I think we should start all three. That way we get cover for the defence and a competitive midfield playing closer to the strikers.
We'd also have 3 or 4 excellent attacking options on the bench to keep things fresh and varied.
But who do you sideline?
No one's sidelined - a team is being picked from a squad.
I'd have Dejegah, Berbatov and Rodellega start against Reading. It's about using our resources best and 3 in midfield may give our strikers better service.
That front 3 isn't set in stone though. Ruiz, Petric, Duff, Kaca and maybe Frei on the bench means that changes can be made if and when needed. Selection for the next match largely dependent on performance in the last.
Not a bad idea away from home I think on the wings should be Duff & Kacaniklic with Diarra & Baird with Berbatov a number 10 so it would be either start Sidwell to get the ball more or play Rodallega and attack Reading so many options in out squad It's great!
if ruiz is fit to play, jol will always pick him.
I disagree. On Saturday I felt we lacked width and would prefer a 2-3-1, probably
Baird-Diarra
Dejegah or Duff - Berbatov or Ruiz - Kaca or Hugo
Petric or Berbatov or Hugo
The good thing is we have so many options that we can all come up with a different preference
I mean, give Diarra and Baird the afternoon off and play the Greek and Sidwell. Or even Tavares.
Competition for places should mean that whoever starts should be motivated to perform otherwise they can be benched for some weeks. Good is it not?
Reither and Riise were bombing down the wings and there were at least half a dozen good cosses with resulting headers off target.
It got frustrating on saturday but it was a decent performance with Jol making the right changes. And we then got lucky.
Quote from: FFC73 on October 22, 2012, 01:20:46 PM
I disagree. On Saturday I felt we lacked width and would prefer a 2-3-1, probably
Baird-Diarra
Dejegah or Duff - Berbatov or Ruiz - Kaca or Hugo
Petric or Berbatov or Hugo
The good thing is we have so many options that we can all come up with a different preference
I mean, give Diarra and Baird the afternoon off and play the Greek and Sidwell. Or even Tavares.
Competition for places should mean that whoever starts should be motivated to perform otherwise they can be benched for some weeks. Good is it not?
I agree with all you say except I would not play Hugo out wide . Swap him for Frei .
I know Duff is great in the right side of the field, but, given the fact he's left, wouldn't it make sense to put him in the left side and Dejagah or Frei on the RW? I mean, it's almost like the LW is the only option for him.
Karagounis for baird....
Diarra for Sidwell
Baird Ruiz and Diarra with Karagounis coming on for whoever is flagging after 60 minutes as I think Reading will be chasing down everything for the whole 90 minutes. Ruiz just gives us more composure on the ball and forward passing than Sidwell
I don't think Sidwell is effective. I must be the only one to think that way.
4-2-2-2 or 4-2-1-3 easy with the same players. 4-4-2 diamon, considering how universal the players are.
These are the players I think could play such fluid formation and instantly switch. I sacrificed Duff, as I am not sure how central he could play. Dejagah played centre midfield apparently before
4-2-2-2
-----Rodallega---Berba----
-------Diara--Dejagah---------
--------Sidwell---Baird---------
------back------four------
into 4-4-2 diamond
Rodallega-Berba
-------Diara
Sidwell------Dejagah
-------Baird
back-------four
4-2-1-3
Rodallega---Berba---Dejagah
---------Diara
--------Sidwell---Baird
---back-------------four---
My personal choice, considering the players available would be the 4-2-1-3. It's making use of Baird and Sidwell's defensive qualities. As well as leaving Diara, Dejagah, Rodallega and Berba free in attack
Doesn't work for me I think we will be effective in a 4-2-3-1
Baird/Sidwell Diarra
Duff Ruiz Kacaniklic
Berbatov
i think with diarra, he will always be the first lad collecting the ball off of our back 4 and rightly so. That means a partner of sidders or bairdy. To play both sid and baird with diarra, i feel like that means sidwell would have to be the one pushing on and we have a better option for doing that in ruiz. I agree with Jacky in the 4-2-3-1 but with dejagah on instead of kaca and him and duff swapped wings for riether dej synergy (if that makes sense). Could be wrong but i just dont think Diarra sid baird gives enough balance going forward but hey im all for being proved wrong!
