Our attack - what's off?

[give it to gordon]

Dont think there is much wrong with our attack but a case of a change in our style of play

 

[Manchester_lalala]

Agree would like to see this too. Maybe a 3142 like Leipzig tend to play, could get more out of the options we have. Cancelo has been excellent recently & this could help us get the best of him. 3 CBs could help out our lightweight midfield problem, and we press far more effectively with 2 strikers (like we did at the Bernabeu & at the swamp in carabao).

Ederson
Walker Dias Laporte
Gundogan
Cancelo KDB Foden Zinchenko
Jesus Sterling

We set up quite similarly to the above a few times at the beginning of the 17/18 season until Mendy’s injury.

This is a tasty looking team. It’s got everything. Pass, power, passing ability and full of players that can press all game. Angelino in the left would complement the side and imagine someone like Haaland to play up to with either sterling or Jesus. We’d be hard to stop.

 

[Vicious111]

Silva and Gundogan were a problem pace wise as well last season.

Silva was never known for blistering pace and that's not what we miss. Silva was able to take the ball in highly congested areas and would be able to work in those very tight spaces that other players just simply can't manage. His ability to receive the ball and then redistribute it all whilst twisting and shielding the ball from 2/3 players was second to none. He used to absorb players to him which always created spaces for the forward players. I think, and ofcourse that's just my opinion, that's what's missing. Rodri isn't that player, Gundogan isn't, KDB isn't either. All great players, but they just don't offer that ability to be the puppet master in that congested central area. Could Foden or Bernardo take that mantle - quite possibly. But they seem to be getting used in a more direct role.

But as has been said, Merlin was a once in a generation sort of player. We can't expect to replicate that like for like and need to adjust to use what we have most effectively.

 

[kun]

Silva was never known for blistering pace and that's not what we miss. Silva was able to take the ball in highly congested areas and would be able to work in those very tight spaces that other players just simply can't manage. His ability to receive the ball and then redistribute it all whilst twisting and shielding the ball from 2/3 players was second to none. He used to absorb players to him which always created spaces for the forward players. I think, and ofcourse that's just my opinion, that's what's missing. Rodri isn't that player, Gundogan isn't, KDB isn't either. All great players, but they just don't offer that ability to be the puppet master in that congested central area. Could Foden take that mantle - quite possibly. But he seems to be getting used in a more direct role.

Bernardo Silva

 

[chickaroon]

Don’t get in behind the opposition enough...or as much as we used to

Lack of clinical finishing

Wanting to pass up a shot for a pass inside the box

Sterling is nowhere nears as good as his new reputation

KDB is knackered

Too many balls flash across the six yard box with no one to put it in...used to be Sané on a Sterling cross, and Sterling on a Sané cross!

Too much fancying around on one on ones or fast breaks. Convert far too few.

One word: DYNAMISM.

This!

 

[bennyboy]

Silva was never known for blistering pace and that's not what we miss. Silva was able to take the ball in highly congested areas and would be able to work in those very tight spaces that other players just simply can't manage. His ability to receive the ball and then redistribute it all whilst twisting and shielding the ball from 2/3 players was second to none. He used to absorb players to him which always created spaces for the forward players. I think, and ofcourse that's just my opinion, that's what's missing. Rodri isn't that player, Gundogan isn't, KDB isn't either. All great players, but they just don't offer that ability to be the puppet master in that congested central area. Could Foden or Bernardo take that mantle - quite possibly. But they seem to be getting used in a more direct role.

But as has been said, Merlin was a once in a generation sort of player. We can't expect to replicate that like for like and need to adjust to use what we have most effectively.

He was but my point was it did not work last season when both played together.

 

[chickaroon]

We miss Ferno souch. His ability, to not only stop counter attacks but to start attacks. He would win the ball in opposition half. Easier to get at their back four from an earlier turnover. Also we miss David, Vincent and Sane and a fit Aguero. Diaz looks like he will do a good job at centre half and although it is wonderful that Phil has been given his chance he is no David Silva. We lack a replacement for Sane. Seeing him on the left and Sterling on the right brought us the best football I have ever seen us at. We need an artist in midfield to complement the best driving and incisive midfielder in the world, Kevin. We are asking to much of him.

 

[Paul1970]

This is being debated in various different threads and I thought it deserves its own one. We've been known as one of the best, if not THE best, attacking side in the premier over the last few seasons. However last year we saw our attack stutter at certain times and it seems that trend has continued into this season. We are still more than capable of beating a poor side by 4 or 5 goals on our day but against the more organised and better teams we seem to falter. Arguably Liverpool and Chelsea now seem more clinical in attack than us.

So why is that? Why do we seem devoid of ideas going forward? Why have we lost our fluidity and dynamism? Is it fitness? Player injuries disrupting our forward three? Have teams become accustomed in how to defend against us? Or is it something else?

Thoughts blues.

The reason is complacency. For the last 4 seasons we have used the same 2 strikers which compared to any other top team is laughable. if both strikers have a poor run of form it doesn’t matter because there is no one to replace them . Liverpool went out this season and bought in jota to an already potent attack . The team needs to evolve every season instead of standing still .

 

[blue ranger]

I seem to remember many on Bluemoon saying how Silva could not do it any longer even last season, so the signs were there.
but we didn’t replace him and clearly Pep does not see Foden playing left side midfield
In all probability, replacing El Mago was always going to be impossible, but signing Aouar would have been a good shout. Why did we not go for him ?
The other issue for me is CM ...Rodri does drive us forward and we know he not a Fernandino. We need someone with pace and the ability to drive us forward not keep interchanging passes with the back 4. he makes lots of passes, but how many are effective ?

Silva was brilliant when the season resumed last season. Him and Foden were our best players.

 

[Paul1970]

Foden is either the David Silva replacement or he's not?

Pep must start him every week if he is and drop one of Rodri or Gundo, or the team will continue to get fewer looks at goal because the entire onus is on KDB to unpick the lock.

Sterling has no triangle to link inside with on the edge of the 18-yard-box, so he drives inside and tries to get a shot off.

Silva would always make sure there could be a join up.

When this question was raised on here before about 90 percent said foden was ready made to fill silvas shoes . No one will ever fill the those shoes and now we’re seeing this . Very concerned about Bernardo as he doesn’t seem to be kicking on .,