What Did We Think Of Our Midfield Today? A Lot Going On?

the blue panther said:
Sorry it's off-topic for this thread but - Carrick was good but it was unbelievable that they didn't dwell at all during the highlights or the analysis on the arm-pulling on Bournemouth's goal.

I was a bit worried about our midfield pre match but couldn't have been more impressed with how it all worked. Great 3 points.
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What's happened here is quiet subtle...go large on Peps tactics...to divert attention away from the horrendous AT/ arm pulling.non decision
Distraction. A formidable presentation tool.Sounds like motd put a lot of thought into this ; )
 
I watched the highlight package on Hoofoot - no idea who the commentators were BUT - at one stage one of them commented "I didn't think Cherki was a De Bruyne replacement but after those two assists he certainly has great potential to fill his shoes". The more game time he gets he will develop a rapport with his team mates and be instrumental in creating many chances.
 
Bernardo. Mentioned once in this entire thread, but Bernardo made the midfield what it was today…along with Nico stepping up with a Rodri-esque performance. Now, if he could just look more relaxed doing it, he might make it look as easy as Rodri does.
 
PragueBlue said:
Totally idiotic thing to say after today.
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It's a facetious comment, but he's not entirely wrong.

Rodri does not turn into space like Gonzalez (unless he knows the team) as he knows the pressing action of the league. He learned the hard way under Ferna's tutelage. Gonzalez hasn't had that proper guidance yet, on the pitch and he may get that now.

At the moment, I don't know if it's Gonzalez's relaxed nature, but I wouldn't trust him against the Dippers midfield, he would get swarmed. I'm sorry, but it's true.

Just remember, he's truly only 10 games in (bar injury) for any type of consistency and needs a minder protection at the top level games. But he looks decent against lower, more open oppo.

So, he's getting there but he's, clearly, not the finished product.
 
Bigga said:
It's a facetious comment, but he's not entirely wrong.

Rodri does not turn into space like Gonzalez (unless he knows the team) as he knows the pressing action of the league. He learned the hard way under Ferna's tutelage. Gonzalez hasn't had that proper guidance yet, on the pitch and he may get that now.

At the moment, I don't know if it's Gonzalez's relaxed nature, but I wouldn't trust him against the Dippers midfield, he would get swarmed. I'm sorry, but it's true.

Just remember, he's truly only 10 games in (bar injury) for any type of consistency and needs a minder protection at the top level games. But he looks decent against lower, more open oppo.

So, he's getting there but he's, clearly, not the finished product.
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Awful take, agree he's still getting there but he was top yesterday and will definitely start against Liverpool.

I think if we start with the same team as yesterday we won't have any issue against them.
 
Can’t wait to see Rodri and Nico G in the same midfield.

I think our best team for big games becomes -

Donna Baby

Nunes Dias Gvardiol Nico O

Nico G Rodri

Foden Cherki Doku

Haaland


Bench:- 9 from 10 if everyone fit
Trafford
Stones
Khusanov
Ake
Ait Noyri
Bernardo
Reijnders
Savio
Marmoush
Lewis

That’s a hell of a squad with excellent bench options. Arguably the best squad in the league when everyone is fit
 
—————————————Nico—————————————
Nunes—————BSilva————Foden————O’Reilly
———————Cherki————————Doku———————

At times we’d push Nunes and O’Reilly up high wide and Cherki and Doku would come inside and we’d overrun them in numbers centrally with five centre mids in a 2-7-1 formation.

At other times, early in winning back possession, BSilva would sometimes drop deep, then sometimes he was out on the right wing, Doku was drifting all over the place n’all.

Sometimes Haaland would also drop deep making it an eight man midfield.

—————————————Nico—————————————
Nunes—————BSilva——————Foden———————
—————————————————Haaland——O’Reilly
———Cherki————————Doku——————————-

We gave Bmouth a right runaround. Pep showing how much he’s got in his locker, tactically.
 
BringBackSwales said:
Can’t wait to see Rodri and Nico G in the same midfield.

