What absolute garbage. Frank played all pre season 3-4-3 and 3 matches with 3 at the back, completely ignoring the limitations of ward, which you seem stubborn with too.

It's not just fitness. You tell me how good ward is with nobody to pass to on the outside?

OK Rudi no probs The way I think Frank wants to play that style of football, is for a player in possession at the back or in the center to draw a player from the opposition into a one on one when there is no one to pass to thereby creating the space that will make the pass without having to actually dribble but if confident dribble and create the space.

You tell me why PVA hasn't turned out with the ball towards the touch line once this season?

As the ball advances up the field the idea is to narrow the opposition thus giving an opportunity for the wings to then stretch the defense, by fast short one touch play taking the ball up the field.

You tell me why all of the CB's are rabbit in the headlights as a back 3, mistakes all over the shop and one on ones in both halves v Huddersfield.

3 maybe 4 out of the defenders on our books before Sackho are just not up to the job anymore, which just creates problems. Sorry to say, love them, but it's time to start giving way to the youth.

You tell me why Luka is half the player he was in a 2 man midfield?

They (the mids) need to get closer to each other and to give each other more support thereby creating the short fluid passing game and narrowing the opposition.

You tell me if Benteke isn't isolated?

He is used to being the target man, and needs to run about a bit more to create the passing spaces. That AM or wings can find easily. It's no longer a straight dash goalwards game every time sometimes yes, of course, anything to get a goal.

You tell me if the play is so slow that every attack is v 11 behind the ball?

Yes, that sadly does take time, it's like a band that plays music, they are going to sound sluggish even virtuoso orchestras need to rehearse. The team needs to address the one touch play better.

And the most laughable of all, you tell me why you think ward is going to be able to play as a wing back when his best football has been in a 4 when safety before attack is the main message? And ward is nearing the latter years of his career. Young legs, Spring chicken he isn't. Old dog and new tricks for a usual back 4 RB is what he is.

It is laughable indeed at your conclusion since [I believe] he was only there mainly because of injuries, lateness etc. The first game was an experiment true, but then the injuries set in.

Didn't Frank say only 3-4-3? Well he bl33ding well did, did he not?

No thats a total misquote, or bad TV edit, he never stated only 3-4-3. Its always 3-4-3, 4-3-3, and 3-5-1 as primary settings of Total football. In fact a recent interview I recall, maybe after the swans game He re-iterated that very misquote.

Still time but it'll be to save his neck first. This pipe dream is months and possibly more Windows away.

So far, on Twitter from the press conference:

Loftus Cheek returns to squad for Sunday

Hoping Tomkins and Cabaye available, decision after Saturday training

FDB has positive feeling after seeing training this week - knows it takes time - have a long-term project here

Wants to start seeing the performances he's expecting - once we get results it will give all the confidence we need

Edited by bexleydave (08 Sep 2017 1.50pm)

you're right, it said two on the radio this morning but other places are reporting 5. Surprised Man Utd voted against given how early they did their business. Maybe it's more about selling than buying.

Chelsea's 3 at the back has enabled Hazard to play more offensively rather than having to track back all the time and this has benefited the team so I can understand what FDB is saying.

[Link]

It's pretty positive including Sakho joining and being here.

The bit I'm concerned about is his comment in post 34 on page 2 on 3-4-3 and 5-3-2 saying 'We looked very carefully at it and in our point of view this is the best for the team. Wilf playing more up front than be normally does.'

Hopefully it's a curve ball or at least once we have a fully fit full strength side. If he plays this way Sunday and it doesn't work, 'well it's a results game and Frank knows this.' Or he changes mid game, but we don't have the players in the squad to do that right now.