Well said.Love won't make them better than they are.
Last season Mourinho protected the defence by restricting our midfield. However, people complained that it was boring and it was killing Pogba.
So now, perhaps to prove a point, we're now playing a more open game. For three games running we've tried to play a more open game, two of them without a proper defensive midfielder and then last night by pressing high and going at Spurs.
If we were clinical that might be a way forward but we're missing open goals.
If Jose goes back to being ultra defensive we'll probably win more but there will be more criticism that we're too defensive.
We've now had two managers, Van Gaal and Mourinho, who have come in, assessed our squad and decided that the only way forward is to play two holding midfielders and make sure the wingers can play disciplined to protect the full backs. Neither of these managers are idiots. Our defence is weak and without investment the only way to protect it is to play in a low block with two banks of four.
Pep Guardiola is one the best attacking coaches in the world but what did he do when he arrived at City and saw Hart, DeMichellis, Clichy, Sagna, Kolarov, Zabaleta etc? He binned them off. Then he binned off Bravo, then mid season after spending £50m on Stones he bought £60m Laporte to supplement Kompany and Otamendi. My point? Even the best coaches in the world cannot turn dirt into gold. They're not alchemists.
Without better defenders we cannot play expansive football. If we play expansive football we cannot protect that defence. The goals will continue to leak.
Well writtenLove won't make them better than they are.
Last season Mourinho protected the defence by restricting our midfield. However, people complained that it was boring and it was killing Pogba.
So now, perhaps to prove a point, we're now playing a more open game. For three games running we've tried to play a more open game, two of them without a proper defensive midfielder and then last night by pressing high and going at Spurs.
If we were clinical that might be a way forward but we're missing open goals.
If Jose goes back to being ultra defensive we'll probably win more but there will be more criticism that we're too defensive.
We've now had two managers, Van Gaal and Mourinho, who have come in, assessed our squad and decided that the only way forward is to play two holding midfielders and make sure the wingers can play disciplined to protect the full backs. Neither of these managers are idiots. Our defence is weak and without investment the only way to protect it is to play in a low block with two banks of four.
Pep Guardiola is one the best attacking coaches in the world but what did he do when he arrived at City and saw Hart, DeMichellis, Clichy, Sagna, Kolarov, Zabaleta etc? He binned them off. Then he binned off Bravo, then mid season after spending £50m on Stones he bought £60m Laporte to supplement Kompany and Otamendi. My point? Even the best coaches in the world cannot turn dirt into gold. They're not alchemists.
Without better defenders we cannot play expansive football. If we play expansive football we cannot protect that defence. The goals will continue to leak.
Fair enough mate, and i suppose you were right he did try it yesterday. Mourinho i feel doesn't know how to set up a 352 properly, not surprising given he's mostly players 433/4231 his whole career.
How can we sell our existing defenders when Woodward is unable to find replacements, especially given the fitness levels of our defenders.
No one really knows why the board didnt push hard for another CB this summer, but I could easily see the board knocking that request back given we have 5 around the 1st team, 2 of which were Jose's signings for big cash. He should of said Jones and Rojo were of no use and pushed them out, and replace them with someone of better quality who could start with Smalling.
To sell somebody needs to want to buy, our centre halves are not trash but just not top four quality but they are paid like top four quality, so their wages are a problem for smaller clubs.
Lol even if we had Toby or Varane we'd still get cut up. The issue is we don't press and rely on our compact shape/communication to defend. However, our midfield without Herrera/Fellaini gets cut up too easily. Fred/Pogba are out of position & don't have the focus to do a proper defensive shift. Matic is decent, but can't move so he leaves too many gaps that are easily exploited.
Results > performance. You don't finish with 81 points without the necessary performances. Would be interesting to see a Matic and Pereira double with Sanchez ahead, behind Lukaku and Martial/Rashford and Lingard on the flanks. And yes, I omitted Pogba because he's not functional atm.