None of us know the correct balance and even for Jol it might be trial and error.
We need a midfield that protects the defence but isn't too remote from the strikers and that's been the problem with Sidwell and Baird but if you just substitute Diarra for one of those you risk losing some midfield control. Most of our opponents will have at least 3 in midfield.
I like the idea of us dominating midfield and being defensively solid with 3 talented attackers with others as good on the bench.
Plus full backs bombing forward.
fair play, we are getting a great amount of width from full backs now. PLaying the 3 you suggested could just see us dominating the battle in the there, especially away, and letting our top 3 do whatever they like. My gut tells me that they would lack a bit of cohesion and become two separate entities. when we do find our balance (and i do think it will be trial and error too!) with the plethora of options at our disposal im gonna be stoked on life.
Quote from: hongkongfulham on October 23, 2012, 09:37:37 AM
fair play, we are getting a great amount of width from full backs now. PLaying the 3 you suggested could just see us dominating the battle in the there, especially away, and letting our top 3 do whatever they like. My gut tells me that they would lack a bit of cohesion and become two separate entities. when we do find our balance (and i do think it will be trial and error too!) with the plethora of options at our disposal im gonna be stoked on life.
I tend to agree with you in that I think playing 3 defensive type midfielders (Baird, Sidwell and Diarra) limits the support for the front 3 as we do play quite wide now with the width provided by the 2 fullbacks, Duff does cut in however I feel Berbatov would become quite isolated, as Petric was previously when played on his own.
Therefore in an ideal world, my lineup would be
Back 4 + gk obviously
Diarra - Sidwell
Duff - Ruiz - Kacaniklic
Berbatov
This allows Ruiz to support Berbatov and find the space which is afforded to him in 'the hole', Kaca provides the natural width along with Riise, whilst Duff can cut in and the width provided by Reither. I just think we need another body providing a central option going forward (as I don't think Diarra, Sidwell and Baird are adequate enough at this) as otherwise Berbatov will be isolated and although he can beat his player, he will have to look to go sideways (to a surging Kaca/Duff) or backwards, as there is no support. Berbatov is best using his skills and then playing a good ball to someone else, unless we are in the final third and he's getting on the end of a cross or interplay between the wingers and a central midfielder.
Alternatively, with Ruiz injured, we could either stick Berbatov in the hole, with Rodallega up front (I thought they worked well, however Rodallega's finishing is less clinical so far than what Petric's has been). We have good options on the left and right, in Richardson and Dejagah, each of whom I'd have no issues with playing ahead of Duff/Kacaniklic, I just think the way Duff and Kaca played in the first few games really set the pulses racing and their interplay with Berbatov was excellent.
All in all though, exciting times for the Whites!!!! :scarf:
Dammit. You've just rumbled the name of my next child !! :005:
Quote from: Forever Fulham on October 23, 2012, 03:36:31 AM
I don't think Sidwell is effective. I must be the only one to think that way.
you're not. There's others of us who have recognized that as well.
Quote from: HatterDon on October 23, 2012, 11:22:39 PM
Quote from: Forever Fulham on October 23, 2012, 03:36:31 AM
I don't think Sidwell is effective. I must be the only one to think that way.
you're not. There's others of us who have recognized that as well.
Unfortunately for you two it matters what Jol recognizes... :dft012:
Quote from: jazz hardrockin on October 23, 2012, 11:42:08 PM
Quote from: HatterDon on October 23, 2012, 11:22:39 PM
Quote from: Forever Fulham on October 23, 2012, 03:36:31 AM
I don't think Sidwell is effective. I must be the only one to think that way.
you're not. There's others of us who have recognized that as well.
