Squad & tactics (2024/25)

[toon25]

The need for a central midfielder or two has never been more urgent.

[Rich]

Villarreal (4-4-2, 4-3-3): https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/unai-emery/leistungsdatenDetail/trainer/5075/verein_id/1050/datum_zu/2020-07-23/datum_ab/2021-11-02

Arsenal (4-2-3-1, 3-4-1-2, 3-4-2-1): https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/unai-emery/leistungsdatenDetail/trainer/5075/verein_id/11/datum_zu/2018-07-01/datum_ab/2019-11-29

PSG (4-3-3): https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/unai-emery/leistungsdatenDetail/trainer/5075/verein_id/583/datum_zu/2016-07-01/datum_ab/2018-06-30

Sevilla (4-2-3-1): https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/unai-emery/leistungsdatenDetail/trainer/5075/verein_id/368/datum_zu/2013-01-14/datum_ab/2016-06-30

 

4-2-3-1:

Dubravka

 

Manquillo  Fernandez  Schar  Lewis

Willock  Longstaff

Saint-Max      Almiron      Joelinton

Wilson

3-4-2-1 (5-2-2-1):

Dubravka

Manquillo  Schar  Lascelles  Fernandez  Lewis

Willock  Longstaff

Saint-Max                               Almiron

Wilson

4-3-3:

Dubravka

Manquillo  Fernandez  Schar  Lewis

Willock  Hayden  Longstaff

Saint-Max  Wilson  Almiron

 

Think 4-3-3 is the worst fit for our current squad, largely due to having to play Miggy out of position and because our CM options are so poor. I'd be surprised if he didn't go back to 3-4-2-1/5-2-2-1, but I'd like to see the 4-2-3-1 to get Lascelles out of the team and to see Joelinton given a run in his best position under a good manager. That three behind Wilson could be very fluid and it gives us an aerial target, which we sorely lacked on Saturday.

[HaydnNUFC]

Aye. Need someone like a Torreira or Kamara in January. Hayden and Willock should be our midfield 2 in a 4-2-3-1, with Willock being more advanced so when we attack its more akin to a 4-1-4-1 that Leicester use. Almiron in the 10, ASM and either Fraser or Murphy out wide. Lewis at LB.

[Guest reefatoon]

Not a 5 at the back in sight. Be still my beating heart!

[PauloGeordio]

3 minutes ago, reefatoon said:

Not a 5 at the back in sight. Be still my beating heart!

?? Or a flat back 9! ?

[Guest reefatoon]

Just now, PauloGeordio said:

?? Or a flat back 9! ?

 

 Aye, that's what it actually amounted too

[Consortium of one]

I think we'll need a holding MF (Hayden) until the back line gets sorted so 4-3-3 makes the most sense to me.  Play Willock and Longstaff in front of them with ASM and Miggy on the wings (have them swap position through out the game).  I want to see what Lewis does with a real coach.

 

                            Dubs

     Mang  Lascelles  Schar  Lewis

                 

                        Hayden

 

              Longstaff        Willock

 

Miggy                                       ASM

 

                       Wilson

[Yorkie]

Can't wait to see some new lads in the black and white, like. I've gone from having all the time in the world for 'Rafa's players' to, at best, just being bored rigid. Last two years really have tarnished any love for basically anything at the club. Don't think there's a single player at the club I'd be sorry to see go, including our better ones, who mean very little to me at this point. 

 

But , for the sake of being less miserable, I'd be pleased to see Almiron and Schar being brought back in, and in positions that they're strong in. There's no mystery as to why we've had a totally dysfunctional attack post Rondon-Perez-Almiron, because - despite any talent the players since then might have - there's been no strategy in mind. Just an assumption that they can play together. However, that was with Steve Bruce in charge. 

 

It might be quite fascinating to see if Emery can actually get a functioning unit out of Wilson, ASM, Almiron and Willock. I guess we'll finally see also whether or not Joelinton was just suffering from the poor management. Don't have high hopes for him, mind. 

 

                          Dubravka

 

Manquillo - Schär - Fernández - Dummett 

 

                    Hayden - Willock

 

 Jow/ASM           Almiron            Jow/ASM

 

                            Wilson

[Yorkie]

Shit. I really enjoyed making that post.

 

Here we fucking go. 

[STM]

Almiron is going to be a massive winner. Emery and any sensible manager would love him. Manquillo will benefit too.

 

Would like to see Emery get a tune out of Lewis.

[steve_69]

The lineups pick themselves:

 

4-3-3  

                                   Dubs

 

Manquillo     Fernandez   Schar    Lewis/Dummett

 

                                 Hayden

 

                          Willock   Longstaff/Shelvey

 

Miggy                                                         ASM

                                 Wilson

 

5-4-1

 

                                     Dubs

 

                 Fernandez   Schar  Dummett

Manq/Murphy                                                Lewis

                          

                       Willock       Hayden

Miggy                                                         ASM

                                 Wilson

 

And when you look at both lineups, you wonder how the fuck we're rooted in the relegation zone. And then you remember Bruce and Jones picking Krafth, Fraser, Clark, Ritchie etc.

