Turner, Williams, Toffolo, Murillo, Boly, Niakhaté, Yates (c), Mangala, Kouyaté, Elanga, Gibbs-White
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Was expecting to see something completely bonkers, on the back of what Russ had said...but apart from (arguably) Kouyate, it makes total sense. you can even make a good case for Kouyate.
...so what's wrong with it Russ?
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Works for me on paper. Let's hope it translates to a better performance.
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3 at the back! Not sure how the ball will move forwards through that midfield though. Maybe Murillo can play a through ball to Elanga.
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I'm OK with the back 5 and the front 2. The midfield is 'interesting'
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Looks like it. Such a shame the way this appears to be ending.
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Cripes!
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Wing backs will be important. Other than that, give it to MGW and hope he can do something.
I assume we're aiming to keep a clean sheet and sneak something at the other end. Which I'm not against.
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7 changes. All the major summer signings on the bench. Kouyate and Boly. No recognised centre forward.
It's a last desperate roll of all the dice.
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9 of the 11 were with us last season.
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I make it 8, but also noticed that.
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Yep, only Turner, Elanga and Murillo of the new signings.
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Two of the three centre-halves can also move, and link up with forward play (in different ways). You could see Kouyate holding with Boly, under those circumstances..and both wing backs capable of good delivery...and both forward players capable of movement.
I can definitely see ways that it can be a good shape.
New signings haven't been getting the job done...so going back to experience.
No centre-forward at the club looking like doing anything but wasting a shirt...so not playing one.
A sensible pragmatic approach to vary the plan to attempt to get points, where plugging away at the aspirational approach hasn't worked. As a coach you have to be prepared to make tough choices and go with your beliefs.
There will be whining whatever he does.
Given that you would have been disappointed if he didn't play a front two, which really would have been writing his own death warrant given that no forwards are in form never mind two, you were almost nailed on for a moan anyway.
I definitely don't see it the way that you do.
Not that means that it will 'work'. We are playing against a better squad, in better form, away from home. And they will also be trying.
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I like the formation. I like the inclusion of Williams, I like Morgan in the centre as part of a two, I don't mind the change of keeper, I don't like leaving the player with the best minutes/goal ratio at the club on the bench, and I really don't like Kouyate and Boly playing for any reason.
I'm not especially having a moan, I just worry that he's got this wrong because he's mad at people and getting desperate. I would very much like us to win today.
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So the selection is fine....but you doubt his intentions, because you know what you think like?
Honestly Russ, he's not thinking how you are at this point.
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I'm also not a fan...I prefer players who can move...but I can see the case for experience and solidity, to support the players around them. Pretty much, in my view, the only difficult selection is Kouyate....but I can entirely see the point given the form of the alternatives...and if he's looking like it in training, it's hard to argue that a change isn't merited.