Unfortunately for you two it matters what Jol recognizes... :dft012:
I think you'll see Baird and Diarra as our center pair, and that Dejagah will be getting a lot of pitch time very shortly.
Quote from: HatterDon on October 24, 2012, 05:26:27 AM
Quote from: jazz hardrockin on October 23, 2012, 11:42:08 PM
Quote from: HatterDon on October 23, 2012, 11:22:39 PM
Quote from: Forever Fulham on October 23, 2012, 03:36:31 AM
I don't think Sidwell is effective. I must be the only one to think that way.
you're not. There's others of us who have recognized that as well.
Unfortunately for you two it matters what Jol recognizes... :dft012:
I think you'll see Baird and Diarra as our center pair, and that Dejagah will be getting a lot of pitch time very shortly.
I agree for the next game but only because baird notched. Think Jol will stick with a more natural CM in sidders after that
Fulham keen on Inter Milan midfielder Mariga in January window
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2222712/Fulham-keen-Inter-Milan-midfielder-McDonald-Mariga.html#ixzz2AHAC4jAy (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2222712/Fulham-keen-Inter-Milan-midfielder-McDonald-Mariga.html#ixzz2AHAC4jAy)
Fulham manager Martin Jol is prepared to send Italian striker Marcello Trotta out on loan again in order to get him some first-team football.
http://www.teamtalk.com/fulham/8191604/Trotta-set-for-short-loan-spell (http://www.teamtalk.com/fulham/8191604/Trotta-set-for-short-loan-spell)
Quote from: jazz hardrockin on October 25, 2012, 03:57:24 AM
Fulham keen on Inter Milan midfielder Mariga in January window
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2222712/Fulham-keen-Inter-Milan-midfielder-McDonald-Mariga.html#ixzz2AHAC4jAy (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2222712/Fulham-keen-Inter-Milan-midfielder-McDonald-Mariga.html#ixzz2AHAC4jAy)
The chant for him would be easy - 'old Mac Donald had a farm eeei eeeiioooo'
Quote from: AlFayedsChequebook on October 25, 2012, 09:21:16 AM
Quote from: jazz hardrockin on October 25, 2012, 03:57:24 AM
Fulham keen on Inter Milan midfielder Mariga in January window
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2222712/Fulham-keen-Inter-Milan-midfielder-McDonald-Mariga.html#ixzz2AHAC4jAy (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2222712/Fulham-keen-Inter-Milan-midfielder-McDonald-Mariga.html#ixzz2AHAC4jAy)
The chant for him would be easy - 'old Mac Donald had a farm eeei eeeiioooo'
How old is the boy and is he any good? Anyone got any thoughts, info on him?
Quote from: aussierod on October 25, 2012, 01:26:43 PM
Quote from: AlFayedsChequebook on October 25, 2012, 09:21:16 AM
Quote from: jazz hardrockin on October 25, 2012, 03:57:24 AM
Fulham keen on Inter Milan midfielder Mariga in January window
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2222712/Fulham-keen-Inter-Milan-midfielder-McDonald-Mariga.html#ixzz2AHAC4jAy (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2222712/Fulham-keen-Inter-Milan-midfielder-McDonald-Mariga.html#ixzz2AHAC4jAy)
The chant for him would be easy - 'old Mac Donald had a farm eeei eeeiioooo'
How old is the boy and is he any good? Anyone got any thoughts, info on him?
Have a look here perhaps:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald_Mariga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald_Mariga)
I actually think these 3 will start tomorrow I think Jol will play 3 in there to keep the ball and we will go 4-3-3
Schwarzer
Riether Hughes Hangeland Riise
Baird Sidwell Diarra
Duff Berbatov Rodallega
Quote from: Forever Fulham on October 23, 2012, 03:36:31 AM
I don't think Sidwell is effective. I must be the only one to think that way.
No you`re not - I`m with you on this.