Christian Eriksen

[Kendall]

On the whole, Eriksen's pressing is poor, but he did press to make the goal on Sat!

 

[Mr Pink]

http://www.football365.com/f365-says/9495027/F365-Says

Good article and its why we must be patient.

A lot of us knew that Eriksen was a free spirit type. Harry would love him and Eriksen would love Harry. You can imagine Harry saying to him...just go out and get on the ball son and make something happen for us - you let the others worry about defending lol. And it would work a treat, in terms of Eriksen's role in the team, maybe not so much as a team overall.

As the article rightly mentions, this is the polar opposite as to what Poch will want. The team's style of play is all about every one buying into it and working together as a team. Not you do this but you don't so much.

It will take time and its really not surprising that Eriksen has made a slow start to the season, he was one of the ones that didn't look a good fit on the face of it.

If Pochettino can get him working hard off the ball we could be blown away with this guy in time, when we improve collectively in all facets. He's absolute quality on it for the most part.

 

[jezz]

For all of Townsend's weaknesses, at least he shows desire on the pitch

You mean like when he lost the ball against Liverpool and gave up chasing back?
Seriously you do all the work for the Townsend detractors with posts like this.

 

[TaoistMonkey]

I can just about understand the other players mentioned but Chadli has 4 goals in 5 Premier League games so I think it's a little unfair to lump him in with the rest of them.

Its a team game

 

[mpickard2087]

I don't think its struggling to adapt to new tactics and ideas, Eriksen just seems to be in a bit of a slump in form currently. Forget what he is expected to do off the ball, since pre-season he hasn't done well with the ball at his feet... A poor touch, dawdling on the ball or making a poor choice/pass, its just not really happening for him in all aspects of the game.

 

[jezz]

Agree. I think chadli and Pamela both deserve a slightly milder beating than the other three I've mentioned.

I'd say Lamela is the hardest working of all our front 4.
We have scored 13 goals when Lamela has played, he has created 6 of them.
Not to shabby.

 

[Gassin's finest]

http://www.football365.com/f365-says/9495027/F365-Says

Was going to post this. Let's hope he adjusts. Would be a huge shame if he dropped off and lost interest because he simply doesn't enjoy that side of the game.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

He seems to have reverted to the form he showed under AVB; the 4-2-3-1 system just does not seem to suit him. Tim gave him near enough a free role, drifting in from a deeper position on the left, and asked the other players to work around him, leaving the half-fit Rose exposed (and vilified) and using Lennon to bulk up midfield on the right with the intention that this would free the central pair to cover Eriksen's wanderings. All rather shambolic, but Christian delivered.

I suspect that Eriksen is a bit of a free spirit, and that if you want a team with an identity, he needs to be at the heart of that identity, not shoe-horned into it.

It's not like he's been asked to play CB or DM by AVB or Pochettino though is it. He was played on the left coming from deep saturday in a very similar formation to what Sherwood played. And he was poor. He was great in a couple of games for AVB, so clearly he can do it.

It's not like he's been put in a straight jacket by AVB or Pochettino is it. The front 3 attacking midfielders have all been interchanging through games. The remit he's been given under both managers (fundamentally as a No.10) should be his natural position. He needs to show some desire to succeed.

You can't blame everything on AVB or Pochettino's system.

 

[guy]

View attachment 15583

I'd like to see us try this sort of thing, it'd wouldn't overload him with defensive duties, and he'd still be able break forward, get him on the ball a bit more.

Off topic, but how have u picked Townsend in there ahead of our leading scorer chadli?

 

[gavspur]

It's just my opinion on what our strongest team and formation could be.. I've also picked Walker at RB and he's out injured.. No big deal, just my onions.

 

[spurs9]

Good article and its why we must be patient.

A lot of us knew that Eriksen was a free spirit type. Harry would love him and Eriksen would love Harry. You can imagine Harry saying to him...just go out and get on the ball son and make something happen for us - you let the others worry about defending lol. And it would work a treat, in terms of Eriksen's role in the team, maybe not so much as a team overall.

