Formations, Tactics, Analysis, and Statistics

[thebigbangtheo]

In wanting to extract the best game from Thomas Partey, I am an advocate of partnering him with a more defensively astute midfielder that would give him licence to dictate midfield without any concern that his forrays forward to support an attack would be detrimental to the team's shape and defensive structure and organisation. With this in mind the three midfielders at the top of my wishlist are Yves Bissouma, Bruno Guimaraes and Sander Berg.

However, in the event of our not purchasing any of the above or some other player who specialises in the defensive midfielder role, would it be feasible for Arteta to accommodate the return of Billy Saliba by playing 3 centre backs?

For me the answer is yes, but not in the accustomed way of playing with three centre halfs but rather harking back to the innovation of playing with a sweeper along with the ability to transition the ball from defence to attack. In being flanked by the power, physicality and pace on offer from Billy and Gabriel, our resident Reservoir Dog Mr. White is showing an ability to be a bit of a hybrid defender and a viable candidate to slot into the DM role and partner Partey from the middle of the defence.

[jayramfootball]

Good form after a difficult start. Long season ahead, though. Our general chance creation from open play has to go up, and ball retention after taking the lead also has to improve drastically.

The game against Liverpool will be fascinating
Back 5 and midfield are going to need to be 100% on their game.
Liverpool are the best at creating chances in the league this year so far.

[thebigbangtheo]

In wanting to extract the best game from Thomas Partey, I am an advocate of partnering him with a more defensively astute midfielder that would give him licence to dictate midfield without any concern that his forrays forward to support an attack would be detrimental to the team's shape and defensive structure and organisation. With this in mind the three midfielders at the top of my wishlist are Yves Bissouma, Bruno Guimaraes and Sander Berg.

However, in the event of our not purchasing any of the above or some other player who specialises in the defensive midfielder role, would it be feasible for Arteta to accommodate the return of Billy Saliba by playing 3 centre backs?

For me the answer is yes, but not in the accustomed way of playing with three centre halfs but rather harking back to the innovation of playing with a sweeper along with the ability to transition the ball from defence to attack. In being flanked by the power, physicality and pace on offer from Billy and Gabriel, our resident Reservoir Dog Mr. White is showing an ability to be a bit of a hybrid defender and a viable candidate to slot into the DM role and partner Partey from the middle of the defence.

Bissouma is the most obvious choice to fix our midfield predicament. Brighton want £35m for him and he's an Arsenal fan so would come here in a heartbeat.

Just get it done ffs.

I totally agree with your assessment. It is the fact that it is about two years now since first advocating that Bissouma was the answer to the conundrum that was our pre 2021/22 season midfield that has pretty much convinced me that Arteta does not share the same inclination, especially when links keep appearing that we have targeted Van De Beek as the purchase to galvanise our midfield instead of the Brighton man although I do understand the implication arising from the AFCON.

[jayramfootball]

In wanting to extract the best game from Thomas Partey, I am an advocate of partnering him with a more defensively astute midfielder that would give him licence to dictate midfield without any concern that his forrays forward to support an attack would be detrimental to the team's shape and defensive structure and organisation. With this in mind the three midfielders at the top of my wishlist are Yves Bissouma, Bruno Guimaraes and Sander Berg.

However, in the event of our not purchasing any of the above or some other player who specialises in the defensive midfielder role, would it be feasible for Arteta to accommodate the return of Billy Saliba by playing 3 centre backs?

For me the answer is yes, but not in the accustomed way of playing with three centre halfs but rather harking back to the innovation of playing with a sweeper along with the ability to transition the ball from defence to attack. In being flanked by the power, physicality and pace on offer from Billy and Gabriel, our resident Reservoir Dog Mr. White is showing an ability to be a bit of a hybrid defender and a viable candidate to slot into the DM role and partner Partey from the middle of the defence.

Bissouma is the most obvious choice to fix our midfield predicament. Brighton want £35m for him and he's an Arsenal fan so would come here in a heartbeat.

