Agreed with this, whilst Zouma isn't the best passer of the ball - he certainly makes up for it with his defending and he is imo one of our best defenders at the club right now. With the way we have been playing and especially defending I would think getting back to the basics and keeping a clean sheet should really be our focus point. Hope he slots back in for the Leicester game!
 
Back 3 of: 
 
Zouma - Terry - Luiz 

Only Terry is replacing Cahill. Azpilicueta will keep his place. So I think Zouma will wait till someone gets injured.

On 3/10/2016 at 00:24, DonAntonio said:

That midfield would get totally over run

 

Only 1 way to find out..

On 02/10/2016 at 08:24, IliyaKrostin said:

I just hope our players will come back healthy and ready after the internationals. Leicester got a good reason to play for revenge, going to be a tough game.

I'd like to see this starting line:

---------------------- Courtois ---------------------------

---------- Azpi ------- Terry -------- Luiz --------------

Moses ----- Kante ---------- Matic -------------- Alonso

------ Willian -------- Diego Costa -------- Hazard

 

I just hope we will put a good performance, we need this win.

My problem with this is our most creative midfield player in this set up is Moses...For this to work properly, to a high level, we need a creative CM to partner kante and a winger with a good end product, not to mention a good attacking LB, he didn't play this formation (which I like btw) initially because we don't have the personnel for it to be competitive with the best,  I think he is just playing like this because he couldn't watch that sh*t anymore after Arsenal and neets to revert to something he knows, to be fair the lads had a good second half at Hull and I'm a fan of 3 at the back especially under conte but we are going to be stumped for ideas going forward against good opponents until we get a more creative CM and a dangerous RW 

59 minutes ago, DonAntonio said:

My problem with this is our most creative midfield player in this set up is Moses...For this to work properly, to a high level, we need a creative CM to partner kante and a winger with a good end product, not to mention a good attacking LB, he didn't play this formation (which I like btw) initially because we don't have the personnel for it to be competitive with the best,  I think he is just playing like this because he couldn't watch that sh*t anymore after Arsenal and neets to revert to something he knows, to be fair the lads had a good second half at Hull and I'm a fan of 3 at the back especially under conte but we are going to be stumped for ideas going forward against good opponents until we get a more creative CM and a dangerous RW 

---------------------- Courtois ---------------------------

---------- Azpi ------- Terry -------- Alonso --------------

Moses ----- Kante ---------- Fabregas -------------- Luiz

------ Willian -------- Diego Costa -------- Hazard

 

Just me trying out things!  What do you think - Luiz better end product than Alonso so more attacking options?

 

Edited October 5, 20169 yr by dhidza

I think 3 at the back works and I would like to see some variations of this attack.  We have very good attacking players and Conte should try and use these guys!  My preferredline up would be:

---------------------- Courtois ---------------------------

---------- Azpi ------- Luiz -------- Zouma/Terry --------------

Moses ----- Kante ---------- Fabregas -------------- Willian

------ Basthuayi/Pedro -------- Diego Costa -------- Hazard

I think Willian and Moses have enough energy to do the wing back roles and Basthuayi Pedro Hazard Diego can attack.  Cesc can be swapped with Osca if we need better defensive cover but when going on all out attack - Cesc can start.  

Looking forward to the return of EPL and a win against Leicester

30 minutes ago, dhidza said:

I think 3 at the back works and I would like to see some variations of this attack.  We have very good attacking players and Conte should try and use these guys!  My preferredline up would be:

---------------------- Courtois ---------------------------

---------- Azpi ------- Luiz -------- Zouma/Terry --------------

Moses ----- Kante ---------- Fabregas -------------- Willian

------ Basthuayi/Pedro -------- Diego Costa -------- Hazard

I think Willian and Moses have enough energy to do the wing back roles and Basthuayi Pedro Hazard Diego can attack.  Cesc can be swapped with Osca if we need better defensive cover but when going on all out attack - Cesc can start.  

Looking forward to the return of EPL and a win against Leicester

I think luiz would have trouble getting up and down the wing if anything outside of CB I'd play him with kante and send kante forward, playing fab with kante could work if we get more solid at the back, also intrested to see if bats could play out right like Remi could. 

No chance Zouma will start this game, way too risky. Leicester play 2 strikers, 3CD against 2 strikers should be a good match up. We definitely need JT, the amount of cross we couldn't deal with when he's out were alarming.

6 hours ago, icecoolguy22 said:

No chance Zouma will start this game, way too risky. Leicester play 2 strikers, 3CD against 2 strikers should be a good match up. We definitely need JT, the amount of cross we couldn't deal with when he's out were alarming.

No "easy" games in PL. Leicester, then United, then WHU, then Soton. Have to throw him in the deep end of the pool at sometime.

 

Tibo

Zouma JT Luiz

Moses Kante Matic Alonso

Willian Hazard

Costa

On October 4, 2016 at 08:37, wallosh said:

Only Terry is replacing Cahill. Azpilicueta will keep his place. So I think Zouma will wait till someone gets injured.

Not a chance, if he is fully fit he plays his way in, Dave is a better wing back than a CB, if Moses can do it then surely Azpi can 

Edited October 6, 20169 yr by DonAntonio

Not a chance, if he is fully fit he plays his way in, Dave is a better wing back than a CB, if Moses can do it then surely Azpi can 

You mean when Zouma is fully fit, he will automatically get into the starting team?

4 hours ago, wallosh said:

You mean when Zouma is fully fit, he will automatically get into the starting team?

I beleive he will yes, he is a top quality CB so if we have 3 good CB's why would we use a 5'10 right back as a CB and an attacking forward as a wing back ? 

