Sanchez - What's his position?

[VP89]

Firstly, no to mega threads. Secondly this is still on the assumption that the 99.9% chance becomes a certainty and he becomes a Manchester United player by Monday :

Where does he play for us? It's discussed in the match day thread and in the Sanchez thread lightly. Personally it's in Lingards role for me. I think he's best centrally and shouldn't be cast wide.

Others claim left wing and some claim RW. Where does he play for us?

EDIT: poll would be nice mods if possible.

 

[Damien]

Right wing or centrally. Dropping Martial to the bench would be sheer stupidity - we need more threats in our starting XI.

 

[IrishRedDevil]

RW to replace Mata.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/alexis-sanchez-arsene-wenger-says-chilean-is-unpredictable-playing-on-the-right-wing-rather-than-the-a6988351.html?amp

“It was good to see Alexis Sanchez score again last weekend,” Wenger writes of the 3-3 draw against West Ham last Saturday. “Most of the time it’s with the efficiency of his performances that you know the he is back to his best. He’s a striker who can have an impact on the game and since he’s come back on the right, I think he is more efficient. It is more natural for him than on the left. His game is a bit more predictable on the left. On the right he is unpredictable because he can go outside and inside. On the left he looks always to come inside and that’s easier to block.”

 

[VP89]

Right wing or centrally. Dropping Martial to the bench would be sheer stupidity.

Agree on Martial but does he enjoy the right flank? And do we expect him to have the same roaming permissions? Jose seems to want his wider man to track back and support the full backs that much more.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

I don't think it's much of a debate because wherever Sanchez plays within the attacking positions, he delivers. Centre Forward is Lukaku, Martial has made LW his own, so it's really down to Sanchez to make either AM or RW his own. What I think is likely, especially in Europe is for Sanchez to play RW and we switch to a midfield 3.

 

[Android1974]

Can play anywhere in the second line of attack in 4-2-3-1, but hope it's on the right, specially in 4-3-3, otherwise Martial's kaput.

 

[MadMike]

Right Wing Back

 

[Devil may care]

Same way Mata operates for us, nominally from the RW but with freedom to float around the attack.

 

[Grylte]

Right wing who will cut in alot since Valencia pretty much covers the entire right side on his own.
Atleast as long as Valencia's legs hold.
Or as a #10.

He won't force Martial out of the team, but Mata.

 

[Android1974]

Michael Cox says Sánchez stated before he didn't like to play on the right, and his preferred position is the left, so that worries me. Hope Mourinho cleared it with him first!

 

[breakout67]

He will replace Mata in the team. Starts on the right and roams in the final third, he will track back when needed but will have lots of freedom in his movement.

 

[Kag]

In place of Mata on the right.

So that means it won't happen and we'll drop Martial, having not improved one of our weaker areas. Maybe.

 

[Damien]

Agree on Martial but does he enjoy the right flank? And do we expect him to have the same roaming permissions? Jose seems to want his wider man to track back and support the full backs that much more.

He performs wherever he plays. Whether he enjoys it I don't know but I'm sure he'd have a degree of freedom. Sanchez is one of the highest in terms of tackles and interceptions so I don't think there'd be much bother from a defensive point of view.

 

[cyberman]

Surely the clue lies in who we sent to Arsenal?

 

[sullydnl]

Basically Sanchez, Lingard and Mata swapping the RW and central attacking positions between them I'd imagine.

 

[Yagami]

The best thing about Alexis is that he can play all across the attack to a good standard. I think he'll mainly play on the right because Martial's great on the left, Lingard's doing well in the center, and we have no proper right sided attackers.

He could be a fine #10, too, because he's excellent under pressure and can receive the balls in the channels and keep it despite being pressed, offers a lot defensively, is up there with the best chance creators in the league, and is a huge goal threat. I think later on his career he may transition into a CM due to these attributes as well.

 

[Android1974]

Surely the clue lies in who we sent to Arsenal?

He's coming to be on the bench?

 

[whatwha]

Mainly on the right, whether we play 4231 or 433.

 

[IAmAWinner]

Maybe he will play as a striker? He was a beast there for Arsenal last season. Lukaku at times has played right wing, mostly when Ibra was on the pitch, and tbh he wasn't awful, has good crossing ability as we have seen and likes to cut in dangerously. It's really unlikely, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Jose test it out once or twice.

 

[Crackers]

RW for me. Pure and simple, martial is great on the left and Lingard is doing well in the middle. Or Sanchez in the middle and Lingard on the right

 

[Android1974]

Maybe he will play as a striker? He was a beast there for Arsenal last season. Lukaku at times has played right wing, mostly when Ibra was on the pitch, and tbh he wasn't awful, has good crossing ability as we have seen and likes to cut in dangerously. It's really unlikely, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Jose test it out once or twice.

Like a false 9? When he was at Barcelona, he played on the right so Messi could play centrally.