Just get it done ffs.

I totally agree with your assessment. It is the fact that it is about two years now since first advocating that Bissouma was the answer to the conundrum that was our pre 2021/22 season midfield that has pretty much convinced me that Arteta does not share the same inclination, especially when links keep appearing that we have targeted Van De Beek as the purchase to galvanise our midfield instead of the Brighton man although I do understand the implication arising from the AFCON.

For this reason I think we should avoid signing African players completely.
The AFCON is every 2 years at a vital time in the PL season.

[thebigbangtheo]

In wanting to extract the best game from Thomas Partey, I am an advocate of partnering him with a more defensively astute midfielder that would give him licence to dictate midfield without any concern that his forrays forward to support an attack would be detrimental to the team's shape and defensive structure and organisation. With this in mind the three midfielders at the top of my wishlist are Yves Bissouma, Bruno Guimaraes and Sander Berg.

However, in the event of our not purchasing any of the above or some other player who specialises in the defensive midfielder role, would it be feasible for Arteta to accommodate the return of Billy Saliba by playing 3 centre backs?

For me the answer is yes, but not in the accustomed way of playing with three centre halfs but rather harking back to the innovation of playing with a sweeper along with the ability to transition the ball from defence to attack. In being flanked by the power, physicality and pace on offer from Billy and Gabriel, our resident Reservoir Dog Mr. White is showing an ability to be a bit of a hybrid defender and a viable candidate to slot into the DM role and partner Partey from the middle of the defence.

Bissouma is the most obvious choice to fix our midfield predicament. Brighton want £35m for him and he's an Arsenal fan so would come here in a heartbeat.

Just get it done ffs.

I totally agree with your assessment. It is the fact that it is about two years now since first advocating that Bissouma was the answer to the conundrum that was our pre 2021/22 season midfield that has pretty much convinced me that Arteta does not share the same inclination, especially when links keep appearing that we have targeted Van De Beek as the purchase to galvanise our midfield instead of the Brighton man although I do understand the implication arising from the AFCON.

For this reason I think we should avoid signing African players completely.
The AFCON is every 2 years at a vital time in the PL season.

Whilst I understand the point from where you are coming from with regards to the impact of this bi-annual tournament upon the European football leagues, it smacks too much of cutting off your nose to spite your face to me.

The last thing that I would want us to engage in would be a policy and culture that embodied when Didier Drogba 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'No thank you'. That when Mohammed Salah 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'Thanks, but no thanks'. That when Jay Jay Ocacha 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'Nah, not today thanks'. That when talented young players the equivalent of the likes of Koulibaly, Essien, Saha, the Toure brothers, Abidi Pele, Eto, Mane, Weah, Upamacano, Aubameyang, Ndidi, Radebe etc, are all at United, City, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea, we might not be quite so appreciative of not having had to do without such players services and some team disruption for about a month every two years.

[jayramfootball]

In wanting to extract the best game from Thomas Partey, I am an advocate of partnering him with a more defensively astute midfielder that would give him licence to dictate midfield without any concern that his forrays forward to support an attack would be detrimental to the team's shape and defensive structure and organisation. With this in mind the three midfielders at the top of my wishlist are Yves Bissouma, Bruno Guimaraes and Sander Berg.

However, in the event of our not purchasing any of the above or some other player who specialises in the defensive midfielder role, would it be feasible for Arteta to accommodate the return of Billy Saliba by playing 3 centre backs?

For me the answer is yes, but not in the accustomed way of playing with three centre halfs but rather harking back to the innovation of playing with a sweeper along with the ability to transition the ball from defence to attack. In being flanked by the power, physicality and pace on offer from Billy and Gabriel, our resident Reservoir Dog Mr. White is showing an ability to be a bit of a hybrid defender and a viable candidate to slot into the DM role and partner Partey from the middle of the defence.

