Mikky

Wor Jude is class

4 minutes ago, Dancing Brave said:

Romania V  Kosovo  delayed after 25 mins 

Kosovo players walked off the pitch because of a Romanian fans banner.

Romania doesn't recognize Kosovo's existence and Romania supporters put up a banner saying Kosovo is Serbia.

What has Romania got to do with this? (Is it just close as an ally to Serbia?)

1 hour ago, Big Geordie said:

A very ‘meh’ and typical Southgate England ‘performance’.

 

Boring and uninspiring. 

Should have gone after the WC - I don’t even bother watching Eng anymore - waste of time

Played as the 10 today 

43 minutes ago, Marko NUFC said:

 

Kind of right, we haven't produced top class bar Gvardiol but there are many upcoming potentials like Majer (just transferred to Bundesliga Wolfsburg) Ivanusec (just got to Feyenoord, Dutch champion), Sučić (RB Salzburg), Šutalo (just transferred to Ajax and promoted to captain) etc. but we will see if they can get to top top clubs.

 

The problem is for midfielders is how to get into midfield of Modric-Kovacic-Brozovic. It's tough to get in. 

 

 

Will be interesting too see Croatia in the next 10-15 years - you’ve always had good solid teams since your debut in 96 - one benefit you have is that the natural pathway seems to be across to Italy for a lot of your players - some are picked by the likes of Ajax, Salzburg, Leipzig of this world - hopefully us too in the future 

By the way - whatever happened to Croatia Zagreb? Remember that famous CL qualifier

2 hours ago, Izakaya said:

I was at the Romania v Bulgaria euro 96 match but I'm convinced it was Gheorge Hagi who scored in the 3rd min in a 1-0 win. 

Nope defo Wor Hristo in a Bulgaria win (1-0)

Remember he had 1 disallowed vs France off the inside of the bar ….??

Given both Bulgaria and Romanias exploits in USA 94 - this turned out to be a group that was dull - didn’t help that both France and Spain were boring as anything 

2 hours ago, Superior Acuña said:

https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/features/the-story-so-far-international-football-at-st-james-park/

 

Interesting little history of internationals at SJP. A couple of stars that have played there I didn't know - Neymar and Megan Rapinoe. Then there's Zidane and Stoichkov that I did know.

Honestly thought we were signing Stoichkov after that game - Well KK did his best job on convincing me he was during comms

Or was it the Romania game? He scored a belter in one 

10 minutes ago, toon25 said:

That Croatia side seems ageless 

 

Like loading up FM2016

Always seem to have the same squad -  can’t think of anyone new they’ve produced in a long time -  bar Gvardiol I suppose 

4 minutes ago, 80 said:

 

If he comes out of the team because of this, people will - fairly - say it's not a legit comparison because of the strength of our first 4 opponents. But I'd really like to see Murphy or perhaps someone else start on the right. I think it'll be a bit contribution to getting us out of this rut.

 

 

 

Would like to see Gordon on right - Joe or Barnes on left - Isak as 10 - a Wilson up top 

Bruno and Tonali holding 

Just now, Yorkie said:

 

Yeah, the amount of quality there is there, surely it's just a case of finding the right tactical blend and then we'll be away.

 

I thought the three of them were going to be unbeatable after Villa.  Easy to forget that was only two games ago; the way they helped each other out defensively and worked together in an attacking sense was majestic. 

With what we have the easy solution is a double pivot - Trippier needs to go further forward as does Hall (eventually) meaning Tonali sits a bit more to the left - making it a 3 at the back when defending and when in possession - Having Burn at LB means we can’t fully utilise the double pivot as he barely gets forward - even Trippier goes forward less 

16 minutes ago, TBG said:

Can see why Howe wanted McTominay so much.

Tonali is McTominay - just an all round better and complete player - just being used incorrectly at the moment  by Howe

23 minutes ago, Dr Jinx said:

He doesn't drink so it'll be food that's his downfall.

 

I thought he came back from the summer a bit pudgy.. the club will sort that in coming weeks but his form mainly is down to not finding the balance with Tonali yet. One of them needs to sit.

They should both sit and allow our full backs to go further up 

Just needs a bit of a tactical switch around - both have the potential to be incredible together 

31 minutes ago, Magpie said:

My mam died from one of those so he's been bloody lucky.

Get well soon Harps.

