Sevilla (A) - Tue 6th Sept, 20:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[aka blue jambo]

Walker not training this morning

 

[Deleted member 81382]

If Walker is out then I hope Gomez is given a chance but I suspect it'll be Ake.

 

[JewelZee]

They’re struggling a bit, but still expect a tough game.

We’ve obviously got a bit of a problem at fullback, but I’d probably go:

—————-Ederson—————-
Cancelo-Stones-Dias-Gomez
———Rodri—Bernardo——-——
————De Bruyne————-
Mahrez——Haaland—-Foden

Or do away with fullbacks entirely:

——————-Ederson—————
—--Stones—-Dias—-Ake———
—-——-Rodri—Bernardo——-
Mahrez-De Bruyne-Gundogan-Foden
——————Haaland—————

(possibly switching Bernardo and Gundo).

I'm for do away with the FBs. It does seem a bit odd that with FB being our thinnest position numbers wise Pep has decided to increase their involvement, especially Walker, with a bunch of new tactical roles. Before all the Pep is never wrong guys attack me I'm just asking what I believe is a fair question. Any thoughts beside Pep is never wrong or you think you know more than Pep. It doesn't take a genius to know yes Pep can be wrong and no I don't think I know more than Pep, lol.

 

[unexpected item]

What bloody awful DSquared2 outfit will they force the lads to wear today?

 

[yeah whatever !!]

COME ON CITY !!

 

[uwe rosler 28]

I'm for do away with the FBs. It does seem a bit odd that with FB being our thinnest position numbers wise Pep has decided to increase their involvement, especially Walker, with a bunch of new tactical roles. Before all the Pep is never wrong guys attack me I'm just asking what I believe is a fair question. Any thoughts beside Pep is never wrong or you think you know more than Pep. It doesn't take a genius to know yes Pep can be wrong and no I don't think I know more than Pep, lol.

Pep trys to change a few things from season to season keep the opposition guessing it might just take a while to all come together.

 

[alexmcity]

I'm for do away with the FBs. It does seem a bit odd that with FB being our thinnest position numbers wise Pep has decided to increase their involvement, especially Walker, with a bunch of new tactical roles. Before all the Pep is never wrong guys attack me I'm just asking what I believe is a fair question. Any thoughts beside Pep is never wrong or you think you know more than Pep. It doesn't take a genius to know yes Pep can be wrong and no I don't think I know more than Pep, lol.

It's a fair question. My guess is that players need at least 8-10 competitive games to get going properly. Walker played 70 minutes in a competitive game (Real away) from mid-April to the start of the season. That's over 3 months without competitive football, he has been played more from the start of the season to find form and rhythm. Also, learning new roles is not bad. It's more engaging and may help us have more tactical options.

The key to consistency is flexibility, not rigidity. When we are winning, we don't want to change anything. But having more flexibility helps us to deal better with adversity, to surprise teams again and again.

 

[JewelZee]

It kind of becomes a back 3 with Walker and the 2 CBs. The slight imbalance is that Cancelo Doesn’t form part of the back 3.

It did. But now Walker seems to be moving more and more into the midfield and I can't see how having Walker on the ball as much as he has been as being a good idea. Walker can play as a CB in a back three and so can any of the other 5. In fact in Walker, Stones, Dias, Laporte, Ake and Akanji we can tailor a back three to play against anyone whether we need pace, size and physicality, aerial strength, etc. JMO.

 

[JewelZee]

Pep trys to change a few things from season to season keep the opposition guessing it might just take a while to all come together.

I agree. Its part of what makes him a great manager.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

It did. But now Walker seems to be moving more and more into the midfield and I can't see how having Walker on the ball as much as he has been as being a good idea. Walker can play as a CB in a back three and so can any of the other 5. In fact in Walker, Stones, Dias, Laporte, Ake and Akanji we can tailor a back three to play against anyone whether we need pace, size and physicality, aerial strength, etc. JMO.

Walker hasn’t done that since the Palace game. He’s stayed wide 90% of the time.