Nicolò Zaniolo

[Pebble Dash]

The number of times we've struggled to get anything from 'games like this' with players like Eriksen or whoever suggests this line of reasoning is somwehat flawed.

Hence why we need players who are capable of unlocking a low block. Ideally we need two creative midfielders, strength in depth and all that.

Alternatively we need to change formation and have that ever elusive target man in box… at bit like Burnley used to do.

If plan A doesn’t work, go to plan B or plan C. Whether that be personnel who offer a different skill set or a change in formation and tactics. Whereas at the mo we’ve more depth but everyone is like for like.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

I think it comes down to individual fans' stylistic preference. Conte's system simply will not fully appeal to those wanting a traditional number 10 play maker (like Eriksen or Maddison).

Being greedy, I'd love a player with that touch of magic, I know people will point to Kane or something but not for me, I don't mean that, I mean a proper skilful yoke, a Gazza, a Ginola or something. Trouble is there's hardly any of them around any more. Nowadays, players like Maddison or something are seen as that and they just aren't.

 

[Pebble Dash]

This, it is so hard to breakdown team who sit with two banks of 5! Just no space for passes between the lines. Maddison, Eriksen or whoever don’t mean you will get a breakthrough.

But they would give us something we don’t already have… a player capable of creating something or shooting from range.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

But they would give us something we don’t already have… a player capable of creating something or shooting from range.

We were one of the top scoring teams last season, especially once Conte got us ticking a bit better and we have plenty of players capable of shooting from range.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

The number probably already is lower. And we won fuck all when the numbers would have been lower with an Eriksen type so we're back where we started aren't we.

Look, i'd like that type of player too but to claim we would have won if we had one just isn't right. It isn't. There is no 'on the other hand', i'm talking about that claim specifically. Saying "but we won games with" has nothing to do with it, nobody is saying we didn't, we obviously did, just as we've won games without.

I think sometimes what we lack in those type of games are players to lift the tempo of the game we tend to become quite predictable take to many touches 'try to make sure' it allows defenders to get set and that makes defending easy. We don't have that type of player who lifts a games tempo really, the midfielders are all primarily safe players and the side is set for them to play that way out wide we don't hit early crosses none of the three wing backs we have seen can deliver a ball so we try to work the ball into the middle which when you defend tight across the back its hard to break down and often what happens is the three forwards either end up looking for space out wide or become isolated from each other.

A decent crosser of the ball would be nice but not really the way the man wants to play but a midfield player who can drive on score a few goals and ask question of defenders when they defending deep would make life a touch easier

 

[KILLA_SIN]

But they would give us something we don’t already have… a player capable of creating something or shooting from range.

Kane/Son score long range frequently Dejan is capable

 

[Scot-Spur]

But they would give us something we don’t already have… a player capable of creating something or shooting from range.

Conte doesn’t use a 10 so they would be shoehorned into the side. Our issue is we play the ball a little slow at times. It’s sharp incisive passing that creates chances.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

We were one of the top scoring teams last season, especially once Conte got us ticking a bit better and we have plenty of players capable of shooting from range.

Kane Son and no one else really - what will the midfield offer us in goals next season? if any of them get above 3 it will be a minor miracle Hojberg looks the most likely and he has a just a little more finesse than Freund when it comes to finishing

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

I think sometimes what we lack in those type of games are players to lift the tempo of the game we tend to become quite predictable take to many touches 'try to make sure' it allows defenders to get set and that makes defending easy. We don't have that type of player who lifts a games tempo really, the midfielders are all primarily safe players and the side is set for them to play that way out wide we don't hit early crosses none of the three wing backs we have seen can deliver a ball so we try to work the ball into the middle which when you defend tight across the back its hard to break down and often what happens is the three forwards either end up looking for space out wide or become isolated from each other.

A decent crosser of the ball would be nice but not really the way the man wants to play but a midfield player who can drive on score a few goals and ask question of defenders when they defending deep would make life a touch easier

Along those lines, for me, i'd like to see us play with a higher tempo (as you say) and get in behind their defence more often.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Kane Son and no one else really - what will the midfield offer us in goals next season? if any of them get above 3 it will be a minor miracle Hojberg looks the most likely and he has a just a little more finesse than Freund when it comes to finishing

Well, as for the midfield, you're guessing, we just don't know that yet do we

I bet our scoring from outside the area improves.

