Onana
Maz De Ligt Lis Shaw
Casemiro Bruno Mainoo
Garnacho Hojlund Rashford
The good thing about this summer's deals is that we start to see a bit of depth emerge. Mazraoui may be a better technical player than Dalot, and athletically a bit more average. But the main thing is that when Dalot doesn't play at RB the team doesn't have to play differently to accommodate an alternative who can't be relied upon in build up. Similarly, in central defence we have a few options who are comfortable receiving the ball and passing it - none as good as Martinez, but none as bad as Varane. There are still loads of gaps and areas where we don't have depth of quality, but it's a move in the right direction.
Apologies for not answering the question in the OP, but for me the business we've done this summer makes it a bit less clear who the preferred starting XI are for the very reason that we have more options in several positions.
It might be more appropriate to raise this in the midfield-focused McTominay article below, but Vengeance filtered me (!) so I can't comment there. But you mention Mount in the OP so hopefully not too off-topic. Anyway, I think there's a bit of a dilemma to keep our eyes on with Mason. On one hand, he's by far our best player in a high press; on the other hand, he's our least creative player among the options to play in the front 5. In the Fulham match I thought we had more domination with him on the pitch; the press grew much less effective as soon as he went off. But he didn't particularly contribute to chance creation after we won the ball high up the pitch. On the other hand, our better scoring chances were created when he was playing (and the goal came from a much lower probability chance than the ones we spurned).
I honestly wouldn't be able to say at the moment. In particular with that front line.
- Amad, Rashford and Garnacho are competing for 2 spots and any 2 of them could end up taking it. The latter 2 are objectively better players I think, but I do like the technical security someone like Amad offers over having 2 direct and explosive wingers.
- Zirkzee - going purely on profile I think someone like him suits the team better than Hojlund (particularly if Rashford and Garnacho are out wide) but it remains to be seen whether he can actually deliver the goods in this league
- Mount: I wouldn't rule out the possibility that what we've seen in the community shield and on Friday is actually becoming our plan A. Mount looks a pretty ordinary player when you watch him, but his out of possession stats on Friday were extremely impressive, and I have no doubt Ten Hag is a huge fan of that.
Tl;Dr: I dunno, ask me again in 2 months.
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 10 minutes ago
It might be more appropriate to raise this in the midfield-focused McTominay article below, but Vengeance filtered me (!) so I can't comment there. But you mention Mount in the OP so hopefully not too off-topic. Anyway, I think there's a bit of a dilemma to keep our eyes on with Mason. On one hand, he's by far our best player in a high press; on the other hand, he's our least creative player among the options to play in the front 5. In the Fulham match I thought we had more domination with him on the pitch; the press grew much less effective as soon as he went off. But he didn't particularly contribute to chance creation after we won the ball high up the pitch. On the other hand, our better scoring chances were created when he was playing (and the goal came from a much lower probability chance than the ones we spurned).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A simple "he's dross" or "he's world class" would have sufficed, RR...
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 1 minute ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No Martinez?
RR, please unfilter me so I can reciprocate the gesture. All I wanted was a handshake or hug FFS ! I rage filtered you 😅
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 19 minutes ago
The good thing about this summer's deals is that we start to see a bit of depth emerge. Mazraoui may be a better technical player than Dalot, and athletically a bit more average. But the main thing is that when Dalot doesn't play at RB the team doesn't have to play differently to accommodate an alternative who can't be relied upon in build up. Similarly, in central defence we have a few options who are comfortable receiving the ball and passing it - none as good as Martinez, but none as bad as Varane. There are still loads of gaps and areas where we don't have depth of quality, but it's a move in the right direction.
Apologies for not answering the question in the OP, but for me the business we've done this summer makes it a bit less clear who the preferred starting XI are for the very reason that we have more options in several positions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't disagree with a lot of what you say RR, but pick a team man
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 42 seconds ago
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 1 minute ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No Martinez?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe LB, if fit.
