Mosquera is an option for the CL final but for Burnley (H) and Palace (A) I'm not sure. He's a decent centre back but not very dynamic at right back.
Wonder if we go to a back three of Gabriel, Saliba, Mosquera against Burnley. Could use Calafiori and maybe Madueke as the two wing backs.
He got a lot of criticism for it, but putting Rice to right back rather than bringing Mosquera on was the right move to make. We're playing West Ham, who were offering no threat down their left wing. We need to win the game, we need to be attacking, we need to score goals. Bringing on Mosquera would have made us naturally more defensive. The move to bring Rice on was right, he can help to overload the midfield from there etc etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Of course, it didn't work out and we lost momentum, West Ham adapted to our change etc etc. But fundamentally, the decision to put Rice there was brave and it was the right thing to do.
Of course, fair play to him for acknowledging it and changing again at half time.
I agree. But what to do against Burnley? Surely we won't play Rice there again?Quote:
Originally Posted by Maravilloso Marvo
It is goung to be Mosquera. I dont think there is any doubt about that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
But we must win and ideally win well. Burnley have nothing to play for and have conceeded the highest number of goals in the league. Why not play with three centre backs and 2 wingbacks to really try and maximise output.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
That doesnt make a great deal of sense. It was the right thing to do and fair play for fixing it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Maravilloso Marvo
It was completely the wrong thing to do. You could not afford to take Rice out of midfield.
He may have thought he was being brave. But he lost sight of the bigger picture and where the strength of his side needed to be.
Quite frankly, if that is him being brave I prefer cautious :-(
Theoretically it was the right idea. We should be able to win the midfield battle with West Ham using a midfield of Zubimendi, MLS and Eze. Clearly that was not the case in practice, though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Mosquera does rather hamstring us going forward. Thankfully we still managed to get the win but I see the idea in putting Rice there.
You want to change our entire formation and use a back three for the first time in 5 years? Now?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Now that is 'brave'......
As opposed to using the formation and player selection as close as possible to that used for the wins over Newcastle, Fulham and Atl Madrid which have been some of our best performances this year?Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Rice to RB might have worked if he played there when we didn't have the ball and fell back into midfield when we had it. He didn't, he stayed there, and combined with Zubi being pretty sh1t right now it was a disaster.
If we do anything other than play a midfield of Rice, MLS and Ode/Eze for the next two games I shall be upset. As long as Gabriel, Saliba, Raya and Saka are in the team as well we should be fine.
:nod: Courageous.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Let me know what you think after we scrape past Burnley 2-1 and are in the 80th minute at Selhurst Park at 0-0 with City 3 ahead on GD.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
See..... you are indulging in the falsehood that there is only one way to be more positive in our approach.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
We were plenty positive by just moving Rice to the pivot and replacing Zubi with MLS. If we add Ode back into the first 11 and with Saka back we should win both games, and possibly give Burnley a pasting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
It won't matter anyway as AFCB will have already done us a favour before Palace.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
That's the plan, Rich. They owe us one :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Because with Ricky C being the mistranslated libero we can effectively be a back 3 anyway. Also, if it's 0-0 at HT, he can bring on Odin for MLS and unleash the Dec-Odin-Easy MF. Them with Ricky liberoing around like some coked-up stallion should be enough, with Kai still an option to throw into the mix.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
We could always play Saka with Noni/the young doctor at RW?
Arteta hinted that Calafiori was injured in the West Ham game but I'm not sure i buy it. I think he was just using it to fix the mess he made.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult
Saka? May as well he offers f*ck all attacking threat these days.
Saka is a movement-winger. He'll rarely beat his man one on one. This is especially true given that, with our forward line as it is at present, he nearly always has two men on him.Quote:
Originally Posted by John Bunnell
When we sign a proper left winger then teams won't be able to afford to do that to him.
Just read that at the final whistle, Ricky sprinted onto the pitch to join the celebrations so I doubt he was that badly injured.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Don't think MA wanted to openly admit that he almost blew everything. The squad know, I'm sure he's apologised and thanked them for bailing him out, but easier for all concerned to pretend his hand was forced.
Tbh, if he was thinking that an inverted Dec was gonna work, why not play B at RB with Noni at RW? Look at the places JT found himself with the ball in the box. If they'd been B, he'd have scored a dozen.
Start Triphop and bring on Noni if it doesn't work.
After he scored one and made one Vs Fulham and then scored vs AM. **** all threat.Quote:
Originally Posted by John Bunnell
One of the advantages of having inverted wingers is being able to accompany it with a natural footer at full back. Threatens inside and outside.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult
It all gets very complicated when you ignore the obvious straight swap. He got caught up, he made a mistake. I hope he has realised that you dont take Rice out of midfield for any reason. Under any circumstances aside from injury.
He has form, remember. Partey at right back.... :-(