Pelle or Long

Who should be up front?

 

Not sure it's as simple as who.... Depends on the system... It's nice to see Long today but there's a nagging feeling that he'll be dropped regardless of performances when Pellè is fit.

Would be nice to see anyone play up top for a change....

 

Seeing as Graziano is out for 2-4 weeks, we'll find out over the next few weeks I suppose.

 

Seriously? Are we going to do this every time someone has a good game or bad game?

 

I agree, this is as kneejerk as suggesting that Ron should be sacked. Pelle has been superb for us since he joined and has played a major part in our success. Shane is different and offers pace to unsettle the oppo. I'm happy that we have got the both of them.

 

Nah otherwise I would have made it a month ago after a poor Pelle performance. ;-)

 

They both do different things, so it's nice to have the option. Imagine if Pelle could run like Long, or Long finish like Pelle? But they can't so circumstances will dictate who starts.

A more important question imo is who starts at RB when everyone is fit? Martina made a case for himself with today's performance though I don't expect another goal like that for some time. Never looked out of his depth defensively, seemed to read the game well, and was always pretty much in the right place when we lost the ball.

 

Play both lets go 442!

 

I agree, there are questions to be asked about Cedric's defensive positioning and qualities, we looked a hell of a lot more settled at the back than in recent games.

 

Long.

 

And Martina at RB?

 

442 diamond in midfield with mane at the tip, wanyama at base.

 

My first thought is to say Pelle against the weaker teams where we dominate possession and Long against the top teams where playing on the counter is the better option.

 

Martina

 

Pelle has been injured for at least a month though. He has even been having injections in his knee so he could keep playing. He could of easily refused to have them and rested up, but he wanted to keep playing. I am not going to have a go at him for playing poor knowing that.

 

Obviously Martina at RB after that goal and a clean sheet. The team will be unchanged if the players all recover in time for the next game.

 

How many posts have there been complaining about Martina, and now after one game he's the starting RB?

Just calm down and let Koeman pick the side. He's awfully good at it.

 

Back to the original post: you pick your side to suit your tactics and l have felt that Long needs a run-out as a striker; he frightens defenders with his pace and work rate. So if you have an opposition that lacks pace at the back then l would have thought those assets should be used. Other times, you would choose Pelle where he brings another dimension into the side.

On the RB position; we have a problem and I am not sure we know what the answer is. If Chambers does come back on loan that might be the answer, but seeing how Wenger has spat out his dummy again after the game, that probably won't happen now.

 

Unfair to Pelle as he has been playing through an injury. I do love watching Long play though....when he runs it is like a duck on speed. I have refused to vote on the grounds that it may incriminate me....let Ron decide.

 

It's situational, as others have said. The one thing that was really, really good to see? We weren't just knocking long, hopeful balls over the top to Long...Mane, and later Tadic to great effect when he came on, were looking to burst into the space in front of the defense in the early part of buildups, with an eye to immediately play Long through. In previous outings (and the early stages of this match) with Long out there, we've been a beat too slow. Punish defenders like that when they don't track his runs, and suddenly everyone else will have a lot more space to work with.