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 47 seconds ago
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 1 minute ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No Martinez?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Must have done a swap deal with Ugarte according to the team chosen
I think it's an error in and of itself to think about 'best starting 11's' now (fun though it is).
Teams increasingly look to recruit based on profiles that fit a way of playing, so (in theory at least) there should be less of a drop off when rotation comes into play.
There's also the increased number of substitutes available to managers to change a game and then there's consideration around the opposition and what weapons we want to bring to the fight.
For example, if we're playing more on the counter, Rashford and Garnacho on the flanks with Zirkzee holding the ball up and bringing people into play looks attractive.
If we're expected to have more of the ball, Amad for his technical and intricate play and someone who does their best work in the box like Hojlund looks attractive (equally you could argue Hojlund is at his best in more open space).
Then you have to consider the impact that players like Mount can have on helping the team territorially with aggressive, intense pressing higher up the pitch.
On top of all of that, we simply need more time to asses how Amad, Garnacho, Rasmus, Zirkzee and Yoro are going to develop before being able to say what a potential best 11 would even be.
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 47 seconds ago
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 1 minute ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No Martinez?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Must have done a swap deal with Ugarte according to the team chosen
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ugarte is happening 😉
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 42 seconds ago
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 1 minute ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No Martinez?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe LB, if fit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
LB does not suit him, see City's goal in the CS and how Traore skipped past him early on.
If he has a weakness it's his 1 on 1 defending.
He's our best ball player at CB though.
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 8 minutes ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So an 18 year old that's never played a competitive game for us gets in ahead of our best player, Martinez... A player that doesn't play for us gets the nod in midfield and Amad and Garnacho swap positions to play in their second best positions rather than their favoured and best roles...
Excellent.
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 11 seconds ago
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 8 minutes ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So an 18 year old that's never played a competitive game for us gets in ahead of our best player, Martinez... A player that doesn't play for us gets the nod in midfield and Amad and Garnacho swap positions to play in their second best positions rather than their favoured and best roles...
Excellent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone can have an opinion Berba - who would you have?
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 21 seconds ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 11 seconds ago
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 8 minutes ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So an 18 year old that's never played a competitive game for us gets in ahead of our best player, Martinez... A player that doesn't play for us gets the nod in midfield and Amad and Garnacho swap positions to play in their second best positions rather than their favoured and best roles...
Excellent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone can have an opinion Berba - who would you have?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course! Including daft ones...
Honestly I don't know right now. We just haven't seen enough of certain players to say, nor do we know what the longer term plan is for the shape of the team and which players best suit that. As RR has said, Mount is critically important when it comes to the press but seemingly can only be accommodated in the '2' in the 4-4-2. That then leaves big question about when and where Rasmus/Zirkzee get in or whether Mount can be accommodated elsewhere.
Ask me in November!
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 11 minutes ago
I think it's an error in and of itself to think about 'best starting 11's' now (fun though it is).
Teams increasingly look to recruit based on profiles that fit a way of playing, so (in theory at least) there should be less of a drop off when rotation comes into play.
There's also the increased number of substitutes available to managers to change a game and then there's consideration around the opposition and what weapons we want to bring to the fight.
For example, if we're playing more on the counter, Rashford and Garnacho on the flanks with Zirkzee holding the ball up and bringing people into play looks attractive.
If we're expected to have more of the ball, Amad for his technical and intricate play and someone who does their best work in the box like Hojlund looks attractive (equally you could argue Hojlund is at his best in more open space).
Then you have to consider the impact that players like Mount can have on helping the team territorially with aggressive, intense pressing higher up the pitch.
On top of all of that, we simply need more time to asses how Amad, Garnacho, Rasmus, Zirkzee and Yoro are going to develop before being able to say what a potential best 11 would even be.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This.
The front six will probably change quite a bit depending on who we’re playing this season.
