Agreed, he has been outstanding. I think that the more flexible system Puel is using suits him. There were times today when Romeu pushed on, as Clasie held. There were times when McQueen was at RB, whilst Cuco was at LB. The discipline and fluidity is immense. Against city, and against inter on Thursday, we actually look the same level. The players all look technically as good as European and PL champions. This is including squad players. Awesome.
This is the first time for many a year where I can look at our line-up each game and think "can't see a weak link"
Jay Retweeted please log in to view this image 2hPaul Brown @pbsportswriter Guardiola on Stones and playing out from the back: "The way I want to play is not to pass to their striker." Ouch Absolute burn.
Yes, the switching of the full backs is very interesting especially for young and receptive McQueen; we may see Bertrand and McQueen playing? It would seem Puel is an excellent teacher, and we have the apt pupils.
The only 'fault' if I can call it that, is that I'm not sure if the players realise quite how good they are. At times, not so much today but certainly in the away Euro games, we have been so dominant but have just lacked that extra bit of belief required to push players up for the killer goal. Generally though, excellent. Strong bench too.
Oriol most improved player. Really consistently good so far this season. Davis also has to cover a lot more ground than last season but doesn't have the same impact (was very good last season). Romeu seems to be revelling in it.
The diamond collapses to 4-3-3. So Romeu can push up and have either CM or both occupy defensive positions behind him. Or VVD can push up and Romeu can rotate back. That's the thing about a 4-1-2-1-2. It's very flexible and anyone can "jump" a line at any time so long as everyone is on the same page and knows to cover. The major flaw positionally is that in exchange to having lots of people in the middle of the pitch capable of exchanging positions, you give up some flexibility on the flanks. The major flaw tactically is that in order for all the position shifting to work, you need good all-around players. So you have to give up some degree of specialization for box-to-box midfielder types. But in exchange you get the element of surprise with anyone capable of popping up in an unexpected place. VVD might not as solid an attacker as say, Davis. But an unmarked VVD might be better than a marked Davis. At any rate, Romeu's role probably changed less in the Diamond than anyone other than back four. There is no reason he wouldn't be able to play the base of a diamond if he can play the deeper role in a semi-double pivot 4-2-3-1.
I don't know about anyone else, but i'm enjoying this season better than any other since we got promoted. We seem to have a great bunch of lads with no bad apples and i'm really warming to the soft spoken Frenchman.
lol you heard it first here (before my better half). If next year there is a Barcelona and Munich trip, i'm doing both. Divorce maybe...but in the words of Thierry Henry, it's "worth it" (well i changed it a bit )
I think on paper his role hasn't changed, if you were playing Football Manager or something. I think in actual fact though, his role has changed slightly. Under Koeman he was purely an enforcer. He seemed to break up play, and then play a five yard pass. Puel appears to have told him to express himself. He's now spraying balls, dropping the shoulder and taking people on, as he knows that the system allows him to.
Tell you what, fair play to the City fans - looking at other forums, and comments under the Guardian article etc etc, they take time out to praise our ability and commitment as much as they are picking apart City's faults. As fans of the clubs in the city go, as suspected, they as a whole seem to care and understand a lot more about actual football than their neighbours.
1/4 into the league season now...after our shaky start I'm sure we would have all been delighted with that, but surely your expectations have risen now? I know the reply was to a champions league challenge, but would you be at least disappointed if we fell out of the top 8?
I think that we are nailed on to be the "best of the rest" at least...8th place and possibly above Manure if Mourinho continues his decline....
