I'm quoting myself from a post in the Speroni thread (big headed dick that I am) and I don't think we could get away with it forever but respect to Roy for coming up with a successful solution to our no striker dilemma.

"I think we might have hit on a great formation that confuses/lulls the opposing team into a false sense of security with Andros and Wilf up front. With the threat of both if them up front and the option for Wilf to hang back I think it even helped with the perennial problem of teams shutting Wilf down, which is something no manager has solved so far. I reckon we could get away with that for a bit at least."

Edited by boo909 (14 Oct 2017 10.26pm)

Bangell - If Camus wrote The Myth of Sisyphus today, it would be about Jason Puncheon eternally trying and failing to pass with his right foot.

Yes full credit to Roy, his come up with a plan and the players executed superbly!

IH: "I thought Jonny and Wilf were brilliant but it took a 39 year old master to watch the ball and keep his eye on it to finish it".

I thought this was an excellent tactic and Roy and his team should be applauded for the decision. The movement and pace of Zaha and Townsend kept the Chelsea defence guessing and was very different to just lumping it up to Benteke and hoping something would happen. Coincidence or not, the absence of a targetman made us play to feet much more and we looked a better team for doing so.

No coincidence. Notice when we were desperate or tired after working socks off in the 2nd half it went long and there wasn't a single aerial challenge from us up top? The game plan was excellent 1st half but we lost that 2nd half. It was Chelsea of course but it's worth noting.

COYP

Too narrow. He picked Schlupp and PVA because he's asking Townsend and Zaha to go wide and the other to occupy the D in the centre or enter the D in the centre. Take that width away and we're losing a main part of our threat.

Until we have a centre forward again the man that Cheek will replace is Jimmy. However, I'd probably agree with other posters in that players should earn their places now. It's healthy that way. For all we know, Cabaye or Luca may have to go off anyway so we keep Jimmy on and bring Cheek on.

Plus the football brain of cheek is wasted on the right. He should have more opportunities as an attacking mid.

Edited by Rudi Hedman (14 Oct 2017 11.39pm)

COYP

Yeah totally agree we don't want to loose the width. Id have Cheek breaking in to the center along with zaha or Andros which ever one isn't active on the wing. But both will be stretching the wings and coming in as and when.