comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 49 seconds ago
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 26 seconds ago
Sarri clearly asked for Jorginho and that was probably a condition to him coming here. As for Kepa I think he was a club signing, not a Sarri recommendation at all.
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Sarri wanted Kepa at Napoli.
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First I've heard about that. You have a source for that ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ill try and find a more accurate article when i have more time but i remember it was covered on cfcnet forums after his signing but here is a quote from Sarri.
http://www.espn.co.uk/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/3588721/chelsea-boss-praises-kepa-arrizabalaga-very-youngbut-veryvery-good
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok so he said he admired him as a very young keeper:
"I saw him one year ago [when I was at] Naples, and my first impression was he was a very good goalkeeper," the Chelsea head coach said. "Very young, but very, very good."
And this was said after we signed Kepa so I'm not sure that exactly equates to Sarri wanted him at Napoli.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
As i said, ill look through the links of cfcnet later and try to find some of the links.
comment by Jose Mourinho, just the Portuguese Fat Sam, te... (U21750)
posted 1 minute ago
I don't think I'm overestimating it, I think you're underestimating it. He does have to work with what he's given, but it seems obvious to me that he didn't make signing a striker last summer as big a priority as it should have been.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He wanted Higuain according to reports but the club apparently said no and they wanted to give Morata anther season to prove himself.
How much more of a priority can he make it? He obviously still wants Higuain according to more recent reports.
in defense we have a really difficult balancing act. Shaky as Alonso & Luiz defensively are (especially in tandem) they're critical to how we attack. The Watford game summed it up very well, they're both very effective at breaking the high press to instigate counter attacks but you just clench up whenever both of them have to defend/opposition's running at the high line. The only way I can see to remedy that situation without changing our style is signing Koulibaly who'd make VVD look like a pocket change transfer.
———-
Alonso inhibits us in attack. Emerson alone would be more suited to beating a high press.
Alonso inhibits us in attack. Emerson alone would be more suited to beating a high press.
----------------------------------------------------------
Once in the oppositions half I agree, teams have figured out how to shackle Alonso's inward runs, having a more traditional WB creating width is something worth trying now.
Playing out from our own half I've not seen him do it enough to know if he'd be just as good/better than Alonso, but it's worth trying. He should have played more this season for sure.
Alonso isn’t good at it, against City (first half) , Leicester constantly losing the ball from inside his own final third.
A very good article jp, it sums up our problems perfectly.
I find the Kante/Jorginho conundrum the most interesting here. I know it's Sarri's philosophy to play out from the back but can't help thinking he could help himself a lot by at least trying to tweak his system a little.
Kante as a DM is possibly the best in the world in doing what he does but when asked to play in a more offensive role, basically just looks like a useful midfielder and no more.
Jorginho on the other hand has the passing capability to play most positions in midfield.
I'm continually thinking to myself what we'd look like if Sarri moved Kante back to his best position and allowed Jorginho to pull stings further up the pitch where his passing, IMO, would be better employed breaking the enemy down.
It would be my one criticism of Sarri, his seeming unwillingness to experiment a little!
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 22 seconds ago
A very good article jp, it sums up our problems perfectly.
I find the Kante/Jorginho conundrum the most interesting here. I know it's Sarri's philosophy to play out from the back but can't help thinking he could help himself a lot by at least trying to tweak his system a little.
Kante as a DM is possibly the best in the world in doing what he does but when asked to play in a more offensive role, basically just looks like a useful midfielder and no more.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The only time in his PL career Kante played in that role was the first 6 games under Conte when we conceded 9 in 6. As a DM he would leave gaps galoure due to his proactive nature, similar to what happened in that 0-3 at The Emirates, any team who evaded his pressing would be in on our backline.
He's at his very best when the team don't have the ball a lot and he's in a 2 man midfield with the other midfielder covering his bursts forward to try and win possession, if Sarri wanted to get the best out of Kante he would revert back to 343/442 and reunite Kante and Drinky.
I actually think there's more chance of him learning his current position and without meaning to sound like Robb there's been signs in the last few weeks of him getting to grips with it.
You're not alone with that opinion Brummie. My take on it is playing Kante as a holding player butches him even more than what Sarri's asking him to do now. He's so much more than a Makelele/Fernandinho type screen, he could do it of course but it just feels wrong - he should be in roles which allow him to cover the entire pitch rather than limit him to half of it (why he always looks best in two man midfields).