As the article rightly mentions, this is the polar opposite as to what Poch will want. The team's style of play is all about every one buying into it and working together as a team. Not you do this but you don't so much.

It will take time and its really not surprising that Eriksen has made a slow start to the season, he was one of the ones that didn't look a good fit on the face of it.

If Pochettino can get him working hard off the ball we could be blown away with this guy in time, when we improve collectively in all facets. He's absolute quality on it for the most part.

It's also worth noting that Lallana only had 1 goal and 1 assists in his first 9 starts (14 inc sub apps) under Poch in that first (last half of the) season and it wasn't until the 5th game of the next season that he registered either an assist or goal.

I have no idea how his general play was (though Southampton fans say he was lazy and more worried about his hair, even when on form) but it looks as though it took him 13-17 games to adapt.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

I personally think he just needs a strong kick up the backside....along with Ade, Soldado, chadli and Lamela. There's something not right with their attitude on the pitch.

What the actual fuck are you talking about? Lamela puts in more effort than anyone else in our squad.

 

[stevespurs]

I think he has just lost a bit of form atm. His passing, shooting, corners and free kicks have been, well a bit shit really. Could be an early season fatigue, or a thinking about his positional place in the team. I think he would suit that Modric role, but players form does come and go.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I think he has just lost a bit of form atm. His passing, shooting, corners and free kicks have been, well a bit shit really. Could be an early season fatigue, or a thinking about his positional place in the team. I think he would suit that Modric role, but players form does come and go.

Not of his quotes are anything to go by he wouldn't even in a CM3. And you can't play him in a CM2, he makes Modric seem like Roy Keane.

 

[St José Dominguez]

People put far too much weight in their opinions using stats. If that free kick he hit bar with had gone in and he'd bundled another chance in I bet everyone would be saying he'd started the season really well and ignore all the other possible negatives that have been said. I'm not sure Eriksen has had any worse or better start to the season than Chadli overall it's just so happens one has 4 goals. I've always been a little 50/50 on Eriksen as saw a lot of him at Ajax, personally I think fans overhyped him a little on the back of what was admittedly a very good season goals and assists wise. Currently though I think his place is a little under threat, and if I'm honest I'm struggling a bit to see how Lamela and Eriksen can work in same team. But, he is talented and maybe it's just a matter of being patient and allow him to improve the aspects of game in which he needs to under Poch to work in his team. That should be said about every player in squad though, but sadly that doesn't tend to be the case.

 

[mw828]

I guess I just disagree with everyone regarding his pressing. I think he is one of the few players we have that actually knows how to press. The only problem is about half the time the other forward players are walking around so it isn't exactly hard to break it.

100% of our last 1 goals were created by Eriksen's pressing.

 

[guy]

It's obvious he's out of form, you don't need stats to tell you that. It's punctuated by his horrendous set pieces. That to me shows it's nothing to do with his position, or formations, it's just form. He's a little off the pace, and he isn't striking the ball 100%.

Hopefully it'll all come together soon. Him, Lamela and Chadli in form together will be a thing of beauty!

 

[mano-obe]

He hasn't hit the form of last season yet but I'm not too concerned. Another manager has come in and he's tweaking with the players still. I like Eriksen further up the pitch and central in a number 10 role personally, his goal return of 9 and 6 assists last season was fantastic, hopefully he go a bit better this year. He will come good I have no doubt about it. I can't wait to see Chadlii, Lamela and Eriksen hit top form, I don't think either of the three have got out of first gear yet

 

[mano-obe]

Hopefully it'll all come together soon. Him, Lamela and Chadli in form together will be a thing of beauty!

Sorry did not see you had wrote that, I weren't being a copycat!

 

[CockFlavour]

Speaking of stats..

http://statsbomb.com/2014/10/attacking-contribution-metric-and-man-uniteds-reliance-on-di-maria/