Bissouma is the most obvious choice to fix our midfield predicament. Brighton want £35m for him and he's an Arsenal fan so would come here in a heartbeat.

Just get it done ffs.

I totally agree with your assessment. It is the fact that it is about two years now since first advocating that Bissouma was the answer to the conundrum that was our pre 2021/22 season midfield that has pretty much convinced me that Arteta does not share the same inclination, especially when links keep appearing that we have targeted Van De Beek as the purchase to galvanise our midfield instead of the Brighton man although I do understand the implication arising from the AFCON.

For this reason I think we should avoid signing African players completely.
The AFCON is every 2 years at a vital time in the PL season.

Whilst I understand the point from where you are coming from with regards to the impact of this bi-annual tournament upon the European football leagues, it smacks too much of cutting off your nose to spite your face to me.

The last thing that I would want us to engage in would be a policy and culture that embodied when Didier Drogba 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'No thank you'. That when Mohammed Salah 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'Thanks, but no thanks'. That when Jay Jay Ocacha 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'Nah, not today thanks'. That when talented young players the equivalent of the likes of Koulibaly, Essien, Saha, the Toure brothers, Abidi Pele, Eto, Mane, Weah, Upamacano, Aubameyang, Ndidi, Radebe etc, are all at United, City, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea, we might not be quite so appreciative of not having had to do without such players services and some team disruption for about a month every two years.

Fair, but whilst there are other options, I'd still say no thanks.
If all clubs would do that you can be sure that the AFCON would switch to every 4 years.
I suppose the only issue is that Africa can be a goldmine for quality players that can be signed cheaply - but even that is getting less and less.

[thebigbangtheo]

In wanting to extract the best game from Thomas Partey, I am an advocate of partnering him with a more defensively astute midfielder that would give him licence to dictate midfield without any concern that his forrays forward to support an attack would be detrimental to the team's shape and defensive structure and organisation. With this in mind the three midfielders at the top of my wishlist are Yves Bissouma, Bruno Guimaraes and Sander Berg.

However, in the event of our not purchasing any of the above or some other player who specialises in the defensive midfielder role, would it be feasible for Arteta to accommodate the return of Billy Saliba by playing 3 centre backs?

For me the answer is yes, but not in the accustomed way of playing with three centre halfs but rather harking back to the innovation of playing with a sweeper along with the ability to transition the ball from defence to attack. In being flanked by the power, physicality and pace on offer from Billy and Gabriel, our resident Reservoir Dog Mr. White is showing an ability to be a bit of a hybrid defender and a viable candidate to slot into the DM role and partner Partey from the middle of the defence.

Bissouma is the most obvious choice to fix our midfield predicament. Brighton want £35m for him and he's an Arsenal fan so would come here in a heartbeat.

Just get it done ffs.

I totally agree with your assessment. It is the fact that it is about two years now since first advocating that Bissouma was the answer to the conundrum that was our pre 2021/22 season midfield that has pretty much convinced me that Arteta does not share the same inclination, especially when links keep appearing that we have targeted Van De Beek as the purchase to galvanise our midfield instead of the Brighton man although I do understand the implication arising from the AFCON.

For this reason I think we should avoid signing African players completely.
The AFCON is every 2 years at a vital time in the PL season.

Whilst I understand the point from where you are coming from with regards to the impact of this bi-annual tournament upon the European football leagues, it smacks too much of cutting off your nose to spite your face to me.

The last thing that I would want us to engage in would be a policy and culture that embodied when Didier Drogba 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'No thank you'. That when Mohammed Salah 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'Thanks, but no thanks'. That when Jay Jay Ocacha 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'Nah, not today thanks'. That when talented young players the equivalent of the likes of Koulibaly, Essien, Saha, the Toure brothers, Abidi Pele, Eto, Mane, Weah, Upamacano, Aubameyang, Ndidi, Radebe etc, are all at United, City, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea, we might not be quite so appreciative of not having had to do without such players services and some team disruption for about a month every two years.