However I can see the logic in moving him there for big matches and change how we play out from the back to accommodate it, the added insurance of his defensive stability would be worth it, e.g. would've been against Spurs. One thing I'm surprised Sarri hasn't tried in those games is switch to a 4-2-3-1 with both Jorginho & Kante sitting deep pivoting off each other, it's worth experimenting with at least once.
comment by The Devil's Advocate's Advocate - I Represent Him (U6522)
posted 5 minutes ago
You're not alone with that opinion Brummie. My take on it is playing Kante as a holding player butches him even more than what Sarri's asking him to do now. He's so much more than a Makelele/Fernandinho type screen, he could do it of course but it just feels wrong - he should be in roles which allow him to cover the entire pitch rather than limit him to half of it (why he always looks best in two man midfields).
However I can see the logic in moving him there for big matches and change how we play out from the back to accommodate it, the added insurance of his defensive stability would be worth it, e.g. would've been against Spurs. One thing I'm surprised Sarri hasn't tried in those games is switch to a 4-2-3-1 with both Jorginho & Kante sitting deep pivoting off each other, it's worth experimenting with at least once.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The idea of getting Sarri was to become a more proactive team, one that forces it's will on the opposition instead of switching formation to whatever opponent we had, if we were to do that we might aswell have gone for Emery.
Now im not for one second we should go all Brendan Rodgers Liverpool and arrogantly dismiss other teams threats but the idea is we build a team that can play Sarri's football against anyone, we did it against the team who on paper is best equipped to counter Sarriball and they only avoided defeat due to a last minute fluke 1/1000 shot.
Philosophy and formations aren't the same thing, nor does being pragmatic mean abandoning principle. I get your point but there's nothing wrong with tweaking the gameplan (not the philosophy) to get a greater chance of a result against specific opposition. Part of what transformed City last year was Guardiola's willingness to make subtle tweak to his team on a game by game basis, same can be said of Klopp this year, in the PL you kind of have to do that.
I'm surprised Sarri's not utilized a 4-2-3-1 on occasion because it would enable us to still play out from the back how we do, whereas if we just moved Kante to DM we'd have to change that. We'd be unable to deploy that high press trap we do very well
comment by The Devil's Advocate's Advocate - I Represent Him (U6522)
posted 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
You're not alone with that opinion Brummie. My take on it is playing Kante as a holding player butches him even more than what Sarri's asking him to do now. He's so much more than a Makelele/Fernandinho type screen, he could do it of course but it just feels wrong - he should be in roles which allow him to cover the entire pitch rather than limit him to half of it (why he always looks best in two man midfields).
However I can see the logic in moving him there for big matches and change how we play out from the back to accommodate it, the added insurance of his defensive stability would be worth it, e.g. would've been against Spurs. One thing I'm surprised Sarri hasn't tried in those games is switch to a 4-2-3-1 with both Jorginho & Kante sitting deep pivoting off each other, it's worth experimenting with at least once.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't actually like to call it a DM DAA, I've always felt that by employing someone as a purely DM you're shackling a player to protect a defence that in the majority of games you don't need and stifling your attacking options.
For example if you're playing the majority of teams in the bottom half of the league, is constraining one midfielder really necessary to protect a defence that in theory shouldn't come under too much pressure?
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 2 hours, 41 minutes ago
comment by The Devil's Advocate's Advocate - I Represent Him (U6522)
posted 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
You're not alone with that opinion Brummie. My take on it is playing Kante as a holding player butches him even more than what Sarri's asking him to do now. He's so much more than a Makelele/Fernandinho type screen, he could do it of course but it just feels wrong - he should be in roles which allow him to cover the entire pitch rather than limit him to half of it (why he always looks best in two man midfields).
However I can see the logic in moving him there for big matches and change how we play out from the back to accommodate it, the added insurance of his defensive stability would be worth it, e.g. would've been against Spurs. One thing I'm surprised Sarri hasn't tried in those games is switch to a 4-2-3-1 with both Jorginho & Kante sitting deep pivoting off each other, it's worth experimenting with at least once.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't actually like to call it a DM DAA, I've always felt that by employing someone as a purely DM you're shackling a player to protect a defence that in the majority of games you don't need and stifling your attacking options.
For example if you're playing the majority of teams in the bottom half of the league, is constraining one midfielder really necessary to protect a defence that in theory shouldn't come under too much pressure?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think this point has been raised really well - but the Jorginho role would shackle Kante, or would leave the team without a holding midfielder. Additionally, the most integral part of the role is at beating opponents pressing, and setting a tempo. Kante is not the guy to do this, and never will be.
