Perpetual motion, sure, at a jogging pace - I am referring to traditional DM’s anchoring here - with very few sprints or fatiguing actions if positionally aware enough. It’s the one position on the pitch you can be a plodder and get away with it, even, so long as you’re reading of play is top notch.
But yeah, that quote has caveats when contrasting Ajax, and the Eredivisie, to us, and what we have been for a long time now, unless you believe we can push up 40 yards collectively and do what they did - with the same player briefs - straight out the gate?
We employed a young and progressive manager, don't think, he would make much use of a tradition DM's anchoring. Also as far as I understood, wouldn't it be FDJ who would be the anchor? DM and DLP are two roles that don't necessarily have to be combined with each other. Especially these days, you don't see that type very often in comparison to a few years ago with Busquets, Alonso, Carrick.
Are we sure added pragmatism is the approach he is going with? It's an interesting thought because I'm really not sure what ETH's idea is going to be. He's put this line out there about adapting to the players, but that could be a generic line for public consumption.
The signings of De Jong and Eriksen intrigue me because I don't get the impression Eriksen is a basic squad player. It gave me the idea that ETH might be a bit of an idealogue and is preparing to try something quite aggressive and experimental. Because rather than saying we have to be pragmatic due to the squad the other way to do it is to impress your vision upon a team no matter what with only very small compromises.
I think the rationale behind this is you immediately start building the foundations, and you find out who sinks and who swims. There is growing pain but maybe you get to the end destination quicker once you have a few transfer windows.
I hope, he doesn't try to outwit everybody with stuff like that... I get your thought, there might be a chance, but I don't think, we are ready for something like that. FDJ will be new to the league, has to adjust maybe. Eriksen played a pretty comfortable role at Brentford, not sure if he is ready for such an all-action approach.
I hope, we postpone the wilder experiments for next year. Stabilize the team, build confidence, maybe lay the groundwork for a new backbone for the team. Everything more ambitious should be reduced to secondary objectives in my eyes.
To close the bow to Martinez - Fortitude and you have a point - until we haven't seen anything of what ETH is going to do, it is impossible to predict anything. 3atb, Back4, Classic DM with two 8, DLP with two all action runners, Fullbacks who tuck into midfield, Wingbacks, Fullbacks needed to create chances (like at Liverpool) - there is so much possible. I still think, it would be good to add an actual DM (be just for the transition period to have one up the sleeve).
I'm happy to see Martinez join us, if he does. If not, I wouldn't be all too sad as well. 50 million is quite steep, but he is in his prime and he is a leader, we sure can do with a player like that.
Good one