posted Jan 11, 2009

comment by pbtennisboy (U13769527)

posted 1 Hour Ago

The Hudd/Zokora partnership is best.Lennon on the right & Modric on the left if we were to play 4-4-2.Pav & Defoe up front.

When we played the Chavs early on this season,Hudd/Zokora were fantastic especially in the second half.By far our best performance of the season. Zokora does the running/tackling of two players,but unfortunately cant shoot properly or pass to feet consistently. Hudd's passing,short & long is fantastic & what a shot he has on him.Unfortunately he cant run,so thanks Zokora!
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Firstly, when we played Chelsea, if I am not mistaken, we played with a 5-man midfield and only Bent upfront.

Secondly, Modric was still finding his feet and is now a vastly different proposition in central midfield. To waste his influence by moving him to a wide position seems a little eccentric, to say the least.

Thirdly, the reason Huddlestone/Zokora seemed to look so good was that they were paired in a DEFENSIVE midfield positioning against the (then) invincible-at-home Chelsea. Our formaition was more like 4-2-3-1 than 4-4-2.

There will be games, in the future, where it may be necessary for us to go into a match with a defensive outlook and where Huddlestone/Zokora may have the chance to shine again - but you couldn't see it in a standard 4-4-2, where Huddlestone, for whatever reason, displaces a fit and available Modric as the team's attacking central midfielder and consigns the said Modric to play left wing.

So, it would seem to me, that the only way you are going to get your wish to see a central pairing of Huddlestone and Zokora, is for the team to adopt a 3-5-2 formation (just like my name. )

Then the question becomes how best to deploy available resources into 3-5-2.

Given the somewhat ponderous nature of the "3" (between King's dodgy knee, Woodgate's suspect back and Corluka's chronic lack of pace), we would need to deploy fast and extremely fit wingbacks. Hutton and Bale come to mind, except for two problems: (1) Hutton will probably miss the rest of the season with his foot injury; and (2) Bale is a useless defender. In fact, I have been wondering why Harry and Joe Jordan don't try and convert O'Hara into a left back and Bale, whose speed and left foot are his obvious attributes, into a left winger. It would seem a cheaper solution than pursuing Stewart Downing - who may be good, or who may turn into an expensive flop, like David Bentley.

Defoe has clearly been brought in to allow us to play a natural 4-4-2. With Pavlyuchenko's new-found form and increasing workrate and Modric now hitting the net on three recent occasions, there is a bit of sparkle about the attack. Don't forget Darren Bent, either. Some of his best performances have come from cameo appearances coming off the bench.

I never thought I would be saying this, either - but number one priority has to be to repel advances from PSV Eindhoven and anyone else, for the signature of Heurelho Gomes. I have never seen someone turn around his season so completely - and that speaks bundles about his character...

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posted Jan 11, 2009

comment by pbtennisboy (U13769527)

posted 1 Hour Ago

The Hudd/Zokora partnership is best.Lennon on the right & Modric on the left if we were to play 4-4-2.Pav & Defoe up front.

When we played the Chavs early on this season,Hudd/Zokora were fantastic especially in the second half.By far our best performance of the season. Zokora does the running/tackling of two players,but unfortunately cant shoot properly or pass to feet consistently. Hudd's passing,short & long is fantastic & what a shot he has on him.Unfortunately he cant run,so thanks Zokora!
------------------------------------------

Firstly, when we played Chelsea, if I am not mistaken, we played with a 5-man midfield and only Bent upfront.

Secondly, Modric was still finding his feet and is now a vastly different proposition in central midfield. To waste his influence by moving him to a wide position seems a little eccentric, to say the least.

Thirdly, the reason Huddlestone/Zokora seemed to look so good was that they were paired in a DEFENSIVE midfield positioning against the (then) invincible-at-home Chelsea. Our formation was more like 4-2-3-1 than 4-4-2.

