Peps Targets

[Neville Kneville]

Makes the Andre Gomes links make more sense as a Pogba alternative, given his combination of height and the technical skill to play the Pep way. He'd make more sense in midfield than the usual Spanish type player

He's a big unit alright & doesn't mind sticking a foot in. I've noticed that he does share our midfield trait of being fast going forward & slow coming back, but with a better team shape (well ANY team shape tbh) that might not be such a problem for him or any of the others.

I wouldn't mind having both tbh, if Nasri is going & one or two others, but then again, Nasri is a Pep type player.

Be interesting to see how those negotiations would go, if Neville was still there.

 

[Gundogan's Moustache]

The dream right here

Where's Messi ?

 

[blueparrot]

Possibly, but one thing which slips by in consideration imo, is that this is the Premier League & we still have to defend corners & set pieces more avidly than in any other country. We tend to consider things from a Barca/Spain type perspective re Pep, but I would be surprised if Pep hasn't considered physique & numbers at set plays as being important.

I remember Mancini looking shellshocked when we first played Stoke ;) Then suddenly our team became much bigger. I might be wrong but I recon Pep will be on that & thus Pogba becomes ideal.

It is something I haven't really considered and am guilty of in my mind replicating the Barca and Bayern blueprints, on the other hand there are less teams playing with a big man up front now. Teams like Leicester, Watford and Stoke are playing more with quick counter attacking strikers. Can only think of West Brom off the top of my head relying on set pieces.

 

[Neville Kneville]

It is something I haven't really considered and am guilty of in my mind replicating the Barca and Bayern blueprints, on the other hand there are less teams playing with a big man up front now. Teams like Leicester, Watford and Stoke are playing more with quick counter attacking strikers. Can only think of West Brom off the top of my head relying on set pieces.

That's true but they all have it in their armoury, ready to unleash if the circumstances are right. Andy Carrol etc vs Klopp being a quite amusing example. Even Arsenal 'do' set pieces now, since Steve Bould's influence came to the fore. Utd beat us last season with Fellaini & then Smalling cashing in. Spurs are a big side.

If we go for a smallish midfield & small fullbacks, like Barca, I'm not sure even Pep will get away with it every week over here.

 

[blueparrot]

That's true but they all have it in their armoury, ready to unleash if the circumstances are right. Andy Carrol etc vs Klopp being a quite amusing example. Even Arsenal 'do' set pieces now, since Steve Bould's influence came to the fore. Utd beat us last season with Fellaini & then Smalling cashing in. Spurs are a big side.

If we go for a smallish midfield & small fullbacks, like Barca, I'm not sure even Pep will get away with it every week over here.

I agree, one thing I am fairly sure of is Pep will have done his homework and adjusted his tactics to take account of the premier league. I'm sure I've read somewhere that his team study the last 50 set pieces of his next opponents and drills his team to be ready for that particular opponent. Though that's harder to do when the team is playing twice a week for most of the season.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I agree, one thing I am fairly sure of is Pep will have done his homework and adjusted his tactics to take account of the premier league. I'm sure I've read somewhere that his team study the last 50 set pieces of his next opponents and drills his team to be ready for that particular opponent. Though that's harder to do when the team is playing twice a week for most of the season.

I'm not expecting him to find it dead easy. But I think it's going to be really interesting & fun watching him figure it out & I can't wait.

 

[Dax777]

I reckon peps first signing will be the anchor of the team, almost like a QB, someone who dictates the tempo and pulls the strings. He had Xavi/Busquets at Barca, Thiago/Alonso at Bayern. Yaya is past it for me and Fernandinho is more of a box to box destroyer. Gundogan/Pogba fit the mould, excellent technical ability whilst both players are extremely comfortable receiving the ball with their back to play. Pogba could be that face Balague was talking about yesterday, we have the infrastructure in place, guardiolas on his way, we now need an icon to work under peps tutelage.

Pogba?

 

[01cravend]

He's a big unit alright & doesn't mind sticking a foot in. I've noticed that he does share our midfield trait of being fast going forward & slow coming back, but with a better team shape (well ANY team shape tbh) that might not be such a problem for him or any of the others.

I wouldn't mind having both tbh, if Nasri is going & one or two others, but then again, Nasri is a Pep type player.

Be interesting to see how those negotiations would go, if Neville was still there.

Gomes has made under half the tackles Yaya has this season.. Seems he does anything but stick a foot in

 

[BigOscar]

Gomes has made under half the tackles Yaya has this season.. Seems he does anything but stick a foot in

Well that's yet more proof that people shouldn't look at defensive stats and think they mean anything.

 

[Tarzan41]

Where's Messi ?

Bench