Team v Man City

[TheAmerican]

We are already narrow every single game, so we may as well collapse to the middle, control it, and run a 4312.

Who knows if Davies will be available come the weekend.

 

[Mr Pink]

We are already narrow every single game, so we may as well collapse to the middle, control it, and run a 4312.

Who knows if Davies will be available come the weekend.

I like that you're showing how Harry will drop deep at times

 

[TheAmerican]

I like that you're showing how Harry will drop deep at times

I corrected that! I love Harry so much I must have wanted more of him while making the team

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

We are already narrow every single game, so we may as well collapse to the middle, control it.

Interesting thought. Following it through would be to suggest doing the 4-2-2-2 which Ciity applied themselves last season.

 

[DaSpurs]

We are already narrow every single game, so we may as well collapse to the middle, control it, and run a 4312.

Who knows if Davies will be available come the weekend.

Interesting idea actually, and one I like (although I'd play Yedlin and move Dier to CB). I think it'd be all the more practical since City don't really use much width anyway, but rather power and ability right through the middle.

 

[E17yid]

Hugo
Vlad Dier Vertonghen Rose
Bentaleb Dembele
Chadli Mason Eriksen
Kane

 

[jezz]

I really do think it's a coincidence, or it's certainly nothing to do with Lamela who was largely pants against Newcastle and not exactly overwhelming against Saints.

I was pleased to see him actually make a run into the box against Southampton though. Can't remember him doing that much this season so hopefully he'll continue to do that if he's played. And at least he seemed to have cut out most of the stupid giving the ball away as well.

I just think that if it's a straight decision between Lamela and Chadli at the moment you have to go with the guy who's scored 12 goals this season.

I'd say let's try playing Lamela in behind Kane, but against City I think he'd get mullered by their defensive midfielders.

Is that the Chadli and Eriksen who started against Burnley and Villa?
I'd agree against Newcastle first half he wasn't good.
Second half didn't lose the ball at all, o and we won.
Getting in the box?
You know I pay a lot of attention to Lamela and he's been getting in the box alot more than you think.
I more worried about Eriksen getting overrun by citys DM than Lamela.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Is that the Chadli and Eriksen who started against Burnley and Villa?
I'd agree against Newcastle first half he wasn't good.
Second half didn't lose the ball at all, o and we won.
Getting in the box?
You know I pay a lot of attention to Lamela and he's been getting in the box alot more than you think.
I more worried about Eriksen getting overrun by citys DM than Lamela.

It's the Chadli and Eriksen who have had far more good games and scored a lot more goals than Lamela.

I agree that neither are perfect and both are capable of having limited impact at times, but both are also capable of goals out of nothing which is pretty invaluable.

You simply can't argue that Lamela has had more of an impact this season than Eriksen and Chadli which is why, if both are fit, both should play ahead of him. And for me we can only play 2 out of the 3 of them at the moment.

 

[jezz]

It's the Chadli and Eriksen who have had far more good games and scored a lot more goals than Lamela.

I agree that neither are perfect and both are capable of having limited impact at times, but both are also capable of goals out of nothing which is pretty invaluable.

You simply can't argue that Lamela has had more of an impact this season than Eriksen and Chadli which is why, if both are fit, both should play ahead of him. And for me we can only play 2 out of the 3 of them at the moment.

I disagree you play the players in form.
Eriksen is well of the pace and has been for some time.
Yes both Chadli and Eriksen may well pop up with a goal, but if they don't they become passengers.
At least if Erik doesn't score he will do everything else to help the team.
And you know he will create a chance for someone.

 

[DaSpurs]

I disagree you play the players in form.
Eriksen is well of the pace and has been for some time.
Yes both Chadli and Eriksen may well pop up with a goal, but if they don't they become passengers.
At least if Erik doesn't score he will do everything else to help the team.
And you know he will create a chance for someone.

If you believed that, if you actually believed that, you wouldn't have been calling for Lamela to play so much this season.

 

[Chris12]

If you believed that, if you actually believed that, you wouldn't have been calling for Lamela to play so much this season.

Not necessarily because if other options out of form, which has been the case for most of season, then pick your fav or think who is more effective.

 

[Hazelton]

I believe we have to stick with the Lamela, Eriksen and Chadli attacking three as long as it's working. They haven't put in their best performances by any means, but neither has Kane and it would be ridiculous to drop him. All four have scored goals in the past couple of games and that fact alone currently makes them our most effective attacking line-up.

If we had better options in the squad, I'd be all for switching it up, but unfortunately we don't. Just my opinion, but I don't see Townsend as an improvement. Not even close.

 

[DaSpurs]

Not necessarily because if other options out of form, which has been the case for most of season, then pick your fav or think who is more effective.

Very true, but some folks have been calling for him to keep staying in the side even when he's been poor. That's fine, but such a stance directly contradicts "those in form stay in the side."

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

Lloris

Yedlin Dier Verts Rose

Stambouli Bentaleb

Lamela Mason Chadli

Kane​

This, with Onomah and Winks on the subs bench. I appreciate the quality of the opponent, but it would be a massive learning curve for the lads, even for 15 minutes. They need blooding in sooner rather than later. Makes no sense not to IMO.

 

[jezz]

Very true, but some folks have been calling for him to keep staying in the side even when he's been poor. That's fine, but such a stance directly contradicts "those in form stay in the side."

Like when?
Tell me when I said this.
I think you will find I said he needed time out.
especially when we had just played Everton and said Lennon should keep his place.

 

[Syn_13]

We are already narrow every single game, so we may as well collapse to the middle, control it, and run a 4312.

Who knows if Davies will be available come the weekend.

I like this, but the full backs won't let it work.

Juve have been playing this kind of formation for the majority of the season. Only difference is they've had Pirlo anchor in midfield and there's 3 in front of him so it's more of a 4-1-3-2, than the 4-3-1-2.

When Juve play that way they pretty much leave 2 at the back as Evra and Lichtsteiner play almost like wingers at times. Pirlo will drop, but Vidal, Marchisio and Pogba will always put a shift in to get back.

My one change in shape would be to make that middle a diamond and put Stambouli as the anchorman. I'd then put Dier in CB and try out Yedlin. The fullbacks can press forward to provide width and Stambouli can drop back to cover alongside Dier and Verts if hit on the break.

 

[yiddo23]

We are already narrow every single game, so we may as well collapse to the middle, control it, and run a 4312.

Who knows if Davies will be available come the weekend.

Lamela has to play...and dont think stambouli should be playing his first game in ages against city, paulinho or dembele would be much better option in there

 

[DaSpurs]

Lamela has to play...and dont think stambouli should be playing his first game in ages against city, paulinho or dembele would be much better option in there

I don't mind Stambouli in this one, I think he has good energy and could put in a solid shift along with two other deep midfielders.

I agree on Lamela though, I'd play him over Eriksen. I think he'd do a much better job of blunting Toure's runs than Eriksen would, and Eriksen just flat out needs a date with the pinewood anyway.

 

[TheAmerican]

Lamela has to play...and dont think stambouli should be playing his first game in ages against city, paulinho or dembele would be much better option in there

I overlooked Dembele, he would be my pick at the top of the midfield 3, shifting Mason to the right side.

 

[iluvsteffenfreund]

Let's not carry anyone in this game please. No Davies and no mason. Let's have a strong 11 rather than a good 8 or 9 and always carrying two or three players.