Interesting listening to Sky Sports news just now. Panel talking transfers n stuff. Topic for a short while was the importance of the no. 6, going as far as to say possibly now the most important, most valuable position (a la Rodri, Caicedo, etc). Still think we are missing in that role.
One which I think would be really out there that is kind of on the fringes but I highly highly doubt is Callum Hudson-Odoi
It is. Chelsea dominated Liverpool’s midfield on Sunday after the first 30 minutes because Liverpool were playing without a #6. Chelsea have just paid £115 million for a defensive midfielder. I would argue Rodri is Man City’s most important player. Sure, Haaland and De Bruyne might be their best players but Man City suffer more when Rodri isn’t playing than when Haaland or De Bruyne isn’t. A good defensive midfielder is the foundation for any team.
To be fair neither were Chelsea. We just have a different type, Seri is a luxury and we seemed to strike a balance on the weekend with Greaves forming the back 3 gives us that extra meat in the defensive third. If McLoughlin didn’t run like he’s carrying weights we’d have only conceded 1.
They had Enzo Fernández and Conor Gallagher playing in a double pivot. Gallagher struggled first half but second half him and Fernández were taking the piss out of Liverpool’s midfield. Gallagher was playing as a ball-winner and did very well second half and Fernández was just incredible on and off the ball. I agree that Seri is a luxury but I wouldn’t be opposed to him becoming less of a nailed-on starter with Simons getting more minutes alongside Slater. If not Simons, a new #6 signing. I still think my point about our midfield stands. We do well in midfield with Seri and Slater against teams who sit deep like Sheffield Wednesday did on Saturday or teams like Rotherham, Blackpool, Cardiff, Huddersfield etc. last season because they sit off and give us loads of time on the ball. It’s against the likes of Norwich, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and inevitably Leicester and Southampton where we have less possession when our midfield struggles a lot.
This is where I think rotation could be our advantage. Could play Seri and Slater against teams that sit deep so we can dominate possession and pass them off the field but against stronger opponents that like to have a lot of possession, have some more physicality in midfield to gives us a better chance of winning the midfield battle and preventing the defence from being too exposed.
