How do you think he'll se the team up this season? I can see him playing 2 up top and a 4-4-2 type set up. Wingers will be key for us and hopefully Mitro will fill his boots.
Has to be Sissoko and Colback up top then - fastest and ninth fastest in the Premier League last season according to the Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...t-players-in-the-Premier-League-revealed.html
Perez has to start, Rafa didn't play him much at the end of the season, but with Gini gone, he's gotta be in there, so something like: --------------------------Sels---------------------------- Anita--------Hanley---------Laecelles-----Janmaat Aarons-------Colback------Shelvey--------Richie -------------------------Perez-------------------------- -------------------------Gayle-------------------------- with Mbemba and Hanley interchangable, and the sulky French prick forced to play if he's still around.
I can actually see Gayle being used out on the wing a bit when we play a narrower formation. At some, a wider formation will work but away, we'll probably see 2 DM's employed which may narrow the field. Alternatively it may be something wingback ish away from home like: Sels Janmaat Lascelles Mbemba Hanley Dummet Colback Aarons Ritchie Perez Mitro
Sels Janmaat Mbemba Lascelles Gamez Hayden Colback Ritchie Perez Aarons Gayle 4-2-3-1 Though I could see Shelvey getting starts instead of Perez away from home and Mitro starting away. Perhaps not how I would go but I could see Rafa doing it like that. I'd keep it much more simple 442 with Shelvey in for Colback.
Forgot about Hayden, he'a looked good so far, but I'd imagine more of a sub than in the starting XI, surely Shelvey has to be ahead of him?
I don't think Shelvey is high in Rafa's thinking. Unless the extra fitness work he put in over the summer has got him in shape, Rafa just doesn't accept players being unfit. Shelvey was last season and dropped himself down the pecking order as a result. I think Hayden will be a main man for Rafa and it will be a case of him and Colback having it locked. Shelvey will have to hope for a more advanced role.
Shelvey always seems to me to look to play the killer pass and the cross field diagonals. problem is he's just not that good at it 80% of the time. Yes it's good when it does come off but the number of overhit diagonals that I've seen him hit straight out of play is far to high. He clearly tries to model his game on Gerrard but just doesn't have the skill set for it.
This is the thing that is missing from his game. Game management and knowing when the right time to play those passes is. PLaying the simple 5-10 yard passes seems a bit of a chore to him. Nothing wrong with playing the defence splitter or long cross field counter, its just there is a time and place. If its every time you are not only predictable, the percentages of making that pass drop dramatically. Hopefully they can help him with this but it is a fundamental change to be making at 24. If he can learn, and he can progress his game, he is heading into his peak. If not he'll be just another coulda woulda shoulda
I like the fact that we have a good mix of options now. Pacey/good finisher, skillster and a target man.
