Create a strong rest defense by raising the level technically, physically and athletically so we can play higher up the pitch. Playing higher up the pitch will help the attackers.
We played Liverpool and we defended deep as a team in a compact block. And that was good, but we need to develop the team, so we can play a more dominant brand of football higher up the pitch in a compact block. In that scenario we need players at CB and in midfield who have the technical ability on the ball, aswell as the physical and athletic ability to defend large spaces when the opposition is hitting us on the break. Our team is weak in midfield and at CB in that scenario and we don't have the players who can control or contain defensive transitions. We've had good defensive displays post Fergie by playing in a compact deeper block where the CBs concentrate on box defending, while the fullbacks and deeper midfielders defend out wide and centrally. The problem for our team becomes visible when we commit players forward and the spaces open up in transition. And we don't have strong players to contain transitions in larger spaces because we lack physically and athletically.
If we want to give the likes of Martinez, Mainoo, Onana, Shaw etc the platform to thrive and progress play from deeper. Then you absolutely need players who have the technical quality along with the physical and athletic capabilities to control or contain transitions in a higher defensive line.
If the aim is to play the game in the opponent's half, then it's a must to have a strong rest defense. And what is a rest defense? A rest defense is basically the players who are occupying the deepest spaces in a compact high block. So whether ten Hag wants to go with a 3-1 resting structure with a inverting fullback or a 3-2 resting structure with both fullbacks inverting, it's important to have players in that resting structure that have the required attributes both with the ball in the build up phase, and without the ball in a high defensive line.
If we create a strong rest defense, it will result in us creating a lot of chances imo. And why that will happen is due to the rest defense having players who are strong duellers when they're playing 40 yards higher up the pitch. That will then (imo) result in a better high press and also better progression, because it will allow the more technical ball players to thrive in possession, instead of asking them to do too much out of possession, which is happening right now.
CB: Pace, power and athleticism to defend the channel in 1v1 scenarios higher up the pitch, along with being capable on the ball in the build up phase. Players that could be targeted for this role are Todibo, Ousmane Diomande or even young Leny Yoro, but we'd have to be patient with him due to his age.
CM: A player to come into midfield to play alongside Kobbie Mainoo. Mainoo provides the progression along with the CBs, fullbacks and the GK. So you need to balance that out with a player who thrives in winning ground duels in a high defensive line, when space opens up for the opposition to hit us on the break. My options here are Amadou Onana, Lucas Gourna-Douath or even someone like Youssouf Fofana. And I'm sure there's many other players who I haven't even mentioned. I think we might be able to sign Fofana alongside one of Onana or Lucas Gourna-Douath.
If the aim is to play the game in the opponent's half, then it's crucial to have a strong rest defense. You can't as a team press, probe, provoke the opponent higher up the pitch without having a strong rest defense that is equipped to deal with transitions 40 yards up the pitch.
Below is our possible build up phase and there's progression potential aplenty with the below players, but we've backed progression potential with added physical and athletic ability, with the hypothetical arrival of Todibo and Amadou Onana. I've also positioned Amadou Onana as the LCM ahead of Martinez, which has the potential to help Martinez flourish on the ball with a duel winning machine in close proximity.
------‐----------------Onana---------------
Dalot------Todibo------Martinez------Shaw
---------------Mainoo-----Onana------
And below is our possible rest defense in a higher defensive line. And having a strong rest defense is the key to taking a big step forward in our development, which will allow our progressive players to potentially thrive on the ball and our attack to finally have the support and service that is lacking due to not being able to maintain a high defensive line against anyone half decent.
--------------------------Onana--------------
----------Todibo-----Martinez-----Shaw--
-------------------------Onana-----
So signing Amadou Onana along with Todibo or Ousmane Diomande, I'd also sign Yousouff Fofana and a couple of forwards. And with Sancho possibly leaving, I hope we target someone like Bakayoko from PSV or Nico Williams from Club Athletic. And Williams is comfortable playing on either flank and has a release clause in his contract. And I'm hoping we sign another striker with Martial potentially leaving at the end of the season.
Todibo, Amadou Onana, Nico Williams, striker and Yousouff Fofana. And if there's a possibility to sign a young midfield prospect like Arthur Vermeeren, I'd go ahead and sign him as well.
