Tactical lineups post-Amorim

Looking at the players best positions, Mbeumo, Cunha, Amad and Bruno shouldn’t all start together.
Mbeumo and Amad both excel as right attacking wingers, while Cunha and Bruno are most effective as 10s.
The main concern is the left wing. Whoever plays there is likely to be underwhelming, given the lack of a natural option. With that in mind, it’s crazy to think that we were seriously considering Semenyo, another rightsided wingplayer.
 
Mainoonited said:
I think we need to play 433. Bruno has shown he can be effective centrally too - having 3 in the middle would allow us to have more control and the two 8's can add variety into the attack rather than focusing everything through Bruno as we tend to do in a 4231.

My ideal line up would be;

Lemmens
Mazraoui De Ligt Martinez Shaw
Bruno Casemiro Mainoo
Mbuemo Sesko Cunha
​
  • The back 4 all have "like for like" competitors for each spot.​
  • Ugarte, Mount and Collyer (as he's been recalled from loan) can add competition/cover for midfield spots.​
  • Amad can compete for RW, Mbuemo and Sesko can compete for ST, Zirkzee too if we don't sell him.​
  • I see us as light on LW though, with only Cunha as a real option in my opinion.​
Click to expand...

Drop Amad and start Sesko a player that looks like Hojlund Mk II and hasn't scored in his last 10 games?
 
Would love to see us completely flip to something way more attacking, at least for weaker teams where we have more of the ball:

Lammens
Mazraoui De Ligt Martinez Shaw
Amad Casemiro Mainoo
Bruno
Mbuemo Cunha
 
I really don’t understand all this 4231 talk with Casemiro and Mainoo as the 2 in midfield. Don’t people remember how bad that was, and how slow and immobile are central midfield looked? It’s nearly as bad as all those wanting Ole back. I’ve even seen people mentioning a new lease of life for Rashford. Just when I think a change of manager is a fresh new beginning, all these rumours start popping up and it makes me feel like I’m in a fever dream.
 
DJ_21 said:
This looks exciting.
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Didn't we try the Bruno, Mount and Casemiro under Ten Hag and it failed miserably? I remember the first game of the season against Wolves and our midfield was incredibly weak
 
Smudger22587 said:
Didn't we try the Bruno, Mount and Casemiro under Ten Hag and it failed miserably? I remember the first game of the season against Wolves and our midfield was incredibly weak
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It's not like we did any better when he reverted to 4-2-3-1
 
While playing De Ligt - Martinez seems logical as they are our strongest CBs, the team will have a deep defensive line because of that. Both seem painfully slow to play in a high line.

And we will have the usual complaint about how big space in front of them will be. Not sure they should be our long term CB pairing.
 
If Ole comes, I think there are a few things that are safe to assume:
  • 4231, Bruno as a 10
  • He truly believes in bedding in academy players and using players who "understand the club" and that should represent a good chunk of the team. We only really have Mainoo for that, so I'm pretty confident he would start him quite often (but then Casemiro and Ugarte could be like a sort of Fred and Mctominay as a solid/defensive double pivot). Hell maybe even he'd play Licha in midfield
  • I could see him leaning a bit more on guys that he knows (Maguire, Shaw). Shaw is a starter anyway, but there's a chance that Maguire might be preferred over de ligt at the start though obviously I disagree with that.
  • Never got the impression that Ole loved dalot
Overall my guess at the start would be:

Lammens
Mazraoui De Ligt Martinez Shaw
Casemiro Mainoo
Amad Bruno Mbeumo
Cunha​

Sesko the impact sub/rotation there, Mbeumo like Rashford, Cunha like Martial. Chance it's Martinez ahead of Mainoo and any of the other CBs next to de ligt.
 
The United said:
While playing De Ligt - Martinez seems logical as they are our strongest CBs, the team will have a deep defensive line because of that. Both seem painfully slow to play in a high line.

And we will have the usual complaint about how big space in front of them will be. Not sure they should be our long term CB pairing.
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De ligt really isn't that slow and he isn't an issue in a higher line. Licha, probably agree. Generally think the midfield needs a deeper line anyway so it's whatever.
 
