Shaelumstash
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 30 Apr 2009
- Messages
- 8,305
He's a victim of his own talent. Invariably when DeBruyne starts on the left he spends the game sulking and hiding behind his full back, not getting involved. The first half against Barca and second half against Boro being prime examples.
Gundogan doesn't have the skillset to play on the left.
So it's left for Silva to move out wide because he will always do his best for the team and will always show feet and get involved in play no matter where he is on the pitch.
Silva is far better in the middle in our current system than he is on the left. He's the one player who always makes a passing angle for our back 4 to link up play and dictate the game. That's why Pep moved him in to the middle in the 2nd half yesterday, because Gundogan and DeBruyne weren't showing feet enough.
But the frustrating thing is, we have better options to play on the left than Silva or DeBruyne. Nolito is better for our system on the left than both of them.
Since Gundogan came in to the team our league form has fallen off a cliff. It's not his fault, he's a fine player and has been superb in most of his recent games.
But we started the season playing in the main a classic 433. Fernandinho holding, Silva and DeBruyne as 8s and two specialist wingers. Since Gundogan came in, we've had three number 8s to fit in to two positions and three in to two won't go.
So either we moved to a back three and have 4 central midfielders, which in the main hasn't worked at all, or Silva / DeBruyne have moved wide. Because DeBruyne has been so anonymous wide, Silva has been shifted out there because he'll give his all for the team no matter what.
We've played our best football playing 433. The first 10 games with Dinho, Silva and DeBruyne looked the most balanced, most dominant, most fluid set up for me, we looked unstoppable.
Then DeBruyne and Gundogan with Dinho behind against Borussia we looked brilliant too. Silva and Gundogan with Dinho behind against West Brom we were superb as well. But when all three of Silva, DeBruyne and Gundogan have played together, in the main we've not been the same team.
The most obvious example where it did work was Barca on Tuesday, The second half we were incredible. But the difference is in that game is we had 30% possession. Our game plan was to press their back 4 and Busquets and hit them quickly on the counter-press, similar to what Liverpool did to us last season. It worked a treat. Kevin DeBruyne is probably the best player in the world to play that system.
But the problem is, we won't play Barca every week. It's likely we'll have more possession in every league game this season, so we can't set up to counter-press.
So in conclusion, for me our best shape is 433. Fernandinho is undroppable as the pivot. So then it should be two from three for the other two positions. Two of Silva, Gundogan and DeBruyne. It's a shame because they are probably 3 of our 4 best players alongside Aguero.
DeBruyne is the best when we're counter attacking at pace, Silva is the best when we need control of the ball and patience to break down a deep lying team, and Gundogan is the most physically suited to the role and has played as an 8 his whole career.
It's a really tough decision for Pep but in the main I think it will be best for the team to only play 2 out of the 3 in most league games. The team looks more balanced that way and the team has to come first.
Gundogan doesn't have the skillset to play on the left.
So it's left for Silva to move out wide because he will always do his best for the team and will always show feet and get involved in play no matter where he is on the pitch.
Silva is far better in the middle in our current system than he is on the left. He's the one player who always makes a passing angle for our back 4 to link up play and dictate the game. That's why Pep moved him in to the middle in the 2nd half yesterday, because Gundogan and DeBruyne weren't showing feet enough.
But the frustrating thing is, we have better options to play on the left than Silva or DeBruyne. Nolito is better for our system on the left than both of them.
Since Gundogan came in to the team our league form has fallen off a cliff. It's not his fault, he's a fine player and has been superb in most of his recent games.
But we started the season playing in the main a classic 433. Fernandinho holding, Silva and DeBruyne as 8s and two specialist wingers. Since Gundogan came in, we've had three number 8s to fit in to two positions and three in to two won't go.
So either we moved to a back three and have 4 central midfielders, which in the main hasn't worked at all, or Silva / DeBruyne have moved wide. Because DeBruyne has been so anonymous wide, Silva has been shifted out there because he'll give his all for the team no matter what.
We've played our best football playing 433. The first 10 games with Dinho, Silva and DeBruyne looked the most balanced, most dominant, most fluid set up for me, we looked unstoppable.
Then DeBruyne and Gundogan with Dinho behind against Borussia we looked brilliant too. Silva and Gundogan with Dinho behind against West Brom we were superb as well. But when all three of Silva, DeBruyne and Gundogan have played together, in the main we've not been the same team.
The most obvious example where it did work was Barca on Tuesday, The second half we were incredible. But the difference is in that game is we had 30% possession. Our game plan was to press their back 4 and Busquets and hit them quickly on the counter-press, similar to what Liverpool did to us last season. It worked a treat. Kevin DeBruyne is probably the best player in the world to play that system.
But the problem is, we won't play Barca every week. It's likely we'll have more possession in every league game this season, so we can't set up to counter-press.
So in conclusion, for me our best shape is 433. Fernandinho is undroppable as the pivot. So then it should be two from three for the other two positions. Two of Silva, Gundogan and DeBruyne. It's a shame because they are probably 3 of our 4 best players alongside Aguero.
DeBruyne is the best when we're counter attacking at pace, Silva is the best when we need control of the ball and patience to break down a deep lying team, and Gundogan is the most physically suited to the role and has played as an 8 his whole career.
It's a really tough decision for Pep but in the main I think it will be best for the team to only play 2 out of the 3 in most league games. The team looks more balanced that way and the team has to come first.