This is the point. and we have had to spend £30m just to avoid going backwards from last season. Us surviving in a sustainable way was always going to be dependent on a good number (at least 6 i would say) of our championship squad making the step up. let's hope they do.
A lot of twitchiness caused by the performances on the first weekend of the season. It's way to early to assess the success or otherwise of everyone's transfer business.
So not a portion of the season then. More manage his minutes
Can’t be arsed to go back and see but surely no one is trying to change EMC’s position?
Definitely not a box midfielder, but he was drifting central attack last night on occasions and scored from there
Lampard started with a back four at Everton. I found an old report where he was talking about liking that shape, midfield runners, width from the wide players, that sort of thing. Think he gave it about seven games, but they were getting cut open through the middle, especially in transition, so he ended up going to a back five.If we get Moura or similar profile LWB in, can absolutely see us switching to a back 5 and the return of the box midfield.
MVE - Thomas - Pinnock - Amenda - (LWB)
Grimes - Yirenkyi
Rudi - EMC
Awoniyi
Strangely I like this because I’d argue what remains (Hamer, Torp, Eccles, Onyeka, Tchouana, Tats, BTA) could all do a job in a couple of those positions). Would mean we need more CBs though
And it wasn't even the biggest defeat of the weekend.
I havent seen anyone asking for a mobile LCB,devleopment CB, backup RB, Mobile CM or Proven top level ST
Might aswell take it to the max...new coaching staff, new owner, another stadium ah fuck it replace all the fans , then I think we're set for Hull
I also think we’ll end up playing a back 5. Using Leeds as an example, they played a 4231 in the championship and started with it in the prem. Won 3 drew 2 and lost 8 of their first 13 games, 3rd December they played a back 5 against Chelsea and won 3-1 then never looked back. I think our squad would suit it.
When MvE has played as a RWB in the past he's looked a bit dodgy IMO.If we get Moura or similar profile LWB in, can absolutely see us switching to a back 5 and the return of the box midfield.
MVE - Thomas - Pinnock - Amenda - (LWB)
Grimes - Yirenkyi
Rudi - EMC
Awoniyi
Strangely I like this because I’d argue what remains (Hamer, Torp, Eccles, Onyeka, Tchouana, Tats, BTA) could all do a job in a couple of those positions). Would mean we need more CBs though
Only issue with a back five for me, is struggling to either fit the wingers in or Rudoni/Hamer.
Haha. We may persuade Sergio Aguero and Zlatan Ibrahmovic to come out of retirement and then we can play 2 up front
Well you play depending on the opposition
See I think we will but it would be the 4-2-3-1 at home against the weaker teams and the 5-4-1 away.
Think there’s different variations we could use, palace have always played a back 5 and managed to play Sarr, Olise, Zaha.
At Everton, Lampard used Iwobi, McNeil and even Gordon as wing-backs at different points, so it wouldn’t be a massive surprise if he tried something similar here if he felt he needed to. Could even see him going with two up top and a 10 behind them, while still keeping the 3/5 at the back.
Fuck off, it's a balance, we can't pay over inflated fees for ready made players, our model is going to be buy and sell, Doug doesn't have the funds and the system doesn't allow spaffing money here, there and everywhere.
What do you define as good value
You have to think where we started from. We had no top class keeper of our own, glaring gaps in the squad and positions without credible backups. Now we have two players for pretty much every position. OK, so they might not all be PL quality, but we have a squad to build upon
