striker

Bloody spot on +1

Yes it has, I think he may want to actively push for either Everton or QPR at this point. No point in him coming on for the last 20 minutes to save a game. He should be on a team which pairs him up with a Long type forward, a ream with a more traditional formation. Look at Manu tonight, most teams play this way.

I am not sure if the diamond is a good formation or not. My issue is we have a 6th place team here, and Puel comes in and just institutes the new formation. What about how we got to 6th place? For those saying we can make it work if we get this and that, to me its not the point. Why do we have to get this and that, so in 2 years we can get 6th again? Why not play the way the current players understand and can succeed at, and then tweak things from there?

I don't think the players buy the diamond, and I don't think it fits our team. Why does Puel push it? I'd like to see us start the next game with the team we ended with (except Long for JRod). We seemed more offensive and our offensive scorers are on the field at least. Still not clear on Puels fasination with Redmond as a striker. He looks good wide, in space, but weak around the goal. Should be a mid. We are ridiculous in this formation trying to cross to Long and Redmond. It takes a major part of any teams offense out.

I agree. He came in with the diamond regardless of personnel. Either change formation, which by the way got us 6th, or rebuild. However it seems a waste to do a 2 year rebuild on a team the finished 6th.

I think when Austin came on we changed formation. I think that had something to do with the more offensive look.

I guess we changed formation. The diamond thing needs to go.

I'm sure he'll get his big 10 minutes.

Oh well, but I'm sure our completed passing percentage will be high.

I mean Long and Redmond are the same type of player. Quick, fast , and small. We need to team one of them with a box type, bigger, direct scorer. If Purl doesn't rate Austin then we need to get one. Like ManU did.

Thanks.

We have 1 striker, Austin. However Purl puts him at the end of the bench. Interesting that ManU's striker is the one who scored. We need finishing not more passing around.

Well we can't score, but we sure can complete passes. I am much more a fan of the direct style than this diamond thing.

I think we look pretty toothless.

Not a fan of the "most completed passes" stat. With our formation Watford was very happy to let us pass the ball back and forth between ourselves. I'd be more interested in a stat like "most attacking passes completed" ( if there is such a thing). I fear we will see more of this all season. Little harmless passes, few threatening shots, and few goals. But hey, the passing stats will look good. Perhaps we could have Hodgson come in and show us how the England team did it so well.

Hard to score in 10 minutes of play. Last season 2nd half he was hurt, this season he is out due to the formation. I think in a normal q or 2 up top formation he would score goals and play well. I really wouldn't blame him if he wanted to leave.

Just for grins I went to an Everton fan site and found them talking about it too. Here's a gem from one of the posts: "My best mate works with Austin's ex mrs husband. They have a child together so has to be notified if he changes clubs etc. Everton have been in contact apparently. I'm no ITK but information I've been told." If you believe this then there is some basis to this.

One more thought and then I'll shut up. Perhaps there was a lot more to the fact that Austin played in the U-23 game last week vs QPR than we thought. Maybe it was a showcase of sorts, where he certainly did excel. There is no doubt the guy can score in this league given the right formation.

Also the QPR thing could certainly be real. They are 2-0 and think they have a real shot at getting back up. His style fits them perfectly, and of course they love him there. It would actually be a very good fit. Not sure about Everton yet but RK was the coach who brought him here. If Puel was the coach last year I don't think Austin would be the type of player he would buy.

Not sure if there is any truth to this, but it would actually make sense from a pure playing point of view. The new scheme by Puel does not favor players like Austin, Pelle, Carroll, etc. He is an "around the box" goal scorer, not a midfielder who plays striker in a wide open concept. In a normal 4-4-2 he would score a lot of goals, IMO 10+ for sure in the PL. Give him service anywhere near the box and he will get it on goal. If thats the style then he would be a great pickup. I am sure he's not happy sitting and feels like he could play. Even here he has scored goals when healthy, this preseason I think him and Redmond tied for the top.

Agree the competition was easy and we were at home. If Puel keeps trying to "force fit" our squad into his beloved diamond then it may be a long season. Why he doesn't look at the squad and then tweak things to accommodate for its strengths and weaknesses I will never know. Until then however he will keep adding midfielders, who needs forwards anyway. By the way, if Pelle were still here I believe he would be sitting on the bench with Austin. Puel doesn't seem to rate the "in the box" striker who can actually score tough goals in traffic.

I rate Redmond, and he should be out there, but he is not a striker in my book. I am very uncomfortable with Puel picking a formation and then "back fitting" the squad into it. He plays Redmond out of position (I guess to prove he can make him the next Thierry), and puts the only striker we have who has scored lots of goals in the PL on the bench for 80 minutes. Why not look at the team and modify the formation to play to its strengths. Let's remember, Watford suck.

Bloody spot on #2

To me, its more the formation thats bugging me than the players. I think we need Redmond, Long, and Austin on the field to score like we need to. Redmond looks very dangerous on the ball in space, not hanging around inside, and Austin gives is a scoring presence in the box area (which we need). Right now crosses are useless. This could be done with a standard 3 upfront, by moving Redmond to the #10, or by slightly adjusting the formation to allow Redmond and Tadic to both attack (rather than just one of them). However Puel seems fixated on the diamond. I think we will see more of this, by much better teams. Hang back, defend, counter, give up possession, etc.

For me I am still not sold on this. Redmond looks very dangerous when he is outside more. I also think we need more punch inside. Ideally I'd like to see 3 upfront with Redmond, Austin, and Long, but we Puel doesn't want to play that. That would put Redmond on the ball more in open space, and give us a "box" type threat in Austin (which is really what we are missing). In this formation, I think if Pelle was still here he'd be on the bench also.