Mikky

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

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

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

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

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

Team 1 for me Bruno - Tonali Gordon - Isak - Big Joe (Barnes) Wilson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plus they leave a gap between the midfield and forward line Not their fault - it’s the system

Isak as the 10 could be quite canny - I do think we lack in this regard - someone to be the focal point and link everything up - Isak is the one - was thinking Tonali/Anderson could possibly do this too but I like the Isak and Wilson combo would love Hall in the team aswell - Burn been a good player for us but Hall is the future

This isn’t far off my thinking too with Wilson as the 9 Muphy Isak Gordon Gordon Isak Big Joe Gordon Isak Anderson

No I am saying we have 5 Miley is ready and Anderson isn’t a midfielder - he’s a wide forward So we are 1 short - a proper DM

I’d make 2 personnel changes Hall and Murphy for Burn and Miggy (assumption Botman is fit) Tonali as the single pivot with Joe and Bruno either side

It’s just the lack of tactical thinking that I think we are all frustrated with - we can see it - play with a 3 - but don’t flatten the 3 - it will not work against the better teams this season - it’s stifling us

Teams figure you out

I said all pre season we were short of a DM - we weren’t stacked with midfielders - we have 5 - Bruno - Tonali - Willock - Joe and Longstaff Miley is a kid and Anderson is a wide forward We must be the only team in the league without a 6? Having a 6 gives you so much flexibility - you can’t let opposition run behind the mid time and time again - it exposes the backline way too much For this season you got to go 4-1-4-1, 4-2-3-1 or a 4-1-2-3 - just don’t play a stupid flat 3 - on top of this playing a flat 3 leaves you too one dimensional your offensive play with players like Miggy lacking support and suffering - same with Isak The sooner Hall starts the better

Bruno and Tonali until we buy a proper 6