|
In my opinion the best equipped and most balanced team we have available is below in a 3-4-1-2 formation.
Defence -
We can't keep a clean sheet playing a flat back four mainly because we do not have the quality at full back.
So I would go with the security of 3 at the back with Rice playing central. I think Diop needs someone vocal next to him to keep him steady through the game and that is why I would play Rice there. Ogbonna brings a nice balance to a back 3 with him being left footed.
In my opinion Balbuena just isn't good enough and Rice just brings that added quality and leadership.
Wing Back -
As mentioned, our full backs are woeful in defense and offer nothing going forward. With 3 at the back, this at least allows Antonio and Masuaku to not have to be as defensively minded. Their strength is in attack. They are both powerful players with speed and this is what we are severely lacking at the moment. Again, Masuaka brings balance to the team with being left footed. Having a Bowen or an Antonio out wide left just brings the worse out of them and doesn't play to their strengths.
Midfield -
I would go with a midfield pairing of Soucek and Fornals, They both work extremely hard and have the energy required to sit as a two. Sadly Noble lacks the mobility to get up and down the pitch and Wilshire and Lanzini are unreliable mainly due to fitness issues and they do not have defensive capabilities.
Attacking Options -
Bowen is more than capable of playing a No. 10 role. He has the pace and intelligence to play there. He is a goal threat but is also happy to dig in when required and slot back into a central 3 with Soucek and Fornals when we don't have the ball.
Ideally, I would have Anderson as a 10 and Bowen in place of Silva but other than the fact Anderson is injured, he just isn't reliable and his confidence is shattered. But I do think he would be much improved playing more central than wide left. Anderson's biggest problem playing wide left that is hampering him is that he gets sucked into covering Cresswell who can't get up and down the pitch quickly enough leaving Anderson in two minds of whether to come inside or stay out wide to cover Cresswell. He always seems to be caught in two minds and then does neither.
Anderson is a confidence player that can dribble, has pace and is technically gifted, He is the type of play that needs freedom to blossom and encouragement and belief from his Manager. He can't defend, can't tackle and so he brings nothing to the team in a wide position where you need to attack and defend.
Up front -
Haller is largely inaffective playing a lone striker role. So he has to have someone up top with him. Someone who can be aggressive with pace and energy. Ajeti just isn't up to it. And so I think it is time to give Silva the opportunity. He has pace, energy and is agile and I think would bring the best out of Haller and give the opposing defence something to worry about.
Conclusion -
Of course it is all about opinions, but I think any other system leaves an imbalance in the team with inaffective, slow players. When I look at the rest of the squad, I just don't see anyone else that would bring something positive to the table other than Anderson & Yarmolenko (whoboth aren't match fit to play 90 minutes). Everyone else have either had their day or were never good enough in the first place.
It is a big rebuilding job for someone in the summer. But for now, I think this system and 11 is the only way to go -
...........................Fabianski.................................
....................Diop.....Rice....Ogbonna...................
.........Antonio......Soucek....Fornals......Masuaku..
...............................Bowen.................................
...........................Silva.........Haller.......................
|
