- Aug 30, 2010
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All about opposition, home vs. away and where we strengthen.
I think most good teams have a degree of adaptability and movement in their line-ups. Players who can tuck in, create space, stretch the opposition midfield and backline. To do that though you need some disciplined/intelligent players to balance out that freedom to move out of position.
Defensively we've been inconsistent and we've had zero cover from midfield this season - both elements inhibit our ability to be flexible in attack and allow for that freedom in our attacking players. Aurier has basically been turned into an attacking threat (with some success) because he destabilises our ability to defend. Whilst this has helped against some teams and in some games, it's not optimal against everyone.
Not sure this will be the window to do it but our work on our defence needs to continue and for me, we still massively need a dynamic, modern DM to get the most out of GLC and TN. Those two for me, bridge the gap from midfield into attack and would allow the likes of Dele to shift into space and make intelligent runs, where he's most effective.
All true but I don't see where Dele fits in with 3 in CMF. He doesn't produce anything much playing wide and if he is to play it would compromise Son and Bergwijn. Will probably get howls of derision, but, much as I like Dele, I'd be OK with losing (obviously for astronomical money) him if we could bring in a really top quality DM and play a predominantly 433 shape.
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