Outdated 4-4-2?
Things will no doubt change over the summer and it could be then that Alan Pardew tries to put his stamp on the squad and tries to alter the way that the team plays. Most of us have already read that Pardew wants to play Hatem Ben Arfa down the middle next season in a ‘number 10 role’. If you haven’t read it, this is what Pardew had to say on the matter;
“He will play a central role in our attacking line. I want to use him as a playmaker, a number 10, just behind one forward. I am convinced he is able to score between 10 and 15 goals a season.”
The big thing in there is that he says he wants Ben Arfa behind just ONE forward, and with 4-4-2 seemingly outdated these days it can only really mean a 4-4-1-1 formation is on the cards.
Now I know Toonsy for one doesn’t like the concept of playing with just one upfront because sometimes you can become narrow, like we did at times when we had Kevin Nolan off Andy Carroll, and the front man can become easy to mark which of course can happen.
For me though you just have to look at Tottenham. They play a 4-4-1-1 and their wingers are their best asset although granted they are Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon. Occupying these positions for us at the minute are Jonas Gutierrez and Joey Barton, and I think it’s safe to say with these two playing on the wings playing just one up front wouldn’t work.
If we were to buy the right players for the formation in say Balazs Dzsudzsak and Jeremain Lens from PSV, both of whom are players who we will more than likely be targeting but more importantly are young, natural wide players, for me that would be a great investment at around say £15 million pounds.
It would mean in Dzsudzsak we’d have a pacey left-footed, left-sided winger with a superb eye for goal and who can whip a great ball in and on the other side Lens who is very pacey and probably more direct than Dzsudzsak but nonetheless effective and is one of those players that defenders hate playing against.
I am not saying that we should go copying Spurs man for man, but we could do a lot worse than follow their blueprint. With Dzsudzsak and Lens we would have our very own Bale and Lennon, and in Ben Arfa we would have our own Van der Vaart, which for me added with the likes Nolan, Barton, Tiote etc would give us some of the best midfield options in the Premier League.
So if 4-4-1-1 is the way were going to go then it can be done well, really well in fact. It just needs the right personnel to fit into it, plus we could do it all without breaking the bank which I’m sure would keep Mike Ashley happy.
All we would have to do after this is find a striker to fit into the formation….
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“He will play a central role in our attacking line…just behind one forward”
Doesn’t center of an attacking line suggest 3 Mids behind a lone striker like a 4-2-3-1?
On second thought I guess that is close to what you mean by tottenham’s 4-4-1-1
I think Lens will be a free transfer this summer right ?
Did Dzsudzsak being linked with us ?
Mithun – Pass. Dan is the man for overseas players
Mithun, Lens will have three years left on his contract and Dzsudzsack will have one year left
MITHUN TOON,i at one time i rated dzsudzsak,but when watching him close he pulled backed from tackles,he would get murdered in P.L. i think
@Toonsy Oh! Then we should get Carr’s phone number to take Dan to his scouting team
@Dan 3 years! Thats means we have to pay some money (Ashley :
) Have we been linked with this Bazzuka lad ?
maybe he has a move comeing up and is saveing himself from injury
@ice Nice analysis mate. So no Dzsudz”sack”!
Another good read young Dan Thinking over the last wean of days then after this I dont think we will go for Gervinho now, who I was sure would be one of the players we would be going for, as I think he is more a number 10 type rather than a lone striker up top.
So as you say we need to find a striker that fits
Right off to say my goodbye and farewell bit to people at work
Laters
Gervinho can play right side aswell can’t he?
Toonsy all the best
that will be a good treat for the boys at work 
think i heard something from those tv guys last night saying toon where after condoza,anyone else hear that?it was dureing the game.hope not hes not good enough imo
I’ve said for a while now I want us to get Lens, after watching him last night I want him even more! Played out of postion as a main striker, assited one and scored one.
Mithun, we’ve been linked with Lens but not Dzsudzsack but I feel both would be perfect for us.
Cheers Dave.
TOONSY they might have a going away pressy for you; a flag
Ice they will have bunting nibbles drinks and the works but they’ll wait untill he is away
Dan going by the team you have picked so far who is going to be your 2 CM’s
lads, i dont know if you read the end of last nights article but saying night to people is forbidden due to sexually insecure members
Good article dan
DAVE
Dave, everyone fully fit I guess you’d have to say Nolan and Tiote but having the likes of Barton, Ireland and Gosling in the squad it can only benefit us
Jobey
Forgot to say, what a terrible article Dan.
