CVByrne

If it's a 3 man midfield yes. If there is 10 in front of them who is meant to be an attacking player then he cant as he's part of the attack. It's about you shape in attack. Majority of teams operate a 6 /4 or 5 / 5/ Defence / Attack when in possession and attacking opposition half. We play a 5 / 5 and are 2 3 5 in attack. With the front 3 and two full backs as part of the attacking 5. City for example have a 2 3 5 also but they have their fullbacks tuck into midfield and their 8s work in half spaces in attack etc.. So if we play a double pivot and keep our 2 full backs always as part of the attack we're a 2 2 6. If we want a 2 3 5 we need to keep one full back from getting too far forward and essentially joining the midfield and the two 6s move left to right depending on which full back is attacking. At no point is the 10 ever in the defensive picture when we are attacking. I think playing a 4 2 3 1 with double pivot requires us to have wide forwards to hold the width on one side and a full back on the other. This hinders our success story of the season which is Digne / Cash being excellent in attack. It also means we need wide forwards which is a big departure from our transfer strategy. For this reason we'll always play with a 3 man central midfield in every game with one or two 10s ahead of them. It's why a Bissouma joining for example works alongside Kamara. They both can play in that 3 man midfield

This is incorrect. If the double pivot cover the fullbacks who is covering the centre? You need the three man Midfield relatively flat forbthe way Gerrard plays with the fullbacks. By playing a double pivot with a 10 in front and wide forwards we end up with a 2 2 6 attacking shape. When the 4 2 3 1 works by the steering wheel approach to fullbacks. One stays back and the two pivots shuffle over to cover for the other fullback who is far forward. The wide forward holds the width one one side. Gerrard won't make this change to how our fullbacks play as it requires wide forwards. It's too big a departure from everything he's done so far in charge of Villa.

No, Mings carrys the ball forward better and is definitely faster, supposed to be one of the fastest in our squad. Mings is better at playing from the back on what we've seen to date too and Southgate clearly trusts him. Mings is as good in the air too.

I think we need 4 Strikers so 3 plus Archer. Gerrard will swap between one 10 and two 10s depending on opposition etc.. next season so we need at least one more Striker signed.

Yeah Ings has done well in every department bar scoring more. Both himself and Watkins have missed as many big chances as they have scored according to the Premier League site. We know Ings is better than this in front of goal and has proven it so of he hits form he'll be superb for us now he has developed a good relationship with Watkins.

Well Tarkowski does what Konsa does but better in every department. So can't see why they wouldn't be a good partnership. Only issue is the one stated around building from the back we'll have no ball playing CB. Unless we see Chambers as doing this maybe?

Mings is on 85k I think so I can't see Tarkowski being offered much more than that. I'd say £80-90k

I think Mings has had to take on far too much responsibility this season. Playing out from the back. Full backs ultra attacking. Martinez and Konsa having poor seasons.

Yeah if you just look at it vs our current team. He's far more experienced and a better defender than Konsa. He also brings leadership qualities and a big personality to the team and dressing room. We can debate what different CBs we would prefer to sign but Tarkowski improves our first team, no question about that.

Well it works as in the widest attacking players are the full backs. That will not changr at all given how productive and high quality our full backs are. There is no massive hole in the pitch. We have a 2 3 5 attacking shape and one of the 8s can get involved in an attack too we just need the other two Midfielders to position themselves to cover it. Having a proper CDM now will really help

We will never play a double pivot. It's a significant departure from our base tactics of 3 man midfield as the 8s need to cover the full backs. We need the 3 man midfield when we have the attacking full backs

Since he was banned for biting Chiellini he's had no issues at Barca or Atletico. Not had a red card or a ban. Seems like he has grown up and not doing the stupid things he did when he was younger.

Yeah we just don't know. If Gerrard wants him then he must be more confident of his ability on the ball that we can glean from his stats. His pass completion % for short passes has just got worse and worse every season at Burnley so it is a worry.

You don't know Suarez at all though. Gerrard said he's a good friend of his. Messi too. So by all accounts he's a good lad. Yes he did stupid things like biting on a pitch and his incident with Evra. So what, they were a long time ago now. We need to stop defining people by the rare single negative things they've done. I can guarantee you there are millions of people who attend football matches far worse than Luis Suarez.

Well I think a little bit of rotation is what Gerrard wants if he has a squad full of players he trusts. Plus players coming off the bench to close games out. We can't rely on a midfielder of JJ Kamara McGinn and nothing more on the bench (Luiz, Sanson both departing).

Means we've 2 fewer players to pass and one of our midfielders needs to drop into the box for a kick off to avoid being man marked to stop ball going to him. I still hope we can get a ball playing CB to play alongside Mings. I'm fine with Tarkowski though as he's quality defender and very experienced

We had John Terry coaching our team!!

Which is what we lack at Villa. Nice people and we're nice to play against. We're nice to beat. So nice.

Archer is the one who would benefit most. Learning from Suarez and getting his game time off the bench. Archer isn't ready yet, he's had half a season of mid table Championship football.

We need another Central Midfielder an experienced one. We've added Kamara who is new to Premier League and is 22 years old. We've JJ who has just turned 21 and Carney turning 19 next season. A senior player who doesn't need to play every week.

Yeah he's exactly this. Has a defensive brain when we are in possession positioning himself to stop any danger if we lose possession. While in possession he's press resistant and an incredible passer of the ball. I can see him dropping in between the CBs to take responsibility for playing from the back if we fail to get the elite CB passer we need.

28-32 would be the prime years for a Centre Back. Especially in this day and age with footballers taking care of themselves better now. I struggle to see Tarkowski becoming the passing CB required for Villa. So it doesn't make sense for the style we want to play. Quality CB as he is.

Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic doing it for United at 37 and 38. Benzema going to win Ballon D'or at 34 and is less than a year younger than Suarez. Suarez salary is reported to be £160k / 200k euro. So can fit in our pay structure. Hilarious there is opposition to him joining. But look there was lots of opposition to Coutinho too. The profile of the club in a World Cup year with Gerrard, Coutinho, Suarez all at the club!!

Absolutely. Think of the standards he has and the drive he has. Especially in a World Cup season. Archer and Watkins learning off him. There are 5 subs next season. I've read he is on £160k per week at Atletico I'm sure we can get him into our pay structure for a season 125k pw and a sign on fee. I think he has an offer from us. However there is the possibility of Barcelona if they fail to get Lewandowski so no wonder he's not decided yet. Inter also have to be a great option as he has a chance to win Serie A. I'd say the length of contract is also a factor he's considering, who is offering a 2 year deal if anyone is? Ronaldo and Benezema are showing age is just a number like Ibrahimovic had already done.

I wouldn't got that far. Martinez did have a poor season, but last season he was superb. I hope he gets back to that level. We're sorted in GK with Martinez and Olsen