Partey the forgotten 6

Partey for me is a classy player. When on form he is one of the best midfielders in the world. If only his injuries wouldnt hold him back again and again.

I have posted on here saying that our best lineup includes both Partey and Rice. I think Rice can play as a box to box and I think his driving runs could be very effective further forward.

I do think though that we could use with resting Rice for some games leading up to January when Partey leaves. Granted, we do have Jorginho and Elneny who can also rotate in maybe for some games. Squad management is going to be crucial if we are to maintain levels this season. We already saw how the lack of management ruled out Saka for our biggest game this season. I would not want to play City or Liverpool without Rice due to playing him against say Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United at home. I'd earmark 28th of October, 11 of Nov and 5th of Dec as games where we should be looking to rotate some of the big guns who have played a lot. Other than those three matches, we have very tough games otherwise.

I'd also love to see Arteta rotate when we are up by 2 goals (would love 3 but we are not scoring as many this season) and take off players like Saliba, Martinelli, Rice, Gabriel, etc
.

We had 45% possession in community shield and 49% on Sunday. Partey and Rice are too similar. Neither can bring the ball out, especially not against a full press. Jorginho did a very disciplined job and kept the midfield ticking but he isn't a long term solution either when Arteta wants to play 2 sitting players. This is why we were after Lavia last summer and still looking for a younger CM for the box to box role when he wants a more defensive midfield.

comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 29 minutes ago
We had 45% possession in community shield and 49% on Sunday. Partey and Rice are too similar. Neither can bring the ball out, especially not against a full press. Jorginho did a very disciplined job and kept the midfield ticking but he isn't a long term solution either when Arteta wants to play 2 sitting players. This is why we were after Lavia last summer and still looking for a younger CM for the box to box role when he wants a more defensive midfield.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Very few players in the world can beat a full press especially one like the one Man City employed. As a team, you have to do something different. Against less than A+ pressing, I think Partey is very press resistant and I see him receive the ball and carry it past the first pressing line on numerous occasions with a quick turn or drop of a shoulder.

I dont think Rice is as press resistant in a similar way but think Rice can combine better than Partey further forward and could be the 8 as he has shown a eye for goal and an ability to drive forward. I'd be ok with trying to reinvent him for that position knowing that his defensive qualities would be a bonus until we get a LCM (Maybe Vieira will step up).

Havertz is actually improving in advanced LCM role when we play our usual formation.

I am referring to when Arteta wants to play counter attack. Rice has the potential to be as good as Rodri. It will be stupid to move him out of that role. Players lose confidence so quickly. Havertz for example went from being the next Ballack in Germany to a backup striker at Chelsea. I rather keep Rice on a strict development path.

This is why Arteta wanted to sell Partey last summer and buy a younger box CM after we had already bought Rice.

"Havertz is actually improving in advanced LCM role when we play our usual formation."

What/when is this based on?

Solid midfield performances. Not all that good in attack but he has not given one goal away. And be honest most people were more worried about out mf being too lightweight without Xhaka. And it hasn't been. What we have been missing with Havertz is fluid attacks we were promised!

We are still linked to Kalvin Phillips. Hope we are not serious even with him in a reduced role

I haven’t forgotten Partey, he’s brilliant, when he’s fit & ready to go he should start - period.
Arteta’s idiotic idea to play him at full back derailed him, & the continual stop/start/accelerate demands of full back is something he was not used to & quite possibly caused his latest injury.
I’m not sure what happened at the end of last season, he didn’t seem to be himself - but he looks back to normal now so let’s hope Arteta doesn’t f£ck it up again…

comment by Taki Minamino (U20650)
posted 3 hours, 51 minutes ago
partey rice ode is better than any midfield with havertz in
----------------------------------------------------------------------
✅
I think we can put out a number of midfield permutations that is better than any one that Havertz is in…