 

[Zoo]

Behind Lukaku but there will be a lot of rotation within the three. Martial and Rashford will continue to compete for the left-sided spot.

 

[Bwuk]

Personally think he’ll play behind Lukaku, but in some games out on the right.

 

[Dolf]

I don't think it's much of a debate because wherever Sanchez plays within the attacking positions, he delivers. Centre Forward is Lukaku, Martial has made LW his own, so it's really down to Sanchez to make either AM or RW his own. What I think is likely, especially in Europe is for Sanchez to play RW and we switch to a midfield 3.

Exactly, it doesn't really need a debate. Play him where ever we need him.

To put the above stats in perspective:

Goal/Assist per game (Games played)

RW: 0.40 / 0.33 (119)
LW: 0.41 / 0.22 (104)
CF: 0.71 / 0.31 (42)
AM: 0.55 / 0.28 (18)

The only position that really stands out is CF but he only played 42 matches there so not really fair to compare to LW/RW yet.

 

[VancouverUtdFan]

For the remainder of this season
(assumimg this is the only transfer):


433 - RW

4231 - RW and #10/SS, alternating with Jesse

 

[Isotope]

I don't think it's much of a debate because wherever Sanchez plays within the attacking positions, he delivers. Centre Forward is Lukaku, Martial has made LW his own, so it's really down to Sanchez to make either AM or RW his own. What I think is likely, especially in Europe is for Sanchez to play RW and we switch to a midfield 3.

His goal/game ratio is the best as center forward. A slot for Mahrez on RW?

 

[Carl]

If it's anywhere but on the right this signing doesn't make sense.

 

[IrishRedDevil]

Behind Lukaku but there will be a lot of rotation within the three. Martial and Rashford will continue to compete for the left-sided spot.

I think Martial won and the competition is currently closed.

 

[Red Star One]

I'd love to see him on the right and I deeply hope him and Martial would together start vast majority of games - at least the most important ones.

 

[Android1974]

Exactly, it doesn't really need a debate. Play him where ever we need him.

To put the above stats in perspective:

Goal/Assist per game (Games played)

RW: 0.40 / 0.33 (119)
LW: 0.41 / 0.22 (104)
CF: 0.71 / 0.31 (42)
AM: 0.55 / 0.28 (18)

The only position that really stands out is CF but he only played 42 matches there so not really fair to compare to LW/RW yet.

Most of his games on the right were for Barcelona and not Arsenal, though, a much better team.

 

[cyberman]

@Android1974
RW / 10
Jesse has found his spot through the middle so it leaves Mata as our only wideman.
Jose hasn't weakened an already weak area to mess about with moving players who are growing into their positions imo.

 

[The Irish Connection]

RW. But as has been said, he can play in any of the attacking positions so could switch during a game and he'll have freedom to roam a bit too.
I've been watching a load of his old YouTube videos and he has made plenty of impact in games from the right.
Even if it's not his best position, he will still be a massive upgrade on what we currently have for RW. He will add pace, power and penetration on that side, he can go outside the fullback, he will keep us flowing better in counter attacks and probably most importantly, he will pick the right pass or finish chances when needed at the end of a move. Big upgrade on mkhitaryan , who we thought would fill the RW spot, he's used to the league, gritty like mourinho likes.
We finally have a number proper number 7 again!

 

[Android1974]

If it's anywhere but on the right this signing doesn't make sense.

I just hope Mourinho checked with him before if he feels he can play on the right.

 

[711]

Michael Cox says Sánchez stated before he didn't like to play on the right, and his preferred position is the left, so that worries me. Hope Mourinho cleared it with him first!

Link a Sanchez quote instead of Michael Cox, whoever he is, and I'll listen.

 

[Carl]

I just hope Mourinho checked with him before if he feels he can play on the right.

I'm fairly confident they'd have had a conversation about how he fits into the team etc.

 

[roonster09]

Maybe attacking 3 behind Lukaku won't have a fixed position. As it is, except left wing, our players are all over the place. Mata plays centrally, Lingard plays on right and left wing when he starts behind the striker.

I think with Sanchez it will be the same. Either attacking 3 behind striker will swap position, or we play 4-3-3 with Sanchez, Lukaku and Martial front 3.

 

[Android1974]

Link a Sanchez quote instead of Michael Cox, whoever he is, and I'll listen.

Nah, don't mind if you're not listening.

 

[Android1974]

Tweet

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[Silas]

Tweet

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Ah, so complete guesswork.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

His goal/game ratio is the best as center forward. A slot for Mahrez on RW?

It's possible but I'm really starting to like the idea of a Martial, Lukaku, Sanchez trio upfront.

There'll be times like today (the assist) where Lukaku is drifting out wide, Sanchez and him can interchange positions as well as Martial as all seem capable to do damage wide as well as centrally. If we allow them to be fluid we've got a very good team on our hands.