Wouldn’t mind seeing this at some point

Sesko Mbeumo
Cunha Amad
Bruno Casemiro
Dorgu Martinez De Ligt Mazraoui
Lammens​
 
Smudger22587 said:
Didn't we try the Bruno, Mount and Casemiro under Ten Hag and it failed miserably? I remember the first game of the season against Wolves and our midfield was incredibly weak
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Oh ye possibly. Swap Mount for mainoo. Or even just keep it simple and have Ugarte and Casemiro together as they are quite solid together. Ugarte had his best game in ages against Leeds
 
Wumminator said:
Looking at our squad - I really like some of our defensive options, I think Dalot and Dorgu will struggle defensively in a four and I like a lot of our tens.

I’d play three cbs (De Ligt, Heaven, Martinez) - play Mbuemo and Cunha behind a proper striker and have some of our wingers offer attacking/defensive support.


———————-Lammens————-
——-Heaven, De Ligt, Martinez—-
Dalot——————————————Dorgu
——————-Bruno—-Casemiro———
——Mbuemo———————Cunha———
————————Sesko———————


That would work really well,
Click to expand...

How about Amorim as the caretaker manager?
 
Smudger22587 said:
Didn't we try the Bruno, Mount and Casemiro under Ten Hag and it failed miserably? I remember the first game of the season against Wolves and our midfield was incredibly weak
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We haven't strengthened in midfield since he left so naturally any combination we try will have failed under Ten Hag.
 
bosnian_red said:
De ligt really isn't that slow and he isn't an issue in a higher line. Licha, probably agree. Generally think the midfield needs a deeper line anyway so it's whatever.
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I don't know about the midfield needing a deeper line.

The likes of Cas, Manioo in midfield are not exactly great at covering big spaces at all. But then again, if it is for this season, we have no choice anyway.

Just hope we don't play with a deep line long term.
 
I think we'll end up:

Lammens
Dalot De Ligt Martinez Shaw
Casemiro Bruno
Mbeumo Amad Cunha
Sesko​

We'll play in a mid block and smash people on the transition.

jamesjimmybyrondean said:
Wouldn’t mind seeing this at some point

Sesko Mbeumo
Cunha Amad
Bruno Casemiro
Dorgu Martinez De Ligt Mazraoui
Lammens​
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Ralf is BACK.
 
I expect any manager coming in will play a back 4. So something like the following

Lammens
Maz - De Ligt - Martinez - Shaw
Casemiro - Mainoo
Bruno
Mbeumo -------------- Cunha
Sesko
​
- Yoro and Heaven to come in for games where we need pace in the defensive line
- Dalot and Dorgu to come as full backs to manage the fitness of Maz and Shaw
- Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko to fight with Amad and Mount for a slot in the attacking line up
- Ugarte as sub to replace Casemiro or Mainoo as needed

While there's a question mark about individual quality, the squad is actually pretty well set up for a 4-3-3. And there's a lot of options when you think about playing Martinez at LB, or Shaw at CB, Mazraoui Mount at no 10, Cunha or Mbeumo at no 9, etc.
 
Couple of things to take into account

- Amorims system sucked. We need to go a conventional system that players understand. I’d opt for a back 4
- we have solid defenders (mostly)
- our midfield gets overrun easily, so let’s also do four midfielders
- we have some sharp as a knife attackers. Let’s just play with those who currently are any good

That gives you

——————————Lammens—————————
——Maz/Dalot—De Ligt—Martinez—Shaw——
——Amad———Case———Mount(Ugarte)——
—————————— Bruno ——————————
—————Mbeumo————Cunha———————

Mount should play rather conservative and really be there to enforce the midfield. Maybe that’s too light and it would work better with Ugarte

But now we have solid defense, balance midfield and several proper attacking options. Sesko can be backup striker, Zirk can go to Rome
 
Smudger22587 said:
Didn't we try the Bruno, Mount and Casemiro under Ten Hag and it failed miserably? I remember the first game of the season against Wolves and our midfield was incredibly weak
Click to expand...
Bruno played as a 10 though, and the back 4 played ridiculously deep to cover their lack of pace, plus the attack tried to press. It was a car crash way to try and play football leaving acres in the middle of the field to run through. We would have to set up more compact which I would expect a manager that isn't an idiot to see as obvious.
 
