He seem to have the potential to be a class act. Looks technically sound. Good feet and hunger for goal. I think he could be our natural goalscorer come next season. Scored again last night
I think we can all agree that we don't always agree with taglor. But likewise we don't always agree with each others points of view on here do we? The only difference is that taglor uses 'shock tactics' to stir up the debate, which I may add, he always does!
One of the reasons I stay with AVFCBlog is because I can come on here, read some news and comments about the team I support. And you know what, I have a good laugh at the same time, reading daft post from the 'taglors' of this blog and the daft replies from the others. The other blogs don't seem to have characters like taglor. What the rest of you need to realise is that we are not all the same and although taglor may spout some controversial stuff on occasion, you must understand it's just his way and we should accept all people are not the same. It would be frickin really boring if we did not have such diversity in life.
As for those that tell taglor to p*ss off cos of his comments then hang your head in shame. I for one am guilty of coming on here and being controversial and having 'MY OWN' opinon and getting abuse. Because I have not agreed with the party line, should I also stop being a Villa supporter also?
Those that are abusive to the likes of taglor and on occasion myself (like we actually take notice of you anyway!) need to have a look at yourself? Taglor will make comment, but if you look he does not make it personal at anyone. So when your slinging mud at him, look in the mirror before you lower yourself to slag off a fellow member of this blog.
What I have noticed is since this new blog, there's loads of new users and they are not used to taglor and don't yet understand where he's coming from. On the old blog we got to know the 'taglors' (yes, I'm submitting the word 'taglor' to the english dictionary). I think on the new blog the users have migrated from the other blogs and take themselves a little too serious?
Don't have a go at me for this reply. Just playing Devils Advocate.
Reply to __AA__:
I know your game Andy.....your just tryin to boost your points with these long comments sticking up for Taglor!
Add Taglor to Urban dictionary and submit it....would be really funny
Does anyone know when Sidwell is expected back?
well said andy for however taglor portrays himself he is still one of us and is passionate about the villa but with a different view point than others.........to tags dont change for nobody debate is good everyone saying the same sh*t day in day out would be a waste of everybodys time
sidwell is planning to be in contention for the spuds game on sept 15th
Sidwell played for the reserves last night
That's good news, look forward to seeing him in the league soon.
Hoping to see more of Salifou this season. I agree he and Routledge were the star performers against FH and I think it's only fair they're given a chance in proper competitive games. Salifou looks like he might be one of a very few players in our squad with a bit of flair, someone who might be able to make something out of nothing and pick out those killer passes. Essentially everything Reo-Coker can't do
salifou the leg-end before he starts to play thats how good he is lol
for all the new users on here sometime last year there was an article on here about salifou that you should search out if you really want a good laugh some of the comments that were posted were absolutly brill go search for it it's well worth it
Damian do you know the link?
ha ha ha its hil
arious! 
im looking for it at this momment chris
is it the one called: The Togolese Zidane: Moustapha Salifou?
LINK%20article/page/5
Yes i am a big fan of the 5 man midfield but that means dropping players and i certainly think Gabby is the player i bet most of you will disagree with this comment but i think its the truth if you have been watching him in recent games he has done ok but i dont think thats good enough if we want to challeng for the top 4 he was just walking round the pitch against liverpool didnt see much of him ,he scored a hatrick against man city but luke moore did the same against middlesborugh but look what happend to him and my point is gabby has only got pace as far as im concerned his ball controll is terrible and i think we have to drop him and bring in sidwell so are team will be :
Freidel
Young DAVIES Laursen Shorey
Petrov
Sidwell Reo-Coker
Milner Young
Carew
NOW DOESNT THAT LOOK FRIGHTENING ! AVFC TILL I DIE .
Thanks andy and bob I feel a sniffle coming on.
how can we even think of putting petrov or reo ahead of barry??
i think 4 5 1 is the way forward to get the best out of the squad we have.you can swap the single forward without upsetting the shape and have that extra competition for that one spot.it will also give mon a chance to try the fringe players one at a time slotting them into midfield till he finds the right balance.young,milner,barry and sidwell all have goals in them and we will play the ball through more rather than play the long ball......