There will be games, in the future, where it may be necessary for us to go into a match with a defensive outlook and where Huddlestone/Zokora may have the chance to shine again - but you couldn't see it in a standard 4-4-2, where Huddlestone, for whatever reason, displaces a fit and available Modric as the team's attacking central midfielder and consigns the said Modric to play left wing.

So, it would seem to me, that the only way you are going to get your wish to see a central pairing of Huddlestone and Zokora, is for the team to adopt a 3-5-2 formation (just like my name. )

Then the question becomes how best to deploy available resources into 3-5-2.

Given the somewhat ponderous nature of the "3" (between King's dodgy knee, Woodgate's suspect back and Corluka's chronic lack of pace), we would need to deploy fast and extremely fit wingbacks. Hutton and Bale come to mind, except for two problems: (1) Hutton will probably miss the rest of the season with his foot injury; and (2) Bale is a useless defender. In fact, I have been wondering why Harry and Joe Jordan don't try and convert O'Hara into a left back and Bale, whose speed and left foot are his obvious attributes, into a left winger. It would seem a cheaper solution than pursuing Stewart Downing - who may be good, or who may turn into an expensive flop, like David Bentley.

Defoe has clearly been brought in to allow us to play a natural 4-4-2. With Pavlyuchenko's new-found form and increasing workrate and Modric now hitting the net on three recent occasions, there is a bit of sparkle about the attack. Don't forget Darren Bent, either. Some of his best performances have come from cameo appearances coming off the bench.

I never thought I would be saying this, either - but number one priority has to be to repel advances from PSV Eindhoven and anyone else, for the signature of Heurelho Gomes. I have never seen someone turn around his season so completely - and that speaks bundles about his character...

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posted Jan 11, 2009

"But he (Gomes) has played every game, he hasn't hidden and that was with a few injuries which he could have not played with.
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Harry doing a David Coleman, explaining that Gomes has played games in which he carried injuries which meant he could not play?????.

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posted Jan 11, 2009

Agree especially with your last bit sheik re Gomes. He has turned it round beautifully and you can tell he appreciates fans now as he was the only one to applaud after WBA. Of course we all have our own opinions and I've never booed a player on the pitch, BUT I wouldn't really miss Bent, Bentley and Bale (plus a few of the fringe players who were on the bench the other night) if they went. Zokora to me has played really well this season apart from the last game, Modric has been a genius and I'd put Defoe and Pav up front. I think we have tokeep Lennon and O'Hara plus of course Ledley and Woody and Hud. Jenas for me does at least put effort in unlike Bentley who has been terrible lately. Bale seems more bothered about his hair (as previously reported on 606!) and I wonder if his best position is left-back. Thank you for listening .COYS

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posted Jan 11, 2009

You won't ever get near the top 4 again with Harry in charge.

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posted Jan 11, 2009

comment by BristolCity_1985 (U9556412)

posted 19 Minutes Ago

You won't ever get near the top 4 again with Harry in charge.
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(1) You are speaking out of context. This thread has nothing to do with getting into the top 4.

(2) We are a lot nearer to it than you...and at least everyone knows the name of OUR manager...

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posted Jan 11, 2009

Hear, hear. Carrick was world class, Huddlestone could be as good as him in time. Very few players of that ilk (Paul Scholes, Danny Murphy, Xavi Alonso etc who can pick a pass and keep the ball)

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posted Jan 11, 2009

spurs should play 451 cos they have too many midfielders and only 3 strikers
gomes bale king woodgate hutton huddlestone jenas modric bentley lennon bent,but with the defoe signing its more likely to be 442 and if they play that formation no way should modric play in the middle unless there is a makelele figure who will keep his position but at the moment there isnt unless huddlestone changes his game slightly

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posted Jan 11, 2009

Oh what a shame Spurs lost today!!

PLAY UP POMPEY. POMPEY PLAY UP!

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posted Jan 12, 2009

comment by claireinaylesbury (U2457254)


Quieten down, love. When did Portsmouth last win a game? Glass houses etc.

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