We are the polar opposite of Liverpool's pressing, we sit off the player(s) with the ball, then don't know what to do with the ball when we do have it. It's like a six year old playing FIFA.
"Bruce, keen to get on the front foot, admitted that he tried to change too much, too soon, and he ended up reverting back to the more defensive, counter-attacking tactics of Rafa Benitez” He will be blaming Benitez when Potato Head is working at Luton next season whilst Rafa is at Palace.
He's changed everything and had 100 million yet here he is 19 months since he got the job throwing the blame at what he inherited... He took over a well organised mid table side...
I still can't believe he's turned 20,30,40,50 million pound players and turned them in to 5 million pound players.
He's full of **** isn't he? I mean he's going to hide behind this 'we're trying to change it' excuse and if he gets sacked he'll say he wasn't given enough time to implement his philosophy as he describes it. I think it's underhand from him personally. He has sighted taking over from rafa as the problem since he started, but the reality is he's lived off the solid foundations he inherited and its actually the 'time' he had that's taken effect.
To be fair to Shelvey he was ideally suited to Rafa's style. It didn't require movement or pressing, just required him to sit deep and hit 30 long range passes in the hope one results in a successful counter. We appear to be trying to change how we play but then picking the wrong personnel. If we truly want to get on the front foot, its pretty obvious Shelvey is not the man. Hayden we can get away with short term, but again this is the centre of the park, its key, you need someone better with the ball in that holding role too. We have the likes of Hendrick (box to box mobility), Longstaffs. Surely we'd be better off moving Almiron inside into a rotational 10 situation with Matty, Hendrick and Sean. Sean, Matty and Almiron can are comfortable playing either 10 or deeper. Hendrick appears versatile. I'd rather see that high energy situation. Obviously both Longstaffs are not fully fit, but that's where Hayden and Hendrick can help. With Shelvey I can't see any role at all for him. And stop trying Schar in ****ing midfield. It doesn't work. We had this with Colo, where fans would say "I think he could play in there". He couldn't. Its very rare a player transitions from centre back to midfield for a reason. Even Pardew knew and he was a ****hawk. Bruce is actually stupid enough to agree with fans on Schar and has started to try it. He is a bumbling idiot without a plan.
I think that set would work well and agree, I just cant see where/how Shelvey fits in. It would way more dynamic without him. But yes it would involve adding some quality to CM in January - and a naturally ride-sided midfield/winger too.
Shelvey was never any good... He has this reputation of being a great passer, but loads of players can do it, but instead they've learned to play football
