Comments on: Advanced wing-backs are key in Bleiberg’s 2-4-2-2

By: sam.gilbert

sam.gilbert — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:09:32 +0000

yes i believe so, but only one of theyre fulllbacks are given the license to bomb very far forward. usually dani/maicon. they tend to play the 4-2-2-2 system, with two deefensive midfielders and two creative midfielders, out of josue, gilberto silva, felipe melo, hernanes, diego, kaka, robinho, elano blumer and ronaldinho.

By: FIsher Price

FIsher Price — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:48:31 +0000

Fair enough, though that didn’t seem to do Arbeloa any favours in Rafa’s eyes. Never one to to take risks, I suspect that Benitez has compensated by employing more conservative players in other positions. He’s a defensive, cheque-book manager to a fault.

By: Mick of Newie

Mick of Newie — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:09:22 +0000

What is fascinating about GCU at this stage is how, despite what Aurelio might say, about half their team (and almost all of their defence) are pretty much A league rejects (Higgins, Rees, Piorkowski, Fitzsimmons, Osman, Pantelidis).

Good coaching I suspect.

By: Robbos

Robbos — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:39:29 +0000

Tony, his link play was outstanding & his goalscoring record in England proves he can score. Despite Smeltz getting 4 goals against Fury, Miron gave Porter MOM, which surprised, which ensured I watched him closer last week, very impressed.

By: Gaz

Gaz — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:06:30 +0000

He WAS better than that, which is why he top-scored for Hartlepool last season, and could easily have moved to a “better” UK Div One or even Championship club this season rather than coming home. Aren’t we lucky to have him?

By: Realfootball

Realfootball — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:14:03 +0000

What I don’t understand, having seen him play now, is how Porter ended up down at the lower end of the English divisions. He looks much better than that.

By: David V.

David V. — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:53:58 +0000

Porter showed his quality at Hartlepool, and he is showing it here. I’m sure he’ll be missed over there. Maybe Andy Monkhouse, a talented left winger at Hartlepool, should also be looked at.

Ahhh Beardsley. Everton got 2 quality years out of him

By: Tony Tannous

Tony Tannous — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:44:30 +0000

Robbos, I was thinking, watching Porter on the weekend, wouldn’t he be a great fit for Pim’s single-striker system?…better in my mind in that target-man, Viduka-esque role than anything we’ve seen in the A-League, including Simon and Djite…

Really, he’s picked up where he left off in ther NSL, where I thought he was an excellent striker – could finish, could link, but was just a little raw.

Haven’t seen the finishing yet, but last seasons goals tally stands out, and his time in Europe looks to have added some more calm, skill and football smarts to his game. His left foot is a gem.

He didn’t score on the weekend, but he had to be in my TOTW.

If he keeps it up, Pim will come-a-knocking.

By: Robbos

Robbos — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:32:45 +0000

Cullina has been great, but that was sort of expected.

But for me the big surprise in the GC side is Joel Porter. He’s exciting, he’s got skills, though he has been outshoned by Cullina & Smeltz in the media. Reminds me of Peter Beardsley of Newcastle, Liverpool & England fame.

Don’t know what happen to Twaite last year, but I have always rated him.

By: Tony Tannous

Tony Tannous — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:25:04 +0000

Was it Thuram and Lizarazu on the flanks? Remember Thuram in the semi against Croatia?

That team was also built around a string-puller in Zidane (read Culina), but for me, I’ll never forget the defensive steel offered by that side, from Desially and Lebeouf at the back to twin screeners in Deschamp and Manu Petit. Often it was three defensive mids with Karmabeu slotting in.

Add the creators, Zidane and Djorkaeff, and they had this amazing ability to control games in all the thirds.

What that side often had though was only one striker, Guivarch or Dugarry.

But many similarities. I loved watching that side.

By: Tony Tannous

Tony Tannous — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:10:03 +0000

Caravella has been brilliant the past two weeks Gaz – good movement, excellent technique. Had heard he was doing well pre-season, but I’m one of those who prefers to see things for my own eyes.

Was really really impressed by Robson round 1, so look forward to seeing more from that front.

By: Tony Tannous

Tony Tannous — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:04:16 +0000

Haha Fisher…

Before last season I would have agreed totally, but finally Rafa discovered the value of asking his fullbacks to bomb on, something ManU, Arsenal and Chelsea have been doing for years. Arbeloa and Aurelio were revelations in the way they got fwd last season, and Rafa appears to have been even more adventurous this season. Insua looks the goods on the left, I rate him.

By: Midfielder

Midfielder — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:03:51 +0000

Papa

Dare I say it .. but I dare … Brilliant bit of thinking that 2 sweeper with 3 full backs …I will watch out for it…

Tony I will comment more I am still recovering from a weekend of over extending myself … but well picked up .. maybe stole from the French constant moving 4 – 4 – 2 … of the 98 WC..

By: Tony Tannous

Tony Tannous — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:58:10 +0000

Interesting thoughts re Okon KB. I know what you mean about the back two, but in most instances around the world the teams actually shape up as a four, with the fullbacks encouraged to push on when they have the ball.

And get out there and enjoy it KB, it’s enjoyable on the box, would be even better live.

By: Tony Tannous

Tony Tannous — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:52:53 +0000

Been amazed by how well Caravella, Fitz, Thwaite and Panta have done. Great to see.

