Who made that post asking about the understanding of tactics in football

the other week. Can't find it. Take a look at this...I have attempted to analyse us below based on what I saw on Saturday and in the few games on telly I saw whilst I was away.

www.zonalmarking.net

This site is very good. If you look at the teams section and look to see how Brazil, Benfica and Inter Milan all set up for the majority of their games at the moment with obviously better players in the diamond formation that Lambert has favoured this season and all with very different styles and systems within the diamond.

Interesting that a major key of the diamond is obviously the energy and defensive qualities of the full backs. I remember in our recent dodgy spell a lot of regulars put it down to us missing Drury's energy, positioning and tackling. On Saturday I thought Rose was the real obvious weak link in the side. He lacked all 3. The dodgy period (which of course wasn't really that bad anyway) made a lot more sense to me.

Likely change on Sat is Russell in for Lappin. McNamee switching to the left, Korey staying on the right side, Russell playing in his usual defensive midfield role. Although this looks a fairly like for like move, it actually needs Rose to be on top of his game and we need to quickly get help for him when they break or it might be too risky.

If Lambert makes the changes then we will become a lot more open and attacking in our set up and I worry Huddersfield who are free scoring at home will expose us. Yeovil at home we played with 2 forwards and 2 very attacking midfielders. Leaving Smith and Lappin to mop up behind. Smith the more central of the two making him the DM on Sat but with Yeovil's lack of attack it was hard to tell and Smith was EVERYWHERE he needed to be all game anyway without other getting caught out positioning wise.

The switch suggested above would still leave us with 2 forwards and 2 very attacking midfielders but with a possible lack of balance and a predictability to attack down the left with the in form McNamee which would potentially leave us very short on our left if they counter attacked. With Russell out at the moment Lappin and Smith both play fairly standard central roles and gives us excellent balance and a fair amount of protection. It would be harsh to leave out Russell or McNamee from the team but if Lambert does so, then he has gone for the safer bet.

Posted By: Brandonio, Mar 9, 10:58:38