It’s Quiet 20 - What is the Wirtz that could happen?

Status
Not open for further replies.
When everyone is fit, Dias plays over Ake at LCB every day of the week. As does Gvardiol now.

I can't see him being happy with that. Our summer activity will dictate what happens, but if we buy an LB I can see Ake moving on.
They’d both play and O’Reilly return to the bench. Rightly or wrongly.

A left footed LCB opens passing lanes that are closed when Dias plays there.
 
I remember very well - thanks for asking. Our greatest ever CB pairing is Dias and Stones. Way back when we Cancelo and Walker as full backs... Do you remember how we played then?

John Stones was not entering the midfield and Dias was LCB.

We adapt our tactics depending on the opposition. I don't know if you've noticed but Pep doesn't play the same system every match. Players need to be versatile and Dias is more than qualified.
Pep rarely plays Dias as the LCB in a back 3, you are misremembering.

Laporte played back then when Cancelo inverted from LB or if Dias was LCB he then inverted from RB to keep Dias in the centre.

Its straight up a bad idea to have Dias play LCB currently. Pep isnt dumb.

Pep has made it VERY CLEAR in his time here he wants on a left footer on the left and right footer on the right. In a back 3, the central defensers foot doesnt matter.
 
Yeah a lot better for us especially post Ederson to have a left-footer on the left and a right-footer on the right. Hence why I would lean towards keeping Ake as Gvardiol has shown he can put up many minutes and then have Dias, Khusanov and Reis as the RCB cover. Therefore Stones can go. A left back can come in and probably a right-back aswell.
 
Oreilly is already streets ahead of Ake so I doubt it
Come off it, O'Reilly is a great kid who adds a lot to our attack. He's playing out of position at left back and it definitely shows. Ake is no slouch though and he's definitely our best left back defensively. Struggled this season with injury, which he was clearly playing with for quite a long time, but to say O'Reilly is streets ahead is over the top
 
Pep rarely plays Dias as the LCB in a back 3, you are misremembering.

Laporte played back then when Cancelo inverted from LB or if Dias was LCB he then inverted from RB to keep Dias in the centre.

Its straight up a bad idea to have Dias play LCB currently. Pep isnt dumb.

Pep has made it VERY CLEAR in his time here he wants on a left footer on the left and right footer on the right. In a back 3, the central defensers foot doesnt matter.
Dias benched Laporte apart from during injuries to Stones. I'm not misremembering anything.

Dias played more than half the games at LCB every season.

Pep might prefer a left footer there but the facts say he'll play the best player in that position, regardless what their favoured foot is.
 
Dias benched Laporte apart from during injuries to Stones. I'm not misremembering anything.

Dias played more than half the games at LCB every season.

Pep might prefer a left footer there but the facts say he'll play the best player in that position, regardless what their favoured foot is.
Not Dias at LCB in this system.

Never gonna happen, Pep cares more about passing angles of his wide CB than you realize.
 
Dias benched Laporte apart from during injuries to Stones. I'm not misremembering anything.

Dias played more than half the games at LCB every season.

Pep might prefer a left footer there but the facts say he'll play the best player in that position, regardless what their favoured foot is.
I'll add to this that Dias has always looked much better as the left sided centre back, so much so that it often looked like a completely different player when he was on the right
 
I’d like to have porro. We had him on the books and let him free, but he’s done well there and I think he’d be a quality signing
 
Was put off how soft he was v Tamworth on astro tbh! No from me
He’s had real moments of quality too though. He was shocking that match but there’s so much potential there

I think the thing for me, is the exact role nunes is playing now, is his profile. I’d like to see him in those spaces. The overlap (city player, familiar with our setup for many years/viana signing at sporting who was successful there) means that we should have an extremely solid idea of what type of player he is and how well he would work for us. If the club is genuinely interested in bringing him back I’d be all for it
 
I'll add to this that Dias has always looked much better as the left sided centre back, so much so that it often looked like a completely different player when he was on the right
Agree, but my theory for that is that he looks much better with Stonesy beside him. And when he played on the left it was usually to accomodate Stones.

Prime and fit John Stones is in my opinion the best centre-half we have ever had and is a dream to play with for any partner
 
He’s had real moments of quality too though. He was shocking that match but there’s so much potential there

I think the thing for me, is the exact role nunes is playing now, is his profile. I’d like to see him in those spaces. The overlap (city player, familiar with our setup for many years/viana signing at sporting who was successful there) means that we should have an extremely solid idea of what type of player he is and how well he would work for us. If the club is genuinely interested in bringing him back I’d be all for it
Depends what Pep is thinking for next season, if the current 4222 is carrying on into next season and it wouldn't surprise me if we did, then the type of fullbacks we'll want will change to supply the width and a club trained one helps with the squad places. That brings Porro and I suppose Frimpong into the frame,and maybe even makes Nunes staying more likely.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top