timnufc22 Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 (edited) Wilson/Osula/New Striker Isak Barnes Bruno Tonali Gordon Tonali and Bruno have the quality and know-how to play together surely... and I can imagine Tonali enjoying playing with a skilful no10 in front of him while also having the option of playing longer passes in behind to a second forward. Isak needs a partner to work with in front of him and he's also perfect to link the midfield and attack. He naturally wants to drop deep and get on the ball, he needs to be closer to the likes of Bruno and other technical players. He'll get more space in the box arriving slightly deeper too and can also carry the ball from deep. We need more goal threats on the pitch, if Osula isn't ready to play many minutes I question those use of funds and either way I'd be looking to spend a decent amount on a quality striker to play with Isak. In the mean time I'd also be tempted to play Willock in the no10 role to link with Isak further ahead, which is his natural position anyway imo. Edited October 8 by timnufc22 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 If Isak played there he’d have to do a lot of defensive work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erikse Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 (edited) 14 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said: If Isak played there he’d have to do a lot of defensive work. Exactly. If we're ever going to play 4-2-3-1, it's just going to be very close to a 4-3-3 in practice. Don't think Howe wants to play an offensive midfielder who can barely defend. It would have to be one of the central midfielders in a slightly more offensive role, or someone like Gordon. Edited October 8 by Erikse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEToon Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 2 hours ago, Mole said: I seem to remember at the time people saying the pace of the league wouldn't suit him at all as well. It wasn't just a question of quality, like he was decent to good as you say but the style of play wasn't all that conducive to him playing his best football. The biggest problem with Aquilani seems to have been fitness, Rafa basically said he was flogged when he arrived at Anfield on The Overlap Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
timnufc22 Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 41 minutes ago, Erikse said: Exactly. If we're ever going to play 4-2-3-1, it's just going to be very close to a 4-3-3 in practice. Don't think Howe wants to play an offensive midfielder who can barely defend. It would have to be one of the central midfielders in a slightly more offensive role, or someone like Gordon. I think if Tonali was sitting deeper it wouldn't be much of an issue, Bruno himself doesn't necessarily have to fly forward, Isak can cover those areas between the lines defensively, I don't see him as a lazy player off the ball or anything. Like I say, I'd be tempted to play Willock as a 10 behind Isak for now until we signed another forward. I'd like to see Tonali & Bruno form that partnership, I can imagine they'd very much be on the same wavelength. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erikse Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 (edited) 30 minutes ago, timnufc22 said: I think if Tonali was sitting deeper it wouldn't be much of an issue, Bruno himself doesn't necessarily have to fly forward, Isak can cover those areas between the lines defensively, I don't see him as a lazy player off the ball or anything. Like I say, I'd be tempted to play Willock as a 10 behind Isak for now until we signed another forward. I'd like to see Tonali & Bruno form that partnership, I can imagine they'd very much be on the same wavelength. Isak wouldn't be as much of a threat, and would run out of gas even earlier. He doesn't have the best stamina, unfortunately. Edited October 8 by Erikse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 Yeah Isak at #10 is a non starter, unless you are talking about the odd game. It’s madness to play him anywhere but central striker with our current squad either way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaj Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 If we are going 4-2-3-1 then Gordon should be the number 10, I think he would be fantastic in that position. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 Isak out of position with Osula / Callum Wilson up top is up there with the month’s mental takes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEToon Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 It would be a complete waste of Tonali and Bruno playing them as part of a 2 and fundamentally having to do a lot of defensive work, the pair of them should be playing with a more natural defensive midfielder behind them and unlocking a lot more of their creativity, ability to split lines and play in players who have absurd pace like Isak and Gordon, not those two players playing as 10s When Tonali is freed up a bit and playing in areas down the right he is a complete menace, he gives his RW and RB the easiest day out going, it was absurd how much ground he he was covering and linking up against Man City, it's when he looks at his best, let him do that and roam around in those areas with a bit of extra cover in there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrownBottle Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 One day - and that day may never come - I might work out why a cadre of NUFC supporters insist on trying to move potentially one of the world’s best centre forwards into a deep-lying role or to the wing to accommodate a centre forward who isn’t close to his level … Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fak Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 1 minute ago, TheBrownBottle said: One day - and that day may never come - I might work out why a cadre of NUFC supporters insist on trying to move potentially one of the world’s best centre forwards into a deep-lying role or to the wing to accommodate a centre forward who isn’t close to his level … Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
