I believe Martinez will be very key to Ten Hags system. Think this might be our favorite purchase this summer looking back at it.
Lisandro Martinez | Signs for United
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it wasn't his prefered system, but according to Transfermarkt he sometimes did use a back three at Utrecht.
I quite like that lineup actually. Lots of flexibility, lots of movement upfront and I think it'd also allow Martinez to flourish with his passing from the back, without exposing his size too much.
Serious question , is he better than De Ligt was at Ajax?
Big if with Rashford, based on last season. but he did have productive seasons the previous 2 years, Im hoping we'll be a lot more creative this year so he'll have more chances. If Ronaldo stays he'll obviously start the majority I imagine.
I haven't seen anywhere near enough of Malacia to know.
In bigger games Fred could come into midfield as well
De jong and eriksen central mid, madness
With an extra Defender behind...
he played with fecking Schone at Ajax and was just fine.
Not really. Schonne and FDJ was his midfield at Ajax and Schonne was an attacking midfielder.
With 3 defenders behind - all capable of stepping up too
The Premier league is somewhat different to Holland though. Even pep had to temper the attacking nature of his tactics somewhat
Point is, you don't know what ETHs plans are. Your assumption is as good as mine. So it's not exactly a long shot to say Eriksen will partner FDJ with an extra defender who can act us a DM , behind.
But I don't think Ten Hag is a noted user of 3 at the back very often, is he? Seems an unlikely place to start your assumption from if we're going to play guessing games about his ideas.
I read this idea that centre halves in a back three can step up into midfield to help out defensively quite often on here, but in reality that isn't something that happens and is a notion that doesn't make sense. Similarly, the use of a back three doesn't reduce or remove the need to have a holding midfielder.
Where about? He created a midfield unit consisting of two no.10s ahead of a single holding midfielder in conjunction with a front three that all stretched the pitch, and stormed to the title.
I’m not suggesting they step up defensively, what would be the point in that?
They can step up when building up play though. Preferably Lisandro.
Yeah but with all due respect the bottom half of the Dutch League is probably on par with league one or two in England.
That midfield won't be good enough defensively against top ten PL teams. We will get ran through at ease.
You can't let one player do all the aerial battles for his partner. Doesn't work that way. We would never know Lindelof sucks in the air when he played with aerially dominant CBs like Varane, Smalling and Maguire if that was the case.
Yes considerably better on the ball than anyone
And yet , Pep plays it all the time without an actual DM ( Rodri is a deep lying play maker I know ).
That's why I said your guess is as good as mine. You also assume that he will play 4231 . Fact is, we both don't know what his plans are.
Yes he is but at least has the attributes of a DM
Don't know, as I said it's a notion that doesn't make sense. I thought your post implied it as it was in response to someone else's retort at the idea of a de Jong-Eriksen midfield.
The Champions League from that season certainly wasn't on par with League One or Two in England though, was it? That Ajax side competed well against Bayern, Juventus, Real Madrid and Spurs. No-one can say for sure that ten Hag won't pair de Jong with Eriksen if we get them, or that it definitely will not work if he does. He has had success with a similar dynamic before.
If Maguire was done we wouldn't be rejecting talks about selling him.
From playing Xavi a natural CM in midfield to playing two attacking mid KDB and Silva. Is that really tempering?
What's the Arsenal plan here? Back 3? Or White and Martinez as the smallest defense in the league?
From Dani Alves to Kyle Walker is definitely tempering.
The biggest change from early to late Pep is how he uses his fullbacks and the kinds of players he selects.
Ven der Kraan's comments on Martinez
Agreed here. I'm only worried about Martinez if we plan to play him as a CB in a 2. And also Antony because I doubt he's that good. Eriksen, FDJ and Malacia seems good transfers.
I saw similar stats being used to defend Lindelof in the air.
There's a lot more to it than that.
Lisandro too can act as a DM and that's the original point.
Has to be a back 3. Suits Tomiyasu and Saliba too. 5 players for 3 spots including Gabriel, then I guess Saka wide right, Tavares or Tierney wide left but not as high up on the field, then 3 in midfield (Partey sitting and I guess Vieira and Odegaard playmaking) and 2 up top in Jesus and either Martinelli or Smith-Rowe. Might work.
Sounds like it's not so clear cut that he'd pick us over Arsenal. If we fail to get him and Timber is staying, I reckon we'll bring back Daley Blind.
Is it just me or is anyone else concerned about all of ETH's targets coming from Eredivisie, where some players have struggled with the step up to PL in recent seasons? In addition, is Martinez a 50m CB? We should seriously be looking at a value CB purchase considering the multitude of young CBs out there and a limited budget. I was ok with Timber as he has high upside, despite his lack of height, plus he would cover RB very easily as well. I mean, if we want a young, progressive, left footed CB that is also press resistant, we should rather buy David Carmo, who we were linked with recently. He's rapid, 6'5 which means we won't have the height concerns we have with Martinez and he'll be cheaper. Certain analysts portray him as a similar profile to Van Djik, which is a positive in my books.
Tell me if I am wrong but in a PL match he would not be afforded that much room and time on the ball unlike in the CL environment. Thus the physicality of the PL.
Arteta is dead set on 4231 or 4123. He will be a versatile player who can play LB, and also can cover LCB and DM if necessary. Is he worth 50m in my opinion? Nope.
Pretty sure it’s just Martinez rotating with Tierney at LB and backing up Gabriel at LCB. Still a 4-3-3.
Arteta wants fullbacks who pinch inwards and play like midfielders in possession to form a 2-3-5. Basically you need to be able to pass well and then defend against transitions very front footed and aggressively, both of which Martinez can certainly do.
My suspicion is that we'd initially play him as a DM (as we still don't have any DMs), and once ETH has implemented a functional system in a season or two Martinez would feature more as a CB.
Wouldn't be against that at all, still hoping that we sign an actual DM in the next 2 windows
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I wonder when the club are going to scout players and have a list of players who are adaptable. Seems we’re carrying on the buy who the manager wants and if it all goes tits up then we have players who aren’t going to work for the next manager on big wages and having spent a fortune on them. FDJ I get it he’s a class player and could easily play for the next boss, Martinez I’m not so sure.
Or he plays a very forward/advanced CB with a covering Varane behind him? Reducing the need for an actual DM?
Yeap -- like under the LVG days. But I suspect if ETH is gone, we will get another manager of that elk. That's what the footballing DOF will be thinking -- otherwise, we will be doing the reactionary, pendulum swings like under Woodward.
Focusing on transfer targets who are still on the move - that kind of happened too quick but I'll see if I can do one just after season starts.
Thanks Ali.
Just seen your comment now! yeah they're mine.
Thanks - its an interesting signing, could go wrong but at that price it is worth the punt. Seems ETH is hell bent on improving United's ability in possession.
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