Always appreciate your feedback Andrew
Anyone got the forest game on?
What a freak goal!
———————GK———————-
RB————CB——CB—————LB
——————-CDM———————-
LM—————-CM——————-RM
——————-CAM———————-
——————–ST————————
Right ill get back to footy manager
Dan you mean to say you would drop the player of the season to the bench
Let’s get Grant Holt as replacement for Andy Carroll. He seems a menace in the air.
If we had everyone fit I guess so because I couldn’t see Nolan or Tiote getting dropped although it would be a class call between Joey and Lens
But when do we ever have everyone fit
funky- Absolute clinical at the moment. my forest mates are gutted they let him go
funky
Just scored a good header there, shame he’s old.
Also, I am the resident Scottish/German scout on here.
Yeah.
close*
Jobey-who were the sexually insecure members
Spencer, Bobby last night didn’t like people saying night to each other
oh right
Need to start coming on here more
If not ill get a spanking of Sy
Hi Spence , are you that puff off the other place ??
hello-
Dont no who you talking about?
GIve him an E mail Jo mate
GIve him an E mail Jo mate
I’ll leave him to wonder
Spencer you put him straight kid, dont take no shit
Dan I dont think Joey would want to sign a new contract if he was going to be a bench warmer
So I reckon there will only be 1 MF position maybe and thats Jonas’s
@Spencer the toon
It was me. The nighty night club is hilarious. Night jobey. Night Morono. Sleep well. Will do jimbob. Looking forward to tomorrow. Sharp be here raffo, close your eyes and go to peepies twitters.
Batty I’ll be up shortly to tuck you in.
It’s worse than the bloody waltons!
I cringe every night!
I prefer the wide awake club and the cut throat
banter.
@42 .
How did i know that
Ah dont
bobby, sleep tight mate.
I am sick of united for newcastle…
Just posted this, let’s see the response
“Another complete farce from United for Newcastle inciting hatred against the club.
“We’ve heard” – who from? Phil Thompson?
When you guys first started, I thought you were a breath of fresh air. I really thought you were going to be able to represent the fans in dialogue with the club.
You had a really successfull first meeting and reported back to the fans. What a victory! The club speaking to the fans after such an amnesty!
Since then, all you have done is circulate sensationalist news stories with absolutely no facts what so ever and rile the fans hatred towards the board. What chance have you got of meeting the board and representing our view now? None. Makes you as pointless as the other fan organisation.
What’s your ultimate goal? To provoke a fan uprising? As that’s how you are coming across.
You need to learn that people are always going to have their say behind a keyboard, when it comes to putting their hand it their pockets or physically taking action will they all be behind you? No.
AST (Arsenal supporter trust) have a great relationship and power with the board members as they engage in sensible dialogue and don’t print any old ridiculous stories that ‘they hear’
Going about this the wrong way, feel you have lost sight of why you even set up in the first place, this is of course, just my opinion but I am sure the people who want to see the club at peace and successful and not having internal battles, will agree.”
Can we not play 4-4-4-4. ?
Unbeatable formation.
bobby…it would still be a close call v Manure though!
oh alright bobby, and Jobey and hello whos this bender you speak of?
Nighty night Andrewnufc.
Sleep well.
Missing you already.
Noooooooooooooooo!
Whey I’m actually allowed to do something tonight. Just a short trip to Nottingham but its better than nothing
TOONSY thats so they can have a party while your away m8
Moreno at 47- well said. They are just like every other supporter’s group who become too self important to simply have a few pints, sing a few songs, and cheer on the club. And they all resort to the “sensational news story” angle whenever they aren’t given the plaudits that they feel they deserve.
MDS -
Just disappointed really as they actually did some good work getting that original meeting and reporting back, gave us all a bit of an insight but they have blown it now.
what you doing in Nottingham sy?