Lammens
Mazraoui --- MDL --- Shaw --- Dorgu
Bruno --- Case --- Kobbie/Mount
Mbeumo/Amad --- Sesko --- Cunha
 
I liked Casemiro-Ugarte partnership under RVN and i'd like to see Ugarte in a midfield 3. I feel that midfield 3 is the only option for us not to get overrun there.

4 at the back is a must. We have enough rotation now, our only weak spot is LB because Shaw cannot stay fit.

Attack-wise, I'd like to see Mbeumo as a striker and rotating with Sesko. Amad must play being on the right, Cunha on the left.

So a 4-3-3 would be the best for balance, where Bruno-Casemiro-Ugarte are covering the midfield and Bruno can roam further forward. Ugarte subs with Martinez, Casemiro with Mainoo, Bruno with Mount. Nice balance.

What about playing Dorgu as LW or RW? I was told that he was amazing as RW against Newcastle, and he has stamina and speed and strength. Could he be useful there?

A back 4 we have Dalot and Maz for RB, which is fine. We have Maguire, MDL, Yoro, Heaven and Martinez for 2 spots, giving us plenty of rotation and tactical options. And we have Shaw and Dorgu for LB, which is the weakest. I'd like to avoid using Dalot there.

With attack, I cannot see any other options as a 4-3-3 where striker plays as a target man (Sesko) or a false nine (Mbeumo, Zirkzee, Cunha). I'd like to use Mount and Bruno as an 8 who moves to 10 position, otherwise they are wasted there.

This setup covers our main weaknesses (midfield) and gives us plenty of tactical and rotation options.

Then in summer we can think of replacement for Shaw and additional rotation for RB. If Martinez can cover Ugarte, then that's one extra man in midfield and if we lose Casemiro and Ugarte this summer, then at least we aren't in that bad shape. Of course, if we can get to CL spots, I see us buying 2 great midfielders and one for cover. Then this squad is quite settled.
 
Wumminator said:
Looking at our squad - I really like some of our defensive options, I think Dalot and Dorgu will struggle defensively in a four and I like a lot of our tens.

I’d play three cbs (De Ligt, Heaven, Martinez) - play Mbuemo and Cunha behind a proper striker and have some of our wingers offer attacking/defensive support.


———————-Lammens————-
——-Heaven, De Ligt, Martinez—-
Dalot——————————————Dorgu
——————-Bruno—-Casemiro———
——Mbuemo———————Cunha———
————————Sesko———————


That would work really well,
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Dalot was our player of the season just before we changed to the nonsense formation.
 
Cutch said:
Bruno played as a 10 though, and the back 4 played ridiculously deep to cover their lack of pace, plus the attack tried to press. It was a car crash way to try and play football leaving acres in the middle of the field to run through. We would have to set up more compact which I would expect a manager that isn't an idiot to see as obvious.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it was defo a tactical issue rather than personnel. It was basically just Case deep in midfield with a HUGE gap till the defense. No coordination at all.
 
The United said:
I don't know about the midfield needing a deeper line.

The likes of Cas, Manioo in midfield are not exactly great at covering big spaces at all. But then again, if it is for this season, we have no choice anyway.

Just hope we don't play with a deep line long term.
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The midfield needs a deeper line exactly because of Casemiro and Mainoo not being suited to cover huge spaces. Press higher, have a higher line and there is far more leg work that's needed in midfield. Sit a bit deeper and focus more on positioning and you can get a lot more out of Casemiro (and Mainoo). A mid block and counter with our squad is probably a lock to be a top 4 team IMO. It's not necessarily great for long term growth, but it is absolutely the best strategy for as long as we have Casemiro and Bruno and how we got top 3 and a trophy under Ten Hag. Whenever we switch away from that, we collapse.
 
