Daweii Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 I think a midfield pairing of El Ahmadi and Ireland would work well. I mean last season mainly thanks to negative tactics Ireland was one of our best defensive midfielders, he can hold his own. I'd be concerned if Ireland was bad at tackling but so many times last season he sprinted back to win a tackle and get the ball, Ireland seemed to believe his strong point was in that roaming role but I actually think his strength is playing in a midfield pairing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomaszk Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Too lightweight for me. Against players who aren't as good technically, but dominant physically, we could get dominated. A Stoke pair of Whelan and Whitehouse or a Norwich pair of Howson and Johnson could get on top earlier and crush the team's confidence. I'd be happier with that third man in there disrupting them. I think this plays to our strengths a bit more as well as we've only got Bent who you can rely on for goals and our wide men aren't very good defensively so it gives them a bit more of a license to stay forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irreverentad Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Doesn't Lambert usually favour a diamond shape in midfield? I think it will still be 4-4-2 , just with more protection down the centre and the fullbacks bombing on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomaszk Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Good shout, I've heard that actually. ----Herd--- Karim----Bannan ---Ireland-- At home? Good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted July 31, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted July 31, 2012 Doesn't Lambert usually favour a diamond shape in midfield? I think it will still be 4-4-2 , just with more protection down the centre and the fullbacks bombing on.Lambert uses every formation under the sun, so I wouldn't worry about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zhan_Zhuang Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Good shout, I've heard that actually. ----Herd--- Karim----Bannan--- ----Ireland-- At home? Good stuff. I wonder if Bannan and Holman will be fighting it out for that spot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8pints Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 I imagine El Ahmadi and Ireland as midfield main stays, with Bannan, Herd, Gardner, Johnson, N'Zogbia, Albrighton and all the other midfielders fighting it out for a place. Healthy competition in the midfield that will showcase how good or bad our players are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted July 31, 2012 Moderator Share Posted July 31, 2012 At the moment I only see Holman & El Ahmadi as absolute mainstays in midfield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b23avfc Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 He looks to be forging a great partnership with Ireland. I read that too fast and thought why would he be joining up with Iceland? Is this some strange sponsorship alliance? Then I read it properly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 and I'm not even sure about Holman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8pints Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 At the moment I only see Holman & El Ahmadi as absolute mainstays in midfield. I think it may depend on what formation/tactics Lambert plays in a specific match. To be fair, I'm not even sure Ireland will be a main stay, actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexicon Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 I think Lambert will almost certainly play a diamond in midfield and I think it'll be compact, using 4 CMs in various guises. I'd really like to see KEA and Bannan starting, probably Ireland in there too. Petrov would have thrived in this system - I really hope he plays for us again but I know he probably won't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8pints Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 I think Lambert will almost certainly play a diamond in midfield and I think it'll be compact, using 4 CMs in various guises. I'd really like to see KEA and Bannan starting, probably Ireland in there too. Petrov would have thrived in this system - I really hope he plays for us again but I know he probably won't. Delph seems to getting a massive spotlight on him in pre-season too. it may be a ---------Ireland---------- Bannan--------El Ahmadi ---------Delph------------ diamond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KjParton Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Looked class last night when he came on, sweet outside foot pass to Ireland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moose Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 I think Holman will get the nod over Bannan in our starting midfield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CI Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Holman really is the end of Albrighton IMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villan_007 Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Holman really is the end of Albrighton IMHO Yeah no way in this world we'd use both of them this season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omariqy Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Very different players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coops_AVFC Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Going to the Forest game on Saturday so get my first up close look at the bloke. Been impressed with the little highlights i've seen and so far he's the one player that is exciting me this summer..granted we haven't signed that many players lol. But yeah I'll be watching him closely, if playing, on Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-Reacho Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Surely a narrow midfield 4 with two strikers would be 'the end' of Albrighton. Holman seems comfortable playing centrally, but Marc is a wide midfielder. Lambert is renowned for being able to change his formation to suit the opposition so I'd imagine he will need a wide player who can cross at some stage. A good option from the bench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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