ALL WHITES V BAHRAIN - Official 1st Leg T

I would add Bertos to the list of players battling it out, bumping the spots up to 4. Without another decent winger, he will have to work VERY hard to keep Bahraini defence guessing.


                                    Paston

                        Siggy                       Nelsen
                                                                                 Lochhead

                            Brown                  Elliot

                                             Smeltz

Say we can add 4 of Vicelich, Scott, McGlinchey, Bertos, Killen and Fallon.

- There will be one of Vicelich and Scott in defence, two if we play 5 along the back.

- McGlinchey vs Bertos should come down to who can balance the side more depending on how many players we have in defense compared to attack, they will probably be played together if Ricki uses a 4-man midfield, with Lochhead possibly coming into cotention if it's a 3-4-3 (very unlikely IMO). They are the sort of players who should ONLY  be used in their proper position, please no Bertos through the middle or eeeMac on the wing.

- Killen vs Fallon is very simlilar to above, they could possibly both be played but I would rather they weren't put out wide in a 4-3-3/3-4-3. Play players where they are comfortable.

-Overall I think it's likey 1 player will be chosen from each group (Ivan, Scott; weeMac, Bertos; Killen, Fallon) with the fourth spot being chosen from the three leftovers depending on where aplyer is needed to balance the side. I'm hoping for Scott, weeMac and Killen, with Vicelich asolidifying the team until at least halftime.

                                        Paston

                        Siggy          Vicelich             Nelsen
Scott                                                                             Lochhead

                            Brown                  Elliot

                                         McGlinchey
                                           
                                 Killen                   Smeltz

This allows a good platform to build on at halftime or possibly later. We can add Bertos/Fallon for anyone but Paston, Brown and Elliot to either strengthen the midfield or add more attacking options/firepower.

Think Bertos must start. To me, he should be our biggest counter attacking threat if we do park the bus

Would you not almost be tempted to leave smeltz on the bench for the away leg? The other 2 strikers are doing bloody well in stronger British leagues at the moment.

Yeah it sure is tempting, I think the worse part of our four fantastic strikers scenario is that they are all quite similar, but to Smeltz is posibly the one who is furthest away from that big targetman mould, although Wood has apparently shown lots of mobility and pace....
I'd still go for one of Killen and Fallon, for the muscle and height up front, + Smeltz because he seems to be able to go round his man much easier these days and up until a few of weeks ago has been scoring for fun.
I'm really hoping that if we're not winning midway through the first half Ricki will throw Wood on as a wildcard, he seems to be very all-round while being massive, as well as having that raw edge and mad hunger of a young player.

Brown is a must, its as simple as that

The Team has been confirmed
                                                                  
                                          Paston

                    Sigmund          Nelson       Vicelich

      Bertos                Brown            Elliott              Lochhead

                    Killlen             Fallon          Smeltz

Would have liked to have seen maybe McGlinchey play behind the three strikers  with Bertos and Elliott, with Brown playing behind them in a 3-1-3-3. Still risky playing three Defenders for me but got a feeling it could work.
ChelseaFCmhr2009-10-10 10:33:00

Soooooooooooo 3=4=3 it is.  Look for them to attack down our right I guess as Lochy will be more back than  wing and Leo more wing than  back.. goals goals goals. Boro4eva2009-10-10 08:25:28

Hmmm...Interesting to say the least!

Wow. What a gamble.

 

Fark this has got me nervous.......... more nervous than before

Formation was confirmed by Dom Post and it said that Herbert all but confirmed that was the team. So there is a 95% percent chance that will be the team, sorry for the confusion.

Gamble all right. Wouldn't be surprised if that is not the line up though. 

Yea im not trusting anything untill i see an official line up on matchday because this seems like suicide

If that is the real lineup I will eat my shoe

I certainly think we do need to have McGlinchey because aside from Bertos, noone can create chances for NZ, so I think McGlinchey should be in before Brown is included.

This is the Article I got my info from - read it yr own way.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/2950759/Herbert-to-start-Smeltz-Killen-Fallon

it's in the NZ Herald it mudt be right  .  "Herbert's  Big Gamble"

Mile Davis on Radio Sport has said that it looks like Riki Herbert has implied that 3-4-3 will be the formation every time he's talked to Riki. It does look to me that it will be the line-up because all the media are saying the same thing.

still not trusting untill the team runs out

Indeed, though would be surprised if this wasn't the team.

it's all part of the gamesmanship. Raul Blanco will be giving him some tips

TVNZ.co.nz is reporting it "looks like" a 3-4-1-2 formation...
See HERE

again still reckon hear'say, if Bahrain get wind of it then they will look to play sometyhing to attack that, then at the 11th hour we'll change it to put them on the back foot (hopefully). I mean who shows their hands before the 11th hour. team will be named 4.00am our time .

If I could I'd put money on it.

cheers for the link -  I knew Bertos would be playing there. All signs have pointed at him doing it. I'm happy with the formation but to be honest, one of killen/ fallon should have been left out for mcGlinchey. We better grab a few goals. I might go down to the TAB and put 5 on the win. And another 5 on a 2 goal win

Well whether that is the line-up or not, there is NO WAY we will actually play as 3-4-3 on the field. Who the heck is Herbert trying to kid?

While I agree 3-4-3 is a massive gamble, it surely utilises the resources we have best. We have 3 quality centre backs, and 3 quality strikers. It seems to me that Ricki has said how can I get my 11 best players on the park rather than going here is our formation now who would suit it.

This will end up being a 4-3-3 or a 4-3-1-2 with Lochhead pratically at LB.

It'll end up more like a 4-5-1. Colvinator2009-10-10 11:53:51

4-5-1 with 3 strikers?

i played a 3-4-3 on FIFA and it worked out good. http://www.easportsfootball.co.uk/media/play/video/10960123 (Fallon with that goal) using the same line up as on the STUFF.co.nz article.

however, Bertos didn't really have any room to move (i think it was their formation setup)

we won on penalty shootout.

It just says error for me whoo. Did you make Bahrain?

EDIT: Nevermind...wellyphoenixfan2009-10-10 12:31:46

phewf.

Jesus wept.

no, i was playing Korea Republic (the most realistic team i could find with a rating close to ours and in a red strip)

Mmm. Well i just played this Bahrainian guy in Online Checkers and won so that must mean we'll win tonight.

What was the score?