Counter attacking seems to suit us until someone decides to slow it down or fuck up the final ball.
We have no quality from balls out wide, so although necessary to create space - it seems like a waste of time when watching Aurier or Sessegnon shank balls to the crowd, or float it gently to the keeper.
I hated watching us struggle to go through a packed middle, but I do think Lo Celso, Eriksen, Dele, Ndombele are good enough to play in tight areas. In fact it would seem our quality with the ball is at its worst the more space we have!
Any exposure of our back line frightens the life out of me, so I want to see them structured in shape.. and although I don't rate Dier that high, he can win a lot of headers in the middle which also allows the CBs to stay in their shape instead of 1 pushing up.
Lloris
Toby Davinson Davies
Sissoko Dier Ndombele
Lamela Dele Son
Kane
But it's more about with / without the ball..
Without;
Sissoko Toby Dier Davinson Davies
Lamela Dele Ndombele
Kane Son
Structured and flat at the back, looking to use Sissoko on the right and Son on the left as running outlets should we ever win the ball back. Lamela hassling and assisting the weak player Sissoko is, and Dele floating around doing fuck all as he does - so just don't give him any proper defensive duties.
Kane dropping deep to allow some link up play as we can expect Son and Dele to be ready for attacking moves.
With;
Toby Davinson
Sissoko Dier Davies
Ndombele
Lamela Dele Son
Kane
Problem is I really don't trust Foyth, Kwp, Rose, Sessegnon, Winks, Aurier, Lucas, Wanyama, Eriksen as things stand.
We don't really have the pace for a high line, so avoid that and look to break against teams who dominate us - which evidently appears to be every single team in the league.
Experimental sure.. but we are at a point where performances AND results are complete shit. Anything new has got to be worth a go?
Everybody knows how vividly aware of this Mourinho will be. It won't be long until his 'my squad is amazing' rhetoric turns into 'this and that player let me down'.
It might be worth getting an early bet on us to win the Europa league in his first full season.