Agree Vincentin, Sydney were average against Central Coast.

Keller has been solid alongside Colosimo in the main, but his long ball strategy is a mystery…his way or the managers way?

By: Tony Tannous

Tony Tannous — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:48:03 +0000

Cheers Con.

First Miron stresses, then Clive goes shopping…

On a serious note, let’s hope it doesn’t happen, but it would be a good test of their contingencies and a test of their overall depth.

For the record, I don’t think there’s another player that can step in for Culina, he is the heart-beat of the side. Any other player would change the dynamic.

By: Tony Tannous

Tony Tannous — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:37:52 +0000

What you’re really talking about there is the fluidity of the formation Ryan, and I agree. Plenty of men in forward transition, it all looks seamless.

By: Gaz

Gaz — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:28:36 +0000

Tony, I think you might see Zenon Caravella slot into Culina’s spot quite easily. He was playing much the same role in pre-season before Culina arrived, and often looked the best player on the park. Robson is not a bad alternative, and we haven’t seen much of him, but I think the shape would change, whereas Zenon could slot right in as a “mini-Jason”.

We still haven’t seen much of the other Brazilians either: expect Milson to surprise a few people when he gets a good run. And Jefferson and James Brown will be back from injury soon. Brown looks very good on the wing… Lots of excitement to come, folks! BWAAHAHAHA!

By: AndyRoo

AndyRoo — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:35:31 +0000

Well for 18 million quid he better be able to play in both halves of the field

By: FIsher Price

FIsher Price — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:31:28 +0000

Good article,

but

Liverpool: known for fielding offensive fullbacks?

Hahahahahahahaha…

By: Wilba

Wilba — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:20:00 +0000

Thanks Mr T for your views, Melbourne could prove a problem with two pretty mobile stikers and the ability of ‘el zorro’ to work in tight spaces but I am not sure if they use their width enough to combate GCU. Sydney have also lacked the width in the past but I haven’t really watch much from Sydney this year.

Re: living on the gc, I am a gc local but I now live in Melbourne. I have family up there and plan to get along at some stage. I am really enjoying the ammunition that GCU are giving me every Monday morning.

By: Koala Bear

Koala Bear — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:19:35 +0000

Interesting strategy from Merrick (the Scottish one)… Organising an away game for MV playing at “Fortress Miron” on Grooky Grand Final Day… As no one will notice in Melbourne of the 6-0 thumping with all Melburnians watching the Grooky Grand Final at the G… The Scottish one is a real Fox when it comes to potential embarrassing defeats… Quotes will be kept to a few profound words in the Melb Herald “Damn those Jacobites … sons of bitches”

~~~~~~~~~
KB

By: Art Sapphire

Art Sapphire — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:17:49 +0000

My guess is that it will call come unstuck against MVFC on AFL Grand Final day.

As a home team I expect GCU to push up the park and leave their flanks exposed to quick counters.
If Archie has his shooting boots on and our defending solid, we will walk away with a result.

Also Thwaite, Pants and Piorkowski will remind themselves they are playing for an inferior team which will result in one of them scoring an own goal

By: Realfootball

Realfootball — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:01:58 +0000

We will see how GCU go without Culina weekend after next against Sydney, because he will be with the Socceroos. My guess is that it will not impact as much as some people might think. At 22, Robson is an extraordinarily gifted young player, as we saw against the Roar. Bleiberg will simply bring in Robson for Culina. The psychological effect of his absence may be greater than his physical absence. We shall see. My tip is that GCU will beat Sydney without Culina. There is simply too much depth and quality across the park.

By: Realfootball

Realfootball — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:57:40 +0000

Minniecon, Robson, and Jeffeson get their chance.

By: Koala Bear

Koala Bear — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:52:47 +0000

Tony,
I wrote a comment some time back about how the top teams line up, and it was an observation of mine that Barca and AC Milan play with a double sweeper behind a back three… I still believe it to be the case and that this has gone unnoticed here on the Roar… When anyone here discusses a system they always start with a back four … What a lot of hogwash that is … the best teams nowadays play with a double sweeper behind a back three which allows the outside wing backs to go forward in attack, as wingers, from deep defensive positions… and when possession is lost, they immediately fall back to a defensive wing back position…

Effectively I see all the good modern teams like Barca take up a 2—3—3—2 formation… I’m absolutely positive that the GCU play this formation introduced by no other than “Paul Okon” from his experience and knowledge of Italian Football… I believe that Paul Okon is the real mastermind behind the success of GCU not Miron Bleiberg… But they are indeed having a wonderful marriage for the moment… I hope it continues… I live on the Gold Coast and look forward to many wonderful home games this season at “Fortress Miron”….

~~~~~~~
KB

By: DiCanio

DiCanio — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:48:14 +0000

Remove Culina and it all falls apart

All the others are flattered by his workrate

By: DiCanio

DiCanio — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:44:55 +0000

Thats funny cause Im pretty sure Adelaide were running all over them from 60-90 minutes

I think you confuse tactical discipline with fitness

By: DiCanio

DiCanio — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:43:51 +0000

Henrique, Van Dijk, Miller

Danning, Aloisi, Brosque

By: Tony Tannous

Tony Tannous — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:59:29 +0000

sorry, what i meant to say was “a bright tactican himself” rather than “in his own mind”…