Tough aways against possession hungry sides might look like:
Dalot—Yoro—Martinez—Shaw
————Miro—Mainoo
Amad—Bruno—Mount—Rashers
At home against bottom half sides might look like:
Mazraoui—De Ligt—Martinez—Shaw
—————Miro—Mainoo
—Garnacho—Bruno—Rashford
——————Hojlund
Onana
Shaw
Martinez
De Ligt / Yoro
Dalot
Casemiro (probably Ugarte soon)
Mainoo
Bruno
Garnacho
Hojlund
Rashford
Likes of Amad Zirkzee Mount Mazraoui will play that often though that a best 11 is pretty irrelevant. It's a squad game now more than ever before and if we go deep into the cups again this season we are looking at another 60 game season.
Too early to say but it’s vital we build a squad of players who can come in and not lower the quality much.
Hopefully we ease Yoro in now we have de Ligt while it’ll be interesting to see how we use Zirkzee (who I really like the look of) and whether he can play alongside Hojlund or not? Mount is another that’ll be interesting to see how he’s used if everyone’s fit.
Personally think a fit Mazraoui is a better all round player than Dalot. It’s whether he can stay fit though.
Also Urgate seems like a good match for Mainoo and will probably be rotated with Casemiro depending on the opponent.
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 31 minutes ago
RR, please unfilter me so I can reciprocate the gesture. All I wanted was a handshake or hug FFS ! I rage filtered you 😅
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't have you filtered
Bit harsh to bin Dalot over Maz after just one game.
We have 4 wins and a draw in 5 games playing with Bruno as false 9, so as of today that's our best set up and we should stick to that till Hojlund is fit. With that formation the team picks itself. Dalot over Mazza for now.
We need to evolve into something more progressive though...
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 21 seconds ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 11 seconds ago
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 8 minutes ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So an 18 year old that's never played a competitive game for us gets in ahead of our best player, Martinez... A player that doesn't play for us gets the nod in midfield and Amad and Garnacho swap positions to play in their second best positions rather than their favoured and best roles...
Excellent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone can have an opinion Berba - who would you have?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course! Including daft ones...
Honestly I don't know right now. We just haven't seen enough of certain players to say, nor do we know what the longer term plan is for the shape of the team and which players best suit that. As RR has said, Mount is critically important when it comes to the press but seemingly can only be accommodated in the '2' in the 4-4-2. That then leaves big question about when and where Rasmus/Zirkzee get in or whether Mount can be accommodated elsewhere.
Ask me in November!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
On Mount, just read that he performed 23 counterpressures on Friday, the most of any PL player over the first gameday.
If he stays fit, he’s going to be a key player in big games this season.
comment by Onana_banana_fi_fa_fofana (U20611)
posted 2 minutes ago
We have 4 wins and a draw in 5 games playing with Bruno as false 9, so as of today that's our best set up and we should stick to that till Hojlund is fit. With that formation the team picks itself. Dalot over Mazza for now.
We need to evolve into something more progressive though...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A very good point.
Not exactly what everyone wants to see but it seems to have worked thus far, albeit in a small sample size of games.
We play Brighton, Palace and Villa all away soon as well as Liverpool and Spurs at home. A very tough start to the season really so playing an extra midfielder and false 9 should in theory make us harder to play against.
I wouldn't be against it myself. Zirkzee didn't quite look match sharp yet either despite his nice finish so it's probably likely we will continue with Bruno up top for a few more games.
Garnacho should start this weekend though so I'd expect either Amad or Rashford to drop out and most likely Amad out of the two as we will need more pace with Bruno upfront.
Sign in if you want to comment
If everyone was fit..............
Page 1 of 2
posted on 20/8/24
Onana
Maz De Ligt Lis Shaw
Casemiro Bruno Mainoo
Garnacho Hojlund Rashford
posted on 20/8/24
The good thing about this summer's deals is that we start to see a bit of depth emerge. Mazraoui may be a better technical player than Dalot, and athletically a bit more average. But the main thing is that when Dalot doesn't play at RB the team doesn't have to play differently to accommodate an alternative who can't be relied upon in build up. Similarly, in central defence we have a few options who are comfortable receiving the ball and passing it - none as good as Martinez, but none as bad as Varane. There are still loads of gaps and areas where we don't have depth of quality, but it's a move in the right direction.
