Playing out of defence

When we play teams like Blackburn, they do press to make us hoof the ball as players like Samba will deal with that all day long. The way to counteract that is passing in triangles (tika taka the Spanish call it) and pass through their midfield. Then, if they're pressing high and get bypassed, they will be light at the back, hence they will drop back and hey presto we're playing our way.

Doesn't help if we're behind at the time though.

If a 5 in midfield is to function correctly then surely the idea is to get the ball wide and behind the defenders (ie, like Villa), or to play through the middle with the three central players dictating, ie, like everyone else who plays the system: Arsenal, Man Utd, Spurs etc. Cahill has been a great servant for the club but his presence is now a hinderance if we wish to play progressive football.

Jags is limited in his passing but surely the central midfield should be demanding the ball and dictating play particularly when we need a goal. Having only 1 (Arteta) or possibly Fellaini is easily countered by a negative side such as Blackburn funneling back. Cahill then becomes irrelevant unless we get a set piece or you hit the ball long.

Time for some hard decisions in my view, and laying the blame at Jagielka's feet is too simple. Defenders should defend firstly and then allow the midfield to create by giving them simple passes. Can / will Cahill ever do that?

What that does is create acres of space for opponents to use in our half of the pitch. It becomes almost impossible to employ rapid counter sttacks. Our defenders' only option if they are to clear their lines is with lumping it.

Why when we have Rodwell and Fellaini does Arteta play in central midfield? Arteta is the only player in our team capable of taking on players and played his best football for Everton on the wings, yet is being played in central midfield. Personally I'd play Rodwell and Fellaini in central midfield with Arteta and Pienaar being played on the wings and Saha being played behind Cahill.

If Jags can't do it then pass to Baines, whoever is on the right of defence, or, if Fellaini is the defensive midfielder, then he can collect from deep. As long as it's not always hoof ball from Jags then I'm not too bothered as long as he is a top quality defender and by that I mean someone who is very good at DEFENDING, which he is.

Don't blame Jags for hoofing the ball, blame must be laid at the talented feet of the midfield who should pick up defenders' short passes and provide the ammunition for Saha and the other strikers we have. The long punt upfield was our normal ploy when we had Ferguson and that has now become ancient practice.

I would try Coleman in the role of attacking right-sided midfielder in front of Neville as he has some ball control and crossing ability. Arteta should become our Scholes or Fabregas and demand the ball in space.

The likes of Osman, Cahill and Hibbert should be kept on the bench and chances should be given to Rodwell and Coleman. I would keep Anichebe and sell the Yak as I think Anichebe will develop into a decent player. If Pienaar is not wholeheartedly with the club then he also should be moved on or given a long-term contract if he is committed.

Further in my eyes it is not a problem that the midfield come and take the ball off the defenders..in fact I applaud it. We keep posession and the midfielder's superior skill and vision should then come into play. If a midfielder is taking the ball with his back to the opponent's goal all of the time then he displays his own poor technique as he should be positioning his body and feet to take the ball on the turn or half turn so he knows what is around him so he can take a touch or lay off depending how much pressure he is under.

Jags is a very good defender; if he keeps defending and then passes short so we keep possession, that is a result... every single time.

Others said that the defensive midfielders need to step up and take responsibility. Unless you want to read it perversely, this was not a "now let's pick on Jags" thread.

Johnny H would improve the passing from the back and I agree very few teams play long-ball big centre-forward hoof so playing alongside Jags should not present a height issue against most teams. I think they are good enough to sort out the left right issue ? Jags played both for England. Further it should be the responsibility of midfield to create options ? Felli did this when at the top of his game last year and can do this again but probably needs a couple of games to get back to his best. Colemen v Neville remains a conundrum and my cop out is horses for courses.

What I would really like to know is whether Jack the Lad can be effective wide right as to me clearly this is where the biggest issue is, he is a magnificent player and may just be able to solve the problem (the Stevie G issue for England).

We have the personnel capable of losing at the weekend ,it can't happen though. Can it?

I watched the whole of the Blackburn game on Foxtel and from what I saw there was no symmetry or balance in the team that played. Heitinga is in my opinion the key to this problem. I think Moyes will put him just in front of the back four slightly deeper than Fellaini. My back four would be:

Coleman, Jagielka, Distin and Baines.
Heitinga, Fellaini
That leaves for me:
Pienaar, Arteta and Bily as the creative midfield... with:
Saha up front.

Yes that means, Rodwell, Neville, Hibbert, Cahill, Osman, Yakubu, Anichebe on the bench.

This is the season, fellas!