• Dear Guest, Please note that adult content is not permitted on this forum. We have had our Google ads disabled at times due to some posts that were found from some time ago. Please do not post adult content and if you see any already on the forum, please report the post so that we can deal with it. Adult content is allowed in the glory hole - you will have to request permission to access it. Thanks, scara

Ryan Mason

Be interesting to see what Mason does with the midfield. We've seen Lo Celso and Ndombele in the middle a couple of times, it was what most were desperate for, but it's clear it doesn't really work.

I think we have some quality players in the middle but finding the right balance is missing. And i have slated Winks and think he's entirely average but he might actually offer some of the balance we need. Some thoughts, first on the middle 2 and then will focus on the offensively minded midfielder:

PEH - Sissoko - defensive minded with PEH/Sissoko, may be required for City but little ability to move forward progressively
PEH - Winks - may offer more options to keep possession and move the ball around better, but this pivot hasn't worked brilliantly in the past and for me, Winks is limited. Maybe this is the game to show what he can offer
PEH - Ndombele - better balance, someone to break through the lines but again, passing through will be lacking with this midfield
PEH - Lo Celso - an option that Lo Celso has played, but his form hasn't been great

Now onto the attacking side:
For me, i would not use Ndombele as a 10. I don't think it's his best position, i don't think he influences the match enough and doesn't run into the box to support striker
Dele the obvious candidate and can see Mason using him there, it's very Poch-esque so you can see the allure
Lucas - been brilliant in the role, but likely to lose the ball, will press high up the pitch though, something the other 2 cannot offer

so, in summary, i have no idea.

I think in too many matches the balance has been off. For me, it would probably be:

PEH - Ndombele - Lucas

but what do i know?
 
Diamond Lights said:
Be interesting to see what Mason does with the midfield. We've seen Lo Celso and Ndombele in the middle a couple of times, it was what most were desperate for, but it's clear it doesn't really work.

I think we have some quality players in the middle but finding the right balance is missing. And i have slated Winks and think he's entirely average but he might actually offer some of the balance we need. Some thoughts, first on the middle 2 and then will focus on the offensively minded midfielder:

PEH - Sissoko - defensive minded with PEH/Sissoko, may be required for City but little ability to move forward progressively
PEH - Winks - may offer more options to keep possession and move the ball around better, but this pivot hasn't worked brilliantly in the past and for me, Winks is limited. Maybe this is the game to show what he can offer
PEH - Ndombele - better balance, someone to break through the lines but again, passing through will be lacking with this midfield
PEH - Lo Celso - an option that Lo Celso has played, but his form hasn't been great

Now onto the attacking side:
For me, i would not use Ndombele as a 10. I don't think it's his best position, i don't think he influences the match enough and doesn't run into the box to support striker
Dele the obvious candidate and can see Mason using him there, it's very Poch-esque so you can see the allure
Lucas - been brilliant in the role, but likely to lose the ball, will press high up the pitch though, something the other 2 cannot offer

so, in summary, i have no idea.

I think in too many matches the balance has been off. For me, it would probably be:

PEH - Ndombele - Lucas

but what do i know?
Click to expand...
Worth remembering that Ndombele and Lo Celso haven't had many games together, and those games have come at a time of great problems with the team.

I think they'll come good playing together, but it might take some time. The City game might not be the right game for it, but at the same time their quality on the ball could make the big difference if they start together again. Certainly would give City a lot more to worry about in the centre compared to leaving one of them out.
 
I could see the logic in trying NDombele deeper to get him more involved in the game, but this was while Lo Celso was out. Now they are both available I think Lo Celso will give energy and tenacity in that role and Ndombele looks to have regressed to make every touch an opportunity to showcase his ability to beat a man. Also Lo Celso doesn’t seem to carry his ability as well in the final third (passing and always seems to curl the ball just wide or into the keeper) but may also be an asset arriving late due to a greater ability to be box to box. Good players usually build an understanding and trust but as a team I think we have struggled with releasing the ball rather than dribbling into trouble which leaves players out of position or stopping making runs to receive the ball. Time will tell if that is due to the personnel or coaching.
 
Ndombele and GLC sadly just don't work, we need to look for alternatives.
Ndombele takes so many unnecessary touches and is guilty totally of over-egging the pudding then losing the ball.
GLC is 'apparently' still unfit.
I remain unconvinced with both.

Lets hope Ryan can sort this.
 
Last edited:
Diamond Lights said:
Be interesting to see what Mason does with the midfield. We've seen Lo Celso and Ndombele in the middle a couple of times, it was what most were desperate for, but it's clear it doesn't really work.

I think we have some quality players in the middle but finding the right balance is missing. And i have slated Winks and think he's entirely average but he might actually offer some of the balance we need. Some thoughts, first on the middle 2 and then will focus on the offensively minded midfielder:

PEH - Sissoko - defensive minded with PEH/Sissoko, may be required for City but little ability to move forward progressively
PEH - Winks - may offer more options to keep possession and move the ball around better, but this pivot hasn't worked brilliantly in the past and for me, Winks is limited. Maybe this is the game to show what he can offer
PEH - Ndombele - better balance, someone to break through the lines but again, passing through will be lacking with this midfield
PEH - Lo Celso - an option that Lo Celso has played, but his form hasn't been great

Now onto the attacking side:
For me, i would not use Ndombele as a 10. I don't think it's his best position, i don't think he influences the match enough and doesn't run into the box to support striker
Dele the obvious candidate and can see Mason using him there, it's very Poch-esque so you can see the allure
Lucas - been brilliant in the role, but likely to lose the ball, will press high up the pitch though, something the other 2 cannot offer

so, in summary, i have no idea.

