We don't have any ball-winning CMs in this squad. Skipp, PEH, and Winks are all better when they have the license to get forward.
They can put in a decent tackle from time to time but it's not any of their strengths
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Player Rodrigo Bentancur
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We don't have any ball-winning CMs in this squad. Skipp, PEH, and Winks are all better when they have the license to get forward.
They can put in a decent tackle from time to time but it's not any of their strengths
The sideways passing? Yeah he likes that. Very unambitious passer of the ball and has been accused of being overly safe. He offers some of the work rate/tackling that Hojbjerg gets through, and he keeps his passing game simple. Better at winning the ball that Hojbjerg though, but honestly probably less of an attacking threat.
We absolutely still need another CM who offers a more progressive passing range. Someone in there who is brave and wants to carry the ball forward & also will look to pass forwards most of the time. That won't come cheap.
2CM vs 3CM = different blend/balance though which is why I think it remains sketchy until the summer (where 1 or both of PEH & Winks could still be moved on and Sarr may end up back on loan somewhere). I'm guessing Conte wants to trade off of solidity in the interim (esp. if we carry on with 343), but......
Kulu / B'cur / Skipp has gotta be worth a crack at some point......?
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Kind of like how we deployed Eriksen on the right wing who drifted central and allowed Dele room to join in as a second striker.
I look at it like this top form PEH is a 7 out of 10. Flogged PEH is a 5.5 out of 10 and we barely keep the ball in the middle. Skipp is 8 out of 10. If Bentancur rotating gives us a higher mean from the other two he is an asset. I am hoping the plan is proper upgrades in terms of physical and technical gifts come Summer , so then we loan white out and bring in a Bissouma or a Kessie. Whilst looking for the Locatelli level supplier.
I honestly think that's a midfield we will try. Apologies for the hipster football manager player term, but I can see Kulu being utilised as a mezzala (basically a centre mid who drifts out wide and occupies those spaces) as I don't think he fits the profile of a premier league winger. That's the role I'd be most interested in seeing him in, although playing centrally his tendency to lose the ball and struggle when pressurised could be a problem.
But Bentancur/Skipp/Hojbjerg would be a horrible midfield, just not enough spark. Bentancur/Skipp though could provide the legs and ball winning ability, and then a third, more progressive midfielder the attacking threat from deep.
Looking at stats sites such as 'whoscored. Bentacur is said to have most of the good attributes for a 'pure' DM - good tackling, good interception rate, good at winning headed duels ...... and a good passer....... which would help our progressive play.
Also two footed.
Conclusion :
Probably better in a 3 man centre midfield rather than 2 man CM - but a 3 man CM I think would require one of the 3 to be creative.
If in a 2 man CM, probably better to pair him with Skipp who can be quite progressive in his play (not something we've really seen in PL so far - showed it more on loan at Norwich and in u21's).
But we definitely needed an experienced CM in after discarding (for good reasons) Ndombele.Lo Celso and Dele (3 players). So whilst we might have wanted a more creative cm, but only a good dm available ....
Also two footed.
Conclusion :
Probably better in a 3 man centre midfield rather than 2 man CM - but a 3 man CM I think would require one of the 3 to be creative.
If in a 2 man CM, probably better to pair him with Skipp who can be quite progressive in his play (not something we've really seen in PL so far - showed it more on loan at Norwich and in u21's).
But we definitely needed an experienced CM in after discarding (for good reasons) Ndombele.Lo Celso and Dele (3 players). So whilst we might have wanted a more creative cm, but only a good dm available ....
Can’t wait to watch Uruguay in an hour, he better play
He starts nip
Website called Hesgoal.com will have it
Do we really need a central midfielder that drifts out wide? Sounds like the out of position tactical naivety that we’re trying to improve on.
A CM who drifts in to wider positions can be VERY effective if his midfield partner(s) are capable of filling the space he leaves behind. It creates a significant tactical problem for the opposition by creating overloads.
I think it was Conte who at Juve had Pogba playing in a wider midfield role with players like Marchisio & Vidal filling the spaces and doing the leg work. You then had Pogba thriving in a way we've never seen since.
This is all speculation though, it may be we see Kulusevski as purely a wide player, but I'd be interested to see if we try and use him to fix our issue of lacking creativity in midfield.
Cruciate injury incoming :contefacepalm2:
I wanted to watch too but apparently it and the other CONMEBOL wc qualifiers are only on "fubo tv".
Its stupid how the rights to every separate competition are divvied up- even WC qualifiers by regional association? And damn- shouldn't national governments want as many people to watch these as possible? Aren't these teams basically all taxpayer funded anyways?
I've got a ton of streaming services right now- its frustrating how between ESPN+, Paramount+, and Peacock I still can't watch all the games I'd like to.
But then we would have 4 plodders plus another CM with some quality. The idea mix would be 2 holders tacklers, one more attacking and one passer. Mix and match depending the oppo.
Bentancur averages an assist every 484 mins in Serie A. For comparison, Brozovic averages an assist every 582 mins and Barella's average is every 537 mins.