Kante's strengths have always been his pressing, and arguably his biggest weakness for him is his positioning. As a holding midfielder in the 433, he will never work as effectively
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Page 2 of 2
posted on 29/12/18
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 49 seconds ago
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 26 seconds ago
Sarri clearly asked for Jorginho and that was probably a condition to him coming here. As for Kepa I think he was a club signing, not a Sarri recommendation at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarri wanted Kepa at Napoli.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
First I've heard about that. You have a source for that ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ill try and find a more accurate article when i have more time but i remember it was covered on cfcnet forums after his signing but here is a quote from Sarri.
http://www.espn.co.uk/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/3588721/chelsea-boss-praises-kepa-arrizabalaga-very-youngbut-veryvery-good
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok so he said he admired him as a very young keeper:
"I saw him one year ago [when I was at] Naples, and my first impression was he was a very good goalkeeper," the Chelsea head coach said. "Very young, but very, very good."
And this was said after we signed Kepa so I'm not sure that exactly equates to Sarri wanted him at Napoli.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
As i said, ill look through the links of cfcnet later and try to find some of the links.
posted on 29/12/18
comment by Jose Mourinho, just the Portuguese Fat Sam, te... (U21750)
posted 1 minute ago
I don't think I'm overestimating it, I think you're underestimating it. He does have to work with what he's given, but it seems obvious to me that he didn't make signing a striker last summer as big a priority as it should have been.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He wanted Higuain according to reports but the club apparently said no and they wanted to give Morata anther season to prove himself.
How much more of a priority can he make it? He obviously still wants Higuain according to more recent reports.
posted on 29/12/18
in defense we have a really difficult balancing act. Shaky as Alonso & Luiz defensively are (especially in tandem) they're critical to how we attack. The Watford game summed it up very well, they're both very effective at breaking the high press to instigate counter attacks but you just clench up whenever both of them have to defend/opposition's running at the high line. The only way I can see to remedy that situation without changing our style is signing Koulibaly who'd make VVD look like a pocket change transfer.
———-
Alonso inhibits us in attack. Emerson alone would be more suited to beating a high press.
posted on 29/12/18
Alonso inhibits us in attack. Emerson alone would be more suited to beating a high press.
----------------------------------------------------------
Once in the oppositions half I agree, teams have figured out how to shackle Alonso's inward runs, having a more traditional WB creating width is something worth trying now.
Playing out from our own half I've not seen him do it enough to know if he'd be just as good/better than Alonso, but it's worth trying. He should have played more this season for sure.
posted on 29/12/18
Alonso isn’t good at it, against City (first half) , Leicester constantly losing the ball from inside his own final third.
posted on 29/12/18
A very good article jp, it sums up our problems perfectly.
I find the Kante/Jorginho conundrum the most interesting here. I know it's Sarri's philosophy to play out from the back but can't help thinking he could help himself a lot by at least trying to tweak his system a little.
Kante as a DM is possibly the best in the world in doing what he does but when asked to play in a more offensive role, basically just looks like a useful midfielder and no more.
Jorginho on the other hand has the passing capability to play most positions in midfield.
I'm continually thinking to myself what we'd look like if Sarri moved Kante back to his best position and allowed Jorginho to pull stings further up the pitch where his passing, IMO, would be better employed breaking the enemy down.
It would be my one criticism of Sarri, his seeming unwillingness to experiment a little!
posted on 29/12/18
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 22 seconds ago
A very good article jp, it sums up our problems perfectly.
I find the Kante/Jorginho conundrum the most interesting here. I know it's Sarri's philosophy to play out from the back but can't help thinking he could help himself a lot by at least trying to tweak his system a little.
Kante as a DM is possibly the best in the world in doing what he does but when asked to play in a more offensive role, basically just looks like a useful midfielder and no more.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The only time in his PL career Kante played in that role was the first 6 games under Conte when we conceded 9 in 6. As a DM he would leave gaps galoure due to his proactive nature, similar to what happened in that 0-3 at The Emirates, any team who evaded his pressing would be in on our backline.
He's at his very best when the team don't have the ball a lot and he's in a 2 man midfield with the other midfielder covering his bursts forward to try and win possession, if Sarri wanted to get the best out of Kante he would revert back to 343/442 and reunite Kante and Drinky.
I actually think there's more chance of him learning his current position and without meaning to sound like Robb there's been signs in the last few weeks of him getting to grips with it.
posted on 29/12/18
You're not alone with that opinion Brummie. My take on it is playing Kante as a holding player butches him even more than what Sarri's asking him to do now. He's so much more than a Makelele/Fernandinho type screen, he could do it of course but it just feels wrong - he should be in roles which allow him to cover the entire pitch rather than limit him to half of it (why he always looks best in two man midfields).