I think in too many matches the balance has been off. For me, it would probably be:

PEH - Ndombele - Lucas

but what do i know?
Click to expand...

Personally I'd play the most prime-Poch style team as we can possibly muster.

Something like:

-----------Hojbjerg (Wanyama)------ Ndombele (Dembele)

Lo Celso (Eriksen)--------Alli (Alli)---------Son (Son)

---------------------------Kane (Kane)


What I'm thinking is, I wonder if Alli's energy and physicality is the key to unlocking playing both Ndombele and Lo Celso
 
Gutter Boy said:
Personally I'd play the most prime-Poch style team as we can possibly muster.

Something like:

-----------Hojbjerg (Wanyama)------ Ndombele (Dembele)

Lo Celso (Eriksen)--------Alli (Alli)---------Son (Son)

---------------------------Kane (Kane)


What I'm thinking is, I wonder if Alli's energy and physicality is the key to unlocking playing both Ndombele and Lo Celso
Click to expand...

Might be closed minded thinking of me but I really don't see Alli starting given that Ryan didn't find a way to get him on the pitch against Southampton. He even went for Lamela as an attacking sub when we needed a goal in place of him....

Welcome back by the way!
 
spurspinter1 said:
Might be closed minded thinking of me but I really don't see Alli starting given that Ryan didn't find a way to get him on the pitch against Southampton. He even went for Lamela as an attacking sub when we needed a goal in place of him....

Welcome back by the way!
Click to expand...

Thanks :)

I guess Alli's fitness and sharpness is going to be way off (although no different to most of the rest of the squad). Maybe if this match was 2-3 week later, or if Lo Celso had a full 90 in him again, it would work.

Or is it worth rolling the dice, knowing Lamela, Bale and Moura are all on the bench if it doesn't work? Like with Gazza in the 91 semi (remember he'd been out with major stomach surgery before that match and only lasted an hour; but what an hour!)

Good call about Lamela for the energy balance
 
Gutter Boy said:
Thanks :)

I guess Alli's fitness and sharpness is going to be way off (although no different to most of the rest of the squad). Maybe if this match was 2-3 week later, or if Lo Celso had a full 90 in him again, it would work.

Or is it worth rolling the dice, knowing Lamela, Bale and Moura are all on the bench if it doesn't work? Like with Gazza in the 91 semi (remember he'd been out with major stomach surgery before that match and only lasted an hour; but what an hour!)

Good call about Lamela for the energy balance
Click to expand...
I think Lucas will get the nod. He's been good recently, tireless workrate and a threat on the break with his pace ang direct running.

Then it's between Bale, Lamela, GLC and Ndombele for the remaining one or two places depending on if Sissoko or Winks are preferred deeper or not.

I like your lineup, but Moura in for Alli.

Oh yeah, belated welcome back.
 
StephenH said:
Ndombele and GLC sadly just don't work, we need to look for alternatives.
Ndombele takes so many unnecessary touches and is guilty totally of over-egging the pudding then losing the ball.
GLC is 'apparently' still unfit.
I remain unconvinced with both.

Lets hope Ryan can sort Derp
Click to expand...

I think they are both good players but as i have said elsewhere i do not think ( so far) that they come off as a partnership. I would start Moura as the 10 with Hojberg and Lo Celso behind him.
 
parklane1 said:
I think they are both good players but as i have said elsewhere i do not think ( so far) that they come off as a partnership. I would start Moura as the 10 with Hojberg and Lo Celso behind him.
Click to expand...
N'Dombele need to keep it simple and use his obvious skills to hurt the opposition much more often than he does, he wastes so much time pirouetting with the ball at his feet only land in heap on the deck. Needs to keep it simple and move the ball forward quicker.
Lo Celso is not a defensive-minded midfielder but nor is he an attack-minded midfielder as he's was too deep and lacks strength and speed. Needs to be deployed much further forward.
 
Last edited:
parklane1 said:
I think they are both good players but as i have said elsewhere i do not think ( so far) that they come off as a partnership. I would start Moura as the 10 with Hojberg and Lo Celso behind him.
Click to expand...
Yes, my choice as well. I would sacrifice NDombele, but I don't think he makes for a good impact sub either. So Hojbjerg and Lo Celso, with Bale, Moura, and Son behind Kane. Moura will have to do some defensive work in midfield. Lamela the first to come on regardless of the score.
 
It's a no from me. I didn't mind the performance, it was to be expected. But to bring on Sissoko while we actually had a foothold in the match says to me he doesn't know what the fudge he's doing.

So, it's a big fat no from me.
 
That managerial performance makes the timing of the sacking slightly more surprising. Maybe there was someone nearly in the bag. On balance, still glad to have got rid of Jose when we did rather than wait a week, can’t see any way we’d have won today.
 
Poor substitutions today. It was almost as if he had the subs planned before hand rather than react to the what was happening on the pitch
 
Wasn’t too concerned with the starting line up, but Not great substitutions I’m afraid. Moura was prob our MOTM to that point and Lo celso was starting to wake up.

The Sissoko one was just bizarre.
 
Still, losing his second match as a manager against Pep Guardiola managing a team filled with multi-million players - notwithstanding the substitution decisions - is understandable.

After he has more than a week to actually coach and talk about different systems of play compared to the previous manager...then we can get an inkling of what he's like. The remaining league matches will be more instructive, but it's not as though he'll keep the job. It will be a valuable little crucible of learning for him before he can return to reserve and youth teams to experiment and practice even more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back