Ok, so it feels that we found this formation through necessity rather than preference, but it’s starting to look like it gets the best of our current squad and has now proven effective against teams that counter or press high.
Do we stick with it as players return? Imagine Pereira instead of Albrighton., a back 3 of Evans, Soyuncu and Fofana is mouth watering. The partnership of Mendy and Tielemans is absolutely thriving against teams that like to counter press. And what we saw against Leeds is that it can be creative against a higher line too.
But on the flip side, it also negates two of our best players, Ndidi and Maddison, who doesn’t seem to fit at all. Is it also over reliant on Vardy?
So, is this our new way of playing or have we found (another) plan B. It will be interesting to see what happens when Ndidi returns, and whether we switch to a back 4. But until we do, I’m not sure Maddison is a starter.
Credit to Rodgers for finding a way of getting results during a time of injuries.
3-4-2-1 = No Maddison
posted on 3/11/20
Seeing as we’re doing “if everyone is fit”, I’ll go:
Schmeichel
Fofana, Evans, Soyuncu,
Periera N’didi. Castagne
Tielemans
Praet Maddison Barnes
Vardy
And before you point out the obvious mistake, it’s the only way I can get our best players in their best position.
Maybe I need to accept Ndidi doesn’t play with a back 5 and Maddison doesn’t play in a front 3.
The positive amongst us would call this “options”.
posted on 3/11/20
It looks to me like we can't quite decide on our best starting XI?...
Some don't include Fofana, others do... Mersey would prefer 12 starters, based on that last formation... presumably, you would drop Praet, if you had a gun to your head?... I suspect I have also fallen into the trap of the "obvious mistake", but then again, why would you put 12 on the pitch and say "well, it's their best position..."
We can all agree on probably 8/9 starters:
Schmeichel
Pereira
Castagne
Soyuncu
Ndidi
Tielemans
Maddison
Barnes
Vardy
That leaves 2. At least one central defender... Evans or Fofana and one other midfielder/attacker - Under or Praet (unless you put both Evans and Fofana at the back in a three and have your two pacey wingbacks in Ricky and Timmy...
As KTF would have it?:
————Schmeichel
——Fofana Evans Soyuncu
Ricardo—-—Ndidi———Castagne
—————Tielemans
——Maddison———-Barnes
——————Vardy
Or...:
————---------------Kasper
Pereira Fofana/Evans Soyuncu Castagne
---------------------------Ndidi———
Under Maddison Tielemans Barnes
---------------------------Vardy
Options:
Ward
Justin (no place for him at all, despite very solid performances)
Evans/Fofana (both very solid)
Morgan (does a decent job whenever called upon)
Fuchs (ditto Morgan - surprisingly so against good/quick attackers - reads it exceptionally well and is a threat from throw'ins and releases counter attacks)
Thomas (needs games, to be integrated gradually still - shows promise)
Praet (solid)
Mendy (becoming a natural replacement / like-for-like with Ndidi to rotate every other fixture)
Albrighton (could do with more games, but delivery still sharp)
Choudhury (probably a bit down the pecking order again, but shows glimpses, amid error-strewn performances)
Perez (needs to improve significantly if he is going to make the grade - could end up like Gray)
Gray (speaking of which - only when we are desperate - clearly an attitude problem somewhere)
Iheanacho (able, willing (I think) but needs a run in the team and good service/support)
Slimani (if he can get on the bench... but unlikely to be utilised, like Gray)
*Obviously Amartey is there too, but for ease, he is properly injured and unsure on his return - versatile and willing as ever though. Did well in the Man City game.
That is some squad, when you look at it. Lots of pedigree in there and experience. Bodes well (once they all get fit / stay fit...) But as to the starting XI, I suspect we will also see that change repeatedly over the coming season. Europe allows 5 subs - we need them. It allows games for fringe players and keeps everyone fairly sharp. Hopefully the medical team are on to it and will keep the cryo chamber door open so they can all spend their midweeks in there before the next match day!
Looking forward to Thursday-Sunday, just hope they can keep it going!
UTF!
posted on 3/11/20
New guy here, been reading for years so thought I should sign up and start contributing..
I think once everyone’s fit the back 3 of Cags Fofana and Evans with Ricardo and Castangne as wing backs will be so good we will be able play the more attacking midfielders to create. Just got to wait for them to get fit!
posted on 3/11/20
comment by Keep_the_faith1 (U8129)
posted 4 hours, 18 minutes ago
Ndidi walks straight back in for me. I may be in the minority with this - but whilst Mendy has done a decent job he isn’t close at all to Ndidi in my opinion.
Same for me with Maddison. Him and Barnes playing behind Vardy.
I don’t really see Ndidi and Maddison not fitting in a 343 and if you are assuming everyone is 10/10, I think the team 99% of people pick is:
Schmeichel
Castagne
Soyunchu
Evans
Fofana
Ricardo
Ndidi
Tielemans
Barnes
Maddison
Vardy
it’s great to have other players pushing for starts and providing adequate cover as this is something that contributed to us not finishing 3rd last year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What a team that is, lets hope we can get them all fit at the same time.
posted on 3/11/20
Welcome Hamilton Fox. Great to see a new poster.
BTW another example of us going back in time.
When Puel was here I was thinking it wouldn’t be too long before the 2016 immortals were all phased out, but they’ve reappeared for a final swansong. Kasper, Fuchs, Albrighton and Vardy all starting and Morgan coming on for a cameo late on.
posted on 4/11/20
Welcome Hamilton!
I've favoured a back three for some time; even more so with really exciting wing backs like Ricardo and Castagne. What is also good is that we now have Justin and Thomas as back ups, both of whom show great potential. Not to mention Fuchs.
Mendy has performed very well in Ndidi's role. Not as good in the air, but covers the ground well and is more creative going forward. Better on the ball than Wilf too. I expect both will get plenty of game time when both are fully fit.
There really does seem to be a fair amount of depth to the squad, although if Vardy is out for any length of time it would be a worry.
posted on 4/11/20
The difference it will make with those 5 at the back will be unreal, with all 3 central defenders back we won’t be scared of playing football and the full backs are so good going forward they will push on rather than just sitting back, add in ndidi to cover and I really think we should be making top four. Just depends how long it takes to get them all fit though
posted on 4/11/20
The back 5 does look very exciting indeed.
I think Rodgers should work to the talent we have to deliver a new 5-1-3-1 formation.
Ndidi dropping in when the full backs bomb on
Maddison in the 10 flanked by Praet/Barnes and Tilly
Vardy doing what Vardy does.
Oooooooof!
I guess this is what KTF was saying but tweaking formation slightly (even though it’s fluid!)...
posted on 4/11/20
Schmeichel
Pereira
Castagne
Soyuncu
Ndidi
Tielemans
Maddison
Barnes
Vardy
Forfana
Mendy
Under
Praet
Evans
Never thought I'd see the day when we had 14
must starters.
posted on 5/11/20
comment by Appletonsthename (U10074)
posted 12 hours, 9 minutes ago
Schmeichel
Pereira
Castagne
Soyuncu
Ndidi
Tielemans
Maddison
Barnes
Vardy
Forfana
Mendy
Under
Praet
Evans
Never thought I'd see the day when we had 14
must starters.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well you won’t.
Coz we’re only allowed eleven