Apologies for not answering the question in the OP, but for me the business we've done this summer makes it a bit less clear who the preferred starting XI are for the very reason that we have more options in several positions.
posted on 20/8/24
It might be more appropriate to raise this in the midfield-focused McTominay article below, but Vengeance filtered me (!) so I can't comment there. But you mention Mount in the OP so hopefully not too off-topic. Anyway, I think there's a bit of a dilemma to keep our eyes on with Mason. On one hand, he's by far our best player in a high press; on the other hand, he's our least creative player among the options to play in the front 5. In the Fulham match I thought we had more domination with him on the pitch; the press grew much less effective as soon as he went off. But he didn't particularly contribute to chance creation after we won the ball high up the pitch. On the other hand, our better scoring chances were created when he was playing (and the goal came from a much lower probability chance than the ones we spurned).
posted on 20/8/24
I honestly wouldn't be able to say at the moment. In particular with that front line.
- Amad, Rashford and Garnacho are competing for 2 spots and any 2 of them could end up taking it. The latter 2 are objectively better players I think, but I do like the technical security someone like Amad offers over having 2 direct and explosive wingers.
- Zirkzee - going purely on profile I think someone like him suits the team better than Hojlund (particularly if Rashford and Garnacho are out wide) but it remains to be seen whether he can actually deliver the goods in this league
- Mount: I wouldn't rule out the possibility that what we've seen in the community shield and on Friday is actually becoming our plan A. Mount looks a pretty ordinary player when you watch him, but his out of possession stats on Friday were extremely impressive, and I have no doubt Ten Hag is a huge fan of that.
Tl;Dr: I dunno, ask me again in 2 months.
posted on 20/8/24
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 10 minutes ago
It might be more appropriate to raise this in the midfield-focused McTominay article below, but Vengeance filtered me (!) so I can't comment there. But you mention Mount in the OP so hopefully not too off-topic. Anyway, I think there's a bit of a dilemma to keep our eyes on with Mason. On one hand, he's by far our best player in a high press; on the other hand, he's our least creative player among the options to play in the front 5. In the Fulham match I thought we had more domination with him on the pitch; the press grew much less effective as soon as he went off. But he didn't particularly contribute to chance creation after we won the ball high up the pitch. On the other hand, our better scoring chances were created when he was playing (and the goal came from a much lower probability chance than the ones we spurned).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A simple "he's dross" or "he's world class" would have sufficed, RR...
posted on 20/8/24
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
posted on 20/8/24
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 1 minute ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No Martinez?
posted on 20/8/24
RR, please unfilter me so I can reciprocate the gesture. All I wanted was a handshake or hug FFS ! I rage filtered you 😅
posted on 20/8/24
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 19 minutes ago
The good thing about this summer's deals is that we start to see a bit of depth emerge. Mazraoui may be a better technical player than Dalot, and athletically a bit more average. But the main thing is that when Dalot doesn't play at RB the team doesn't have to play differently to accommodate an alternative who can't be relied upon in build up. Similarly, in central defence we have a few options who are comfortable receiving the ball and passing it - none as good as Martinez, but none as bad as Varane. There are still loads of gaps and areas where we don't have depth of quality, but it's a move in the right direction.
Apologies for not answering the question in the OP, but for me the business we've done this summer makes it a bit less clear who the preferred starting XI are for the very reason that we have more options in several positions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't disagree with a lot of what you say RR, but pick a team man
posted on 20/8/24
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 42 seconds ago
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 1 minute ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No Martinez?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe LB, if fit.
posted on 20/8/24
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 47 seconds ago
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 1 minute ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No Martinez?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Must have done a swap deal with Ugarte according to the team chosen
posted on 20/8/24
I think it's an error in and of itself to think about 'best starting 11's' now (fun though it is).