I think our best team for big games becomes -

Donna Baby

Nunes Dias Gvardiol Nico O

Nico G Rodri

Foden Cherki Doku

Haaland


Bench:- 9 from 10 if everyone fit
Trafford
Stones
Khusanov
Ake
Ait Noyri
Bernardo
Reijnders
Savio
Marmoush
Lewis

That’s a hell of a squad with excellent bench options. Arguably the best squad in the league when everyone is fit
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And throw in Kova and Bobb for the bench options.

I think the Nico G and Rodri partnership would be ideal in the toughest games. Nico learns from the master and reduces the workload / physical burden on Rodri trying to play lone DM. How much control could those two exert in the midfield with that dynamic four ahead of them?
 
I wonder about the significance we should put on Cherki's last 2 games. At Swansea, Cherki made an assist and scored a good goal. At home to Bournemouth, he made two assists. Is this a flash in the pan, or is this the start of something big? To be seen.
 
Quite clear Gonzaelez has improved and learned with Pep's coaching and is now a pivotal player for us in our system. With Rodri still ways away from being back to his best, Gonalez has become essential for us in the hold role allowing thise around him to flourish whilst he offers a continuous option for a pass, and shuts doors towards our goal.
 
Makes sense to attack narrowly when the wingers are playing like they are.

Use the fullbacks as the wider outlets and overload central positions.

We essentially had 6 midfielders and strikers v their 3 midfielders. Their fullbacks were stuck out wide and Diakite and Senesi were scared to come out, both Haaland goals came from 1 of them stepping up.

Rodri probably comes in to one of the deeper slots when fully fit but we have a bit of rotation options there all of a sudden.

Really promising signs, just makes sense with our current personnel.
 
Bigga said:
It's a facetious comment, but he's not entirely wrong.

Rodri does not turn into space like Gonzalez (unless he knows the team) as he knows the pressing action of the league. He learned the hard way under Ferna's tutelage. Gonzalez hasn't had that proper guidance yet, on the pitch and he may get that now.

At the moment, I don't know if it's Gonzalez's relaxed nature, but I wouldn't trust him against the Dippers midfield, he would get swarmed. I'm sorry, but it's true.

Just remember, he's truly only 10 games in (bar injury) for any type of consistency and needs a minder protection at the top level games. But he looks decent against lower, more open oppo.

So, he's getting there but he's, clearly, not the finished product.
Click to expand...
He’s developing every game…just like Rodri did. I think they can both play against the best teams.
 
I thought it was the perfect way to deal with Bournemouth's threat from wide areas. Pack the middle to force Bournemouth wide and back our full backs to deal with the threat and have numbers central to either double up at times or deal with the ball across.

We're clearly looking to tweak things dependent on the opposition and in this case Pep got it spot on. They left so much space in behind it was pretty easy for us at times, but equally they probably didn't anticipate the fact we would get so many attacking players central and use the full backs for width.
 
BringBackSwales said:
Can’t wait to see Rodri and Nico G in the same midfield. I think our best team for big games becomes -
Donna Baby
Nunes Dias Gvardiol Nico O
Gonzo Rodri
Foden Cherki Doku
Haaland
Bench:- 9 from 10 if everyone fit - Trafford Stones Khusanov Ake Ait Nouri Bernardo Reijnders Savio Marmoush Lewis
That’s a hell of a squad with excellent bench options. Arguably the best squad in the league when everyone is fit
Click to expand...
I think we should call Nico G just Gonzo. No room for Bobb in there? 9 from 11 then with Kova seemingly permacrocked.
 
BringBackSwales said:
Can’t wait to see Rodri and Nico G in the same midfield.

I think our best team for big games becomes -

Donna Baby

Nunes Dias Gvardiol Nico O

Nico G Rodri

Foden Cherki Doku

Haaland


Bench:- 9 from 10 if everyone fit
Trafford
Stones
Khusanov
Ake
Ait Noyri
Bernardo
Reijnders
Savio
Marmoush
Lewis

That’s a hell of a squad with excellent bench options. Arguably the best squad in the league when everyone is fit
Click to expand...
I'd love for that to be the starting 11 against the dippers next week but I fear it might come a bit early for Rodri
 
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