Fair, but whilst there are other options, I'd still say no thanks.
If all clubs would do that you can be sure that the AFCON would switch to every 4 years.
I suppose the only issue is that Africa can be a goldmine for quality players that can be signed cheaply - but even that is getting less and less.

Each to their own I guess. But without the slightest hint of sarcasm, your comment of there being other options available so as to warrant your 'no thanks' to talent the calibre of the pre-mentioned, straight away put me in mind of Arsene Wenger and his recollection of all the great players like Messi, C Ronaldo, Drogba, Hazard etc that we had the opportunity to sign but failed to do so and brought in inferior options instead.

Regards trying to dictate to members of the AFCON by self imposing an embargo against signing African players, I'm inclined to imagine that outcome being that ALL African players would have to boycott the Premier League in retaliation, the consequence of which would be to enrich all of the other Euro leagues instead and culminate in pretty much an entire continent no longer contributing to the gravy train that is the EPL, and within a relatively short period of time the comfortable perch at the top of the tree would be lost to either the Italian, Spanish, French or Russian league.

[theHotHead]

While I don't agree with Jay's boycott of African players I do agree that it would work in forcing the AFCON to change their current bi-annual format.

The Prem is the richest and best league in the world, players know they can easily double or triple their earnings here. You just need to look at Partey, wasn't he on £60k per week as a key member of the Athletico team? Came to us and more than trebled his salary.

Plus there is less of a language problem, Africans tend to speak English or French, so places like Germany, Spain and Italy I doubt would be first choice destinations.

The lure of the Prem is mighty for various reasons.

[StockGooner]

I'd be all for signing a Drogba or a Salah, but is Bissouma of that level of quality? The former were real difference makers and can win games alone so are worth having for 80-90% of a season because they would do so much in those games. But is a Bissouma?

[theHotHead]

Every 2 years does seem excessive, Wenger's bi-annual World Cup idea is a non-starter, not least because it is us the fans that make the tournament, the excitement and prestige of it running every 4 years heightens emotions

[Angelito]

Every 2 years does seem excessive, Wenger's bi-annual World Cup idea is a non-starter, not least because it is us the fans that make the tournament, the excitement and prestige of it running every 4 years heightens emotions

I think it will happen eventually even if not in the immediate future. Africa, Asia, Oceania, and North America will be in favor of it.

Currently, it's drawing heat, so most people aren't coming out in support of it. Europe doesn't need a historic competition to interfere with its current monopoly in the game, which is why it's the most reactionary of the lots. The Euros and UCL are the second and third biggest football competitions in the world today in terms of revenue. A biennial WC would affect Europe the most.

That's not the case with most confederations or countries.

In the same vein, I can see the 2030 WC as a huge celebratory affair with 64 countries. FIFA gains with a biennial World Cup. And, most countries gain with an expanded WC.

I foresee international football growing in the future. If national teams can bump the wages of players, it's only inevitable. A biennial World Cup would result in biennial continental cups as well. The masses are more interested in major international competitions as it stands (WC, Euros, Copa, AFCON, etc.)

My hunch says that a biennial WC is inevitable. It's only a matter of time.

[jayramfootball]

In wanting to extract the best game from Thomas Partey, I am an advocate of partnering him with a more defensively astute midfielder that would give him licence to dictate midfield without any concern that his forrays forward to support an attack would be detrimental to the team's shape and defensive structure and organisation. With this in mind the three midfielders at the top of my wishlist are Yves Bissouma, Bruno Guimaraes and Sander Berg.

However, in the event of our not purchasing any of the above or some other player who specialises in the defensive midfielder role, would it be feasible for Arteta to accommodate the return of Billy Saliba by playing 3 centre backs?

