I agree, we haven't even got a first eleven to do it successful, let alone if we had a similar injury problem to last season. We haven't got sufficient replacements, unless de Boer gonna be seriously backed in the market.

Edited by Dan89 (25 Jul 2017 7.53am)

Another Damien Diagonal - Total Football

Indeed. I hope that there was more to it than two egos inebriated with the exuberance of their own verbosity (to slightly misquote someone or other).

If you put the available evidence together, SP wants a more attractive style of football that also produces results (Pardew's transition, with nobs on, if you like). FdB says you have practically everything you need here already in your current squad and if you made better use of your academy, with a few low cost (i.e. young and unproven) additions.

Now that would be music to SP's ears and would give FdB a chance to try to realise an ambition to repeat Cruyff's achievements with the 3-4-3 when at Barcelona. IF that's the case, it'll be fantastic if it works, but disastrous if it doesn't. Only time will tell, so I suppose we just sit back and see what happens

Bexley Dave

Can you hear the Brighton sing? I can't hear a ******* thing!

"The most arrogant, obnoxious bunch of deluded little sun tanned, loafer wearing mummy's boys I've ever had the misfortune of having to listen to" (Burnley forum)

This, hopefully.

It seems to be how he turned things round at Ajax - sort out the defence & work from there. Clearly looking at flexibility trying a DM as CB & signing a CB that's comfortable playing DM.

We might, for once, have something more than just a plan A to work with.

Will this be five? It's gonna be five! It IS five!

Really happy to hear FDB talk about working from the back. However all the talk of 3-4-3 really worries me. Happy to hear it might be possible, eventually. but I'm currently hearing a manager dogmatically sticking to a system he knows. Hope i'm wrong and there is more to FDB than that.

Why am I always so nervous just before a season starts? Oh yes, that's it, I support Crystal Palace.

The system he's always played and managed is actually 4-3-3. Which he says we'd be ok at but that he'd like us to learn 3-4-3 as he thinks this will be better for us.

So unfortunately he's not actually sticking to his guns but trying to build a team that actually has TWO options.

How long have we been crying out for that..?

I think what de Boer wants is a formation that can interchange

Can play 3-4-3 and can easily transform into 4-3-3

Maybe this is why he's playing Townsend as a wingback, not ideal but without making subs , it can be 4-3-3. This is why I think a signing like Chambers instead of ward is ideal.

Hennessy
Ward (Rcb)
Dann
Riedewald (Lcb)
Townsend (rwb)
PVA (Lwb)
Luka. (Cm)
Cabaye (cm)
Puncheon (LF)
Zaha (RF)
Benteke (st)

That can easily play 4-3-3 with the same personnel

Hennessy
Ward (rb)
Dann. (Cb)
Riedewald (cb)
PVA (Lb)
Luka (cm)
Cabaye (cm)
Puncheon (cm)
Townsend (Rw)
Zaha. (Lw)
Benteke (st)

Thoughts

Another Damien Diagonal - Total Football