Robbo Di Robbio wrote:
Anyone think that maybe the formation used depends on the opposition's shape first and the availability of players second? And given that Zarate has been at WHU for five minutes and Carroll is an established PL player (and England international) might there be a teensy bit of overreaction going on? I think Swansea have one of the best home records so a point should be respected.

Think yourselves lucky to have even seen the games. I followed the Everton and Swansea games via BBC text in a Dubai hotel room.

Salaam.

Robbo el Robbio
BFS is doing a great job.  The minor criticisms are -

(1)  If you play two up front you really need two fit strikers on the bench.  Zarate has a massive amount of talent and within 10 days of letting him go we are in a situation where CFC and Vaz Te are our two strikers on the bench.  CFC has a role and I still think it'd be quite nice if Vaz Te got another chance... but FFS, they're nowhere near the standard required.

(2)  Carroll should not be a guaranteed starter (which it looks like he is).

(3)  Nolan should get fewer games than Carroll and it is really hard to see what he brings apart from as a quasi-second striker in a 451.

(4)  I don't like 352.  I am perfectly prepared to believe that Saturday was one of the few times in the entire season where it was the right call (we'll never know, but failing to win at Swansea is hardly a disgrace given their record there).  But I don't like it and wsn't convinced by it.