Why on earth we keep playing Bruno there? He's a liability in that position. I'd rather have an inexperienced DM in CM then a no 10 thrown in CM. Don't take me wrong it can be done (Pirlo, Scholes etc) but to change that mentality you'll have to have a beast of a DM in the Keane/Gattuso mould. We lack that
In light of the news today (Amad possibly out for the season, Mainoo, Collyer and Ugarte out (at least for Spurs)) how would you line us up?
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Why on earth we keep playing Bruno there? He's a liability in that position. I'd rather have an inexperienced DM in CM then a no 10 thrown in CM. Don't take me wrong it can be done (Pirlo, Scholes etc) but to change that mentality you'll have to have a beast of a DM in the Keane/Gattuso mould. We lack that
You surely have to throw in some youth and mix things up, if he's intent on not changing the formation, what other option is there.
We’re going to see Casemiro and Eriksen again aren’t we
If that’s the case we may as well forfeit the game and take the automatic 3-0 loss because things will get a lot uglier if we don’t.
It would be negligence bordering on self-harm, but I'm almost certain we will, at least before the season is over, if not today. Terrifying.
I guess to add some creativity from the midfield.
I agree with you, though, I never liked the idea of Rooney in the midfield and am not a big fan of Bruno in the middle either. Other than the ability to spot a pass they do not have the skills to play in central midfield. Scholes/Pirlo had exemplary vision, were also very good in tight spaces and the skills to maneuver the ball. Bruno like Rooney lacks in those areas.
Our issue is that we do not have anyone else with good ability on the ball. Casemiro is very very erratic and doesn't have the legs. Eriksen is a little better but has mobility of a slug. That only leaves Bruno with some creativity and work rate to pair with a more defensively minded mid in either Ugarte or Collyer. I wish Case moved on in Jan and we got someone else. However, it looks like the club has decided for a complete reset. They are going to get rid of all the high earners and pensioners before they invest in new players.
I'd still like to think this is some kind of pump fake to throw the oposition off and test for leaks, or a silly rumour that has gone viral that the club see no benefit in shooting down before the game.
Firstly how are so many players featuring in the same position getting injured in such a short space of time that time being a week when we haven't played a game and have only trained?
Secondly how is this type of info still getting out of the club on a regular basis without official announcement?
Both call serious questions as to what's still going on at this club unless this is a hoax.
Firstly how are so many players featuring in the same position getting injured in such a short space of time that time being a week when we haven't played a game and have only trained?
Secondly how is this type of info still getting out of the club on a regular basis without official announcement?
Both call serious questions as to what's still going on at this club unless this is a hoax.
We should have the sense to know that we can afford to play one of them, but not both. Ideally, we wouldn't see either.
In my opinion balance is everything. Now the DM is 70% legs hence why I never understood Casemiro's signing but I digress. There are other things of course like positioning but I'd rather have someone who can run and had been trained in the role then either a makeshift DM or someone who is too old to run. Kone is a natural DM whose still young, he has quite an engine and can carry the ball forward. Some (ex howson think he's better in that role then colyer or mainoo.
Kone lacks experience. It's where casemiro comes in. He might not run as much as Bruno but his runs have purpose and he's got discipline. Bruno/mainoo (once fit) can play as no 10 with the role to drop deep and help while garnacho can play in a most advanced side
I'd be shocked if we ever saw them partnered together as we did in the Newcastle game. Amorim would have a lot to answer for if he did that.
Throwing in youth and mixing it up away to Spurs is probably not the best time to do it .
I’m thinking one of Ugarte or Collyer will be ok
I don't see how its any worse than putting two planks of wood in our midfield. At least with some youth there's a chance of a surprise. It's not that much of a huge baptism of fire for kids that it would ruin them mentally.
At this point, who fecking cares
I’d be surprised if one of Collyer or Ugarte doesn’t start .
I do
Fair play. At this point I'm numb to the merry-go-round of pure negativity, bad luck and overall doom surrounding the club.
Kone is a young ingenue who has come straight from the Malian league. I don't think he is anywhere near ready to start PL games. Has he even played U21 games or is he still getting minutes for the U18's? Even for either, how many minutes has he got? Unless the plan is to permanently scar him, I don't he should be starting games. It is always better to ease young players to the rigors of PL football. 10-15 minutes here and there when we are comfortably winning games.
Midfield, imo, is the toughest position on the field and you simply cannot throw someone that young and new to the country to get shattered. Who is this Howson? Kone might have skills that are superior to Collyer or Mainoo but skills is only 25% of the deal, the rest is a mixture of mentality, physicality, experience, familiarity etc. It'll be a while before Kone is ready to contribute, forget start games for us in the league.
