Actually I reckon Dendoncker would play that role reall well too.

All of them better than Coady.

Out of interest k just looked at Who scored which has excellent stats on team set up etc. So this new 'attacking' system. So far this season we have spent 21% of our time in the opposition third, down from 26% last season. We have spent 31% in our own third, up 3% from last season.

Would love us to move on from a back three but I just don't see that happening. Nuno isn't going to axe Coady and I sincerely hope he wouldn't play him as one of two CBs.

Yes Cinci it might be set up to be more attacking, But that doesn't mean we played the system very well.

In fact it was bloody awful.

Coady is not and never will be a centre back. I think that is something we can all agree on.

comment by Cinciwolf---Finally Nuno has the squad size he wanted, thanks Jeff (U11551)
posted 17 minutes ago
Out of interest k just looked at Who scored which has excellent stats on team set up etc. So this new 'attacking' system. So far this season we have spent 21% of our time in the opposition third, down from 26% last season. We have spent 31% in our own third, up 3% from last season.
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To be fair those stats will be skewed slightly, given the small sample size of games with one being against Man City.

Other than the electric start against Sheffield United (who have now lost all three of their games), I haven't really noticed much difference in our set up to last year.

After a poor result yesterday I don’t see Nuno undoing the playing pattern which has seen us do well over the previous 78 games. It would certainly need us to bring in different kinds of players for that to work.

We need to improve on yesterday but a complete revision of the playing style smacks of an unnecessary panic to me. We were on the verge of the champions league last season and have a young team that will improve. We need development not a revolution

It wouldn't be a complete revision of the playing style though. It would be moving the Coady position to in front of the defence. We have more than enough players who are capable of doing that and have played there at international level.

I wouldn't worry, I think far too much has been made of a few Nuno words and we haven't suddenly torn up the script and started again. Very little has changed so far to me, we are still pedestrian on the ball and very predictable, add in a short pre season and here we are.

We will probably finish top ten, but the aim was top six, that is where the disappointment is for me, I just don't see what we have done that will suddenly catapult us into a top six spot. Willing to bet 59 points isn't good enough for that this season.

U23s playing 352 this afternoon at home to Stoke:

Sondegaard
Estrada, Marques, Richards
Matheson, Shabani, Otasowie, Perry, Bueno
Coubeanu, Carty

We lead 1-0 through Perry after 20 mins and will go top of the table with a win

Coady has been excellent at the centre of defence. Why move him to midfield where he was average at best in the championship. Neves plays ahead of the defence and is one of the better players in the division in that position

comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted less than a minute ago
Coady has been excellent at the centre of defence. Why move him to midfield where he was average at best in the championship. Neves plays ahead of the defence and is one of the better players in the division in that position
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I wouldn't move him into midfield. I'd move the position in to midfield. I'd play one of Neves or Dendoncker (mayber even Saiss) there and allow two other midfielders more attacking freedom.

Agree. I think the midfield being so immobile is our biggest issue.

Also think Traore starting is a problem as well and we lose something as a team.

Let’s just say we totally disagree

With regards to a change to a more attacking philosophy. I think there have been signs that that is the case, but in terms of its efficacy, out of 270 minutes of league football so far we have been on the back foot for about 200 of those minutes, which is never going to demonstrate whether it might be beneficial.

Certainly some players, Neves, Coady, Saiss, have ventured forward far more than we were used to seeing them last season. I think, overall, that is not such a bad thing, so I'd rather leave my judgement until we are a few more games in.

Bit of positive news, the U23s beat Stoke 3-0 this afternoon, couple of nice strikes from Taylor Perry.

comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted about 3 hours ago
comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted less than a minute ago
Coady has been excellent at the centre of defence. Why move him to midfield where he was average at best in the championship. Neves plays ahead of the defence and is one of the better players in the division in that position
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I wouldn't move him into midfield. I'd move the position in to midfield. I'd play one of Neves or Dendoncker (mayber even Saiss) there and allow two other midfielders more attacking freedom.
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So just to clarify then you advocate dropping Coady altogether then?

comment by GeminMallorca Wenger sort out VAR FFS! (U18318)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted about 3 hours ago
comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted less than a minute ago
Coady has been excellent at the centre of defence. Why move him to midfield where he was average at best in the championship. Neves plays ahead of the defence and is one of the better players in the division in that position
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I wouldn't move him into midfield. I'd move the position in to midfield. I'd play one of Neves or Dendoncker (mayber even Saiss) there and allow two other midfielders more attacking freedom.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So just to clarify then you advocate dropping Coady altogether then?
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Eventually to evolve the system, I think that will have to happen yes.

Eno scored on his debut for AEK Athens. Wish him well, looked promising at times.

I think we overrate Coady a tad because he fires a great diagonal ball. I really don't think he is a great defender if left exposed, just reads well and sweeps tidily.

Fulham are a shambles, no excuses if we don't get at them next week

Think my telly's bost again, it's trying to tell me the Villa have scored three times at Fulham??

Wonder if we will have three shots on target against them next week?

Certainly a danger they'll shut up shop and come looking for a point next week.

comment by Cinciwolf---Finally Nuno has the squad size he wanted, thanks Jeff (U11551)
posted 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
I think we overrate Coady a tad because he fires a great diagonal ball. I really don't think he is a great defender if left exposed, just reads well and sweeps tidily.
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That's what he's good at, but has been left exposed by the midfield as have Boly and Saiss by the wing backs. Individuals haven't become crap all of a sudden though either need to work more on what they're doing or revert back to safety first play more on the break.