Seen a video of Browne missus at Wembley and how emotional she was that her fella had finally made it to PL. Was a nice, emotional video but I just can’t see him being at the club.
In my mind there are 3 midfield roles which I have unhelpfully called the Neil role (the 6) ; the Jobe role (the 8) and the Rigg role (the 10 - who goes alongside the striker in the 4-4-2 shape). I think Neil stays in his 6 role. I think ELF drops to the 8 role. And then we bring in a new 10. My only fear with that is that Neil and ELF as our two deepest midfielders are a bit short. So I can also see a scenario where ELF stays in the "10" role and we get a like for like replacement for Jobe in the "8". I would also personally like to see us play Mayenda in the "10" with a new number 9 striker alongside him. I think having Mayenda receive the ball inbetween defence and midfield and turn and dribble could be a key way for us to get up the pitch.
? I more mean the same formation we have been doing the 433, but have Enzo as one of the two 8's, he's just the more advanced one isn't he
I don’t know how pinned in we will be with a player like Mayenda. PL wing backs are gonna really hate the kid.
Spoke about it a couple months ago but our midfield balance wasn't great, this feels like it leaves us in the same boat. Jobe leaving gives us the change to address it and sign a proper classic 6, play Enzo deeper next to him and then another box to box type player who has an eye for goal.
Very, when man city have 90% of the ball we will almost certainly be sat in a compact shape. Of course I'm not saying we will spend every single minute pinned in and we will be able to counter pretty fluidly with the right players in. But more often than not I would assume we will be.
Triantis hasn’t been playing as a 6 for Hibs mind, at least not as a single pivot, if that’s what you’re inferring. Everything I read from their fans said he was poor there, lacking in awareness and allowing people to run off the back of him. It was when he was played as more of an 8 in a midfield two/double pivot that his performances became so good. At least that was my understanding.
Is the e height of Dan and Enzo as big a deal in PL as it was in Championship? How many air balls are we seeing in the PL in comparison? Far less. We can get away with one tall CM for me. What they need to be is athletes cos most PL players are physically like Greek ****ing gods.
I guess we'll see, I don't think he suits RLB if I'm being honest but I hope he's starting and plays well.
Having said I don't think we'll drop Dan Neil and that I expect him to start, it's not personally what I would do. I love Dan and think he's brilliant. But to me he's much more suited to a team dominating possession. I don't think he's right for a team who will play how we will want to play in our first season in the PL. And I don't think a relegation-threatened PL midfield with both ELF and Dan Neil in it (in the current stages of their careers) can be successful Which is why extremely reluctantly I'd sell him if anyone offered £15m or more. I don't think his ceiling is that high. I'd rather take the money, wish him extremely well and follow his career with pride, but then use the money to buy a strong, powerful number 6 that can cover the ground and fill gaps well. I don't have a player in mind because I don't follow european football, but I'm sure there are guys on here who can name some we could get for £15m. In an ideal world I'd keep Dan to use as a bench option but I don't think thats fair on him if he has interest from major european clubs.
10: New signing/Rigg 8: Le Fee/New signing 6: Neil/New signing That's how i'd play it. Just as long as Henderson isn't the 6 signing as that would make no sense to me.
Reims and Montpellier went down. 2 potentially excellent DM there in Atangana and Chotard. It’s a market we know and like as a club.