Jobey the’re just sending him there to get him outta the way
Richie whats the craic Lad
Collecting the Happy Meals
Anyone got any football lookalikes? I just noticed Paul Konchesky is a bald Cody Rhodes. It goes along with the Edge/Andy Carroll wrestling link:
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2010/8/31/1283265543114/Paul-Konchesky-has-signed-006.jpg
http://www.wrestlingvalley.org/wp-content/uploads//9317/9317.jpg
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQeLmbRv50E8DvAkB3brUp1GAkamOBJvtSVXvj0hFcgd9keWkYkFA&t=1
http://www.seek4media.com/thumbnail.php?file=newcastle_united_star_andy_carroll_in_court_on_assault_charges_443166870.jpg&size=article_small
Nowt much Dave, just reading thru the threads for some breaking news…..only thing I can glean is that Bobby seems a bit put out nobody said goodnight to him last night
Ha Ha they deleted it!!!
FJ……aye I’ve got one, Mike Ashley is the spitting image of a fat cnut
DAVE i see richie got that much paint left hes went into street-art out side his flat,they are paying him to take it away again,must be bad eh
Ice..it’s a cracker, life size painting of Shearer
Moreno im surprised at that mate as I didn’t think you said owt wrong
Richie I seen that maybe Bobby feels left out and unloved
@57&58
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://images.football365.com/07/09/Others/145379.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.footytube.com/forums/funny-football/football-lookalikes-1342/4/%3Forder%3Doldest&usg=__MVj19l1vPxdJm0k8zx9nJqHxaxo=&h=207&w=262&sz=46&hl=en&start=31&sig2=ehQzJDoDa_LDDRUvANTksQ&zoom=1&tbnid=7RGWhQVUyWy2rM:&tbnh=158&tbnw=205&ei=T6CoTf6OHZGwhQecvejhCQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dfootball%2Blookalikes%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1G1SVED_ENUK404%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D667%26tbm%3Disch0%2C1142&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=494&vpy=398&dur=1&hovh=165&hovw=209&tx=158&ty=125&oei=OKCoTbuYHYy08QPkl6i2CQ&page=3&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:31&biw=1366&bih=667
funky-Leon best and drake
RICHIE deep down i knew you had class
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CP2fOalyHjg/R8-8fRXn2yI/AAAAAAAAAE4/vGQ8UeLQf4c/s400/Gareth%252BBale_Cornelius_Roddy%252BMcDowall_Planet%252Bof%252Bthe%252BApes_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php%3Ft%3D593350%26page%3D57&usg=__zv0qZ95HE4i3L0oyPPrv57oMRTs=&h=233&w=350&sz=16&hl=en&start=0&sig2=4mrR_IJtI57MnIJn3hFkyw&zoom=1&tbnid=kAsVHFyhD9jXbM:&tbnh=159&tbnw=224&ei=nKCoTdf1Ociu8QO64oiYCQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgareth%2Bbale%2Blook%2Balike%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26biw%3D1276%26bih%3D811%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=145&vpy=93&dur=5398&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=144&ty=107&oei=nKCoTdf1Ociu8QO64oiYCQ&page=1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
could you lads not find any with big links like?
Has anyone seen Shola Ameobi being a sponsor for Neighbours?
Check out this video at 20 seconds, lmao.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go1hdE96unE
Ice…..I keep it well hidden, but it’s in there somewhere
@richietoon
Are you part of the nighty night club as well?
Please don’t ever associate me with it. Seriously my dad would Howk me if he thought I was wishing other blokes a good nights sleep.
I now know which side of the bed you’s all sleep on. The best is, Big Dave wears Paisley PJ’s. He got so comfortable with the nighty club patter and so relaxed, he accidentally let slip about his PJ’s.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaassrgh
Bobby, it’s all you have actually talked about all day. None of your usual banter, just the same boring repeat.
Bobby- Right, which one of them do you want a kiss off? Richie? toonsy? Ice? Batty? Moreno? Big Dave? the jealous approach isn’t working mate, try confessing your love you puffta
As much as i’m not a Capello fan i think he has got it right with the 4-3-3 formation they played in the last few games.
even with the players we have fit/not suspended now for man u it looks good in my opinion.
GK Harper
RB Simpson
CB Williamson
CB Collo
LB Enrique
CDM Tiote
RCM Barton
LCM Guthrie
RF Jonas
LF Loverkrands
CF Ameobi
Big Dave, aye but removing my comment just shows how spineless they are.