[STM]

4231 (* denotes new signing needed desperately in January)

 

Dubz

 

Manquillo

Fernandez*

Schar

Lewis*

 

Willock

Hayden*

 

Murphy*

Miggy

ASM

 

Wilson

 

January signings: Tarkowski, Zinchenko, Coutinho, Lingaard, plus a couple more to give us options.

[Beth]

4 hours ago, STM said:

4231 (* denotes new signing needed desperately in January)

 

Dubz

 

Manquillo

Fernandez*

Schar

Lewis*

 

Willock

Hayden*

 

Murphy*

Miggy

ASM

 

Wilson

 

January signings: Tarkowski, Zinchenko, Coutinho, Lingaard, plus a couple more to give us options.

[The Prophet]

Other than Zinchenko, they're plausible signings.

[Jaqen]

Is Kessie still not signed a deal? Would be tough but would absolutely love to pick him up in the summer. 

[Raconteur]

1 hour ago, Jaqen said:

Is Kessie still not signed a deal? Would be tough but would absolutely love to pick him up in the summer. 

Kessie or Kamara seems a no brainer

[Away Toon]

Pretty irrelevant the last few pages if he’s not coming.

[toontownman]

1 hour ago, Away Toon said:

Pretty irrelevant the last few pages if he’s not coming.

Fair point... now it's Ake on loan. Trippier, Ings and Harry Wilson. Wilshere on a free if we are really lucky.

[Deuce]

On 02/11/2021 at 11:09, Rich said:

Villarreal (4-4-2, 4-3-3): https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/unai-emery/leistungsdatenDetail/trainer/5075/verein_id/1050/datum_zu/2020-07-23/datum_ab/2021-11-02

Arsenal (4-2-3-1, 3-4-1-2, 3-4-2-1): https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/unai-emery/leistungsdatenDetail/trainer/5075/verein_id/11/datum_zu/2018-07-01/datum_ab/2019-11-29

PSG (4-3-3): https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/unai-emery/leistungsdatenDetail/trainer/5075/verein_id/583/datum_zu/2016-07-01/datum_ab/2018-06-30

Sevilla (4-2-3-1): https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/unai-emery/leistungsdatenDetail/trainer/5075/verein_id/368/datum_zu/2013-01-14/datum_ab/2016-06-30

 

4-2-3-1:

Dubravka

 

Manquillo  Fernandez  Schar  Lewis

Willock  Longstaff

Saint-Max      Almiron      Joelinton

Wilson

3-4-2-1 (5-2-2-1):

Dubravka

Manquillo  Schar  Lascelles  Fernandez  Lewis

Willock  Longstaff

Saint-Max                               Almiron

Wilson

4-3-3:

Dubravka

Manquillo  Fernandez  Schar  Lewis

Willock  Hayden  Longstaff

Saint-Max  Wilson  Almiron

 

Think 4-3-3 is the worst fit for our current squad, largely due to having to play Miggy out of position and because our CM options are so poor. I'd be surprised if he didn't go back to 3-4-2-1/5-2-2-1, but I'd like to see the 4-2-3-1 to get Lascelles out of the team and to see Joelinton given a run in his best position under a good manager. That three behind Wilson could be very fluid and it gives us an aerial target, which we sorely lacked on Saturday.

[Rich]

[Johnny]

[steve_69]

Just now, Johnny said:

No one likes a show off 

[MrRaspberryJam]

Always think ASM is better on the wing with him being our only ball carrier. 

[steve_69]

7 minutes ago, Mr Raspberry Jam said:

Always think ASM is better on the wing with him being our only ball carrier. 

Same with Almiron. Get those two on the wings and Willock in the #10 role.

And what the fuck is Clark doing in there FFS!? The only place he should be is in the sea

[LRD]

1 hour ago, steve_69 said:

Same with Almiron. Get those two on the wings and Willock in the #10 role.

And what the fuck is Clark doing in there FFS!? The only place he should be is in the sea

 

Agree. If we are to go with Howe's 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, then it has to be Almiron and ASM on the wings, and Willock (who hasn't looked great in a central midfield role) as a 10 behind Wilson.

 

Hayden is probably one of the first names in central midfield, considering the dearth in that area. As many have mentioned, it is imperative we bring in a CM or two in January.

 

4 at the back - Schar has to be there if Howe wants to play from the back. Would like to give Lewis a second chance and see how he progresses with a proper manager. Manquillo another "first name" due to lack of good options.

 

Then ship the likes of Shelvey, Ritchie and Clark out once we have better replacements.