3-5-2

[TheBigCheese]

I had a dream about Saints last night and in it we were playing some dazzling football and ripping through the division playing 3-5-2 so -in the hope that I've got some psychic ability -is it time to give 3-5-2 another go? How about this for Saturday:

------------------Cuthbert---------------------
-----James-------Rusty------Ando/Mensing--
--Stevo----Henry-------McCann---Sheerin--
-------------------Scotland--------------------
----------Jackson---------Dobbie-------------

[TheBigCheese]

What's Goran done to you! :wink:

Ryan McCann is out for about three months too. I think we just have to get back to basics but Clyde do play 3-5-2 and we won through there matching up to them so it could be a shout...

Both good points :oops: Sheerin into the middle then with Goran down the left.

[TheBigCheese]

I don't really like 3-5-2 much but if we're going to play Jason in 'the hole' as most people seem to be advocating, then I think we'll need another 'proper' centre midfield player, hence the need to return to 3-5-2.

[blueheaven]

I don't really like 3-5-2 much but if we're going to play Jason in 'the hole' as most people seem to be advocating, then I think we'll need another 'proper' centre midfield player, hence the need to return to 3-5-2.

I disagree. 3-5-2 is rubbish (because back threes and wing-backs don't work) and you don't necessarily have to play it in order to have a "hole". There's a reason why we've ended up ditching 3-5-2 every time we've experimented with it. I also strongly feel that we need to get two out-and-out wingers into the team and start playing some entertaining football. Therefore, kindly observe the wonders of 4-2-3-1...

_________________Cuthbert

Mensing____Rutkiewicz____James______Stanic

___________Sheridan___Fotheringham

Right winger______Scotland_________Left winger

________________MacDonald


I know I've included an injured player and two players we don't even have(!) in that line-up, but the point is more to demonstrate the formation itself - a perfect formation if ever there was one, and one I'd be building towards using. It gives you a proper back four, which is the best way to line up at the back (FACT!), increased solidity by using two holding midfielders, attacking flair by using two out-and-out wingers plus a creative (almost "free role") for Scotland in the hole, and one out-and-out striker in the form of Peaso (Milne could play there too, provided he's told to keep his arse up front instead of tracking back all the time).

[blueheaven]

Yup, I pretty much agree with that Radford. I think Clark should have persisted with it too - but I think he ditched it in the end because (a) his two wingers turned out to be more inconsistent that he'd been bargaining for (but I'd say that real wingers, by their very nature, are often inconsistent and can drift in and out of games - see Jenkinson as a prime example) and (b) McBride was shit. Having said that, Sylla would have been perfect for "the hole".

Anyway, as to our team now - I think Fotheringham could play next to Sheridan. That would give us a bloody hard midfield and make us a pretty tough nut to crack, and I also think they're both better "footballers" than you seem to be giving them credit for. I agree, though, that you could put Sheerin or Jancyzk in one of those roles too (given our injury record, we'd need a few options anyway!). Stevenson definitely has the engine for wide right but I still don't see him as a real winger - his final ball's not great and he drifts inside too much. In order to work, I think the system needs real wingers who are strong crossers. I do think, though, that if Scotland was unavailable you could put Stevenson in the hole - he's attack-minded, has a bit of flair, supports strikers well and his own finishing at this level is good. He'd score a few goals from there, I think. Jackson or Doris wide right could be worth a go - not sure what their crossing's like, though. Are they both right-sided?

Not sure if Dobbie could play on his own up front either - you need someone energetic with a good work rate to play without a strike partner.

[chopper]

Doris wide right could be worth a go - not sure what their crossing's like, though.


Doris used to be a right winger did he not?

[dan the saint]

Cuthbert


Mensing____Rutkiewicz____James______Stanic


Sheridan



Stevenson______Scotland_________Left winger


Milne MacDonald

[Cagey]

I think we went 3 5 2 for a while on Saturday with Ruti Ando & James at back & it was our best spell in the game.We have to try something & it will alow Scotland to play in the hole which is his best position.

Team for Saturday.

Cuthbert.

Ruti. Ando. James.

Mensing Stevenson Fotheringham Stanic

Scotland

Jackson Coyle.

[pezza70]

I dont care what formation we play as long as we have 11 players committed to playing football and having a go.

Will be interesting to see who OC actually drops as it sounded like his quotes were made in the heat of the moment and if he doesnt make the two or three changes it will send out some mixed messages, that he talks the talk but cant walk the walk.

[mapleleaf]

Here is a question. It's probably dumb, but it is sincere. What is wrong with the old 2-3-5?

With the speedy wingers designated to move back on defence you have a 2-5-3 and against an overlapping fullback you drop an 'inside forward' to mid-field, wingers move back and you have a 4-4-2. with offensive players ready to counter.

I think that watching a game with a single forward must be terribly tedious. Do they teach kids that way of playing?

Smudge 8) (Would rather lose 6-5 than 1-0).

[Saintkev]

Here is a question. It's probably dumb, but it is sincere. What is wrong with the old 2-3-5?

Sadly long gone, a formation I never saw in use, the best I remember was the old 4-3-3... Maskrey, Moore & Grant up front... imagine another two of that standard up there with them :shock:

Hear, hear for the 6-5 over 1-0