Monkeypuzzle

I'm not advocating that formation, just demonstrating a line up with Watkins and Abraham both in it. Of course I want Buendia on the pitch when possible, but there will be games when either he or Grealish are not available. This change of formation uses two quality strikers with a creative player behind them. It sacrifices width but there will always be strengths and weaknesses to a formation. The person I quoted in my last post asked how could you fit them both in to the first eleven. I think you can only realistically have three out of four from Grealish, Buendia, Watkins and Abraham without losing some drive from the middle of the park. A standard 4-4-2 with Grealish and Buendia on the wings would probably need a pair of more defensively minded central midfielders, for us that means Douglas Luiz and Nakamba. I don't think having both of them in the middle without a more box to box style runner like Sanson or McGinn alongside them would be our best line up. If we get a new, first team quality defensive midfielder then maybe. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I am liking the idea of occasionally switching to a standard 4-4-2. Maybe this formation could work if 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 isn't working? Watkins Abraham Grealish Douglas Luiz McGinn Buendia Targett Mings Konsa Cash Martinez

How about this formation? (Not suggesting it every game but it's a way of getting them both in). Watkins Abraham Grealish Sanson McGinn Douglas Luiz Targett Mings Konsa Cash Martinez The 4-4-2 'diamond' formation hasn't been fashionable in recent years but it would allow both to be used together with Buendia from the bench if a formation change needed.

But with Grealish and Buendia either side of him, we don't need another creative player there, we need someone to make the runs for them.

With a 4-2-3-1 formation one of the two holding players is going to get forward more if the other is very defensively minded (like Nakamba) so 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 become very similar formations for much of the match, especially if your wingers track back like Grealish and Buendia do. Also, having no exceptions and always playing the same formation, no matter what is not a very sensible plan if the opposition find a way to stifle you.

Before we sell anyone we need to assess whether or not the amount offered can buy us a better player who fits our needs and team well. To buy an in form central midfielder with the skills and energy of an in form John McGinn would cost at least £40 million, probably more. Then consider his age (26 I think) and to find someone available becomes even harder. Finally think about their standing and relationship to the rest of the squad. McGinn is an established first team player, who is immensely popular within the squad, who knows how everyone plays and they know how he plays. At his best he is worth much more than £50 million (in today's ridiculous prices for footballers) and although he has not played as well as he can do this season, you must remember that he has played in a deeper holding role for much of the season to accommodate Ross Barkley. When allowed to play further forward, either for us or for Scotland, he has looked much better. Last season it took him a while to recover from his injury too. When Douglas Luiz and Nakamba were with him in a midfield three towards the end of the season he was tearing it up, hustling opposition players, making them panic and generally looking back to his best. This was well demonstrated against Tottenham, Champion's League finalists last year, and he was immense in that more attacking, box to box role. IF, and it's a big if, we sold him then the odds of getting an equally good player, who offers the same qualities, is a similar or younger age, is in good form AND is available for the same money or less are very, VERY small. Then you have to hope he settles quickly, gets on well with the squad and continues his good form for us. There is virtually no chance of that all happening when you are talking about a quality international player like John McGinn. Of course every other club is interested in him. They'd be fools not to be, but top clubs don't sell top players unless that player wants to go, and I am pretty certain that he has no desire to go anywhere. Big players who don't ask to go usually only change clubs at the end of their contracts (Aguero for example) as their value to their club is simply more than anyone can afford. We do not NEED to sell, do not WANT to sell and other clubs are not going to offer the sort of money that would be needed to persuade us. Not bad for a player we got from a club that did NEED the what, £2.5 million we paid for him? By the way, I think all of the above could equally be true of Grealish, Watkins, Konsa or any of our other top players that others seem to think we will lose this Summer. We need to buy players that can fit into the squad and allow our best players to play in their best positions. That is why I am so keen for us to buy a top defensive midfielder, to allow McGinn to play further forward, ideally in a 4-3-3 formation as a box to box midfielder or in a 4-2-3-1 formation, in front of the holding players and between Grealish and Buendia.

Looked really good I thought, playing at CAM last night. I'd really like to see Grealish, McGinn and Buendia behind Watkins next season with Douglas Luiz and either Nakamba or a new DM/CM behind them. That is a seriously good team for closing down the opposition all over the pitch, especially with our normal back five. Watkins Grealish McGinn Buendia Douglas Luiz Ward-Prowse Targett Mings Konsa Cash Martinez Subs: Steer, Young, Hause, Nakamba, Sanson, Traore, Wesley This is a team that I think other Premier League teams would be terrified of facing! Remember that McGinn was also one of the most fouled players last season too!

I felt McGinn played far better this season when given leave to play further forward, such as at Spurs in the penultimate game. This takes advantage of his terrier like chasing and closing down of defenders much more than when he played in a deeper role and seemed more restricted. How do people feel about potentially playing him between Grealish and Buendia next season if we play a 4-2-3-1 formation? He does a lot of running and has always played better for us in a more attacking role in my opinion. Either that or have Sanson and him both given the chance to make forward runs from midfield with Douglas Luiz or Nakamba sitting in a deeper holding role behind them? Obviously any new signings might change things but as it is at present I quite like seeing him play in one of the two formations below. I don't think we should be looking to replace such a talented player because his form dipped a bit when played out of position for most of the year. ......................Watkins Grealish........McGinn.......Buendia ...........Douglas.....Nakamba Targett....Mings......Konsa.....Cash ......................Martinez Or my preferred formation with our current players Grealish...........Watkins.............Buendia .............Sanson............McGinn ......................Douglas Luiz Targett......Mings.........Konsa......Cash .........................Martinez How do people feel about this slightly more advanced role for him, without simply saying drop him or buy someone else? First post on here so please be kind

Hello, I just wanted to say hi and introduce myself. I was born the year Villa won the European Cup but growing up with a Spurs mad father, I was 6 before I chose Villa as my team. I'm not from the Birmingham area and where I grew up, there was no local club to support. When I won a penalty shootout competition at my indoor football club I was allowed to choose a signed team photo of a club and I chose the Villa team (I think it was the awesome team colours). Ten years later I found out that the year I was born, we won the biggest prize in club football. It felt like fate. I haven't had the chance to go to many games since I don't live near any stadiums Villa would play at and so my first time to Villa Park was a preseason friendly vs Inter Milan during the Martin O'Neil era. We won comfortably against one of Europe's top sides, who fielded a strong side as well. I follow Villa avidly from home and am always hopeful about our chances. Things are looking very bright for next season, despite the world and his dog kindly trying to sell our best players for us as if they are doing us a favour, and I thought it was about time to sign up to a forum again after the last one I used shut down a few years ago. I'm generally quite optimistic about things regarding Villa sand like to speculate, but I think I'm very good at keeping a level head about things too. Look forward to reading and sharing opinions with you all.