80 Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 1 hour ago, TheBrownBottle said: One day - and that day may never come - I might work out why a cadre of NUFC supporters insist on trying to move potentially one of the world’s best centre forwards into a deep-lying role or to the wing to accommodate a centre forward who isn’t close to his level … Because the sum total of that might add up to more than leaving him up front totally isolated, delivering him nothing and asking him to spend all day chasing stray balls? I'm not saying it speaks greatly of our squad or management, but we've been getting very little out of him for a long time, and I don't really blame him for that, so there's no real harm in examining alternatives until we can fix the fundamental problems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrownBottle Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 6 hours ago, 80 said: Because the sum total of that might add up to more than leaving him up front totally isolated, delivering him nothing and asking him to spend all day chasing stray balls? I'm not saying it speaks greatly of our squad or management, but we've been getting very little out of him for a long time, and I don't really blame him for that, so there's no real harm in examining alternatives until we can fix the fundamental problems. The solution isn’t playing our best player out of position Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
timeEd32 Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 The first name on every team sheet should be Alexander Isak at striker. The other 10 positions should be arranged in a way to get the most out of his ability to score goals. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovejoy Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 Do not, under any circumstances, move Isak. Not for anybody. That's my take. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
80 Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 30 minutes ago, timeEd32 said: The first name on every team sheet should be Alexander Isak at striker. The other 10 positions should be arranged in a way to get the most out of his ability to score goals. What if he gets more quality scoring opportunities when Callum Wilson is one of those 10 players? And what if we get more points? (Humour me - I know Wilson's not actually getting on the pitch...). Historically under Howe, we've thrived when goals were well distributed throughout the team. My position is we've been poor and haphazard going forwards for a year now. Our goals have come through chaos rather than method - not so much pulling the blanket too high or too low as twirling it above our heads. Isak has spent a long time looking wasted with us, and it needs to change. I'm content enough with him being our lead striker, but several fingers need to be pulled out if we're going to see him as one of the world's best at our club... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanji Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 Mad idea but Gordon as a false 9 with Isak and Barnes just basically playing on the shoulders and getting behind would be box office. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Icarus Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 (edited) 3 hours ago, lovejoy said: Do not, under any circumstances, move Isak. Not for anybody. That's my take. Was just about to give you a like, but I think we get enough out of Isak on the left, that in certain matches, having Wilson on the pitch at the same time as Isak (lol) makes it worth doing. Otherwise, totally agree, outside of those situations - excluding the special case matches where maybe Wilson playing (lol) is more suitable, you don't move Isak to accomodate anyone if what he gives playing there can't be bettered. Edited October 9 by Kid Icarus Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
80 Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 36 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said: Was just about to give you a like, but I think we get enough out of Isak on the left, that in certain matches, having Wilson on the pitch at the same time as Isak (lol) makes it worth doing. Otherwise, totally agree, outside of those situations - excluding the special case matches where maybe Wilson playing (lol) is more suitable, you don't move Isak to accomodate anyone if what he gives playing there can't be bettered. ...Which is a perfectly legitimate view. It's the idea it can't be considered under any circumstances that I find silly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PauloGeordio Posted October 16 Share Posted October 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted October 16 Share Posted October 16 Wouldn't be surprised if he's considered our best player fairly soon, such a great signing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
STM Posted October 16 Share Posted October 16 15 minutes ago, PauloGeordio said: Doesn't make any sense because in the last couple of match threads I've heard that he's been anonymous. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeloEmre Posted October 16 Share Posted October 16 Can’t wait to see him starting on the bench on Saturday. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted October 16 Share Posted October 16 He has looked good for Italy. They've landed onto something now with him, Ricci and Barella when he's back as a three. Hope he can show similar for us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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