However I can see the logic in moving him there for big matches and change how we play out from the back to accommodate it, the added insurance of his defensive stability would be worth it, e.g. would've been against Spurs. One thing I'm surprised Sarri hasn't tried in those games is switch to a 4-2-3-1 with both Jorginho & Kante sitting deep pivoting off each other, it's worth experimenting with at least once.
posted on 29/12/18
comment by The Devil's Advocate's Advocate - I Represent Him (U6522)
posted 5 minutes ago
You're not alone with that opinion Brummie. My take on it is playing Kante as a holding player butches him even more than what Sarri's asking him to do now. He's so much more than a Makelele/Fernandinho type screen, he could do it of course but it just feels wrong - he should be in roles which allow him to cover the entire pitch rather than limit him to half of it (why he always looks best in two man midfields).
However I can see the logic in moving him there for big matches and change how we play out from the back to accommodate it, the added insurance of his defensive stability would be worth it, e.g. would've been against Spurs. One thing I'm surprised Sarri hasn't tried in those games is switch to a 4-2-3-1 with both Jorginho & Kante sitting deep pivoting off each other, it's worth experimenting with at least once.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The idea of getting Sarri was to become a more proactive team, one that forces it's will on the opposition instead of switching formation to whatever opponent we had, if we were to do that we might aswell have gone for Emery.
Now im not for one second we should go all Brendan Rodgers Liverpool and arrogantly dismiss other teams threats but the idea is we build a team that can play Sarri's football against anyone, we did it against the team who on paper is best equipped to counter Sarriball and they only avoided defeat due to a last minute fluke 1/1000 shot.
posted on 29/12/18
Philosophy and formations aren't the same thing, nor does being pragmatic mean abandoning principle. I get your point but there's nothing wrong with tweaking the gameplan (not the philosophy) to get a greater chance of a result against specific opposition. Part of what transformed City last year was Guardiola's willingness to make subtle tweak to his team on a game by game basis, same can be said of Klopp this year, in the PL you kind of have to do that.
I'm surprised Sarri's not utilized a 4-2-3-1 on occasion because it would enable us to still play out from the back how we do, whereas if we just moved Kante to DM we'd have to change that. We'd be unable to deploy that high press trap we do very well
posted on 29/12/18
comment by The Devil's Advocate's Advocate - I Represent Him (U6522)
posted 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
You're not alone with that opinion Brummie. My take on it is playing Kante as a holding player butches him even more than what Sarri's asking him to do now. He's so much more than a Makelele/Fernandinho type screen, he could do it of course but it just feels wrong - he should be in roles which allow him to cover the entire pitch rather than limit him to half of it (why he always looks best in two man midfields).
However I can see the logic in moving him there for big matches and change how we play out from the back to accommodate it, the added insurance of his defensive stability would be worth it, e.g. would've been against Spurs. One thing I'm surprised Sarri hasn't tried in those games is switch to a 4-2-3-1 with both Jorginho & Kante sitting deep pivoting off each other, it's worth experimenting with at least once.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't actually like to call it a DM DAA, I've always felt that by employing someone as a purely DM you're shackling a player to protect a defence that in the majority of games you don't need and stifling your attacking options.
For example if you're playing the majority of teams in the bottom half of the league, is constraining one midfielder really necessary to protect a defence that in theory shouldn't come under too much pressure?
posted on 29/12/18
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 2 hours, 41 minutes ago
comment by The Devil's Advocate's Advocate - I Represent Him (U6522)
posted 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
You're not alone with that opinion Brummie. My take on it is playing Kante as a holding player butches him even more than what Sarri's asking him to do now. He's so much more than a Makelele/Fernandinho type screen, he could do it of course but it just feels wrong - he should be in roles which allow him to cover the entire pitch rather than limit him to half of it (why he always looks best in two man midfields).
However I can see the logic in moving him there for big matches and change how we play out from the back to accommodate it, the added insurance of his defensive stability would be worth it, e.g. would've been against Spurs. One thing I'm surprised Sarri hasn't tried in those games is switch to a 4-2-3-1 with both Jorginho & Kante sitting deep pivoting off each other, it's worth experimenting with at least once.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't actually like to call it a DM DAA, I've always felt that by employing someone as a purely DM you're shackling a player to protect a defence that in the majority of games you don't need and stifling your attacking options.
For example if you're playing the majority of teams in the bottom half of the league, is constraining one midfielder really necessary to protect a defence that in theory shouldn't come under too much pressure?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think this point has been raised really well - but the Jorginho role would shackle Kante, or would leave the team without a holding midfielder. Additionally, the most integral part of the role is at beating opponents pressing, and setting a tempo. Kante is not the guy to do this, and never will be.
Kante's strengths have always been his pressing, and arguably his biggest weakness for him is his positioning. As a holding midfielder in the 433, he will never work as effectively
Page 2 of 2