Roberto De Zerbi *OFFICIAL*

[Bedfordspurs]

I'm not sure what the obsession is with xyz player not being out to do this or that.

I'd guess we are at 10-15% of how De Zerbi wants us to play.

Look at the videos of how he got Brighton playing 100% in his vision, and work backwards from there.

If we play like that...then the shortcomings you see now might not be that obvious, or even exist, because how we are playing then is unrecognisable to now.

Eg. I actually think Marmoush could easily be a similar player to João Pedro. Yes, I could see him upfront with another as well, BUT if you're playing fluently and progressively he can be a central 9 with the other players around him.

I don't think De Zerbi wants a lamppost or target man for one minute?. (He might do now, just to get up the field BUT he'll snub that tactic as soon as he sees us starting to 'get it')

I think how Brighton played was based on who he inherited as much as anything
His Marseille team didn’t play like Brighton team did from what I saw last season (didn’t see any of the year before)
He played Adam Llalana at 10 at Brighton before he left. He also played 4–2-3-1 the majority of the time

 

[Bedfordspurs]

RDZ never had a creative #10 at BHA, but a fully cohesive team playing a system. That’s the part we need to be patient with.

Llalana played that role and so did MacAlister
Plus a few others according to FBREF

 

[robp135]

I understand the Gallagher selection away to Forest. I hope at home we go out to purley dominate the game from a footballing sense though.

Kinsky
Porro JPVH VDV Udogie
Fernandes Bentancur Tonali
Savio Solanke Marmoush

No creativity in that midfield
It’s partly what has cost us so far along with no one who is dealing with the opposition CBS

Who would you play in midfield then?

Bents and Fernandes

Make it make sense.

 

[Kandi1977]

Indeed

View attachment 23334

I don't like this puplic criticising of the players! Keep that in the fudging changing room, not in the press!

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

I can see Marmoush lining up on the left but in actuality playing inside off Solanke with Robbo providing the width when in attack.

Players aren’t positions. Their responsibilities in and out of possession are more accurate measures of their roles. For instance, Madders, Marmoush and Gallagher can all play #10 but each would do so with different responsibilities.

It's not just responsibilities, its thd manager recognising and utilising their different abilities. Most managers mention this.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

RDZ never had a creative #10 at BHA, but a fully cohesive team playing a system. That’s the part we need to be patient with.

Exactly what I'm saying.

 

[DTA]

I don't like this puplic criticising of the players! Keep that in the fudging changing room, not in the press!

This. 100 times this. Which successful manger does this?

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Make it make sense.

You okay with a 3 man midfield
I would play with 2
And 3 in front
That’s the difference
We’re playing a flat 3 at the moment on even worse
Some weird triangle vs Saudi Sportswashing Machine where tonali played left, fernandes right and Bents okayed the deeper role
None of that has seen the midfield really create much because it takes away a huge part of Fernandez game (great range passing) and isn’t how the other 2 play

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Exactly what I'm saying.

But he did have a creative 10 and played a player there each game to do that apart from when he went to 3 at the back

 

[metalgear]

I don't think we should be making excuses for players that are so unfit, sure if you had a knock or were at the world cup there's some mitigation but there's no way Tonali should have started the season so unfit for example. It's just poor planning.

It's also a personal responsibility. Kane, Ronaldo, Bale.. we're always ready to start if not injured

 

[Legohamster]

I don't like this puplic criticising of the players! Keep that in the fudging changing room, not in the press!

It's not really Criticism, it's an explanation.

Not really ripping into them is he?

If a player gets upset over that, we have problems

 

[Legohamster]

I think how Brighton played was based on who he inherited as much as anything
His Marseille team didn’t play like Brighton team did from what I saw last season (didn’t see any of the year before)
He played Adam Llalana at 10 at Brighton before he left. He also played 4–2-3-1 the majority of the time

Was Grob still there as well?

Not an out and out 10, but is very good at unlocking defences

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Was Grob still there as well?

Not an out and out 10, but is very good at unlocking defences

Yeah he was
Very good player
When I looked at he did play there but mainly it was Llallana Macalister
Solly March did it too

 

[Raziel]

I'm not sure what the obsession is with xyz player not being out to do this or that.

