1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

Yep. Kante and Kovacic were amazing against Atletico, you can see it suited them, and Werner and Pulisic are both naturally suited to pacey football, so I don't know why we don't do it more. Most of our squad would suit this style of football more, but for some reason, we just don't do it.

It seems like they are terrified of losing possession, even and possibly especially against teams that don't have much attacking talent.   They've been passing back into trouble since TT got here.  It caught up to them Saturday.  I find myself almost screaming LOOK FORWARD!!!!!!  There will be guys open forward and they will make a risky back pass.  IDK.

Granted the teams we've played aren't all A listers we have only conceded twice in the champions league this season. 

While our attack may be struggling at least we can defend. It might not be possible to be the best attacking team in the world but the best defensive well that might just he attainable. A good attack wins games, a good defense wins titles.

Edited April 8, 20215 yr by LongtimerLurker

Next Season:

-------------------------------Mendy-----------------------------

James---------Thiago----------Rudiger----------------Chilwell/A.Sandro

----------------------------Nididi------------------------------------

----------------Kante----------------Mount--------------------------

Pulisic--------------------Haaland-----------------------Werner

Buy: Haaland, Nididi, Swap Emerson for A.Sandro

Sell: Abrahams, Jorginho, Ziyech

 

I'll have to copy my Scribbles on here for formations, and who to keep and bin, surprised myself tbh, my favoured formation ended up 1-1-3-5-1, but it might resemble @fifa 21, lol
Hoddles sweeper role was very revolutionary for the top division

On 04/04/2021 at 00:37, Ballack & Blu said:

Its a bit of a sweeping statement, with no real answers atm, as i believe we don't have the personnel to play constant fast direct attacking football, maybe 2 or 3 times a game we collectively go Wow, or Yesss, 
Why do we get the ball forward fast on the RH side for instance then decide to play little triangles, today for instance, Reece, ziyech, Dave, then the ball goes back to a MF, look at West Brom 3rd goal, instantly wide, first time cross, brilliant goal, but it was set up for a MF, i'm thinking Lamps and Gerrard would of at least tried to convert
I've been saying for Weeks, Werner is always poised to make a darting run, are our Mis blind, i can see the pass, their Pros ffs.

We need a big overhaul of substandard players, Kova for his work and eye-catching effort is always going to be in the Starting XI, unless Mount can become that player, or we get the 'Cesc' type we so need
Front 3 next year would be  

Werner......Aguero?........Pulisic/Cho

The problem lies almost entirely with our midfield. Jorginho and Kante both are hopeless in seeing forward opportunities and passing between the lines.

So many times we are in transition and these two cannot see or execute the forward, incisive pass. My hope is that the likes of Gallagher will be able to fill this void. Or maybe some new midfielder.

I’m gonna give the squad and the manager the benefit of the doubt this season, we aren’t pretty to watch but he’s come in and within 3 months he’s got us 3 points clear in the race for top 4 and in a champions league semi final. He’s made us solid and hard to beat and I think this season that’s what we needed, he game in at the start of February and it’s been a barrage of games it’s hard for us to play an entertaining style of football while getting results with our defenders.

 

I think with our current squad, a top CB and a top striker (along with a pre-season) we should be able to play more entertaining football, but for this season I think it’s just results driven and I’m fine with that for now.

26 minutes ago, ashwin said:

The problem lies almost entirely with our midfield. Jorginho and Kante both are hopeless in seeing forward opportunities and passing between the lines.

So many times we are in transition and these two cannot see or execute the forward, incisive pass. My hope is that the likes of Gallagher will be able to fill this void. Or maybe some new midfielder.

Its good when we can agree, the only thing wrong with Mount atm, is he really needs to score more, we should be getting 15 from him, or he will always be compared to lamps, Jorgi and Kante, is very Rice and Dier, Henderson combination for England, Zero creativity, we should get someone like Newcastles Wilson, and the Creme de la creme of Europes finest ball playing creative Mids, who that is i don't know, but again i'll bang on about Grealish till it hurts, cos he can pick a pass all day long, in a better team than Villas he i going to thrive, i know its in Tuchel DNa to play this way, His Dortmund were great to watch, and his PSG team should of achieved far more, what a team on paper...

Edited April 25, 20215 yr by Ballack & Blu

1 hour ago, Ballack & Blu said:

Its good when we can agree, the only thing wrong with Mount atm, is he really needs to score more, we should be getting 15 from him, or he will always be compared to lamps, Jorgi and Kante, is very Rice and Dier, Henderson combination for England, Zero creativity, we should get someone like Newcastles Wilson, and the Creme de la creme of Europes finest ball playing creative Mids, who that is i don't know, but again i'll bang on about Grealish till it hurts, cos he can pick a pass all day long, in a better team than Villas he i going to thrive, i know its in Tuchel DNa to play this way, His Dortmund were great to watch, and his PSG team should of achieved far more, what a team on paper...

