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Roberto De Zerbi *OFFICIAL*

Yea I get it’s a leap of faith!

Though just for the sake of discussion, the team that plays v Pool will be unrecognizable to the one that took the pitch v Brentford. I really don’t think that game is relevant.

Re Forest we were marginally the better side away from home at a tough ground for us, stats and eye test back that up. The shots on target thing is a bit of a red herring as if you give Marmoush his 2 chances again he’d hit the target more often than not, similarly with VDVs header from 4 yards out.

And just to say again, my bullishness is based on the assumption that Pool will be rotating their side, if they don’t then yea of course we’ll be 2nd favorites.

Spot on. Could have hit a worst shot straight at the keeper and it counts as a shot on target.
 
if there's one easy improvement in attack its wing play.

for example arsenal wingers gets plenty of support - saka (7) has one overlapping and three more bodies along side threatening to run into the box

tel/savio/kudus/mudryk don't get the same level of support

1788792893880.png
 
I understand the Gallagher selection away to Forest. I hope at home we go out to purley dominate the game from a footballing sense though.

Kinsky
Porro JPVH VDV Udogie
Fernandes Bentancur Tonali
Savio Solanke Marmoush
 
It's unlikely Kulu will be back to full fitness before the new year at best and probably the same with Madders, it might even be next season before they're really up to speed so we shouldn't plan on them featuring much and start developing some alternative tactics.
Madders had a shoulder injury, not a setback to recovery from his ACL injury. Hopefully back in the squad for next weekend. Let’s also remember he’s never been a 90-minute player for us.

I expect Kulu to make the bench by the end of the month, and start getting regular gametime (not starting) after the (completely ridiculous, pointless and unnecessary) three-week international break. Hopefully Potter lets him stay with us to work on his fitness during that time.
 
if there's one easy improvement in attack its wing play.

for example arsenal wingers gets plenty of support - saka (7) has one overlapping and three more bodies along side threatening to run into the box

tel/savio/kudus/mudryk don't get the same level of support

View attachment 23355
As a sidenote...I thought Arsenal looked back to a creative force yesterday, a bit like they were under Arteta before he decided brickball was the only way to win it.

The main point though is..Any comparisons with a team 7 seasons in with us is laughable tbh.
 
As a sidenote...I thought Arsenal looked back to a creative force yesterday, a bit like they were under Arteta before he decided brickball was the only way to win it.

The main point though is..Any comparisons with a team 7 seasons in with us is laughable tbh.
They were very good
But I do think Chelsea’s defensive incompetence helps
But arse played like there was no pressure and believes in what they are doing
 
I understand the Gallagher selection away to Forest. I hope at home we go out to purley dominate the game from a footballing sense though.

Kinsky
Porro JPVH VDV Udogie
Fernandes Bentancur Tonali
Savio Solanke Marmoush
No creativity in that midfield
It’s partly what has cost us so far along with no one who is dealing with the opposition CBS
 
Yep
A Sonny
Someone to play off a lamppost
It’s why I’d 100% play

Solanke

Savio. Marmoush. Kudus
If you do play that, you need a solid midfield duo behind them and the wingers being diligent in tracking back. But agree it would be fun to watch.

One of my gripes last season has been the insistence on playing 4-2-3-1 when we don’t have the wide men to make it work. Tel, RKM and now Marmoush are all strikers, not wingers. Why not play two up-top and let the FBs help out with providing width? But now we have Kudus, Sávio and Mudryk we can offer threats from wide positions to help stretch the defense, the #10 role becomes that much more important. The return of Madders and Kulu changes the dynamic back in our favor imo.

Not sure I’d refer to Kane as a lamppost 😉
 
I'm not sure what the obsession is with xyz player not being out to do this or that.

I'd guess we are at 10-15% of how De Zerbi wants us to play.

Look at the videos of how he got Brighton playing 100% in his vision, and work backwards from there.

If we play like that...then the shortcomings you see now might not be that obvious, or even exist, because how we are playing then is unrecognisable to now.

