Taarabt

[1QPRDK]

Will he want to train and play now that there's not a transfer window around the corner?

weŽll have to wait and see.

Transfer window is still open in Ukraine, Russia, and some of the Middle Eastern leagues, so he will still have a chance...Israel maybe

[Geng]

------------------Austin
Zarate/Fer-----Taarabt-----Vargas
--------Fer/Sandro----Henry

Adel with pacy runners on either side of him (if Zarate on the left), like in the Championship season. A decent striker ahead of him. Our best bet.

The big problems are Barton, and Redknapp.

Barton can't be a holding centre mid in the 4231 above, where the CMs are required to hold their position and cover (think Faurlin & Derry in 10/11) enabling the wide players to push on and get in behind the defence. Barton's Yaya Toure complex means he zooms up the pitch and constantly gets caught out. Vargas therefore ends up playing as a wide midfielder in a 442 in line with Karl Henry. The two positions require different skills - look how #### Mackie (a budget Vargas) looked as a right mid in the PL compared to in the Championship where he was effectively a wide forward when we had the ball.

But Redknapp doesn't seem to alter his tactics like this - it's all straight lines under him. He'll use a 4411 a lot, with Krankjar (Adel at Burnley) as the no10. But the midfielders are still all in a line, suiting Barton's ill-disciplined jack of all trades vibe but not the more specialised Vargas, Henry or Fer. It also, crucially, means the no10 generally receives the ball ahead of the wide players, rather than behind them as if they were wide forwards. Means Niko, Adel, Fer or whoever have two fewer forward passing options.

4231 with Adel at its heart has to be worth a go. I can't see Harry changing now though, and I can't see Barton fitting into it either. Maybe when Sandro comes back we could play Sandro and Henry together, with Adel ahead of them. The big issue would be how to feed Adel the ball on the ground in the hole without a decent passing centre mid - Sandro would at least improve on Barton's hollywoods there though.

God I miss Faurlin.

[Jimmy Floyd Rabbit]

Barton has to be dropped but Redcrap hasn't the balls to do it.

[Stanley]

Charlie would get plenty of support and service with the line up below.

The two FBs supply added width when in possession...with Henry and Sandro protecting the back four.

There's goals in the team too.

------------------Green--------------------

Isla-----Onuoha----Caulker/Dunne----Yun

-----------Henry------Sandro--------------

-----Vargas------Fer-------Taarabt-------

------------------Austin--------------------

[Kevin Mcleod]

Charlie would get plenty of support and service with this line up.

The two FBs supply added width when in possession...with Henry and Sandro protecting the back four.

There's goals in the team too.

---------------Green-----------------

Isla-----Onuoha----Caulker/Dunne----Yun

-----------Henry------Sandro--------------

------Vargas-----Fer------Taarabt-------

-----------------Austin--------------------

If you showed me that side season start i would of bet every spare penny on premiership survival and would of sworn to anyone who would listen that mid table for certain.

[Geng]

Charlie would get plenty of support with this line up.

The two FBs supply added width too when in possession...with Henry and Sandro protecting the back four.

There's goals in the team too.

---------------Green-----------------

Isla-----Onuoha----Caulker/Dunne----Yun

-----------Henry------Sandro--------------

------Vargas-----Fer------Taarabt-------

-----------------Austin--------------------

Would be happy to see this too. One reason I'd like Adel to be in the centre though is he's a much better hold up man than Fer, or indeed anyone at the club. He won't win any headers but if you can knock it to him below shoulder height you can count on his control and strength + much better vision than eg Bobby for through balls etc.

With Fer behind Austin you're relying on Charlie to do too much holding up himself, something he's not suited for, rather than spinning into the space to run onto a through ball, something he is.

But either set up would be a lot more creative than the current one.

[Geng]

The other reason Adel is perfect right now is because if you're going to just throw 11 lads out there and hope for the best, you might as well have a weird maverick. It's not like he'd be replacing some sort of hard-working, disciplined cog in a well oiled team who know their attacking patterns off by heart. He'd be replacing some other guy who wanders around and hopes it eventually works. In that case, might as well play the one guy who consistently makes stuff happen on his own.

[Stanley]

Geng, I take your point re Adel and Fer. I think they could alternate between those positions. Personally I prefer Fer central as that's more his natural position and where he's most effective, and Taarabt can also be excellent on the left and cutting in, making runs or defence splitting passes. Charlie could also be fed by Isla and Yun's crosses. But essentially I agree with you.

[Geng]

Geng, I take your point re Adel and Fer. I think they could alternate between those positions. Personally I prefer Fer central as that's more his natural position and where he's most effective, and Taarabt can also be excellent on the left and cutting in, making runs or defence splitting passes. Charlie could also be fed by Isla and Yun's crosses. But essentially I agree with you.

Yeah that'd be the idea, rather like how Arsenal or Chelsea play. One direct forward who starts wide, stretches the play and makes run in behind the defence (Hazard, Sanchez/Walcott...Vargas) and one who cuts in and combines with the no10 more often (Willian/Oscar, Cazorla/Ozil/whoever...Fer/Taarabt)