Lammens
Maz Deligt Martinez Dorgu
Bruno Casemiro Mainoo
Amad Mebumo Cunha
 
Lammens

Mazraoui
De Ligt
Martinez
Dorgu

Casemiro
Mainoo

Amad
Bruno
Cunha

Mbeumo
 
Lammens

Mazraoui
de Ligt
Martinez
Shaw

Casemiro
Bruno
Mount

Amad
Mbuemo
Cunha
 
Regulus Arcturus Black said:
Considering Bruno has now spent 12 months deployed as deep midfielder, I think we’d be daft to push him into the 10 spot and leave us light.
I’d be playing him in a proper midfield 3 now, alongside Cas & one of Mainoo or Ugarte.
Let Mount, Mbuemo, Amad, Cunha and Sesko fight for the 3 front spots.

No brainer for me to at least try:

Keeper
Maz De Ligt Martinez/Heaven Shaw

Casemiro
Mainoo/Ugarte Bruno

Mbeumo. Amad
Cunha​
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Yeah could do long term but I think it probably needs more time in training than using a compact 4231 with the two midfielders sitting.

I remember we switched to a 433 under ETH for one or two games, it was Bruno and someone else more advanced of the deeper midfielder, and it was horrid.
 
quadrant said:
I expect any manager coming in will play a back 4. So something like the following

Lammens
Maz - De Ligt - Martinez - Shaw
Casemiro - Mainoo
Bruno
Mbeumo -------------- Cunha
Sesko
​
- Yoro and Heaven to come in for games where we need pace in the defensive line
- Dalot and Dorgu to come as full backs to manage the fitness of Maz and Shaw
- Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko to fight with Amad and Mount for a slot in the attacking line up
- Ugarte as sub to replace Casemiro or Mainoo as needed

While there's a question mark about individual quality, the squad is actually pretty well set up for a 4-3-3. And there's a lot of options when you think about playing Martinez at LB, or Shaw at CB, Mazraoui Mount at no 10, Cunha or Mbeumo at no 9, etc.
Click to expand...

I also think we have more options with 4 3 3 as we don't have the squad depth for the 2 CDMs in 4 2 3 1, or a proven 30 goal a season number 9.

In 4 3 3 we have the likes of Mount and Bruno who can play in either the front three or the midfield 3. We've definitely got more 10s/wider attackers than CDM types, but Mount and Bruno can take either a more attacking/creating role, or be the mobile member of the midfield 3.
 
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Midfield is out weakest area, we should start building the lineups there first. It's definitely not Casemiro - Mainoo unless we make Mount a part of that midfield (and Bruno helping out to form a box there).

The defensive line and attack will not be fixed and there are a few equally good options (for example I don't think there's much between Sesko/Cunha/Mbuemo up top, right wing we have Mbuemo or Amad, left wing is a bit more tricky with Cunha / Mount both not being natural wingers but just needed to do the job for now.
 
I reckon we should experiment with 3 at the back.

Lammens
Yoro...De Ligt...Shaw
Amad...Casemiro...Bruno...Dalot
Mbeumo...Sesko...Cunha
​
And if we're behind, we can bring on the likes of Maguire, Heaven or Martinez.

If we're in front, we can bring on Martinez, Heaven, or Maguire.

Fool proof
 
4-2-3-1:

Lemmens
Maz De Ligt Martinez Dorgu
Case Mainoo
Mbuemo Bruno Cunha
Sesko
​
Instantly better...

I'd go ahead with the Zirkzee loan (mandatory purchase) & use Mount as the sub striker.
 
AnotherLondonManc said:
I reckon we should experiment with 3 at the back.

Lammens
Yoro...De Ligt...Shaw
Amad...Casemiro...Bruno...Dalot
Mbeumo...Sesko...Cunha
​
And if we're behind, we can bring on the likes of Maguire, Heaven or Martinez.

If we're in front, we can bring on Martinez, Heaven, or Maguire.

Fool proof
Click to expand...
Visionary...
 
Exploit the running power of Mbeumo and Cunha.

Only play Ugarte further up the pitch.

3 midfielders.

Amad closer to goal and given more opportunities.
 
Smudger22587 said:
I think it's more the capability of the players and the suitability for them to be playing together in the middle of the park, I just think we'd be far too exposed
Click to expand...

It is also what a manager expects from them. Pep played KDB and Bernardo in a midfield 3 with Fernandinho at the base.
 
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