My mum has had 5 strokes - it’s honestly horrible - I have every sympathy with those affected 

22 minutes ago, mighty__mag said:

Try something different 

 

Try something completely different 

Team 1 for me 

Bruno - Tonali 

Gordon - Isak - Big Joe (Barnes)

Wilson 

4 hours ago, Myleftboot said:

                       Pope

trippier.     Shar.      Botman.      Hall

 

               Tonali.        Bruno

 

gordon.           Isak.              Willock

 

                      Wilson

 

Is what I would like to see. When everyone is match fit.

 

 

 

Switch Bruno and Tonali to allow Hall to go further forward 

Great thing about that front 4 is that you can still accommodate Big Joe - Anderson - Murphy and. Barnes - it’s so flexible with so many rotation possibilities - even switching Tripps for Tino 

1 minute ago, Shearergol said:

Good post btw. I don’t usually like posting just to agree with someone, but you’ve nailed this. 
 

 

Its how you accommodate Hall into the team - Tonali plays on that side (left pivot - plays in a zone) so not to leave us exposed - it’s hard for opposing teams to get at us via a counter as there’s no real space left behind Hall - who has more freedom to go forward and create

We can’t play in straight lines - yes it worked last year - but you have to evolve tactically 

Burn and Miggy are decent players but they are holding us back - we have players to take their places - need to use them - no room for sentiments 

5 minutes ago, Away Toon said:

On paper I think this is our best starting 11, whether it will work not so sure. One of the things I didn't understand about pre season was that Bruno and Tonali were virtually never on the pitch together and watching them play together so far this season it shows.

With the way we play, it’s going to look out of shape - not using Tonali correctly is the big issue for me - he’s there to pass it around and cover the spaces left - sounds like a nothing role but it requires so much discipline - which if used correctly, he has

I honestly think Tonali solves a lot of our issues if he’s used correctly 

Play him in the double pivot (left side) with Bruno - Tonali’s main job being to not only dictate play with the ball - simple passes to keep the ball moving - cover the left for when Hall goes forward - sometimes play as the 3rd CB 

Something like this 

                         Pope

           
                    Schar.    Botman 
Trippier

                       Bruno.         Tonali

                                                      Hall

Gordon               Isak.          Big Joe

                          Wilson

1 minute ago, duo said:

That is the question is the 3 man midfield costing us? I think unless you get the balance right as we had done for most of last season you can very easily get overrun. Which is what we've seen.  I'd argue with the personal we have 3 man doesn't work.  But I'm not a coach. I will leave it to Eddie to solve this problem.

As a flat 3 it’s costing us yes - the shape has to change to a 1-2. Or a 2-1 

1 minute ago, Pancrate1892 said:

I think Gordon would enjoy being on the right. I also think Barnes starting is more useful when your not chasing the game

Gordon is away better option than Miggy who is too predictable in my view 

on the left you could play Barnes/Anderson/Joe and Joe

9 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

I don’t think either want to naturally play a double pivot though, they both want to get up and down and be more involved then breaking up Possession and recycling. 
 

Also we don’t have a natural 10, playing Isak there is very much shoehorning him into the role, it might work but it’s another experimental gamble. We’ve gone all in on this fluid 3 and it isn’t clicking yet. 

No coincidence Tonali had the best season of his career alongside Kessie (was in a double pivot)

Him and Bruno are a perfect pair - just need to settle Bruno down a bit 

6 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

Anyone dropping into half spaces is killing us at the minute.

 

Against these type of teams that excel at padding and exploiting the half spaces, we really need to consider looking to keep a more disciplined shape and look to counter them.

 

 

That straight midfield line is causing us offensive issues too with Isak being isolated 

We need to change our shape to cover the central areas

                     Pope

Trippier.   Schar.   Botman.  Hall

                  Bruno.     Tonali

Gordon.           Isak.              Barnes

                      Wilson

2 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

Gordon longstaff and Anderson all asleep in this image too. Look at the overload they have on the left. 

This is why you need a 6 - and I don’t mean “we should have bought one” - I mean with what we have - whether it’s Bruno or Tonali

playing a double pivot allows you to play Bruno as the 6 - Sandro to the left of centre which then provides cover for Hall who can press higher up 

46 minutes ago, gbandit said:

Don’t even think the defence was the biggest issue yesterday, it was the fact our midfield offered absolutely zero protection and they played through us at will. Yes Trippier and Burn had poor games but so did everyone 

When we defend with a straight midfield 5 it takes just one ball to cut through us 

3 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Sit infront of the defence - less responsibility to get forward. Create a solid box in defence with limited space.   
 

The 3 we have - massive gaps between themselves and the defence. Nobody responsible for sitting   

Plus they leave a gap between the midfield and forward line 

Not their fault - it’s the system