Personally think we’ve been crying out for the double pivot for a while and now have two of the best at the job. Big Joe is versatile and can offer a threat from LW and I like Gordon in a 10, he can go wide, support Isak, run with it, etc. You transition from 4-2-3-1 to 3-1-4-2 in attack, then 4-5-1 in defence. Joe one side and Barnes the other, or even Livramento who is versatile enough to do the job. If we set up exactly the same again against Brentford and draw or worse then questions need to be asked.
Hmmm, makes me wish we'd sign Maddison as a number 10. Attacking midfield was our weakness last season, we couldn't finish our chances and sometimes struggled to create.
We seemed to be after the right players - Maddison, Szoboslai, Diaby - just lacked the balls to make it happen and went for the "let's build for the future" instead.
It'll be sweet roly the benefits of depth will show soon enough. The foundations are now in and over the next few years they'll start adding the bells and whistles. The biggest issue is the way the players are performing because we know they can do alot better.
To be fair he’s probably still scarred from spending £40m on solanke Ibe & Smith from us while in charge at Bournemouth.
He’s had one good season and that was in the championship Edit: and one ok season in the championship
Please can we ****ing start Barnes? I was excited when we bought him. We pay 30m for a player just to bench him? He's proven he can score goals. 13 goals last season for Leicester. Start him vs Brentford, put Gordon on the right.
I'd start Anderson in the 10 role, Bruno & Tonali double pivot, Barnes left, Gordon right. Anderson was a shining light in pre season and is now not getting a chance, I think he deserves a start. Also Hall and Livramento in for Burn and Trippier. Bet some pace running at their back line from deep. Tonali can handle set pieces
I agree with all of this bar Anderson. I know he had a great pre season. But I would start Wilson up top with Isak behind and to the left. But the rest I would keep the same.
Get the thought process but think Eddie may try and switch it up a bit with Milan Away 3 days later. Hall, Anderson, Longstaff, Livarmento, Barnes could all start
Agree. Eddie always does the "100% focus on the next match", which I totall6 understand, but with European competition you do also have to look ahead to the fixture list and use the squad wisely. You can't just keep rolling out your same starting 11 and expect them to manage all the extra games. So some thought is needed as to managing the squad rotation, not just who you want for the very next game each time. He may well have to tinker a bit. I guess we'll soon start to see which competition(s) is the club's priority.
I think the words "Eddie" and "switch it up" never co-exist. I'll be astonished if Dan Burn doesn't start. It's the way Eddie works - he's of the mind that if it worked once, it can and will work again with enough perseverance. Fully expect it'll be the same line up, although at some point he'll probably start Wilson ahead of Isak.
