Emmanuel Mayuka joins Sochaux on loan

If you look at some of the other clubs playing a 4-2-3-1 formation, quite a few don't use out and out wingers. More strikers playing in the wide 3, much like ourselves.

 

Ours often doesn't even feature strikers playing wide, though...it often features strikers playing as strikers, with no width. And as of last game, we played ~75 minutes in a 4-4-2 diamond instead.

 

Chuffing hell is this still going on? I'll be in the Deadline and Beefy's threads if anyone needs me.

 

I dipped out too...

 

What's your point? Or are you agreeing with him? Mayuka's preferred position is at striker like Rodriguez. He's given Rodriguez a fair run on the left and right wing. He hasn't done that with Mayuka.

 

We're not talking about Mayuka now, we're talking about tactics. Keep up.

 

Same thing for any player. Mayuka was an example.. he was also relevant to the two questions and you quoted the whole thing...

 

And you clearly didn't read the point where we decided to not talk about Mayuka.

 

I can't really discuss the team's effectiveness and system this season in any depth because for a bunch of reasons (work, girlfriend, family) I haven't been able to watch any of our games so far. The general trend seems to be that we dominate games without scoring - as it was at the end of last season - but beyond that I can't say much. Generally speaking I'd like the option of a winger but not all clubs have one and I'm not the manager.

What I do know is that Puncheon was our most direct player last season and Poch reduced his playing time once he'd been here a few weeks. So why haven't we signed a winger? Probably for the same reason West Ham won't be signing any 5 foot 6 strikers while Big Sam's in charge. There's not much point paying a fee and wages for a player who doesn't fit the system the manager wants to play.

I'm not sure this is the place for a tactics discussion though. If you really want to start a wider discussion about Poch's tactics I'd suggest starting a new thread might be in order. Of course there's a reasonable chance you'll be told not to panic and possibly called a bed/pant wetter if you do so after only 3 league games.

 

This time last year we signed Mayuka. Out of nowhere. I was excited. Im disappointed, had such expectation. Who knows maybe he will come back, he is young.

 

really can't believe this has reached 7 pages. Mayuyka love or what???? Guly contributes more in his 0000 minutes.

 

Mayuka's just not a winger. He never has been. The fact that he's quick is not reason enough to suggest he could be one. There's nothing about his technical ability (or lack thereof) which would allow him to play well in a wide position. He's been a centre forward for his clubs, and for Zambia.

To answer your question anyway, we are worse off on the wings without Puncheon. However, Isgrove is a better winger now than Mayuka will ever be.

 

Without checking, I am guessing this is 7 pages of moaning?

 

More like debating whether we should be moaning or not.

 

That's even worse. I don't see how this isn't a positive move for everyone. Mayuka showed few signs of being able to contribute here, so hopefully he plays some games in France.

 

In fairness, the discussion broadened to a wider tactical debate that wasn't actually a discussion on Mayuka. Well, to those that were able to read anyhow.

 

Well that's not an unpopular opinion, and it's the one I've been arguing for, but some feel we've lost too much depth. I don't think we've lost any (apart from Puncheon).

 

Agreed. I think it's a good move for Mayuka and for Saints. We get a better player back if and when we want him. The only player I am really disappointed to lose is Puncheon. He's proved to be a game changer enough times. Still not 100% sure why he has left. He can't love Croydon that much, can he..?

 

I am actually very pleased with Pochettino's decision to move away from wingers. Lallana and Rodriguez who played in that position mostly are much better as a cam and striker respectively. We may lack a plan b especially if clyne and shaw are injured but I think this is a very positive move from pochettino as it will have every single one of our current players playing in their preferred position.

It was different on Saturday mostly due to the fullbacks. Schneiderlin was paying as a left midfielder, Osvaldo and Lambert were playing in each others space, only Lallana and JWP had better than average days in saying that we could have won the game.

---------Boruc---------
Clyne--Fonte--Lovren--Shaw
-JWP-Wanyama-Schneiderlin
---------Lallana------------
-----Lambert--Osvaldo

Bench: Davis, Chambers, Yoshida, Cork, Davis, Rodriguez, Ramirez
That looks a far superior team to the one we put out last season, and virtually every player other than Boruc, Shaw and Lovren can expect some competition for places.

This new style has had one run out and under very limiting circumstances. I think we will gain far more points with this tactic perhaps we will see less chances and more 1-0s but that's fine.

 

[video=youtube;cklWRv-ShCQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cklWRv-ShCQ[/video]