We are seriously in need of width in my opinion.
Our two full backs, while fine defensively, are very poor offensively.
If we play a striker, Martial will go left, but always cut inside.
Mata cannot play wide.
Pereira should never play wide.
James can, but needs a break, he's not the player he was when he arrived.
So as we are not going to buy two new full backs we need at least one winger. I would prefer two, but I think a right winger is the best I can hope for/
What do they bring. First a goal threat, secondly a proper winger gets to the byline, so his cross is going away from the defenders and towards the attackers.
If he gets to the by line near the box he can spot a pull back.
If he constantly skins his full he will pull another defender out of position.
Have a good relationship with the fullback eg G.Neville and Becks, gives a threat, but also stops one.
He brings excitement and a more attacking philosophy.
I'm hoping It's the next piece of jigsaw on Oles list.
If not I think we will be saying goodbye.
It's no good having a Bruno without giving him a selection of people to pass to.
I will give him a pass for yesterday. Bruno's first game.
No McT or Rashford.
Wolves don't produce excitement in any game.
So come on Ole, play a bit more adventurously for the rest of the season, and buy at least one top winger in the summer.
SAF always had two, your his disciple, have at least one.
What to do
posted on 2/2/20
The diamond would allow us a bit more control in the middle and also allow us to have two strikers in the box. Uf they split the space they create could help the tip of that diamond (Fernandes).
An XI of
DdG
AWB
Maguire
Lindelof
Williams
Matic
Fred
Pogba
Fernandes
Martial
Ighalo
could work if we play it right.
McT and Rashford would come into the team as well somewhere but I believe they're still a way away. Hopefully Pogba will be back soon.
If we can get that team on the pitch consistently then we may be able to get enougj points to get 4th and have a crack at the Europa.
posted on 2/2/20
Spot on Diafol. I'd still want us to get a top winger though.
posted on 2/2/20
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 16 seconds ago
Spot on Diafol. I'd still want us to get a top winger though.
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Of course. We need a variety of options. Or we need some real top class attacking full backs. The good things is that our squad is quite young so they'll hopefully develop well.
posted on 2/2/20
I do think Ole buys well. But isn't getting the best out of them, at least in an attacking sense.
On a side note I thought Maguire had his best game for us.
posted on 2/2/20
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 3 minutes ago
I do think Ole buys well. But isn't getting the best out of them, at least in an attacking sense.
On a side note I thought Maguire had his best game for us.
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I don't disagree. He has overplayed James though and has probably partnered Maguire with the wrong player. Think we're at a crossroads now. Three top class signings in summer and we'd look a lot better. Is Ole the best coach for them though. That's the big question. Im just about giving him the benefit of the doubt now.
posted on 2/2/20
James has been overplayed but he’s also showing his limitations. He’s struggling to goes past players or get dangerous crosses in and doesn’t have the technical skill to come up with something different. He looks devoid of ideas most of the time. I think he’s been found out now - when he first came PL defenders probably didn’t quite know what to expect but have gotten wise to the sort of player he is.
That said, our attacking play looks pretty directionless at the best of times, which doesn’t help anyone.
posted on 2/2/20
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 1 minute ago
James has been overplayed but he’s also showing his limitations. He’s struggling to goes past players or get dangerous crosses in and doesn’t have the technical skill to come up with something different. He looks devoid of ideas most of the time. I think he’s been found out now - when he first came PL defenders probably didn’t quite know what to expect but have gotten wise to the sort of player he is.
That said, our attacking play looks pretty directionless at the best of times, which doesn’t help anyone.
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I said last year he'd be a good signing but not one that plays every week. He does have a lot to learn but he can still be dangerous in games coming off the bench against tiring legs. What he could do to help himself though is stay wide!
posted on 2/2/20
comment by Diafol Coch 77 - A Reputable Poster (U2462)
posted 33 minutes ago
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 3 minutes ago
I do think Ole buys well. But isn't getting the best out of them, at least in an attacking sense.
On a side note I thought Maguire had his best game for us.
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I don't disagree. He has overplayed James though and has probably partnered Maguire with the wrong player. Think we're at a crossroads now. Three top class signings in summer and we'd look a lot better. Is Ole the best coach for them though. That's the big question. Im just about giving him the benefit of the doubt now.
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Every time I see another display at home similar to last night where we are totally devoid of seemingly any system or structure my confidence in not just Ole but the whole coaching set up fades a bit more.
There is no doubt the recruitment has been better and injuries have taken key players out of the team But it doesn’t make up for some stupefying dull aimless football being served up that simply for a club of our supposed standing isn’t good enough.
I think any club in Europe would replace Ole with Poch as a bit of a no brainer given the option and it has a bit of an inevitable feel to it at the end of the season.
posted on 2/2/20
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 1 hour, 47 minutes ago
comment by There'sOnlyOneRed's (U1721)
posted 12 minutes ago
Where do you yet this idea that Solskjaer is Fergie's disciple? He only played for him, he never worked under him, at a coaching level, did he?
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He coached the reserves while SAF was there.
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Ah. Fair enough. I didnt know that.
posted on 2/2/20
I do feel sorry for James.
Yes he has his limitations but it's unfair on him that we've had to rely on him so much.
I can understand he was bought for potential and as a long term project but with the way the squad is, we would've been better bringing in a more established winger in the summer. Somebody who would've made more of an impact over the course of the season and somebody used to playing week in week out in a top European league at least.
That may appear to be short term thinking but in order to be able to plan for the long term, there has to be some short term planning too.
Players like Hakim Ziyech or Steven Bergwijn who joined Spurs recently were quite possibly there for the taking for £25-30 million.