Teams increasingly look to recruit based on profiles that fit a way of playing, so (in theory at least) there should be less of a drop off when rotation comes into play.
There's also the increased number of substitutes available to managers to change a game and then there's consideration around the opposition and what weapons we want to bring to the fight.
For example, if we're playing more on the counter, Rashford and Garnacho on the flanks with Zirkzee holding the ball up and bringing people into play looks attractive.
If we're expected to have more of the ball, Amad for his technical and intricate play and someone who does their best work in the box like Hojlund looks attractive (equally you could argue Hojlund is at his best in more open space).
Then you have to consider the impact that players like Mount can have on helping the team territorially with aggressive, intense pressing higher up the pitch.
On top of all of that, we simply need more time to asses how Amad, Garnacho, Rasmus, Zirkzee and Yoro are going to develop before being able to say what a potential best 11 would even be.
posted on 20/8/24
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 47 seconds ago
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 1 minute ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No Martinez?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Must have done a swap deal with Ugarte according to the team chosen
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ugarte is happening 😉
posted on 20/8/24
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 42 seconds ago
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 1 minute ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No Martinez?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe LB, if fit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
LB does not suit him, see City's goal in the CS and how Traore skipped past him early on.
If he has a weakness it's his 1 on 1 defending.
He's our best ball player at CB though.
posted on 20/8/24
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 8 minutes ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So an 18 year old that's never played a competitive game for us gets in ahead of our best player, Martinez... A player that doesn't play for us gets the nod in midfield and Amad and Garnacho swap positions to play in their second best positions rather than their favoured and best roles...
Excellent.
posted on 20/8/24
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 11 seconds ago
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 8 minutes ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So an 18 year old that's never played a competitive game for us gets in ahead of our best player, Martinez... A player that doesn't play for us gets the nod in midfield and Amad and Garnacho swap positions to play in their second best positions rather than their favoured and best roles...
Excellent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone can have an opinion Berba - who would you have?
posted on 20/8/24
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 21 seconds ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 11 seconds ago
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 8 minutes ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So an 18 year old that's never played a competitive game for us gets in ahead of our best player, Martinez... A player that doesn't play for us gets the nod in midfield and Amad and Garnacho swap positions to play in their second best positions rather than their favoured and best roles...
Excellent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone can have an opinion Berba - who would you have?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course! Including daft ones...
Honestly I don't know right now. We just haven't seen enough of certain players to say, nor do we know what the longer term plan is for the shape of the team and which players best suit that. As RR has said, Mount is critically important when it comes to the press but seemingly can only be accommodated in the '2' in the 4-4-2. That then leaves big question about when and where Rasmus/Zirkzee get in or whether Mount can be accommodated elsewhere.
Ask me in November!
posted on 20/8/24
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 11 minutes ago
I think it's an error in and of itself to think about 'best starting 11's' now (fun though it is).
Teams increasingly look to recruit based on profiles that fit a way of playing, so (in theory at least) there should be less of a drop off when rotation comes into play.
There's also the increased number of substitutes available to managers to change a game and then there's consideration around the opposition and what weapons we want to bring to the fight.
For example, if we're playing more on the counter, Rashford and Garnacho on the flanks with Zirkzee holding the ball up and bringing people into play looks attractive.
If we're expected to have more of the ball, Amad for his technical and intricate play and someone who does their best work in the box like Hojlund looks attractive (equally you could argue Hojlund is at his best in more open space).
Then you have to consider the impact that players like Mount can have on helping the team territorially with aggressive, intense pressing higher up the pitch.
On top of all of that, we simply need more time to asses how Amad, Garnacho, Rasmus, Zirkzee and Yoro are going to develop before being able to say what a potential best 11 would even be.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This.
