Team vs Villa

[fatpiranha]

So long as we don't play Fazio against Agbonlahor I fancy us to win this one.

 

[double0]

So long as we don't play Fazio against Agbonlahor I fancy us to win this one.[/QUOTED]

I reckon he'd do a better job than Vertonghen and Kaboul. I believe he reads the game better than both imo

 

[We'llWinThePrem]

Lloris
Naughton Fazio Vertonghen Rose
Stambouli Mason
Lamela Eriksen Chadli
Kane

Vorm Kaboul Dier Dembele Townsend Soldado Adebayor​

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I don't think it can all be heaped at Mason's door, were just not quite up to speed as a collective yet, i believe mainly due to the freedom Poch has given the AM's, i see quite a disconnect between the holding two and the attacking 3.

No, I agree, it can't, and isn't the only issue, but this problem about how do get the best out of a CM2 is a conundrum that has proven impossible to solve for us and many many others over the years, especially, as you say, if the peripheral players aren't contributing enough off the ball too.

 

[Chris12]

......................Lloris
Naughton...Dier...Vertonghen...Rose
.............Stambouli...Mason...............
Lamela...........Kane.............Chadli
.....................Soldado.......................

Personally wouldn't mind seeing Stambouli in PL action, quite like how did against Brighton defensively, intercepted a few and some good tackles as well, and with Capoue possibly being injured then think should start... Would like to see Kane given role behind Soldado since both looking good and would replace Eriksen just cause hasn't been playing to well and Chadli will offer us a bit more pace..

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Interesting points here, and you present your case well.

I think it's still early days though for the comparison of Mason vs Bentaleb. You also have to take into consideration for statistic analysis, especially in the offensive category (such as key passes and chances created), that Mason's sample size includes at Arsenal, at Man City, home to the team now currently 2nd in the table, and a surprise loss to Newcastle. Point is, these were tough matches for us to work on improvement from a team perspective. As has been pointed out, because we've allowed those teams to come at us in those matches, there are not consistent targets for a new player tasked with the No 8 role.

Bentaleb and Capoue again may be more sound defensively, but as we saw during the Liverpool game a couple months ago it doesn't matter if they're being run around. All that positional discipline can equate to nothing if they can't even catch the very players they're assigned to prevent. There is just not enough pace in that midfield to combat the modern technical sides, nor is there enough transitional play away (which Poch himself commented on). Bentaleb does make the occasional incisive pass, but he is not the type to pick up the ball and drive the opposition back. He's not quick, he's not aggressive enough, and isn't consistent enough with forward passes.

On even just a basic level, I don't see Mason's movements forward causing that much trouble for Capoue anyway. I think what's caused him more trouble if anything, including in that Liverpool game, has been our instability at right back. He spends a lot of time in that pocket on the right when Dier's playing, and often in awkward situations.

All I can say is, I'm happy to see Mason given some time, but I've witnessed this many times before over the years. The dynamics of a CM2 are such that balance of skills, dynamism and discipline needs to be very right for it to work well, without compromising one or both. Even when we had Modric in a CM2, it left us vulnerable at times, especially with a load of chocolate teapots around that CM2.

 

[DaSpurs]

All I can say is, I'm happy to see Mason given some time, but I've witnessed this many times before over the years. The dynamics of a CM2 are such that balance of skills, dynamism and discipline needs to be very right for it to work well, without compromising one or both. Even when we had Modric in a CM2, it left us vulnerable at times, especially with a load of chocolate teapots around that CM2.

All very true, but we have to find that balance even if it means crap until then. We have to find a way to shield the back line, provide for the attack, and also push the opposition back such as to allow for the former two points and much more. As of right now, Mason is the most suitable and well-rounded option towards establishing that balance ASAP, so it may be inefficient for now but it just has to happen.

 

[ClintEastwould]

Seriously.......Townsend......that guy who was horrendous last night, the guy who runs into people and then loses the ball. I cannot see anything in Townsend that makes me think that he is a footballer, he is just an athlete who runs kind of fast in a straight line. In the first half last night we had zero creativity, a few launched balls in to the box with his right foot and a few cr*p shots from outside the area.

You could actively see Soldado getting frustrated as he kept on making the runs yet just got completely ignored. As for you saying Capoue babysits Lamela, that is just laughable, Lamela actively tracks back more than any of our front three. Out of all the things said of Townsend, his worst aspect is tracking back, he makes last seasons Danny Rose look like the most motivated man on earth.

I can see you have an agenda with Lamela but come on, Lamela has more goals & assists in 11 games this season than Townsend has in the 37 games he has played since the start of last season......

Since the start of last season Townsend has gotten a combined total of 5 goals/assists in 45 appearances while in the same time period lamela has notched a combined total of 14 in 34 appearances.

Lamela also has 9 goals/assists in 15 appearances this season. But yeah we should probably bench him for andros

 

[joevictory]

Hugo

Dier. Kaboul. Verts. Rose

Dembele. Mason

Lamela. Eriksen. Lennon

Kane

 

[yiddo23]

Naughton for dier, Soldado for Lennon. Maybe Benji for moussa but I'd be perfectly fine with moussa and mason.

 

[EastLondonYid]

If Soldado doesn't start..........i would like to see a team with no Ade and tbh i wouldn't be gutted with no Chadli.

 

[double0]

If Soldado doesn't start..........i would like to see a team with no Ade and tbh i wouldn't be gutted with no Chadli.

I agree Ade needs a few games on the bench...it might also put that fire back in his belly. In fairness I think Chadli ( stats may prove statement wrong ) has been more productive than Eriksen so far but Iam ok with both on the teamsheet.

 

[sim0n]

with so many differing views, it does seem most everyone wants to see Stambouli and Mason as the central mid pairing.

after that, everyone one else is either loved or hated in relatively even measures...

 

[idontgetit]

Soldado, Kane, Eriksen and Lamela have to play together. They have a bit of pace up top so Kaboul over Fazio for me. Naughton comes back in at RB. Mason in the middle with Stambouli who's tackling can help free up Mason to dictate the game from the middle. Simples

 

[TH1239]

We have to win this game. We are now sitting in 12th and Villa is in the worst form of any team in the league. Lose this game and we'll be sitting as low as 16th, barely clear of the bottom three after the first quarter of the season. That'll ratchet the pressure up on Poch to unbearable levels. He's got to make the right line-up selections to start with.

 

[gerishep]

We have to win this game. We are now sitting in 12th and Villa is in the worst form of any team in the league. Lose this game and we'll be sitting as low as 16th, barely clear of the bottom three after the first quarter of the season. That'll ratchet the pressure up on Poch to unbearable levels. He's got to make the right line-up selections to start with.

we are already 14th.

 

[goughie1966]

None of Lamela, Eriksen or Chadli deserves to start.

So who'd you have start instead of them?

 

[SlickMongoose]

So who'd you have start instead of them?

Modric, Bale and Ginola.

 

[ClonedFromSandrosBeard]

I'll be happy whoever plays!

 

[yiddo23]

Perfect game to experiment with 3 at the back