I'd guess we are at 10-15% of how De Zerbi wants us to play.

Look at the videos of how he got Brighton playing 100% in his vision, and work backwards from there.

If we play like that...then the shortcomings you see now might not be that obvious, or even exist, because how we are playing then is unrecognisable to now.

Eg. I actually think Marmoush could easily be a similar player to João Pedro. Yes, I could see him upfront with another as well, BUT if you're playing fluently and progressively he can be a central 9 with the other players around him.

I don't think De Zerbi wants a lamppost or target man for one minute?. (He might do now, just to get up the field BUT he'll snub that tactic as soon as he sees us starting to 'get it')

The concern is the league has changed since then, that teams aren't going to fall for the press bait.

I want to see a tactic for when we have 60% of possession in mid pitch, how do we transition that to an effective attack without requiring the opposition to fall for some trick (width, isolation, a passing pattern, overloading box, whatever that is).

The other concern is, same as some of our previous managers, we have to win games when not perfect, it can't only be when he has exactly who he needs, and exactly everyone following system perfectly , we are able to beat mid/lower table sides.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

The concern is the league has changed since then, that teams aren't going to fall for the press bait.

I want to see a tactic for when we have 60% of possession in mid pitch, how do we transition that to an effective attack without requiring the opposition to fall for some trick (width, isolation, a passing pattern, overloading box, whatever that is).

The other concern is, same as some of our previous managers, we have to win games when not perfect, it can't only be when he has exactly who he needs, and exactly everyone following system perfectly , we are able to beat mid/lower table sides.

I agree. But has he changed?, or does he have alternate plans?.

Apparently all coaches from abroad will see what the PL has become and adjust accordingly.

Looks like football might end up back at 442 at this rate

 

[Lemonade Money]

Looks like football might end up back at 442 at this rate

Or hookers, flankers and props, if Arteta has anything to do with it.

 

[robp135]

You okay with a 3 man midfield
I would play with 2
And 3 in front
That’s the difference
We’re playing a flat 3 at the moment on even worse
Some weird triangle vs Saudi Sportswashing Machine where tonali played left, fernandes right and Bents okayed the deeper role
None of that has seen the midfield really create much because it takes away a huge part of Fernandez game (great range passing) and isn’t how the other 2 play

There difference between a 433 and a 4231 is absolutley fudge all.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

There difference between a 433 and a 4231 is absolutley fudge all.

Massively different
United play Fernandes in the 10
Yes you can argue he is playing CM.. but he doesn’t door back and do the CM donkey work
Odegaard doesn’t do the same job as rice
De bruyne doesn’t do what Rodri and other CM did either
You can call the formation what you want but that 10 role doesn’t work in a 4-3-3 where the 3 are all CMs
That set up is what Liverpool used to excel but I can’t think of another team that has
If we want to play like that then we have to accept the midfield role is leg work not creativity and hope the attack create something

 

[robp135]

Massively different
United play Fernandes in the 10
Yes you can argue he is playing CM.. but he doesn’t door back and do the CM donkey work
Odegaard doesn’t do the same job as rice
De bruyne doesn’t do what Rodri and other CM did either
You can call the formation what you want but that 10 role doesn’t work in a 4-3-3 where the 3 are all CMs
That set up is what Liverpool used to excel but I can’t think of another team that has
If we want to play like that then we have to accept the midfield role is leg work not creativity and hope the attack create something

So the difference between a 433 and a 4231 with Tonali, Bentancur, Fernandes all playing?

 

[Bishop]

I understand the Gallagher selection away to Forest. I hope at home we go out to purley dominate the game from a footballing sense though.

Kinsky
Porro JPVH VDV Udogie
Fernandes Bentancur Tonali
Savio Solanke Marmoush

Id be concerned that this team id used long term would still struggle for incision. It would be quite reliant on the wide players both creating the play and finishing the chances.

Obviously with what we have available needs must, but that lineup I think still missing something and would be quite blunt in practise save for a moment of brilliance from either Marmoush or Savio.