The front six will probably change quite a bit depending on who we’re playing this season.
Tough aways against possession hungry sides might look like:
Dalot—Yoro—Martinez—Shaw
————Miro—Mainoo
Amad—Bruno—Mount—Rashers
At home against bottom half sides might look like:
Mazraoui—De Ligt—Martinez—Shaw
—————Miro—Mainoo
—Garnacho—Bruno—Rashford
——————Hojlund
posted on 20/8/24
Onana
Shaw
Martinez
De Ligt / Yoro
Dalot
Casemiro (probably Ugarte soon)
Mainoo
Bruno
Garnacho
Hojlund
Rashford
Likes of Amad Zirkzee Mount Mazraoui will play that often though that a best 11 is pretty irrelevant. It's a squad game now more than ever before and if we go deep into the cups again this season we are looking at another 60 game season.
posted on 20/8/24
Too early to say but it’s vital we build a squad of players who can come in and not lower the quality much.
Hopefully we ease Yoro in now we have de Ligt while it’ll be interesting to see how we use Zirkzee (who I really like the look of) and whether he can play alongside Hojlund or not? Mount is another that’ll be interesting to see how he’s used if everyone’s fit.
Personally think a fit Mazraoui is a better all round player than Dalot. It’s whether he can stay fit though.
Also Urgate seems like a good match for Mainoo and will probably be rotated with Casemiro depending on the opponent.
posted on 20/8/24
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 31 minutes ago
RR, please unfilter me so I can reciprocate the gesture. All I wanted was a handshake or hug FFS ! I rage filtered you 😅
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't have you filtered
posted on 20/8/24
Bit harsh to bin Dalot over Maz after just one game.
posted on 20/8/24
We have 4 wins and a draw in 5 games playing with Bruno as false 9, so as of today that's our best set up and we should stick to that till Hojlund is fit. With that formation the team picks itself. Dalot over Mazza for now.
We need to evolve into something more progressive though...
posted on 20/8/24
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 21 seconds ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 11 seconds ago
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 8 minutes ago
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro Shaw
Bruno Ugarte Mainoo
Nacho Zirkzee Amad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So an 18 year old that's never played a competitive game for us gets in ahead of our best player, Martinez... A player that doesn't play for us gets the nod in midfield and Amad and Garnacho swap positions to play in their second best positions rather than their favoured and best roles...
Excellent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone can have an opinion Berba - who would you have?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course! Including daft ones...
Honestly I don't know right now. We just haven't seen enough of certain players to say, nor do we know what the longer term plan is for the shape of the team and which players best suit that. As RR has said, Mount is critically important when it comes to the press but seemingly can only be accommodated in the '2' in the 4-4-2. That then leaves big question about when and where Rasmus/Zirkzee get in or whether Mount can be accommodated elsewhere.
Ask me in November!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
On Mount, just read that he performed 23 counterpressures on Friday, the most of any PL player over the first gameday.
If he stays fit, he’s going to be a key player in big games this season.
posted on 20/8/24
comment by Onana_banana_fi_fa_fofana (U20611)
posted 2 minutes ago
We have 4 wins and a draw in 5 games playing with Bruno as false 9, so as of today that's our best set up and we should stick to that till Hojlund is fit. With that formation the team picks itself. Dalot over Mazza for now.
We need to evolve into something more progressive though...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A very good point.
Not exactly what everyone wants to see but it seems to have worked thus far, albeit in a small sample size of games.
We play Brighton, Palace and Villa all away soon as well as Liverpool and Spurs at home. A very tough start to the season really so playing an extra midfielder and false 9 should in theory make us harder to play against.
I wouldn't be against it myself. Zirkzee didn't quite look match sharp yet either despite his nice finish so it's probably likely we will continue with Bruno up top for a few more games.
Garnacho should start this weekend though so I'd expect either Amad or Rashford to drop out and most likely Amad out of the two as we will need more pace with Bruno upfront.
Page 1 of 2