For me the answer is yes, but not in the accustomed way of playing with three centre halfs but rather harking back to the innovation of playing with a sweeper along with the ability to transition the ball from defence to attack. In being flanked by the power, physicality and pace on offer from Billy and Gabriel, our resident Reservoir Dog Mr. White is showing an ability to be a bit of a hybrid defender and a viable candidate to slot into the DM role and partner Partey from the middle of the defence.

Bissouma is the most obvious choice to fix our midfield predicament. Brighton want £35m for him and he's an Arsenal fan so would come here in a heartbeat.

Just get it done ffs.

I totally agree with your assessment. It is the fact that it is about two years now since first advocating that Bissouma was the answer to the conundrum that was our pre 2021/22 season midfield that has pretty much convinced me that Arteta does not share the same inclination, especially when links keep appearing that we have targeted Van De Beek as the purchase to galvanise our midfield instead of the Brighton man although I do understand the implication arising from the AFCON.

For this reason I think we should avoid signing African players completely.
The AFCON is every 2 years at a vital time in the PL season.

Whilst I understand the point from where you are coming from with regards to the impact of this bi-annual tournament upon the European football leagues, it smacks too much of cutting off your nose to spite your face to me.

The last thing that I would want us to engage in would be a policy and culture that embodied when Didier Drogba 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'No thank you'. That when Mohammed Salah 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'Thanks, but no thanks'. That when Jay Jay Ocacha 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'Nah, not today thanks'. That when talented young players the equivalent of the likes of Koulibaly, Essien, Saha, the Toure brothers, Abidi Pele, Eto, Mane, Weah, Upamacano, Aubameyang, Ndidi, Radebe etc, are all at United, City, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea, we might not be quite so appreciative of not having had to do without such players services and some team disruption for about a month every two years.

Fair, but whilst there are other options, I'd still say no thanks.
If all clubs would do that you can be sure that the AFCON would switch to every 4 years.
I suppose the only issue is that Africa can be a goldmine for quality players that can be signed cheaply - but even that is getting less and less.

Each to their own I guess. But without the slightest hint of sarcasm, your comment of there being other options available so as to warrant your 'no thanks' to talent the calibre of the pre-mentioned, straight away put me in mind of Arsene Wenger and his recollection of all the great players like Messi, C Ronaldo, Drogba, Hazard etc that we had the opportunity to sign but failed to do so and brought in inferior options instead.

Regards trying to dictate to members of the AFCON by self imposing an embargo against signing African players, I'm inclined to imagine that outcome being that ALL African players would have to boycott the Premier League in retaliation, the consequence of which would be to enrich all of the other Euro leagues instead and culminate in pretty much an entire continent no longer contributing to the gravy train that is the EPL, and within a relatively short period of time the comfortable perch at the top of the tree would be lost to either the Italian, Spanish, French or Russian league.

The Premier League is the Golden Goose, not the African continent of football talent.
Players come to the PL because it is the richest and the biggest worldwide.
Without African players, the PL would still be the biggest in the world.

[ag6789]

Don't think the individual federations , especially from Asia, Africa or S.America can come anywhere close to the wages offered by the clubs to their players.
So , in the end the rich clubs and UEFA will have its way. Money trumps all, so doubt it very much if WC will become a biennial event , other than the logistics of holding such an event in such short an interval.
The more the teams the greater will be the number of qualifying games and complexities.
I can think of a WC every two years with an old time 16 team format,(2 Wk event) but 32 or 64 doesn't seem possible.

[theHotHead]

Don't think the individual federations , especially from Asia, Africa or S.America can come anywhere close to the wages offered by the clubs to their players.
So , in the end the rich clubs and UEFA will have its way. Money trumps all, so doubt it very much if WC will become a biennial event , other than the logistics of holding such an event in such short an interval.
The more the teams the greater will be the number of qualifying games and complexities.
I can think of a WC every two years with an old time 16 team format,(2 Wk event) but 32 or 64 doesn't seem possible.