 

[JRHartley1]

Being greedy, I'd love a player with that touch of magic, I know people will point to Kane or something but not for me, I don't mean that, I mean a proper skilful yoke, a Gazza, a Ginola or something. Trouble is there's hardly any of them around any more. Nowadays, players like Maddison or something are seen as that and they just aren't.

Its what N'Dombele was suppose to be. My favourite was Ronaldinho, absolute magician with the ball at his feet.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Just as I was getting my feet under the table the A&C-ette wants a lift. Laters all.

 

[Jamturk]

To be fair to him he was playing up against Romero.

 

[spids]

Being greedy, I'd love a player with that touch of magic, I know people will point to Kane or something but not for me, I don't mean that, I mean a proper skilful yoke, a Gazza, a Ginola or something. Trouble is there's hardly any of them around any more. Nowadays, players like Maddison or something are seen as that and they just aren't.

Careful, you'll wake up the Ndombele fans....

 

[s_purs]

There's lots of talk of long range shooting, crossing, etc. But for me the player I'd love to add to the squad is a free kick specialist as we are awful at that.
Zaniolo isn't that player from what I understand?

Someone like Maddison and JWP are that, with Mads having some other skills too. They would help us a huge amount in my opinion.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

Well, as for the midfield, you're guessing, we just don't know that yet do we

I bet our scoring from outside the area improves.

I am guessing of course but I am basing it on what we have seen Bentacur doesn't push on really and his shooting has been at best erratic he might nick a goal or two from set pieces as he does attack the ball ok from them but he is only ever scored 4 goals in his career- Hojberg he tries and runs all day but I don't think he has hit one from outside the box which has either reached the goal or ended up in row z 2 a season - Skipp don't look as though he his going to contribute many and Bissouma gets 1 a season at best -

if you add that to the back 5 Romero 1 goal last season and that was a banjo job Dier hasn't scored for ages Davies 1 season if where lucky we are then relying on the wing backs Perisic might do ok but I don't see to many from the others -

the front men really need a little bit of help

 

[Finchyid]

I think it comes down to individual fans' stylistic preference. Conte's system simply will not fully appeal to those wanting a traditional number 10 play maker (like Eriksen or Maddison).

i don’t care what style it is I just want to win something…trusting conte has more chance that beautiful football

 

[Robbo1/2way]

First post, please be kind ?
I feel we have a lot of head down players just playing too a system, pass back, pass sideways on repeat.
Feel we have a strong squad for this system but are just that 1 player with a bit of magic who plays with his head up, we need more vision in that AM role.
Hoddle in this team would be scary!!

 

[jakuba]

I am guessing of course but I am basing it on what we have seen Bentacur doesn't push on really and his shooting has been at best erratic he might nick a goal or two from set pieces as he does attack the ball ok from them but he is only ever scored 4 goals in his career- Hojberg he tries and runs all day but I don't think he has hit one from outside the box which has either reached the goal or ended up in row z 2 a season - Skipp don't look as though he his going to contribute many and Bissouma gets 1 a season at best -

if you add that to the back 5 Romero 1 goal last season and that was a banjo job Dier hasn't scored for ages Davies 1 season if where lucky we are then relying on the wing backs Perisic might do ok but I don't see to many from the others -

the front men really need a little bit of help

Reliance on an effective front 3 does seem the basis of Conte's teams a lot of the time.

Chelsea's midfield was hardly awash with goalscorers in his time there when they had Kante and Matic starting the lion's share of games together. The majority of the burden fell on Hazard, Costa and whichever of Pedro and Willian played.

Assuming things go to plan I'd expect they're hoping for Son, Kane and Kulusevski to get a high percentage of our goals with the rest of the team getting the odd collector's item.

 

[werty]

The number of times we've struggled to get anything from 'games like this' with players like Eriksen or whoever suggests this line of reasoning is somwehat flawed.

The number of times would have been a lot higher without players like Eriksen.