- Aug 25, 2011
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This post is spot on!I have said it before, but I will say it again.
I have for awhile believed that CE's perceived form is often aligned with that of Dele's.
Eriksen has all passes in his locker and a reasonable shot, but I find he looks for the clever pass, for the movement of others to unlock a defence.
When Dele Alli ghosts over the pitch, Eriksen is at his best. I find when Son and Moura play forexample, they are too direct. They are dribblers, want ball into space or to feet early and want to use their speed. That often means we end up far forward, but if Son and Moura run themselves into a blockade and recycle it back to Eriksen, I find he has no one to give the ball too and shifts it left or right looking for an overlap from our WB's, who conversely been off form themselves this season (Trippier especially).
So with Dele being injured and off form and Kane too, I have often thought Eriksen looks off his best. Yes he can score, his FK's are usually ok, and he does have a cunnng shot on him, but he is not being utilised to his max. SO is that the fault of Christian or of our squad/Set-up?
We know CE is not a scruff of the neck midfielder, we know he doesn't tackle, but you put him in a team such as Barcelona for example and I think he would flourish much more than others, because Barcelona play the quick pass and move game that I believe CE does best in.
Do I think we are right to sell CE? No, absolutely not, but if the player wants to go then so be it. I personally would look to either fix or upgrade those players who compliment Eriksen.
- Trippier for example, where are the runs beyond the defender? He hits the breaks and we have this U-shaped ring around an opponents box with no space or movement.
- Lamella, clever, tenacious, quick passing too but alway injured.
- Dele Injured and off form
- Kane injured and off form
Couple that with a makeshift midfield and I think we can all agree that Eriksen's odd season is not so much the player, but the result of all the factors surrounding him.
So If I had the choice and the players wishes were aligned with mine, then CE stays and I fix the rest, but that's not how it works and as a result, I believe CE is very likely to leave and we are likely to change slightly how we play.
The 15/16 & 16/17 are proof of the Alli assertion. We would regularly line up with a front three of Kane, Eriksen & Alli, with Dembele, Dier Wanyama behind them and it would very beneficial for Eriksen.
I'd love to see a player like Lo Celso playing just behind Eriksen, he'd get more creative space and they ma be able to link up perfectly.
Imagine this;
Sissoko Ndombele
Lo Celso
Eriksen Kane Alli
It does seem that we are resigned to losing him though.