1 hour ago, DonAntonio said:

I beleive he will yes, he is a top quality CB so if we have 3 good CB's why would we use a 5'10 right back as a CB and an attacking forward as a wing back ? 

This. I agree, if Zouma is fully fit he has to be in the starting 11.

Well I don't think so. So we will have to wait and see what happens before January.
I just can't see him playing ahead of a fit Terry and Luiz this season because it's already obvious the manager rate those two players a lot.

This is sounding like the classic case of a player improving whilst not playing. Don't get me wrong, I rate Zouma and hope that he along with Christensen will be our future CB's for seasons to come. But he is still some way off from the finished article and has mistakes in his game and having been out for so long, one would expect him to be rusty and possibly make more mistakes. I think it's only because our defence has looked so poor that folk are willing Zouma straight back in and ignoring the fact that he also is inclined to the odd gaff. When fully recovered and 100% fit I would have him in ahead of Cahill or Ivan at CB but that was a bad injury and he will need easing back in.

 

 

Azpilicueta is not a center back, so not sure why people are just dropping him into that position. It's totally different to playing full back and I would worry that he is not positionally aware, which is a big problem for a center back.

4 hours ago, wallosh said:

Well I don't think so. So we will have to wait and see what happens before January.
I just can't see him playing ahead of a fit Terry and Luiz this season because it's already obvious the manager rate those two players a lot.

But we dont know how much he rates Zouma because he has never really spoken about him or had the opportunity to pick him ahead of those 2.

15 minutes ago, dkw said:

But we dont know how much he rates Zouma because he has never really spoken about him or had the opportunity to pick him ahead of those 2.

 

Can't wait for him to return, love watching him play, i almost want the opposition to get the ball and run at him, just so i can see him close them down and swallow them up. Best of all imagine the boost it will give the team having him at the back again.

On October 7, 2016 at 07:55, wallosh said:

Well I don't think so. So we will have to wait and see what happens before January.
I just can't see him playing ahead of a fit Terry and Luiz this season because it's already obvious the manager rate those two players a lot.

He won't play ahead of Terry and luiz he will play ahead of our RB who is playing as a CB who will then shift to wing back where we have an attacking forward playing WB. 

22 minutes ago, DonAntonio said:

He won't play ahead of Terry and luiz he will play ahead of our RB who is playing as a CB who will then shift to wing back where we have an attacking forward playing WB. 

A 3 of Terry, zouma and Luiz could be a very good combination, both with and without the ball. Terry left, zouma right and luiz central, with luiz joining the midfield when the timing is right.

10 hours ago, dkw said:

A 3 of Terry, zouma and Luiz could be a very good combination, both with and without the ball. Terry left, zouma right and luiz central, with luiz joining the midfield when the timing is right.

That's what is in my mind anyway but I would have JT in the middle, you have zouma with his pace and 1 on 1 defending, JT organizing and reading the play and luiz picking out passes, I think it's a well balanced back 3 who are all good in the air and can also score goals, I really hope to see this, think it could be very effective, my only issue is Dave and Alonso don't offer too much creatively when they are in the middle of the pitch, I actually thought Alonso made some nice runs on the left but I think with the middle of the park consisting of Dave-matic-kante-Alonso we will struggle creatively especially when Costa isn't that technical and Willian/Oscar can be a bit flat, I think there will be even more reliance on hazard, this setup is begging for a world class creative CM to run the show, I don't see why fab can't take that on with kante? I think conte sees him as a player lacking physicality for that role  and to be fair he has no clue about positioning especially in a double pivot in DM, come Jan that's what would be top of my list, a top quality CM, we have CB's. 

Edited October 8, 20169 yr by DonAntonio

He won't play ahead of Terry and luiz he will play ahead of our RB who is playing as a CB who will then shift to wing back where we have an attacking forward playing WB. 

I agree Conte might play that trio against average teams but we will go back to 4-5-1 against top or good team and Zouma won't get a chance if we are to play for 4 at the back.
Just my opinion though, we never know how Conte rates Zouma so it's just a guess. And the fact that the papers are still linking us with Bonucci makes me think he probably isn't very impressed with Zouma yet.

10 hours ago, wallosh said:

I agree Conte might play that trio against average teams but we will go back to 4-5-1 against top or good team and Zouma won't get a chance if we are to play for 4 at the back.
Just my opinion though, we never know how Conte rates Zouma so it's just a guess. And the fact that the papers are still linking us with Bonucci makes me think he probably isn't very impressed with Zouma yet.

Dont think it's a good idea to switch between systems that freely, we are already inconsistent and look lost at times, it took us a half to play into the 3-4-3/3-5-2 , Conte uses it to good effect and it something different Pl teams arent used to, i think if we get it right we stick with it, as the next 2 transfer windows go on if we get in personnel to suit it, could be very effective. 

Dont think it's a good idea to switch between systems that freely, we are already inconsistent and look lost at times, it took us a half to play into the 3-4-3/3-5-2 , Conte uses it to good effect and it something different Pl teams arent used to, i think if we get it right we stick with it, as the next 2 transfer windows go on if we get in personnel to suit it, could be very effective. 

Well I was thinking a top team will expose us if we go on with that formation, so I felt Conte might not want to take that risk.

Just now, wallosh said:

Well I was thinking a top team will expose us if we go on with that formation, so I felt Conte might not want to take that risk.

Why expose us, if the wing backs push up we have 1 extra in mid field and if they sit back we have 5 at the back and 2 DM's, it's a more defensive formation? The issue is going forward...

Why expose us, if the wing backs push up we have 1 extra in mid field and if they sit back we have 5 at the back and 2 DM's, it's a more defensive formation? The issue is going forward...

If our players can adapt and get used to it easily then I think it will make us hard to beat. But for now I can't see it happening though.