Declan Rice

[richards30]

If we start with Rice and Rodri and play the recent back 4 with Stones stepping into midfield that's some power

It does seem like Pep wants more physicality in the midfield? Bellingham and Rice are quite similar in their build and profile?

 

[comiskey33]

………..………EDERSON
……STONES….DIAS….GVARDIOL
…………………..RODRI
…….RICE……………………KOVACIC
……………..………KDB
FODEN……….HAALAND…….GREALISH

Come on you fuckers! Have some of this!!!

rice kovacic, wheres the flair? too workmanlike for me.

 

[Dr Jacoby]

Rice underwelms me

Give quinoa a go.

 

[TheBlueCat]

Can’t see the hype about this lad. If Guardiola wants him then so be it, but for me he is pretty average and won’t improve us one bit. Seriously hope we’re not interested and it’s all paper talk.

 

[oakiecokie]

Rice underwelms me

I`m so delighted that I trust Pep more than you.

 

[Blueroses]

 

[ChicagoBlue]

So many questions.

So will stones drop into midfield like he has been doing?

If he does, which a role he has taken on superbly, out of the three of Rod, Rice and Kov moves forward?

Let’s not be too rigid in our thinking. Remember, the thought of Stones as a paired DM with Rodri wasn’t even on the radar 6 months ago!

If Stones can step forward, then he would, and the fluidity of our shape would morph into a 2-2-3-3 or 2-2-2-4.

The ONLY thing that concerned most people last season was the fast counter attack. That threat will be ever-present because Pep wants overloads going forwards, which can create exposure when the opposition breaks…especially when they break wide and we are not playing with recognized full backs.

That is why possession and ONLY losing the ball in the final third while trying to create the perfect scoring opportunity is acceptable…giving the opposition 80 yards before they get to our goal and our own players 80 yards to recover or check the counter attack.

The 2-2 gives you an opportunity to stop the attack in midfield, but if it has bypassed the midfield two by going wide, then one of Dias or Gvardiol (in this example) moves out wide to slow the attack allowing the 2 DMs to slot into a reconstituted back 4, with the two wide players in the midfield diamond funneling back into the now vacant DM roles to blunt any runners and the wingers (Foden & Grealish in the above line up) stopping any full backs from creating attacking overloads against us.

That leaves only Haaland up front, with KDB filling in as needed and able in midfield. As we have seen Alvarez is VERY GOOD at playing that KDB role, as he creates better defensive cover on the counter with his speed late in the game,

 

[comiskey33]

I`m so delighted that I trust Pep more than you.

is the deal done?

 

[Josh98]

Are we actually gonna bid?

 

[oakiecokie]

is the deal done?

Erm no ... and ?