Eg. I actually think Marmoush could easily be a similar player to João Pedro. Yes, I could see him upfront with another as well, BUT if you're playing fluently and progressively he can be a central 9 with the other players around him.

I don't think De Zerbi wants a lamppost or target man for one minute?. (He might do now, just to get up the field BUT he'll snub that tactic as soon as he sees us starting to 'get it')
 
I'm not sure what the obsession is with xyz player not being out to do this or that.

I'd guess we are at 10-15% of how De Zerbi wants us to play.

Look at the videos of how he got Brighton playing 100% in his vision, and work backwards from there.

If we play like that...then the shortcomings you see now might not be that obvious, or even exist, because how we are playing then is unrecognisable to now.

Eg. I actually think Marmoush could easily be a similar player to João Pedro. Yes, I could see him upfront with another as well, BUT if you're playing fluently and progressively he can be a central 9 with the other players around him.

I don't think De Zerbi wants a lamppost or target man for one minute?. (He might do now, just to get up the field BUT he'll snub that tactic as soon as he sees us starting to 'get it')

Solanke would never make the run behind from Porros pass either. Aside from a few elite #9’s you either have a target man or a mobile forward like Marmoush.
 
I'm not sure what the obsession is with xyz player not being out to do this or that.

I'd guess we are at 10-15% of how De Zerbi wants us to play.

Look at the videos of how he got Brighton playing 100% in his vision, and work backwards from there.

If we play like that...then the shortcomings you see now might not be that obvious, or even exist, because how we are playing then is unrecognisable to now.

Eg. I actually think Marmoush could easily be a similar player to João Pedro. Yes, I could see him upfront with another as well, BUT if you're playing fluently and progressively he can be a central 9 with the other players around him.

I don't think De Zerbi wants a lamppost or target man for one minute?. (He might do now, just to get up the field BUT he'll snub that tactic as soon as he sees us starting to 'get it')
I can see Marmoush lining up on the left but in actuality playing inside off Solanke with Robbo providing the width when in attack.

Players aren’t positions. Their responsibilities in and out of possession are more accurate measures of their roles. For instance, Madders, Marmoush and Gallagher can all play #10 but each would do so with different responsibilities.
 
I'm not sure what the obsession is with xyz player not being out to do this or that.

I'd guess we are at 10-15% of how De Zerbi wants us to play.

Look at the videos of how he got Brighton playing 100% in his vision, and work backwards from there.

If we play like that...then the shortcomings you see now might not be that obvious, or even exist, because how we are playing then is unrecognisable to now.

Eg. I actually think Marmoush could easily be a similar player to João Pedro. Yes, I could see him upfront with another as well, BUT if you're playing fluently and progressively he can be a central 9 with the other players around him.

I don't think De Zerbi wants a lamppost or target man for one minute?. (He might do now, just to get up the field BUT he'll snub that tactic as soon as he sees us starting to 'get it')
RDZ never had a creative #10 at BHA, but a fully cohesive team playing a system. That’s the part we need to be patient with.
 
If you do play that, you need a solid midfield duo behind them and the wingers being diligent in tracking back. But agree it would be fun to watch.

One of my gripes last season has been the insistence on playing 4-2-3-1 when we don’t have the wide men to make it work. Tel, RKM and now Marmoush are all strikers, not wingers. Why not play two up-top and let the FBs help out with providing width? But now we have Kudus, Sávio and Mudryk we can offer threats from wide positions to help stretch the defense, the #10 role becomes that much more important. The return of Madders and Kulu changes the dynamic back in our favor imo.

Not sure I’d refer to Kane as a lamppost 😉
The lampost was Llorente 🤣
Kane did the job of 2 players
Marmoush i a goal scorer but not a striker or CF imo
The issue I have with the way we play is it’s all about control but with no risk so no end product (goals)
Marmoush played 10 in Germany by the way, in the same way Sonny kind of did it here (ish)
 
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