Yes Mount needs to score more. He does score the odd important goal from us yet not nearly as many as he might.

Grealish is not the answer for me, slows the game down dribbles past a couple and puts in a decent cross or pass. He could be a great yet does not have a killer strike.

Harvey Barnes and Lingard stand out as goal scoring midfielders and in this regard and are better than Mount at scoring. Mount does have other attributes yet not clinical enough.

 

We need to find a Gundogan, and hope he turns into what Pep has transformed at City, another player Tuchel knows well, I'm actually struggling to think of A Kroos/Veratti type we could get, i'd love Billy to do it, but he should be smashing the door down, unless he isn't as good as he might of appeared?

I don't think we'll move on from the 3 man backline next season without a major signing at the back, and if we really don't then I'd like to see Reece at RCB and CHO/Puli being given the freedom to always have a go at players from RWB like in his first few games for Tuchel.

Not sure if any of you agree with me on this but for me Reece at RWB is one of the most infuriating players tbh, I may be a bit harsh on him, but it seems he regressed offensively from last season (just my eye test, didn't check any statistics). At the back he's getting better and better although a little bit reckless sometimes, but upfront he always seems to be messing up his off the ball movements (reacting a bit late for overlaps) or his crossing, which was particularly good before. At RCB I believe he can use his physical attributes to good use, and even though I'm complaining about his offensive skills, he'd be an upgrade over the current Azpi as a second outlet on the right side. 

Without any change in personnel, that and unleashing Billy is the simplest way I can see for the team to become a little more aggressive (plus the pre-season and the new signings finally getting up to the speed of the PL)

I personally think we've been playing good football under Tuchel. We've had some very tough games since he joined and have generally played well. Also looking really good against the top teams, which are games we've struggled with in recent years.

We played some of the best football in europe during the Crystal Palace game a couple of weeks back, especially in the first half. I think a lot people forget our attacking players are all still so young. Mount 22, Pulisic 22, Havertz 21, CHO 20.

32 minutes ago, Brigadeiro said:

I don't think we'll move on from the 3 man backline next season without a major signing at the back, and if we really don't then I'd like to see Reece at RCB and CHO/Puli being given the freedom to always have a go at players from RWB like in his first few games for Tuchel.

Not sure if any of you agree with me on this but for me Reece at RWB is one of the most infuriating players tbh, I may be a bit harsh on him, but it seems he regressed offensively from last season (just my eye test, didn't check any statistics). At the back he's getting better and better although a little bit reckless sometimes, but upfront he always seems to be messing up his off the ball movements (reacting a bit late for overlaps) or his crossing, which was particularly good before. At RCB I believe he can use his physical attributes to good use, and even though I'm complaining about his offensive skills, he'd be an upgrade over the current Azpi as a second outlet on the right side. 

Without any change in personnel, that and unleashing Billy is the simplest way I can see for the team to become a little more aggressive (plus the pre-season and the new signings finally getting up to the speed of the PL)

I agree that he is infuriating at RWB not sure on RCB as he concedes at least one dangerous free-kick per match which makes me wonder if that would be penalties if he played at RCB. He makes challenges he should avoid and often dives in, a judgement problem.

I think Billy needs a loan and don't see him as the answer any time soon. I think the loan should be to a possession based side.

 

 

 

I think Reeces positional play affects his game, he plays tight to the right touchline, normally facing the keeper, and Daves default ball is to him in this position, with the opposition right on him, he can only pass the ball back to Dave or the keeper, and that is really Daves fault, Jorgi is good at what he does, and Kova breaking lines, but that killer ball is missing from them 2 and Kante, so something needs to change.

4 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

I agree that he is infuriating at RWB not sure on RCB as he concedes at least one dangerous free-kick per match which makes me wonder if that would be penalties if he played at RCB. He makes challenges he should avoid and often dives in, a judgement problem.

I think Billy needs a loan and don't see him as the answer any time soon. I think the loan should be to a possession based side.

 

 

 

You're most likely right, I'm counting on his improvement in that area but we'd probably move on from the 1-0s to the good old nerve wrecking 4-3s 😅

As for Billy, is there a PL side where he would be a guaranteed starter? I'm always impressed by Brighton as they put up a good fight against everyone but not sure if he's fit for them. Maybe Palace if Frank does get the job? Don't really follow the Championship so dunno if there's a good side in that mold there. 

11 hours ago, Brigadeiro said:

Not sure if any of you agree with me on this but for me Reece at RWB is one of the most infuriating players tbh, I may be a bit harsh on him, but it seems he regressed offensively from last season (just my eye test, didn't check any statistics). 

I can sum that 

Reece isn't a wb 

It is that simple, his skillset fit a rb then a wb. 

I personally think our style of play is alright. We are missing a goalscoring midfielder and a clinical striker.

Our game comes to a halt because we lack these 2 players.