Balance of the team

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taylors lovechild 14 Nov 22 8.32am
Nearly every PL plays with two holding midfielders these days, but we only have one with Schlupp shoe-horned in to pretend to be a second. We look like Arsenal did when they were a work in progress with a lot of sideways passing and a lack of penetration. Arteta made a few astute signings and suddenly their "nice" football became effective football. That is not to say I think we can be challenging for the title in a year or two, but they also play with four dribblers/creative forwards in their starting line-up in Martinelli, Odegaard, Saka and Jesus, none of whom are big and strong, but they have Xakha and Partey doing the dirty work behind them. It's been a bit of a flip flop season, but for me personally it feels like we're only a couple of signings away from being a much better and more balanced team. If they are not forthcoming then I think it will be a longer, harder slog to the finish line.
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taylors lovechild

14 Nov 22 8.32am

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Nearly every PL plays with two holding midfielders these days, but we only have one with Schlupp shoe-horned in to pretend to be a second. We look like Arsenal did when they were a work in progress with a lot of sideways passing and a lack of penetration. Arteta made a few astute signings and suddenly their "nice" football became effective football. That is not to say I think we can be challenging for the title in a year or two, but they also play with four dribblers/creative forwards in their starting line-up in Martinelli, Odegaard, Saka and Jesus, none of whom are big and strong, but they have Xakha and Partey doing the dirty work behind them.

It's been a bit of a flip flop season, but for me personally it feels like we're only a couple of signings away from being a much better and more balanced team. If they are not forthcoming then I think it will be a longer, harder slog to the finish line.

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n wales eagles llandudno 14 Nov 22 9.09am
Originally posted by PatrickA I’m still not sure that Edouard up front alone with Olise, Eze and Zaha behind in a supporting 3 gets us over my original point about too many players wanting too many touches and running with the ball at the expense of moving the ball with speed and purpose. You can have too many dribblers which affects the balance and efficiency of the team. It looks good on paper and may well work in some games but I’m unconvinced it’s sustainable over a long hard season. Another poster mentioned when we played with KG and Jedi holding which enabled Zaha, Murray and Bolassie to flourish and this is correct. However, I would contend that none of Olise, Zaha, Edouard or Eze have the physicality and robust approach of a Murray or Bolassie which means there is always the risk of them being outmuscled - as we have witnessed this season. Olise looks a huge talent with great potential , but I don’t think he’s played particularly well this season or looked as much of a threat as he did last season. Eze looks another real talent but tends to play in fits and starts. We may just have to get used to inconsistency in their performances until they gain more experience. looks good on paper but sadly we have to play on grass Think hughes deserves a run alongside CD give us a bit of bite in midfield 6 weeks for PV to sort and pinpoint a decent striker
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llandudno 14 Nov 22 9.09am

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Originally posted by PatrickA

I’m still not sure that Edouard up front alone with Olise, Eze and Zaha behind in a supporting 3 gets us over my original point about too many players wanting too many touches and running with the ball at the expense of moving the ball with speed and purpose. You can have too many dribblers which affects the balance and efficiency of the team.
It looks good on paper and may well work in some games but I’m unconvinced it’s sustainable over a long hard season.
Another poster mentioned when we played with KG and Jedi holding which enabled Zaha, Murray and Bolassie to flourish and this is correct.
However, I would contend that none of Olise, Zaha, Edouard or Eze have the physicality and robust approach of a Murray or Bolassie which means there is always the risk of them being outmuscled - as we have witnessed this season.
Olise looks a huge talent with great potential , but I don’t think he’s played particularly well this season or looked as much of a threat as he did last season.
Eze looks another real talent but tends to play in fits and starts.
We may just have to get used to inconsistency in their performances until they gain more experience.

looks good on paper but sadly we have to play on grass Think hughes deserves a run alongside CD give us a bit of bite in midfield 6 weeks for PV to sort and pinpoint a decent striker

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thai-eagle chiang mai 14 Nov 22 9.51am
Start with Schlupp on the bench and shift him with a crafty, tough midfielder. Doucoure cannot deal with the whole midfield alone. Playing away we should use only Eze, Olise and WZ (as long as he is here) on top. And please, please stop that slow, side passing among the back 5. It takes us nowhere, only allow the opposition to get in line.
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thai-eagle

chiang mai 14 Nov 22 9.51am

Start with Schlupp on the bench and shift him with a crafty, tough midfielder. Doucoure cannot deal with the whole midfield alone. Playing away we should use only Eze, Olise and WZ (as long as he is here) on top.
And please, please stop that slow, side passing among the back 5. It takes us nowhere, only allow the opposition to get in line.