They hear something they don’t like and run away from it
bobby….I don’t think I’ve gone as far as to wish anyone a good nights sleep, and the image of Dave in paisley pj’s isn’t one I really wanted putting in my head so thanks for that
i think if we play without wingers nani/valencia/giggs will have a field day
Bobby theres fuk all wrong with Paisley pj’s lad
, but I draw the line at uggs 
Bobby – If you dint like it you know what to do
Jobey – delivering to Porsche and Toyota
Moreno who was it posted under, Moreno ??
Moreno@77…yep
@80
Toonsy- Porsche, aren’t you posh
nah big dave, was my name on facebook, they deleted it though so i have posted this
“I see my comment was deleted. Some supporter group you are. Someone has an opinion you don’t agree with and you remove it. Censorship on your page, why not try to defend against what I said instead of removing it?
Hardly setting an example to any potential followers that you run away when you hear something you don’t like. What a joke.
No doubt this will be deleted too.”
They may be able to censor me on their page but they can’t on here….
I feel an article coming on….
I didn’t even kn ow McD’s delivered, you learn something new every day
Yep, that’s been removed as well, the fannies
Moreno, lose your rag in an article
Moreno…that says all you need to know about them, waste of time mate.
Moreno I cant find it mate was it on the Shearers Bar thread ?
Yeah, you won’t find it Dave as they deleted both comments within minutes.
Dave….it’s called “Llamearses Lair” now, didn’t you know?….so I heard anyway
Only thing I worry about with playing ben arfa in a no.10 role is that Nolan could become redundant…Now I know a lot of people don’t like him cause he’s average and a bit slow, but the fact is without his goals this season we’d be absolutely fecked. Not to mention he’s a bloody important person to have on the pitch, we do have leaders in Barton and Harper but Barton just goes nuts without Nolan keeping an eye on him, at least thats how it seems, and often loses direction himself-as he did at Stevenage.
Anyway it looks like 4-4-1-1 or 4-3-2-1 are gonna be the way forward, and I’d quite like the later with Nolan and Arfa being pushed up so we can make use of them and then Jonas/Barton on the wings again? Then we have the problem of not playing Joey in his favoured position, which then means are we going to get two new wingers? It’ll be interesting..I still reckon we need Nolan for another season though which means Barton on the right…
@morono
Never brought the subject up once today. It was the nighty night club who kept bringing it up and I just replied.
Moreno – You should have taken screenshots of it as proof
Richie I heard it was to be called The Lonsdale
Newkie just wondered if you post as Thump or is it just the same avatar
Didn’t think they would be so petulant to be honest. At the end of the day, I could re-post it and take a screen shot but what’s the point? You have mail
When you order a curry and they bring the complete wrong order, pissed off!
So Bobby is there any truth in the rumour I heard this morning that you are Stardy aswell
Andrew just eat half of it then phone them to complain
Andrew should of stuck to Dominoes
Spence @ 79
I get what your saying but to be fair GIggs at 64 (or however old he is now a days) is world class and runs riot against any opposition same goes for Valencia and Nani on their day.
Obviously with the 4-3-3 formation without the ball we can switch to a 4-5-1 and try and get after them when we are in possession. we have to try and get after them at some point because if we try to sit back and defend we will get killed.
What have we got to loose?
suppose oblong, not like im excpecting to get anything, so my question to everyone and my self would be… damage limitation or go out to win? Personally i think the latter.
Josh
Dave I said stright away I’m not paying the full price, said its gunna be an hour so im not very happy.
Anyways on topic I can’t wait to see how a 4411 works out with Benny in the so called ‘Nolan’ role, obviously with that we will need a good target man leading the line. Lets hope Carr can fetch us some gem on the cheap.
Andrew- Kick off man, scare the shyte out of them. throw curry and shizz
@BigDave
Negative- I don’t know where Batty got the theory from. Something to do with my avatar being the same as Stardusts on Eds blog.
I’ve got a photo of bobby shinton on mine and I believe Dusty had a winking eye or something similar.
I think Batts was sniffing the petrol or lighter fuel.
@ 104
i’m with you on that one lets go out and try and play football and if we get beat at least we can say we tried to play for the win and didn’t just sit back and wait for wave after wave of attack from them.
dave @ 100 thats right
bobby@ 107 sorry that i gave your secret away
Bobby
Batty wouldn’t touch the stuff would he 
what about Stardy anyway whats he up to.
