yesterday.

A team of researchers have been examining the dynamics of football
matches, by dividing the pitch into zones, and analysing what passes
went from where, to where, and what the outcome of the move is.

It turns out that the most pivotal part of the pitch is 'zone 14'...
also known as 'the hole', that area around the 'D' of the penalty
area. Not only did passes from this area generated more goals than
passes from any other area (which is fairly obvious, given the
proximity to the goal), but those teams who have a player in that
position scored far more goals. In fact, all four World Cup
semi-finalists had players playing in that position.

Watching the England game with this knowledge, it did stick out how
all of France's attacks seemed to flow through this area, while
England seemed intent on getting it out to the wings at every
opportunity, and always seemed to prefer to play the ball anywhere but
forwards from zone 14 (at one point eventually going all the way back
to the keeper...)

The Euro '96 team had Sheringham (stop sniggering at the back) filling
this role very well. Arsenal have Bergkamp, Man Utd Scholes, France
Zidane. 

So, howabout this scientifically derived team?

                Seaman  
        Ferdinand       Adams   Campbell
Anderton        Ince                    Le Saux
                Beckham
                Scholes 
        Owen            Cole

With Beckham being allowed a free role, and Scholes supporting the
front two. I don't think that Shearer fases the defence as much as he
used to. Given the speed up front, it keeps the defence occupied. Play
Ferdinand and Campbell as man-markers with Adams as a spare man (not a
classic sweeper, more like the 'stopper' of yore.)

It's by no means a perfect formation... in an ideal world we'd have
two world-class genuine wing-backs, a defensive midfielder who didn't
need a muzzle, and Melanie Sykes and Kelly Brook would be smearing me
in banana yoghurt with their...<ahem> Sorry, got a little carried away
there.

However, it helps to conceal our bald-patch on the wings, and gives us
far more attacking options than the 4-4-2 we saw last night... which
is all we can hope for at the moment, I suppose...
-- 
The Doctor.
Aprilia RS125, West Ham United FC.
But enough of my problems, how are you?
http://come.to/brainfudge Have you been studying the diagram, Dougal?