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MrRobbo Purley 14 Nov 22 11.15am
I think as many have raised, another CM is the first part of the solution. re passing across the back and keeping the ball. I really don't understand why people have so much issue with it. The realities of changing the way we play, is that keeping the ball is important. Holding the ball for a minute and then mounting an attack, is better than getting forward at the first opportunity, losing the ball and then defending for 5 minutes. We are doing hte right thing, we just don't have al/as many tools at the top teams have. As the OP suggested, Man city have Grealish, Mahrez to bring on if plan A isn't working. We have ME and JPM..
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MrRobbo

Purley 14 Nov 22 11.15am

I think as many have raised, another CM is the first part of the solution.

re passing across the back and keeping the ball. I really don't understand why people have so much issue with it.

The realities of changing the way we play, is that keeping the ball is important. Holding the ball for a minute and then mounting an attack, is better than getting forward at the first opportunity, losing the ball and then defending for 5 minutes.

We are doing hte right thing, we just don't have al/as many tools at the top teams have.

As the OP suggested, Man city have Grealish, Mahrez to bring on if plan A isn't working. We have ME and JPM..

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Tickled pink Cornwall 14 Nov 22 8.54pm
Originally posted by taylors lovechild Nearly every PL plays with two holding midfielders these days, but we only have one with Schlupp shoe-horned in to pretend to be a second. We look like Arsenal did when they were a work in progress with a lot of sideways passing and a lack of penetration. Arteta made a few astute signings and suddenly their "nice" football became effective football. That is not to say I think we can be challenging for the title in a year or two, but they also play with four dribblers/creative forwards in their starting line-up in Martinelli, Odegaard, Saka and Jesus, none of whom are big and strong, but they have Xakha and Partey doing the dirty work behind them. It's been a bit of a flip flop season, but for me personally it feels like we're only a couple of signings away from being a much better and more balanced team. If they are not forthcoming then I think it will be a longer, harder slog to the finish line. Agree.
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Tickled pink

Cornwall 14 Nov 22 8.54pm

Originally posted by taylors lovechild

Agree.

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Tickled pink Cornwall 14 Nov 22 9.47pm
Originally posted by thai-eagle Start with Schlupp on the bench and shift him with a crafty, tough midfielder. Doucoure cannot deal with the whole midfield alone. Playing away we should use only Eze, Olise and WZ (as long as he is here) on top. And please, please stop that slow, side passing among the back 5. It takes us nowhere, only allow the opposition to get in line. In order to create space for moving forward successfully we sometimes encourage the opposition by being too elaborate allowing the opposition the opportunity to press us, This is fixable on the training pitch and with the appropriate signings the problem is highlighted playing certain teams. Edited by Tickled pink (14 Nov 2022 9.49pm)
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Tickled pink

Cornwall 14 Nov 22 9.47pm

Originally posted by thai-eagle

Start with Schlupp on the bench and shift him with a crafty, tough midfielder. Doucoure cannot deal with the whole midfield alone. Playing away we should use only Eze, Olise and WZ (as long as he is here) on top.
And please, please stop that slow, side passing among the back 5. It takes us nowhere, only allow the opposition to get in line.

In order to create space for moving forward successfully we sometimes encourage the opposition by being too elaborate allowing the opposition the opportunity to press us, This is fixable on the training pitch and with the appropriate signings the problem is highlighted playing certain teams.

Edited by Tickled pink (14 Nov 2022 9.49pm)

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