Batty it wasn’t you that grassed him, sure Worky allready told us all his nicks
Spencer attack or die I say
aye dave, booby star troy billyb
Sy are you doing an “other games” thread this week mate ,
No I only post as me, has somebody stolen my avvy?!
where has ILM disapeared too
HOWS wor batty?
Bobby Shinton is definitely not Wor Stardy
Big dave I have to agree with you for once
dave and heres his other nick TGS
Stardust is still in the boardroom at SJP.
Him, troy, Lambias and Ashley are inseparable .
Need a new thread up, it’s getting too cosy on here again. I’m dreading it when yous go to peeps.
Howay toonsy, we need a headline.
Ha. How’s you TGS?
alreet dog hows u m8
@ 123 talking too your self
Bobby I mean Stardy, oops sorry I really meant Batty! How are you
Spencer you mean you just dont like admitting you agree with me
How’s you bobby? I’m good
Bobby ignore the Battlehill Pikey
TGS fine
Batty dont forget that he uses hitman and KK nicks too
BATTY ime good,m8 what you done with djg never been seen today?
Who’s doing who?
I’m sucked into the nighty night club
I’m off til the wide awake club starts tomorrow.
Bobby,
Is Stardy treading the boards yet?
Big dave- you have very little football knowledge
Only joking mate, you are a very good poster
dave
hitman is his real nicK TGS is the clever nick 
Night Night everyone, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Night bobby
Batty,
Ask Toonsy how many names I post under? I can honestly say that I only post under TGS.
Unlike others on this site
nighty night booby star troy billy tgs
howay tgs every 1 knas now man
Batts,
Never jump to conclusion’s
tgs
*conclussion’s
TGS I believe you mate
Spencer
Don’t let the bed bugs bite bobby
xx
Batty,
Will you rooting for your second love on Sunday! STOKE
*be
tgs ,didnt you once post under lady boy on ed judases
lady boy
tgs bolton all the way me ,cannit stand the stoke c unts
later lads
tgs ,didnt you once post under lady boy on ed judases
Kna big fella, that would have been Worky
nite dog
stardy @153
Moreno
Night Ice
Bobby @ 155
Dog be good Lad I’ll watch your back
Batty hows Shan
stardy ya can fool most but not me
remember billy bunter 
Hello – Yeah man. May aswell
Where has Moreno went
Batts theres no fooling you Lad
Still about dave, staying out of trouble
Batty,
How many personalities have you got?
Moreno did you check that UFN out
Toonsy,
Are you finished with your old job yet?
If so, best wishes for the future mate and enjoy a better quality of life
Dave, nice one.
That was the correct measured approach you used.
Unfortunately for them, they burned their bridges with me
tgs @165 only 10 ,mainly i use this and toonsy
Moreno I just think they may have burnt the bridge to the Fatman, I hope not as I do think there was a place for them.
Oh and dont be stalking me now on FB
dave moreno hasent got time too stalk ya
Dave
New thread up
TGS – Last night tonight mate. And cheers
Batty thats good cause I dont have time for stalkers
Fuk I wish we were playing tomorrow instaed of having to wait till tues
Formations:
Yeah, the thread is exhausted but it means I can say all sorts of crap and nobody will read it, and I can be long about it as well.
None of this 442, 443 Football Mangaer straight jacket for me. Over my time of watching football, playing it and coaching kids way back when, I’ve developed my ideal formation: 21421
2 full backs – because they are always back, except for set plays (Terry, Vidic, Ferdinand, etc)
1 centre half – who plays in the DM role but duals as a centre back when defending (and is the game starter when moving forward) – very important position (needless to say it is how I played – it’s a bit like Beckenbauer’s sweeper role, I suppose. (Busquets is good at this – maybe Colo)
2 wing half backs – who are full backs when you defend, wide midfielders in transition and wingers going forward (Cole, Jose, Dani Alves)
2 midfielders, who can win tackles and do a lot of running. (Barton, Tiote, Carrick … England is full of them)
2 inside forwards, who play off the striker and can create from midfield, probably good if they can dribble a bit. (Ben Arfa, Messi types)
1 striker, probably a guy good in the air but can hold the ball up on the deck too (Carroll, Berbatov – preferably Shearer)
Can’t see many at Newcastle fitting into my team.
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