Sanchez wasn't really as deep as an #8. Look at how close he was to scoring and where he was when he made the pre-assist. That was against a top team too. In most of our games, he'd have even more freedom. The formation was just a variant of a 433 really (Sanchez was more advanced than Pogba for most of the match), so the personnel required shouldn't be much different regardless of which we opt for. We'll have Pereira returning as well, so assuming he doesn't leave, we'll have an extra CM on top of whoever we purchase.
We need to stop this constant shifting of systems in fear of the better teams, it's part of the reason we struggle in big games most of the time, as players are suddenly having to do things they aren't used to. The other thing to keep in mind is this, the way we played on Sunday allowed Jose to keep his double pivot in front of the back 4 and I think he needs to maintain that as Matic doesn't have the legs for a proper 4-3-3, he needs a CM square of him to help with the workload. That's why the 4-2-2-2 makes more sense for us as a shape as it suits him and Pogba, Mourinho doesn't have to sacrific his double pivot and can still free Pogba up without trying to make him a #10.
For instance this would be a great way to take what we had on Sunday as a base and upgrade it to where everyone is in a role that suits them.
Fair enough, I'm far less confident than you are in regards to what we have.
I feel it would be too defensive for most games, with only two real forwards, but to each their own. There's also the problem of both Rashford and Martial not having real paths to starting positions with Mou's prized men taking both forward positions. I'd prefer we tried a midfield diamond (4312) in the long term if we did stick with a formation without real wide players. Sanchez playing just behind Rom and another up top (or Lingard playing behind Rom and Sanchez), with the ability to drift to the left or right, while Pogba roams further behind and a player on the right sits slightly deeper to dictate the play as well as support Matic defensively. For the most part, I don't think Matic needs so much support in defence against to the point that he needs someone right next to him. As long as he has someone else along with Pogba in midfield, he'll be fine. He usually gets around the pitch well if he isn't outnumbered, I feel.
That's a good point. If we are going to play 4222, which player would you sign to play next to Matic and which CAM to play next to Pogba?Fair enough, I mean we'll probably go back to 4-2-3-1 against Palace and it'll be back to square one.
The problem with that IMO is it doesn't offer enough help for Matic or a secondary creative player with Pogba.
I would be over the moon if we manage to sign Eriksen.
I see your point and think it could work for a possession-based team. I just don't feel the extra playmaker would add that much to our play with Pogba and potentially a deeper playmaker near Matic already being there. With the player near Matic starting the attacks and Pogba carrying the ball into the final 3rd, I'm not sure what need there would be for another creative player in this transition. I feel that another attacking option for Pogba to supply the ball to would be more important during a counter attack than another person there to play the same ball Pogba or the other playmaker could have played themselves. In regards to Matic, I'd say at least some of the struggles he experienced were down being on his own in midfield at times with Pogba not doing a lot to help out. The single-pivot in a 433 would be less tiring for him with two midfielders that can support him instead of one in a double-pivot (especially when it's Pogba with him in that pivot). As long as the third mid is more defensively-minded than Pogba, Matic should be able to handle the position.
Oh, I assumed you were seeing as you put Kovacic in your example team. He's more suited to the offensive side of things, so I figured you wanted him to play similarly to Pogba when he plays in a pivot with Matic. Fair enough, it seems like a lot of this comes down to our differing opinions on Matic, as you think he needs someone to do the running for him while I don't, so we might not come to an agreement here. If that's the case though, from your perspective, wouldn't it make more sense to buy a DM that has legs to replace Matic, rather than buying someone mainly to accomdate him?
I agree for the most part. There are very few midfielders who can concurrently control the tempo of the game and has the legs to play box to box (attributes we are lacking for a Matic/Pogba midfield to work better). I reckon we need a midfielder of the former ilk more than a hard working box to box mid. Or rather, I'd rather see us buy technically better players and play more flowing football. On your 4-2-2-2 point, would that midfield 2 consist of Matic and Pogba, or Matic and a new midfield signing with Pogba playing further forward? Either way, neither would really solve the problem would it? In the former case, we wouldn't be changing anything. And in the latter case, like you mentioned yourself, there are no real available midfielders that can control the tempo and has the legs/mobility to cover for Matic, so we would still be lacking in certain aspects in that regard.
