Gabriel off to Valencia

comment by BO$$™ (U6401)
posted 2 minutes ago
Jenious we absolutely battered Leicester when we played them. Shoddy finishing and poor defending cost us.
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Until we changed formation Leicester were pretty comfortable sitting on a 2-1 lead. And Leicester are a mid table win. So don't let the comeback fool you.

And that poor defending is my point. The results glossed over our performances at the end of last season. We conceded a lot of chances that were not punished. That doesn't mean the system was working.

Frankly we have finally bought a decent striker and what irritates me is that we changed formation that will not play to his strengths. We do lack a MF player because of Santi's retirement.

Switching to a back 4 is a tricky one. Although I agree that was it not for poor finishing we may have lost a few more games since the switch to a back 3 I think we shouldn't forget how solid we looked in our 3 toughest games against Chelsea and City (FAC) and Utd (Prem).

I'm actually fine with the new formation but think it need tinkering rather than changing altogether. Ramsey is not defensive minded and I think he is the weak link. Although it affects our attacking ideals I much prefer us to play Xhaka with someone who is happy to sit back and provide cover shortening the gap between defence and midfield. Ramsey is too gung-ho.

To make a back 3 work properly you really really need two key players.

a) A Centre Back who can read the game, and so can sweep behind or to step into the midfield so the opposition can't out number you. Good luck finding a centre back who is that astute. Frankly Mustafi, Kos are not those type of players. Which is why I believe Wenger experimented with Eleneny and Maitland-Niles in preseason playing that role. Remember both those players started games as the middle centre back in pre-season.

b) A defensive midfield player who would cover side to side. This is because the wing backs are playing further up the pitch which leaves a massive hole between the deeper centre backs and the wing backs. This is the hole that Leicester exploited by targeting Holding. Holding was almost destroyed in that game despite Leicester's best wide player (Mahrez) on the other side. Elneny didn't help Holding at all.

Because lets be fair Elneny knows how to sit in a 4-2-3-1 type formation he is no Kante.

Now to an extent the reason why its worked against Chelsea and Man Utd last season is because we were forced to keep an extra defender back. Keep in mind we also beat Man City and Chelsea when Santi was starting in the middle. Our problem last season was Coq and poor full back play. They were not good enough. We have improved with Kolsanic. But we do need a MF.

If you play 3 at the back your passing accurancy from the back line must be spot on. We lacked that against Sevilla in the Emirates Cup and also against Leicester.

Add to that our midfield and wing backs bombing all forward and lost balls in areas you shouldnt or get punished see Leicester game.

Have dicipline and passing ability and 3 at the back is no problem like we demonstrated against Chelsea and City in the FA cup.

Centre backs will always make mistakes gt. In a flat back 4 you still have full backs and midfield players close enough to defend when that happens. Which was my point about the need for a holding midfield player like Kante in a 3 CB formation. The wing backs are further forward so there are more gaps to defend when mistakes are made.

Yes agree we need a dedicated holding midfielder to make the system work as our players are too indisciplined otherwise. Ramsey (when fully fit) is an asset as an attacking force but offers little defensively. Elneny isn't good enough and Coq is probably our best bet to fill that role at the expense of Ramsey.

Having said all that we shouldn't let the defensive performance v Leicester to cloud our judgement too much as successful defences are equally about a well drilled system as much as about the players. The fact is that we had pretty much a reserve back 3 in place on Friday so it is understandable that we looked shaky. We also need Sanchez back as he drops into deep midfield to harry players which none of our other attackers do (bar Welbeck occasionally).

Cech having a mare with crosses didn't help either.

It's therefore fairer to judge the system when we have all or most of our CBs back plus high energy players like Alexis.

To think that Toby Alderweireld was available from Athletico Madrid for £10 million at the same time we paid £11 million for Gabriel

comment by ubad9jagooner .Ramsey : don't get the hype ! (U7978)
posted 45 minutes ago
To think that Toby Alderweireld was available from Athletico Madrid for £10 million at the same time we paid £11 million for Gabriel
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I'm not saying they are of similar level (obviously) but a CB can shine or fail depending on the system they are playing.
Terry looked great under Mourinho but was useless under AVB and Sherwood.
Same as David Luiz. Completely useless in a back 4 but turned into Cannavaro in a back 3.
I don't think Gabriel was THAT bad. Just didn't suit our system and in fairness, not many do...

also news that Inter Milan are after Mustafi, we might be a little short if we sell him also.

lol we don't have enough good CBs....Gabriel was actually decent as 3 at the back...WTF is Wenegr doing?