The Tactics Thread

[Milan 17,854]

Everything is down to the players themselves and Carlo, I believe he can handle this situation. Right, he has some concerns and probably worries about the line-up but hey, what a difference compared to the situation when we were without JT, Lamps, Ess and Drogs. Now he has some nice concerns for a change.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Luiz is left-footed so it makes sense for him to play at LCB and for Terry to be moved to RCB.

[J.F. 1,484]

Luiz can play in every position in defence.

[DYC. 7,542]

Cech

Ivanovic - Terry - Luiz

Bosingwa - Mikel - Lampard - Cole

Anelka

Drogba - Torres

Kickin' it oldskool.

*Bosingwa and Cole as true wingbacks, this way they can attack a lot more since we'll always have Ivan, Luiz, Terry and Mikel at the back. And when facing a dangerous counter-attack from the wings of the opposition, Luiz can drift a little to the left, Ivanovic can drift a little to the right and Mikel then slots next to Terry.

*Either Mikel, Ramires or Essien next to Lampard. I prefer Mikel since he's the best passer of the three, has the best technique, can handle being pressured pretty well and him loving to stay in front of the defence will allow Lampard to go forward. Mikel not being the most solid in the defensive department wont be as noticeable with the support of the three defenders.

*Anelka linking midfield and attack. We need a 'mover' in that position. Someone who'll roam around, always being available to receive a pass and being able to to keep the ball with him (being hard to dispossess). Anelka is that player. When he does it in his role from the right it's annoying since he leaves a gap there. But in a free role behind the strikers, it can be really effective and he can be very crucial. And as great bonus, when we attack we'll have three absolute lethal players in and around the box.

Anelka will have to work on passing the ball quicker, improve his decision-making and one-touch pas a lot more to keep the tempo high.

Malouda is also option for the role but I think the role suits Anelka more. Kakuta can play the role too when he comes back. So fierce competition for the role.

[chrismada9 1,948]

Not sure if I would trust Anelka as a playmaker lol

No, I don't think Drogba should play off Torres to be fair. Drogba isn't technically a support striker.

Drogba and Torres up front is an excellent balance, with Lampard, Essien, and Malouda as upcoming midfielders, Mikel plays just behind them in the Makelele role

[The Big Drog 1,110]

Given the relationship that Terry and Cole have I think it best that he stays on the elft side of defence, Luiz can definitely adapt to playing on the right side but also with Bosingwa being in contention for starting at right back I think that could be a good relationship with them both being Portugese speaking.

I think a 4-3-3 could work, with our current 4-3-3 the front 3 constantly interchange anyway, why not simply continue to let this happen only with a more dangerous striker in Torres in place of Nic Anelka. Though Id rather Torres play mainly through the centre.

I think a diamond could also work with Ramires on the right and Essien in the holding midfield position.

[Madmax 9,219]

Cech

Ivanovic - Terry - Luiz

Bosingwa - Mikel - Lampard - Cole

Anelka

Drogba - Torres

Kickin' it oldskool.

*Bosingwa and Cole as true wingbacks, this way they can attack a lot more since we'll always have Ivan, Luiz, Terry and Mikel at the back. And when facing a dangerous counter-attack from the wings of the opposition, Luiz can drift a little to the left, Ivanovic can drift a little to the right and Mikel then slots next to Terry.

*Either Mikel, Ramires or Essien next to Lampard. I prefer Mikel since he's the best passer of the three, has the best technique, can handle being pressured pretty well and him loving to stay in front of the defence will allow Lampard to go forward. Mikel not being the most solid in the defensive department wont be as noticeable with the support of the three defenders.

*Anelka linking midfield and attack. We need a 'mover' in that position. Someone who'll roam around, always being available to receive a pass and being able to to keep the ball with him (being hard to dispossess). Anelka is that player. When he does it in his role from the right it's annoying since he leaves a gap there. But in a free role behind the strikers, it can be really effective and he can be very crucial. And as great bonus, when we attack we'll have three absolute lethal players in and around the box.

Anelka will have to work on passing the ball quicker, improve his decision-making and one-touch pas a lot more to keep the tempo high.

Malouda is also option for the role but I think the role suits Anelka more. Kakuta can play the role too when he comes back. So fierce competition for the role.

I like that BH, especially the part about Anelka like i've posted before. The only concern I'd have there is that at first glance to me it looks a tiny bit prone to balls over the top in behind, especially because Mikel isn't the quickest and Lampard having lost a step is susceptible to players going past him.

[DYC. 7,542]

Luiz is left-footed so it makes sense for him to play at LCB and for Terry to be moved to RCB.

He's right-footed. But his weak foot is just as good as his right.

[DYC. 7,542]

I like that BH, especially the part about Anelka like i've posted before. The only concern I'd have there is that at first glance to me it looks a tiny bit prone to balls over the top in behind, especially because Mikel isn't the quickest and Lampard having lost a step is susceptible to players going past him.

That's true but you can always bring in Ramires or Essien if that becomes a real problem.

Every line-up/system has it's flaws, up to the coach and players to mask those flaws.

[Peace. 4,352]

Guys... Maybe we should try :

Mikel

Essien - Lampard

Kalou - Torres - Malouda

[Henrique 9,133]

Cech

Bosingua - Terry - Alex - Cole

Ramires - Drogba - Ivanovic - Lampard

Luiz-Torres

[Peace. 4,352]

Drogba, our the weak link

Anelka - Torres - Malouda for me.

[J.F. 1,484]

Guys... Maybe we should try :

Mikel

Essien - Lampard

Kalou - Torres - Malouda

at the moment, ramires is better than Essien, Mikel, and Lampard.

[milllz 43]

essien----mikel/ramires-----lampard

-----------------anelka--------------

--------torres----------------Drogba

[Peace. 4,352]

at the moment, ramires is better than Essien, Mikel, and Lampard.

Maybe. But there I just pointed out our attack. I wrote the name of our midfielders just to put some names, I could wrote McEachran as well... Know what I'm sayin ?

[Corlett 202]

For the Liverpool game I'm not sure whether I'd go with:

---------------- Torres -------------

------- Anelka ------- Kalou ----

Malouda - Lampard - Ramires

Cole -- Terry ---- Luiz -- Ivanovic

---------------- Cech ---------------

or

---------------- Torres -------------

------- Malouda ------- Anelka ----

-- Essien- Lampard - Ramires --

Cole -- Terry ---- Luiz -- Ivanovic

---------------- Cech ---------------

[HRiver 1,512]

For the Liverpool game I'm not sure whether I'd go with:

---------------- Torres -------------

------- Anelka ------- Kalou ----

Malouda - Lampard - Ramires

Cole -- Terry ---- Luiz -- Ivanovic

---------------- Cech ---------------

or

---------------- Torres -------------

------- Malouda ------- Anelka ----

-- Essien- Lampard - Ramires --

Cole -- Terry ---- Luiz -- Ivanovic

---------------- Cech ---------------

I'd go for the second.

We must play Essien, we can't play without a defensive midfielder and even though Kalou's played well today you never know, I'd rather play Malouda. Should we seriously leave Drogba out of the starting 11? Why not Drogba - Torres - Anelka, with Lampard, Essien and Ramires behind?

[Corlett 202]

I'd go for the second.

We must play Essien, we can't play without a defensive midfielder and even though Kalou's played well today you never know, I'd rather play Malouda. Should we seriously leave Drogba out of the starting 11? Why not Drogba - Torres - Anelka, with Lampard, Essien and Ramires behind?

Because Drogba played cack today, he needs a wake up call and realize he can't just walk into the team every week, no matter how bad he was the previous week.