If we replace Conte before the end of the season, how do you see any new coach setting us up? Who would pick which formation and which players would suit the new system? Can we play four at the back regularly? 4-2-3-1? 4-3-3? 5-3-2? Something else entirely?
If you had a "clean slate" , without penalty for your choices, and you are to be given a generally decent squad, what : 1. core technical competences do you demand of any potential player that is to be in your squad, for their general position 2. what formations at the minimum should the squad be able to play
I think our best team from those currently fit is Forster Emerson Romero Dier Davies Sarr Skipp Kulusevski Son Perisic Kane Not much cover though...Hojbjerg doesn’t weaken it much, nor do Lenglet, Sanchez or Porro but everyone else does.
Right... Lloris Porro Romero NEW CB Davies (or Emerson Romero NEW CB and Udogie) Sarr Skipp Bentancur Kulusevski Kane Son Retain: Forster, Dier, Hojbjerg, Bissouma, Gil, Richarlison Keeping due to HG and/or CG numbers: Tanganga, Sessegnon, Whiteman Rotate in: White, Devine, Spence Bringing in: Longterm GK replacement, NEW CB, suitable Bentancur understudy Offload, for the love of Cthulhu offload: Ndombele, Sanchez Offload for suitable offer: Lo Celso, Winks, Reguilon, Rodon Already assuming they're off: Lucas, Austin
I’d like a permanent manager in right now to begin working towards next season. If we have to go for an interim get Redknapp, his arm over the shoulder approach would be great for someone like Son and the football will far more pleasing. As for our best team at the moment, either 433 or 4231: Forster Porro, Romero, Lenglet, Davies Hojbjerg, Skipp, Sarr Kulu, Kane, Son or Forster Porro, Romero, Lenglet, Davies Hojbjerg, Skipp Kulu, Perisic, Son Kane If Lloris and Bissouma return anytime soon they’d also make the XIs, Bissouma would thrive under ‘Arry. As for summer: Keep: Kane, Son, Kulu, Gil, Perisic, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Bissouma, Skipp, Sarr, Porro, Spence, Udogie, Reguilon, Romero, Tanganga, Davies, Lloris, Forster. Get rid: Richarlison, Lucas, Lo Celso, Ndombele, Winks, Sessegnon, Emerson, Dier, Rodon, Sanchez.
Hugo Royal Romero Lenglet Davies Sarr Skipp Kulu Kane Danjuma Richarlison Subs: Forster, Dier, Tanganga, Porro, Hojbjerg, Devine, Perisic, Lucas, Son.
Old school 4-4-2 and based on those currently available Whiteman (why not Forster has been very average) Emerson, Romero, Lenglet Davies Kulu, Skipp, Sarr, Danjuma, Kane, Richarlison. I know that Richarlison has been a disappointment but lets give him a chance up front, Son has been equally poor all season, and his best games have been from the bench
PEH + Skipp nor Sarr + Skipp does nor offer the CM creativity that 4-4-2 demands. The best I can offer is the starting XI against Citeh, with : 1. ^Bentancur ^Skipp 2. the "under pain of death" command that the ball must be moved out to the flanks FAST and FORWARD 3. the passes to the flank players must be BEHIND the opposition defence (for the players to run on to - they are not speedboats nor fleet of foot to pass a defender in front of them) .
People say we don't have good enough centre backs to play four at the back. Also people say there is no point to possession without scoring. I disagree with both those points. If you have possession of the ball the opposition can't score. Why have a weaker midfield that gives up a portion of possession thus making it necessary to have a stronger defence? Five at the back also often hands the initiative to the opposition, which means always reacting to what they are doing rather then giving them a problem with what we are. I say turn that third centre back into a midfield player, gives us a better chance to utilise what our strengths actually are (going forward) rather than reduce our strength in order to reinforce something we are not that good at (defending). Take the initiative rather than give it away. It might make it a bit more likely that the opposition score, but it makes it much more likely than we will. And how many goals have we scored recently?