Not really, as with things now there will be more qualification groups across the various governing bodies, teams won't have to play more games, if thats what you meant.
It won't even be more complex, not all qualifying groups have the same number of teams in them so it will just be more of the same - but with more groups, play offs and all that jazz

[thebigbangtheo]

In wanting to extract the best game from Thomas Partey, I am an advocate of partnering him with a more defensively astute midfielder that would give him licence to dictate midfield without any concern that his forrays forward to support an attack would be detrimental to the team's shape and defensive structure and organisation. With this in mind the three midfielders at the top of my wishlist are Yves Bissouma, Bruno Guimaraes and Sander Berg.

However, in the event of our not purchasing any of the above or some other player who specialises in the defensive midfielder role, would it be feasible for Arteta to accommodate the return of Billy Saliba by playing 3 centre backs?

For me the answer is yes, but not in the accustomed way of playing with three centre halfs but rather harking back to the innovation of playing with a sweeper along with the ability to transition the ball from defence to attack. In being flanked by the power, physicality and pace on offer from Billy and Gabriel, our resident Reservoir Dog Mr. White is showing an ability to be a bit of a hybrid defender and a viable candidate to slot into the DM role and partner Partey from the middle of the defence.

Bissouma is the most obvious choice to fix our midfield predicament. Brighton want £35m for him and he's an Arsenal fan so would come here in a heartbeat.

Just get it done ffs.

I totally agree with your assessment. It is the fact that it is about two years now since first advocating that Bissouma was the answer to the conundrum that was our pre 2021/22 season midfield that has pretty much convinced me that Arteta does not share the same inclination, especially when links keep appearing that we have targeted Van De Beek as the purchase to galvanise our midfield instead of the Brighton man although I do understand the implication arising from the AFCON.

For this reason I think we should avoid signing African players completely.
The AFCON is every 2 years at a vital time in the PL season.

Whilst I understand the point from where you are coming from with regards to the impact of this bi-annual tournament upon the European football leagues, it smacks too much of cutting off your nose to spite your face to me.

The last thing that I would want us to engage in would be a policy and culture that embodied when Didier Drogba 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'No thank you'. That when Mohammed Salah 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'Thanks, but no thanks'. That when Jay Jay Ocacha 2.0 emerges, our stance will be 'Nah, not today thanks'. That when talented young players the equivalent of the likes of Koulibaly, Essien, Saha, the Toure brothers, Abidi Pele, Eto, Mane, Weah, Upamacano, Aubameyang, Ndidi, Radebe etc, are all at United, City, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea, we might not be quite so appreciative of not having had to do without such players services and some team disruption for about a month every two years.

Fair, but whilst there are other options, I'd still say no thanks.
If all clubs would do that you can be sure that the AFCON would switch to every 4 years.
I suppose the only issue is that Africa can be a goldmine for quality players that can be signed cheaply - but even that is getting less and less.

Each to their own I guess. But without the slightest hint of sarcasm, your comment of there being other options available so as to warrant your 'no thanks' to talent the calibre of the pre-mentioned, straight away put me in mind of Arsene Wenger and his recollection of all the great players like Messi, C Ronaldo, Drogba, Hazard etc that we had the opportunity to sign but failed to do so and brought in inferior options instead.

Regards trying to dictate to members of the AFCON by self imposing an embargo against signing African players, I'm inclined to imagine that outcome being that ALL African players would have to boycott the Premier League in retaliation, the consequence of which would be to enrich all of the other Euro leagues instead and culminate in pretty much an entire continent no longer contributing to the gravy train that is the EPL, and within a relatively short period of time the comfortable perch at the top of the tree would be lost to either the Italian, Spanish, French or Russian league.

The Premier League is the Golden Goose, not the African continent of football talent.
Players come to the PL because it is the richest and the biggest worldwide.
Without African players, the PL would still be the biggest in the world.

Fair comments ultimately. From the real life practices they are representative of, I think you can glean how the principles of the proposed Super League so easily evolved and effectively became a statement of intent to the rest of the footballing world of PHUK YOU.