Bayindir
Mazraoui Maguire Yoro
Dalot Fernandes Kone Dorgu
Zirkzee Garnacho
Obi Martin
Mazraoui Maguire Yoro
Dalot Fernandes Kone Dorgu
Zirkzee Garnacho
Obi Martin
It’s going to get worse than better unfortunately but I am looking forward to see him blood new academy players. I’ve a feeling we’ll have no option next season to use these players unless we win Europa or the FA cup.
Onana
De Ligt. Maguire. Yoro
Dorgu. Mazraoui. Bruno. Dalot
Garnacho Zirkzee
Hojlund
Don’t see the point of picking Casemiro or Eriksen unless we get more injuries.De Ligt. Maguire. Yoro
Dorgu. Mazraoui. Bruno. Dalot
Garnacho Zirkzee
Hojlund
Would love to see Kone, when I say he is further behind I mean physically, not experience, if he was a bit stronger he would be top of my list to step up
“Unless we get more injuries”
They’re literally two of the three fit players capable of playing CM.
Keep Dorgu at LWB for me.
Surprised there’s a legitimate chance Kone and Chido could get minutes today. Neither is ready for PL but hands been forced, one or both could conceivably come off the bench.
In a way this helps Amorim because if results and performances remain poor, a raft of injuries to key players will be the excuse.
He has no choice but to promote youth players and then we'll see just how much his influence on the training ground and his methods are being taken on board by the younger players added to the squad. It'll also expose whether our youth squad is good enough for where we need to be.
He has no choice but to promote youth players and then we'll see just how much his influence on the training ground and his methods are being taken on board by the younger players added to the squad. It'll also expose whether our youth squad is good enough for where we need to be.
Casemeiro Bruno Eriksen Garnacho ZirkZee. Probably a better team than what he usually plays. Be much better in possession.
This is going to be our weakest match day squad in the history of the Premier league
Onana
Mazraoui - Yoro - de Ligt - Maguire - Lindelöf
Dalot - - - - - - - - Casemiro - - - Koné - - - - - - - - Dorgu
Bruno
Mazraoui - Yoro - de Ligt - Maguire - Lindelöf
Dalot - - - - - - - - Casemiro - - - Koné - - - - - - - - Dorgu
Bruno
Old Gregg?
Bayindir
Maz, De Ligt, Yoro
Dalot, Bruno, Casemiro, Eriksen, Dorgu
Hojlund/Zirkzee, Garnacho
3-5-2.
Maz, De Ligt, Yoro
Dalot, Bruno, Casemiro, Eriksen, Dorgu
Hojlund/Zirkzee, Garnacho
3-5-2.
Grim
I think Bayindir is injured
Well it's going to be Cas & Bruno in the middle, with Eriksen ahead of them and probably Garna as AML/LW and Hojlund upfront.
Onana
De Ligt Maguire Yoro
Dalot Maz Bruno Dorgu
Zirkzee Hojlund Garnacho
Slowly bed in Obi, Kone and Amass giving them 20 minutes here and there in the league as it’s a write off anyway, and focus on the cups for the rest of the season.De Ligt Maguire Yoro
Dalot Maz Bruno Dorgu
Zirkzee Hojlund Garnacho
No point playing them unless we really have to as they are clearly not in our future plans.
Dorgu on the right as per Amorim’s comments, I’d prefer to switch them as well.
Before I answer this I wanna highlight that we are going through the same kind of injury crisis as United. Clearly there was some problems with Amorim's pre season and season planning. We have been plagued with injuries since the Amorim days (specifically Morita and Pote) with the culmination of being without 7 SEVEN starters in the CL game against Dortmund. Amorim's stubbornness regarding small squads is derailing our season.
This comes from the days where he insisted playing a season with just one striker, Paulinho. Our board has responsibility because they didn't use the January transfer market to strengthen our squad but Amorim also has to be blamed for our injury woes that I suspect comes from pre season planning and running our players to the ground with insufficient squad rotation, rest and high intensity use of key players.
Amorim uses a mix of academy players and using players out of position when facing injury crisis.
So basically Amorim doesn’t rotate and runs players into the ground? And pre season won’t fix us? feck.
That's the reality of our season and he has his fair share of responsibility. Regarding United, it's a different matter and I don't know where his responsability lies.
I’d of stuck Maz in midfield and played Lindelof over Hojlund.
I hate the 343 but this would have been a better line up imo. Helps with Casemiro lack of legs.
I hate the 343 but this would have been a better line up imo. Helps with Casemiro lack of legs.
Onana
Lindelof - Maguire - De Ligt
Dalot - Mazraoui - Casemiro - Dorgu
Bruno - Zirkzee - Garnacho
Lindelof - Maguire - De Ligt
Dalot - Mazraoui - Casemiro - Dorgu
Bruno - Zirkzee - Garnacho