How will Pep set us up?

[Citizen Green]

I've been thinking about this a lot recently, at Barcelona it's well documented that he used a lethal front 3, initially with Messi, Eto'o & Henry, and then replacing Henry with Villa. The midfield being dictated by Iniesta, Xavi & Yaya/Busquets from deep.

At Bayern (which admittedly I haven't watched anywhere near as closely I did his Barca side) he has tended to operate with a target man, either Mandzukic or Lewandowski with Ribery, Robben & now Koeman playing of them. I would argue this second approach would be better suited to the Premier League but it appears the players we're being linked with, he plans a midfield 3 like his Barca team.

With that said it brings me to a point Thierry Henry made when the news first broke. Pep demanded a stringent solid formation that could only be broken in the final third by his front 3 attackers, this obviously meant a hell of a lot of discipline from the midfield, full-backs and even centre-halves (Pique capable of a starting attacks from the back). I don't believe the players we currently have on the books have the tactical intelligence & discipline to employ this system.

So with the players linked currently I envisage something like this...

---------------- Gundogan
---------- Pogba ----- Fernandinho
--- KDB ------- Aguero ------- RS/Isco

With Gundogan playing a deep lying play-maker role whilst having the security of Pogba & 'Dinho to drop in when out of possession. I do however still question whether the players either side of Aguero have the required work-rate to protect our flanks & press with the intensity Pep is famous for when without the ball.

How do you envisage us lining up?

 

[2sheikhs]

He seems to choose whichever formation is needed to win a match. If it isn't working, he changes tactics /personnel mid match to win. That'll be a refreshing change for us.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

He seems to choose whichever formation is needed to win a match. If it isn't working, he changes tactics /personnel mid match to win. That'll be a refreshing change for us.

And this is the way it should be. Had Pellers done this from the word go we wouldn't be looking over our shoulder to see who's creeping up on us!

Mancini had this! Remember the 0-0 at The Arse for which he was roundly condemned!

The aim of the game is to win not to entertain. Entertainment is the by-product of winning! Or it should be! Are Leicester fans bored off their heads with all the 1-0s?

 

[richards30]

im wondering if he might turn dinho into a CB like he did with mascherano?

 

[Lancet Fluke]

He seems to choose whichever formation is needed to win a match. If it isn't working, he changes tactics /personnel mid match to win. That'll be a refreshing change for us.

God I can't fucking wait. So sick of what I assume is monumental complacency that leads to not bothering to worry about opponents strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Citizen Green]

He seems to choose whichever formation is needed to win a match. If it isn't working, he changes tactics /personnel mid match to win. That'll be a refreshing change for us.

The thing is though is he's very stringent with his tactics, check this out...

 

[2sheikhs]

He's stringent to a certain extent. His idea is that he'll set us up in a way that it doesn't matter what tactics the opposition employ if they haven't got the players to get the better of us. If we come up against a team with good players, he'll adapt and nullify their threat.
His biggest challenge is to either coach the players we have to meet his standards or replace them with those that can.
I believe that this time next year, every other team in the league will either try to keep the score respectable against us or set up to be delighted with a draw.

 

[domalino]

The thing is though is he's very stringent with his tactics, check this out...

I love that video, it's great, but you've got to remember Henry was only around for 2008/09 - Pep's first year as a manager, when he was a total novice and essentially trying to get the team back to the Barcelona basics. He evolved a lot during his 4 years at Barcelona, and then spent his Sabbatical coming up with new things to try at Bayern - his 13/14 Bayern we totally different to 11/12 Barcelona. And even reading Pep Confidential, then watching Bayernthis season, you can see he's moved on from some things in the last 2 years.

I wouldn't give that video too much weight. He's definitely much more flexible, he changes formations and tactics sometimes 2 or 3 times per game - the Barcelona team Henry was part of never did anything like that.

 

[Citizen Green]

I love that video, it's great, but you've got to remember Henry was only around for 2008/09 - Pep's first year as a manager, when he was a total novice and essentially trying to get the team back to the Barcelona basics. He evolved a lot during his 4 years at Barcelona, and then spent his Sabbatical coming up with new things to try at Bayern - his 13/14 Bayern we totally different to 11/12 Barcelona. And even reading Pep Confidential, then watching Bayernthis season, you can see he's moved on from some things in the last 2 years.

I wouldn't give that video too much weight. He's definitely much more flexible, he changes formations and tactics sometimes 2 or 3 times per game - the Barcelona team Henry was part of never did anything like that.

Well I definitely look forward to this, we've not responded to opposition strengths efficiently for over 2 years now.

 

[ANewBlue]

I've been thinking about this a lot recently, at Barcelona it's well documented that he used a lethal front 3, initially with Messi, Eto'o & Henry, and then replacing Henry with Villa. The midfield being dictated by Iniesta, Xavi & Yaya/Busquets from deep.

At Bayern (which admittedly I haven't watched anywhere near as closely I did his Barca side) he has tended to operate with a target man, either Mandzukic or Lewandowski with Ribery, Robben & now Koeman playing of them. I would argue this second approach would be better suited to the Premier League but it appears the players we're being linked with, he plans a midfield 3 like his Barca team.

With that said it brings me to a point Thierry Henry made when the news first broke. Pep demanded a stringent solid formation that could only be broken in the final third by his front 3 attackers, this obviously meant a hell of a lot of discipline from the midfield, full-backs and even centre-halves (Pique capable of a starting attacks from the back). I don't believe the players we currently have on the books have the tactical intelligence & discipline to employ this system.

So with the players linked currently I envisage something like this...

---------------- Gundogan
---------- Pogba ----- Fernandinho
--- KDB ------- Aguero ------- RS/Isco

With Gundogan playing a deep lying play-maker role whilst having the security of Pogba & 'Dinho to drop in when out of possession. I do however still question whether the players either side of Aguero have the required work-rate to protect our flanks & press with the intensity Pep is famous for when without the ball.

How do you envisage us lining up?

I think quite similar, but I don't see Sterling or Isco starting ahead of Messi.