All dayThink we're better without wingers partly because the 2 out and out wingers while tricky don't score very often and there are better players who can play more inverted.
Width to be provided by FBs.
Marmoush Haaland Cherki
Reinjders Foden
Rodri
I don't think that's what we are going to do, and I think it will be the opposite.Think we're better without wingers partly because the 2 out and out wingers while tricky don't score very often and there are better players who can play more inverted.
Width to be provided by FBs.
Marmoush Haaland Cherki
Reinjders Foden
Rodri
would probably be the same lineup imoI don't think that's what we are going to do, and I think it will be the opposite.
There is a reason we brought in Lijnders. The guy whose best years came when he had Salah and Mane on the wings, I think the goal is to play faster, not necessarily with as much control.
Need width from full backs.All day
Love this. Nunes and ait-Nouri provide the width.Think we're better without wingers partly because the 2 out and out wingers while tricky don't score very often and there are better players who can play more inverted.
Width to be provided by FBs.
Marmoush Haaland Cherki
Reinjders Foden
Rodri
Saw the complete opposite v Wydad. Total control mostly.I don't think that's what we are going to do, and I think it will be the opposite.
There is a reason we brought in Lijnders. The guy whose best years came when he had Salah and Mane on the wings, I think the goal is to play faster, not necessarily with as much control.
Agree. Last season (and much of the season before), there was very little cohesion in our attacking.Marmoush is head down, smash a shot from anywhere, no matter where anyone else is positioned.
Doku is foot-jiggle and a dribble, no matter where anyone else is positioned.
Savinho is head down, dribble either into a dead end or to an inconsistent cross, no matter where anyone else is positioned.
Haaland barely touches the ball enough to have an on-pitch connection with the others.
Foden, a bit like Marmoush, often receives the ball in areas where we can construct an attack but the only consideration is a long shot.
Everyone wants to make the difference, I’ll give them that, but they need to realise that they’d each make the difference more often if they look for each other on the pitch as the first port of call. They need to build on-pitch relationships because right now I don’t see any among them. Not one.
Our attackers might be close off the pitch (I don’t know) but on it they often look like they don’t enjoy playing with each other. They don’t mesh well.
You knew that David Silva was going to slide a ball to Sane inside the fullback, and you knew Sane’s first thought would be “is Sterling at the back post?” They looked for each other, they had relationships.
You knew prime KDB would look for Sergio/Erling as a priority.
You knew Nasri and Yaya would look for each other to play a one-two.
You knew Rodri would play a clipped pass over the defence to Mahrez’s out-to-in run at the back post.
I can’t think of a single connection we have among our attackers right now.
Was just looking at Omar's positioning vs Juventus.
Even when Haaland's not on the pitch.. he doesn't take up the positions of a #9. He's much more of a natural #10 and takes positions that KDB used to in seasons past!
Always willing to help link up play, set people up rather than pass me the ball so I can score..
I just thought getting Haaland on meant we’d score more goals and smash them 2nd half. He played well Marmoush but the way we were dominating so much and getting wide first half i thought it was crying out for a proper number 9 to finish them off.Was he injured? He played super well in the first half, so it was an odd sub. I don't envy Pep trying to juggle keeping all these guys happy.
I think Pep (original) probably wants a mix of control and added speed and back to better pressing which is why he’s brought in Pep2 ……..not to go all out ‘heavy metal’ style less control football. Which I think was proved to be extremely effective but not as consistent at delivering results…..but maybe that’s what you meant in which case I agree :)I don't think that's what we are going to do, and I think it will be the opposite.
There is a reason we brought in Lijnders. The guy whose best years came when he had Salah and Mane on the wings, I think the goal is to play faster, not necessarily with as much control.
Maybe I agree with this ….but you missed out his aggression, desire, eye for a goal in right areas…..I think he will be a valuable squad player and maybe even first choice at times as his speed and attitude combined with his overall ability makes him a potent weapon…..yeah he’s not blessed with some of the others pure unadulterated abilities but the combination of attributes he has definitely adds up and he will see plenty of game time.But the problem is he doesn't have the vision or the touch to be a #10.
I think he's a good player, but I'm not sure if he's great. And I think you saw the team be even more creative even more after he went off.
Possibly although I think the plan will be to use Doku & savinho against certain teams - Pep and his team will analyse opponents and change it accordingly. Both Doku and Savinho were too quiet in quite a few games and looked unplayable in just a handful. Against Juventus we could all see the potential of having wide players but it did still leave us a little open. It will be different this year because we have genuine top class options in midfield.Think we're better without wingers partly because the 2 out and out wingers while tricky don't score very often and there are better players who can play more inverted.
Width to be provided by FBs.
Marmoush Haaland Cherki
Reinjders Foden
Rodri