RocktheCasbah I saw something in the Ghana media last week,

I'd peg you as being quite well-read, but wouldn't necessarily have you down as an avid consumer of the Ghanian media.

He was great in the build up to Trossard's goal last night, and have quite a few positive moments elsewhere, but he was massively sloppy overall. At times it didn't seem like we had a midfield in the first half. It was almost like a basketball game in the back and forths and ease with which they could walk through us. He was sloppy in possession on the edge of our defensive third, being lucky to keep it on a couple of occasions, and negligent in losing it on others. I can't see on balance how anyone thinks he was a net positive last night.

Tam I'd peg you as being quite well-read, but wouldn't necessarily have you down as an avid consumer of the Ghanian media.

Oh yeah, all the media all the time, me....

Tam

The back and forth is a consequence of loosening control and being more risk taking and vertical. That's why there is such a desire to exert so much control in the first place because you want to avoid these types of exchanges, and ideally suffocate the opponent but that can come at the cost of verticality. On the other hand, if you're being more vertical, less positionally rigid and playing more at pace, you will lose the ball more often, the opponent will get to attack more often and then it descends into that type of game. So it's a case of picking your poison.

daredevil verticality is actually defensively more solid. When you lose the ball playing sideways, 2 players are now behind the play. Only 1 if you play it forward.

Qwiss Partey and Jorginho out

Zubimendi and MLS playing in midfield

lorddulaarsenal This is definitely the way forward. In my opinion, MLS is already better than what Partey is giving us - better athlete, much more secure on the ball, just as press-resistant and has the eye for the line breaking pass. He can play next to Rice or Zubimendi and complement their strengths. My only concern with our midfield moving forward is just Odegaard's best role. I have said this before but I just really feel like his weaknesses (lack of elite athleticism, absolutely no weak foot ability whatsoever, and subpar ball striking and finishing) don't lend himself to the most advanced midfield role. I'd prefer we play a more traditional 10 there especially if we are going to be lining up with Rice and Zubimendi (with Merino and MLS as depth). None of those players are going to contribute many goals. Nwaneri fits the role better IMO and I'd also entertain bringing in someone like Eze/Gibbs-White to add some thrust to our attack. In a perfect world, Odegaard would work on his right foot all summer and come back with it being at least competent but it seems that time has passed.

Really wouldn't make sense... they have Camavinga and Tchouameni.

This would be so messed up. Lol