Shakhtar Donetsk (a) pre-match thread

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Fernandinho at cb is something we should be trying we need a leader at the back with laporte out

We have little options mate, Stones and Otamendi has been our worst CB partnership within our current squad.(and Kompany) I can see Pep shipping both out if they don't rapidly improve. Ota is no longer reliable and still a enigma, brilliant one moment and shocking the next. But more disappointing is Stones is not progressing and lacks concentration in key moments, and gets he caught out of position too much. We need more from him than slick passing out from the back.

Hopefully Fern's experience and composure will steady the ship providing he himself keeps calm in key moments which he must,and that means no more last ditch tackles taking a card for the team, or worse still, seeing red.

 

[cityboy1]

We have little options mate, Stones and Otamendi has been our worst CB partnership within our current squad.(and Kompany) I can see Pep shipping both out if they don't rapidly improve. Ota is no longer reliable and still a enigma, brilliant one moment and shocking the next. But more disappointing is Stones is not progressing and lacks concentration in key moments, and gets he caught out of position too much. We need more from him than slick passing out from the back.

Hopefully Fern's experience and composure will steady the ship providing he himself keeps calm in key moments which he must,and that means no more last ditch tackles taking a card for the team, or worse still, seeing red.

Neither are really good enough its just that they had one of the best centre backs in the world next to which ever of them played which covered their weaknesses. These two should't be playing together when we play anyone of quality if we can help it. We need to avoid putting gundugan in the midfield while laporte is injured as well hes only ever good at dm and its to risky putting him there with no laporte behind him. Either not buying a centre back may be a massive mistake.

 

[WallyA]

With the loss of Sane we have Sterling playing more LW, but Sterling plays it in a more goal scorer kind of way because he is playing inverted.

What we had for 2 seasons was two speed demons playing on their dominant-footed wing and could beat their man, get in and cross the ball low and in a dangerous area. We no longer have that as much.

So, without Sane, I think the solution is to go 3-5-2 and I think this game is the perfect game to test some players and see how they do and for Pep to experiment.

The formation goes like this for these players who need game time, the usual starters slot in pretty obviously.

---------------------------------------Jesus-------------Mahrez----------------------------------

Angelino/Mendy--------------Foden--------------------------KDB-----------------------------------Cancelo
--------------------------------------------------Zinchenko
--------------------Otamendi----------------Dinho or Stones-------------------Stones or Dinho

In terms of where other players fit in:

Sterling and Aguero as strikers
Gundogan/Rodri in Zinchenko's spot
David and Bernardo in attacking midfield
Walker is fast enough to play in Cancelo's role, but can also be a backup CB in the RCB spot

Easy to ease the young CBs in here as well with other senior CBs.

I think this should be a way to try atleast in one game, I think without Sane we aren't as good playing with out and out wingers, especially when considering the plethora of attacking fullbacks at our disposal in Angelino, Mendy and Cancelo.

 

[lmhblue1]

We have little options mate, Stones and Otamendi has been our worst CB partnership within our current squad.(and Kompany) I can see Pep shipping both out if they don't rapidly improve.

Because those stats include Pep's first season when we had Bravo in goal, a couple of grandads as our fullbacks, and a team full of players still trying to adapt to playing it out from the back. Take that season out of the equation and you've got that massive winning streak in 2017 when they played together. They need time to rebuild that partnership, and the first step to doing that is to avoid playing the slow, lethargic midfield we had at Norwich, because that pairing of David and Gundo is just asking for needless pressure to be put onto our defenders.

 

[cleavers]

I've no idea why anyone sees Kyle Walker as a CB, not as a 3rd one, and not even in an emergency for me (well, ok if we've no subs left and we have no choice).

 

[WallyA]

I've no idea why anyone sees Kyle Walker as a CB, not as a 3rd one, and not even in an emergency for me (well, ok if we've no subs left and we have no choice).

In a back 3 he makes sense there. Not so much in a back 2, but in a pinch or last resort then okay.

 

[cleavers]

In a back 3 he makes sense there.

In theory perhaps, but in practise, not for me.

 

[citymad]

According to Daily Mail (I know, i know) Fernandinho will start at CB and Cancelo at RB.

Then why did you quote such a crap newspaper if in your heart of hearts you know its totally bullshit ? :)

 

[citymad]

In a back 3 he makes sense there. Not so much in a back 2, but in a pinch or last resort then okay.

Walker, Ota and Stones all have a clown moment in them. It's a little worrying to play all three at the same time.

 

[WallyA]

In theory perhaps, but in practise, not for me.

He already played there in practice many times. Often our back 4 has walker stay back with zinchenko either more forward or in midfield. Pep likes to use Walker as a deterrent to stop counters on that side.