BWooley wrote:
I think the best option for our squad currently is 4-2-2-2 with 2 upfront and 2 creative players nominally starting out wide but playing on their respective "wrong" sides (i.e. Saka on the right and ESR on the left) and being able to drift laterally. A more creative coach can even implement this within the current 4-2-3-1 but Arteta is too rigid to allow for this kind of interchange upfront. Also, get Pepe closest to goal and let him do attack the backline rather than picking the ball up in the middle of the pitch. What this needs is at least 1 additional creative player. The other drawback here is that the 4 forwards are all somewhat similar and we lack a Giroud type plan B, but that can be acquired in a window or two.
Auba / Marty -- Pepe / Balo can be the pair upfront - all four have good movement and can put the ball in the back of the net.
ESR / Nelson -- Saka / new addition can be the pair behind the front two.
Agreed on this.
In possession the AMs go wide to create space and one of the ST drops into the hole as an option to link and draw his marker.
Out of possession the AMs can play narrow to force the opposition out wide.
The 'key' will be the DMs needing to cover the flanks if the FBs are caught up high, but more so that we counter press like mad bastards to force the opposition to go long so that cannot run at us on the ball, and the CBs can regain possession and the DMs can recirculate.
As for the playing squad I think we can still do this including Laca as ST and move Pepe to the AM line, as I'd like to see him making those central runs at the opposition defence 1v1 as we saw in the 2nd half v CFC in The FA Cup Final win, and again v VVD in the EPL.
