I watched a video of that Ghezzal, looks like the biggest donkey ever.

comment by RonaldVilliers - Rangers Scotland's only Septuple Treble Winners. (U21490)
posted 3 minutes ago
I watched a video of that Ghezzal, looks like the biggest donkey ever.
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Coming from someone who watches Scottish football, that's quite a statement.

That would be suicidal as Maguire isn't even that exceptional with the ball at his feet for a CB let alone suited to such a fluid role.

A lineup like that would only really suit the likes of Stones, De Ligt or Laporte.

Please no. Please let's not start creating new positions for players. Maguire in midfield would be a square-jawed peg in a round hole. He's a centre back, and he plays the way he does precisely because he's a centre back and therefore naturally has time on the ball to step forward and bring it out. As soon as you put him in midfield, even deep midfield, he will get closed down and inevitably have to deal with having his back to goal, negating the whole reason you want to put him there in the first place. Just No.

If you want to play him in a 3-at-the-back where he has more chance to go wandering, that's another matter. But he's a centre back, just like Patrick Kisnorbo was a centre back, and I'm sure we all remember how he performed in central midfield.

I guess ultimately, it’s me trying to crowbar 3 at the back in with Maguire’s dribbling ability.


Okay...how about Amartey sitting behind Vardy and Benalouane right wing?

Ps Sounds like Man U have made a bid for an atletico CB

"Okay...how about Amartey sitting behind Vardy and Benalouane right wing?"

--------

It's fair to say that even Mourinho won't have a plan in place for that.

Completely bamboozle him with Okazaki playing sweeper.

I think it would be good to see:

————————— Schmeichel—————————-

Pereira ———- Evans——— Soyuncu———Chilwell
----------Ndidi---------Okazaki--------Silva
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
------------Maguire--------Vardy


Has it all, energy in the midfield/defence. Painfully negative. Can just knock it long for Maguire to flick on to Vardy ad nauseam

I like the idea of a back 3 to improve Puel’s system.

A 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 would give much more protection at the back. Allow Pereira to get forward. Mean Chilwell’s inability to defend is less of a risk. It reduces the reliance of Ndidi doing 10 jobs and hopefully doesn’t isolate Vardy.

3-5-1-1 with maddison in behind Vardy could be exciting.

3-5-2 with nacho alongside Vardy.

You know what, the more I look at this, 3 at the back looks good.

Edinspur, and a bit of French arrogance from Puel to only play 10!

Mersey, I think everyone has wanted to see this experimented with in pre-season.

Perhaps it was lack of quality/options and this may change if Maguire, Evans and at least one other are playing really well. But I just can’t see Puel playing 3 at the back to begin with.

You're suggesting some form of forward passes there, Edinspur. I can't see Puel going for that. Plus you've only got 10 players listed there so we could even fit in another. I'm sure we can shoehorn Morgan into there somewhere.

Mersey - my primary issue with 3 at the back remains the same. Just as England found out this summer against Croatia, you can either lack width or get killed down the wings by the opposition.

comment by Keep_the_faith1 (U8129)
posted 4 minutes ago
Edinspur, and a bit of French arrogance from Puel to only play 10!
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That Maguire knockdown tactic is THAT effective you don't even need 11.

I’ll raise you and say:

Just play 9. Sod Vardy and silly knock downs.
Pump it to slab head and just get him to knock it straight in the onion bag.

Job done.

Proper football

talking of slabhead, I noted Leicester utilising the ‘love train’ in pre-season - I hope for a season full of it!

I think Swansea were the first ones I saw using that tactic one or two seasons back. Interesting that it seemed to cause such havoc for opponents in the World Cup. And yes, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see it all the more through this coming season.

Damn it, I'm now humming Love Train to myself.

Is it The O Jays version you are hearing?

Is there another?

Don't answer that. I'll stick with the O Jays.

Found it
https://youtu.be/y_Gq2lhUdOc

Few people have covered it I think - but as a Primary teacher I unfortunately have the Trolls cover in my head

Sweet mother of mercy. I haven't heard it but from the mere title you have my sympathy.

comment by dublin fox (was london fox)(now Cambridge fox)(can not spell fox) (U1131)
posted 11 minutes ago
Found it
https://youtu.be/y_Gq2lhUdOc
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I can’t say I recall this version. The O’Jays one is familiar but one of their other hits “Back Stabbers” has always stuck in the mind, probably because they played it at a works do one year 🤔

dublin - 1 second of that was enough to know that I'm not letting it enter my consciousness.