Cochise
Steve Carr
Think BoL just answered everything with his post. The two midfielders that win it and play it simple we do not have. Maybe Paulinho can be one of them because of his engine but, his first touch can be loose and his passing sloppy. Siggy and Holtby could do it but Dembele will always look to take the man on instead of pass and Sandro is a man mountain to anchor in front of the defence, but hes not high intensity.
Also that system seems to rely on us being the team that counters having won the ball back whilst the opposition are out of their defensive positions. Often this season we have encountered two brick walls content to counter attack us. This is imo where the system is at fault. Also the idea of having two narrow wing forwards is great, but I have yet to see it happen. Townsend and Lennon don't stay narrow and Chadli has been all over the place, which is why of late we have almost looked like a 4411. I know as you say there is more to the system than just that, but atm I still think we lack the personel, with too many of them being suited to different styles.
To fit that system with the players we have you would field Walker and Rose on the flanks with Vlad and Jan as the middle pair. If the middle three are meant to be comprised of two high intensity ball winners who can play quick forward passes then I'd honestly go with Holtby and Livermore. For all his detractors, the philosophy you speak of suits him. He's not a slouch, has a great engine and will keep it simple. Seeing as he's not available then you have to go with Paulinho, a player not that well suited to the job on current showing. The top diamond would have to comprise of three from Eriksen, Lamela, Chadli, Sig and a striker. From all I see, Townsend is a traditional winger who looks to beat his man, when what we are looking for in that system are finishers from wide players that will look to play quick one touch football with an eye for a first time shot.
To watch it right now we are playing a culmination of different styles and I almost feel for AVB. Maybe the guy needs to be brave and just say nuts to the pressure and play his system and not this 4231 hybrid. At least the wide forwards would be closer to the striker.
Also that system seems to rely on us being the team that counters having won the ball back whilst the opposition are out of their defensive positions. Often this season we have encountered two brick walls content to counter attack us. This is imo where the system is at fault. Also the idea of having two narrow wing forwards is great, but I have yet to see it happen. Townsend and Lennon don't stay narrow and Chadli has been all over the place, which is why of late we have almost looked like a 4411. I know as you say there is more to the system than just that, but atm I still think we lack the personel, with too many of them being suited to different styles.
To fit that system with the players we have you would field Walker and Rose on the flanks with Vlad and Jan as the middle pair. If the middle three are meant to be comprised of two high intensity ball winners who can play quick forward passes then I'd honestly go with Holtby and Livermore. For all his detractors, the philosophy you speak of suits him. He's not a slouch, has a great engine and will keep it simple. Seeing as he's not available then you have to go with Paulinho, a player not that well suited to the job on current showing. The top diamond would have to comprise of three from Eriksen, Lamela, Chadli, Sig and a striker. From all I see, Townsend is a traditional winger who looks to beat his man, when what we are looking for in that system are finishers from wide players that will look to play quick one touch football with an eye for a first time shot.
To watch it right now we are playing a culmination of different styles and I almost feel for AVB. Maybe the guy needs to be brave and just say nuts to the pressure and play his system and not this 4231 hybrid. At least the wide forwards would be closer to the striker.
