It's looking like we won't sign anyone else this window, which is fair given our incoming players so far.
Assuming we need to make do with our current squad, what's the best tactics or formation to get the best of this team?
- Continue with McFred - we have enough threat and creativity among the front 4 to sort of make this work. And they have been decent against most teams, and good against the top teams. This is the most likely scenario.
- 433 with one of Fred or McTominay holding - this is likely to cause us to lose the midfield battle, and also makes it easy for opposition to run through it. But this would likely give DVB a better chance of playing along with one of Bruno or Pogba. And effectively rotating Fred and McTominay would ensure we don't collapse if one of them get injured.
- Change of formation - If we play a back 3, we might be able to play Pogba and one of McFred as the midfield 2. We have enough CBs to make this happen. Major concern is AWB not being good offensively would hindee this a lot.
What do you guys this is the most balanced starting 11 against a) top teams b) rest of the matches?
A mix between 1 and 3 but definitely not 2.
As it was clear as day on our last game vs Wolves playing Fred as a single pivot is tactical suicide. Ole basicaly had to change the shape within 15 minutes by dropping Pogba further down to help him.
Let me make my point against #2:
Fred is is just not used to have the discipline to hold to center as he played all is career as either a "carrilero" or box to box midfielder which is totally different role from a deep sitting midfielder. Would take a miracle for him to learn at this stage of his career. Even if he can, his physical and technical attributes would definitely make him a liability, making it not worthy of a try.
I fear that with McT we will have similar issues. Although he has several advantages compared to Fred, physicality/height and age (he can still change his game) among most obvious.
Matic is our one and only true single midfield pivot, and even the 27 version of him was not at his best at that role (he played mostly as part of double pivot at Chelsea with Kante at his best).
My point towards #3:
Playing 3 at the back would not mean having one less attacking player on the pitch. Especially given that you basicaly dont have anyone capable of playing a single DM role on the squad (you need two! see my point below).
But, it would mean that you will have 3 (better) players that have the technical and physical abilities to fill the "hole" and pass forward without a need of a midfielder for that. This means that players like Pogba/VdB/Bruno/Lingard are effectively free to do what they do best. Call me crazy but I even think that a trio of any three of the above would work in this instance!
The only handicap of #3 is RWB position, but hey, I believe that Dalot/AWB will do okay. They are young and learning!
My take on "good old 4231" point 1:
First, I think Ole definitely is trying to move away from this. You can see from Trippier/Rice 'genuine' rumours that he was definitely gravitating towards a hybrid 433/532 for this season. Keeping Lingard,VdB and 6 first team central defenders is another clue towards that.
Second, I think that it will not be an as radical change of formations this season as it was rumoured. Meaning that Ole will continue his 4231 most of the games with McFred/Pogba duos but he will definitely try to shift to 532 gradually.
We will definitely see 532 most of the big games and maybe some moderate away games.