There's been a lot of talk about team formations this seasons, our and everybody else's. Anyone who ever had the pleasure of watching Dutch 'total football' last century will know that the best teams are like a great band: the rhythm (formation) is there to give the players an agreed reference point but the greats will turn it inside out when they please.
So the Palace game was interesting in that bringing on Byram for Ogbonna was clearly intended to add width - and to free Antonio. And where did that should-be-Hammer-of-the Year end up? Just about everywhere on the pitch and making three goals.
I thought that what looked like 4-2-4 (or was it 4-4-2?) seemed to offer a simpler plan and somehow freed the players to do their stuff.
I don't care a lot for the way the Subbutteo pieces are laid out at the start, just so long as they can move when and where they are needed.

https://youtu.be/SAbK1AQVoL8

Slaven has announced that Payet wants out, he no longer wants to play for the club. Bilik says he feels let down and angry about it, well what do they expect. The owners made a big deal about signing a big name striker in the summer and look what they delivered, ZaZa, Calleri both of whom are going as they are shit. Fengouli going, Ayew who still has to prove he is worth it Fletcher is still young so where is the quality, I would be thinking stuff this if I was Payet. No wonder his form has been down this season as the pressure and expectation has all been on him. It may be just my opinion but if he wants to go then get a such as we can and let him go, with 30 or 35 million we should be able to get in a decent player to replace him plus a decent right back which we badly need.

Well Payet has gone on strike, and refusing to train or play because he wants a move. What a bar steward! I say lets ruin the next sim months of his international career if that's what he wants. Then sell the tw@t in the summer.he won't lose that much value in 6 months.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11735/10719740/millwall-may-have…

I'm interested in opinions on here on a few questions I have. Firstly am I the only one thinking the reason we have yet to sign a player this window because the driscolls are waiting on the palace result? If so, does that mean bilic wilic will be sacked if we lose? Secondly, do we as a club need a couple of good old solid pros bought for the team? By that I don't mean crap cheap ones or old ones either, just solid pros that are no trouble get their heads down and just get on with it giving the team a consistent seven out of ten most weeks, but never more. When you look at the likes of Lanzini and Payet, maybe even feghouli they might indeed give you a ten out of ten performance but we never know what we are going to get, generally give you a five. And thirdly, we had trouble getting the marquees this summer, our first few choices were snapped up by the big boys but they never buy in January so maybe we might get more success if we targeted one top player in the January transfer window? As long as it's a good serious bid ala Everton.

anyone seen him play? must say if we do sign him id say well done to the board. i think he's a better bet than someone from overseas again. tony cottee thinks he will be a good signing too, says his movement up front is excellent.

so by most accounts Payet has been poor this season and his heart has left the building it would seem. a bit like hazard last year….lazy, not bothered. only seems to turn up for a free kick nowadays. this in mind, who thinks now is the time to put him on the market but not for cash? as a swap deal? who thinks Payet for Bashwhatsit at chelsea would be good? or Payet for depay? or Payet for Wiltshire? or Payet for Delph and cash? some of those i mentioned have question marks over them i know but sometimes a move down suits a big ego that has come crashing down at a big club. just throwing it out for opinion is all.

the board that is. i know there is a lot of respect for the owners etc and I'm not trying to be disrespectful but i look at us as a prem league club and every time the transfer window opens we act like a bunch of amateurs. I'm not just moaning about the lack of good signings, I'm talking about the manner in which we do business. why is it this way with us? everton get linked with a young 19 yo striker, Lookman. next thing you hear is they have signed him for 10 mill. no fuss, no nonsense, deal done. we on the other hand issue a paltry 5 mill for defoe, it hits the news and it of course gets dismissed. there is talk of another bid, 12 mill or something but actually this apparently was more like 7 mill. it gets dismissed and sunderland say he's not for sale, go away. we go to hull and offer a ridiculous 3 mill for snodgrass. it hits the breaking news….it of course gets dismissed. then we're linked with hogan, and we duly put in a 10 mill bid. did we ask brentford how much they valued him? they then say he's valued at 15 mill, so we of course go and bid 12 mill. I'm sorry but its just laughable. who exactly is running the clubs transfers? did they sit down with Bilic a few weeks ago and identify exactly who he wants and needs? did they then go and 'sound out' these players? this is what other clubs do. we look like we had a quick chat with Bilic down the pub the day before the window opened, he says he needs a striker so we phone up sunderland and say 5 mill for defoe, then 3 mill for snodgrass at hull as Bilic didnt ask for him but we saw him score a great free kick the other day….i mean come on.

Who do you think will be the first to demand a transfer. Looking at our players I think we might have a battle to keep a few if not this transfer market but in the summer.The big mouth board said we where going for big names last summer and we end up with shit so if I was a player I would be worried about the true ambitions of G and S. We have already seen the vultures from the media saying that Antonio is wanted by Chelsea, Payet wanted by everyone, Cresswell wanted by Pool and I can see Reid, Kayoute and Obiang on a few radars after their performances this season.