Regards tactics, Im most interested in our right side of midfield/attack.
If as expected AVB runs with a 433 I am content that the midfield will be fine. Currently Modric, VDV, Huddlestone, Parker, Sandro and Livermore offer enough quality combinations I think thats ok. Defence looks set (on the assumption Vertonghen comes in) and suited to AVBs high line.
The front line will be Bale (presumably on the left) and a front man (possibly Ade) and ?
Does Lennon have enough about him to thrive in that position? Or is the unlikely talk of the likes of Walcott more the sort of player we will look to?
Clearly Walker is more than capable of keeping width on the overlap, and if I understand AVBs system well enough the right forward will be free to come inside to support the striker and threaten goal...
Agreed. Right side is going to be interesting.
We will need a new keeper, and I'm sure AVB knows a fair few around that can play the way he needs. (It was tough to move on Cech who had been successful with Chelsea, here bringing in someone in goal is natural anyway, so should be smooth.
Defence - pretty much sorted. Walker, Naughton, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Caulker, Assou-Ekotto. Maybe we need a young centre back that would be happy being 4th choice - the kid from Forest maybe. And also a back up left back if we don't keep Rose, but I reckon Rose will suit AVB's system. But not too much surgery is needed there at all.
Midfield could take a bit of work. He likes a player to hold. He seems to have given up the idea of all 3 of them rotating when in England, so Parker could still do a job. This holder also drops into centre back to make a 3-4-3 on occasion, so maybe the holders should be Sandro and Huddlestone, and we move Parker on.
In the playmaking role, we have Modric, or a Modric replacement. Maybe Huddlestone + Modric/Modric replacement, with Parker/Sandro holding. For the goalscoring role, Sigurdsson would obviously be perfect. And as a squad option, we could do worse than keep Jenas. Pacey. Can break forward. Tidy in possession. Maybe under AVB he could do well in that system.
Upfront, we obviously need a striker or two capable of leading the line. We could then go a number of different ways. Bale could either hold the width on the left, or I personally think he could be amazing as an inside forward from the right. But we probably would need a couple of options to play in the 4-3-3 up top.
So we have a good base, and additions can be added without too much trouble or causing unrest. A keeper, a 4th choice centre back, and 3 or 4 players capable of playing at the top of the 4-3-3. That's assuming Vertonghen, Sigurdsson and Modric stay/a replacement signed. That's not too much, and with AVB's scouting knowledge, I'm sure we can do it.
In all seriousness, it would be interesting reading.
