Possible Tactics for 2013/2014

Lenny's been willing to experiment in the past, so I'll be interested to see what he comes up with. I don't know much about Balde but he seems a big guy with quick feet and powerful running - maybe Lenny's been watching Dortmund and wants him to play a Lewandowski role for us.

I could see us using 3-5-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-1-3-2, or 4-3-3 successfully with the players we have.

 

Not a big fan of all this tactics and formation malarky.

Just play you're strongest 11, give them their instructions and dont worry about formations and systems. For domestic football it should be that simple.

In Europe we should play a bit more reserved but thats about it.

 

Forster

Matthews Wilson New CB Izzy

Brown Kayal Ledley

Commons

Stokes Balde​

Obviously with Forrest, Sammy, Mulgrew and Tony Watt featuring very heavily when needed as well.

 

Forster
Matthews Wilson Mulgrew Izaguirre
Kayal Ledley
McGeoch Commons Samaras
Stokes

High energy quick tempo passing, trying to use Matthews and Izzy's overlaps as effectively as possibly.

Stokes operating a false number 9 type role, with Samaras making runs on ahead and Commons playing very close to Stokes. Maybe switch Commons and McGeoch with young Dylan being the main creative force. Ledley and Kayal to keep things tidy, maybe with Ledley doing a more box to box role.

So basically interchanging from the four up top, with Ledley and McGeoch being the main creators. Izzy and Matthews getting down the wings with Samaras getting in the box, and McGeoch and Samaras staying quite narrow as opposed to hugging the touch line like the more conventional wingers do.

Possibly based on counter attacking in Europe, maybe Forrest in for McGeoch, however in the SPL we should be looking to dominate, and that team should do it.

This is also based on Wanyama and Hooper likely not to be here next year.
​

 

No a bad team that. As long as Dylan McGeouch gets quite a few starts in the Commons role then I'd go with that.

 

Where's Brown?

 

Also allows Kayal in his favoured position, no Wanyama but he's a hero on form.

 

4-4-*-2

 

McGeouch and Rogic to get a chance in both the advanced and deeper roles. It'll help round there game

 

I actually think Kayal and Ledley play better together. Wanyama leaving/not playing might not be too bad a thing if it gets them two playing their best football.

 

Good point.

As individual players, Wanyama is probably better than Beram Kayal. As a partner for Joe Ledley, I think Kayal is the better player. I don't feel the partnership between Wanyama - Ledley has ever clicked quite as well as the Kayal - Ledley partnership did. I'm actually kinda excited at the thought of seeing those two playing together again if Wanyama leaves.

 

Same, however Wanyama is the only one who is very comfortablr and not playing above himself at a higher level i.e. Champions League.

I'm worried about that.

 

There's also the fact that both Kayal and Broony are liable to pick up injuries

 

Next year could be Kayal's season, his English has improved a lot recently and that will help him gel mopre with the team, if Wanyama goes Kayal could have a stormer of a season

 

I agree.

This does worry me however.

 

If wanyama and hooper both leave qumho I expect,
A sort of 4-3-3

Forster

Matthews/lustig
Wilson
Mulgrew
Izzy

Brown
Kayal
Ledley

Watt
Sammy

Balde

With Sammy dropping lw and Brown goin rw with watt and balde

 

I really think with tactics Lennon is going the right way about it by trying to get the team comfortable using many different formations be it 442, 4411,451,433 or 352 which he has all changed to at some time as it allows us to change things up during game rather than just relaying on subs especailly when teams compact the midfeild with more body's

 

That's my only worry over Wanyama leaving. He's pure class, didn't look out of place in his debut season in the CL versus two of the best teams in the world, and a handful of the greatest ever central midfielders in Pirlo and Xavi.

No doubt that we can more than cope without him domestically, the Kayal Ledley partnership proved profitable before Wanyama's arrival. But on the bigger stage we might be lacking. However, football is a team game and our lads proved they were a better team than Benfica and Spartak Moscow despite being arguably worse man for man.

As for our overall tactics, I'd love to see two proper wingers, plus two strikers this year, at least on a domestic level. All of our strikers, bar Lassad, I've got a lot of confidence in. We were too narrow last year, with only Forrest and our full backs willing to stay out wide. This reduces space in the middle and generally choked our attacks far too often.

 

Cheering on from the bench.


If it was up to me he'd not be starting.

 

Cliched Scottish thinking in action... he's 6'4", so has to be a 'target man'!

He's said he likens his style to that of Adebayor... who's not known for his aerial prowess, strength, or for holding the ball up!