So, we have no idea which manager will be coming in, or which DoF, and definitely don't know who will be making decisions about signing players etc.
This got me thinking. The last thing we need is another complete revolution, with a fire sale to get rid of players the new team don't want, and the inevitable long drawn out buying sagas.
The vast majority of our sqaud are either confirmed CL quality players, or have proven themselves as top 6 /potential CL quality at other clubs previously. For example, although they might not have shown it here yet, most everyone would agree that Bissouma & PEH showed enough before they came here to be clear top 6/CL quality.
Our strengths are clearly
5+ out and out attacking wingbacks
5+ All-action CMs.
A top class front 3 (if we keep Kane)
Our weakness is primarily central defence, though we have in Romero, a top class CB as good as any, and the other CB are no worse than most other PL teams who did manage to keep goals out.
The reason we mostly shipped goals this season was primarily the system. 3-4-3, especially when it's end up being a 5-2-3 defensively, simply doesn't work. We've been overrun in the middle of the park, and invited far too much pressure on the CBs. Any defence will crack &/or produce stupid individual errors when it's constantly under pressure.
The other weakness is clearly Lloris, who is in my opinion a liability as he doesn't control his box and doesn't give his teenagers any confidence.
So, my solution is as follows. We go down a Hoddle inspired sweeper system - ie with a sweeper in front of the defence - the role Ledley did amazingly well at. This sweeper can either be a ball playing CB, for when we feel we need more defensive nous, or a DM/CM for when we want to be more attacking.
So
------------New Keeper-------------
-------Romero----- --Davies---------
Porro---------Skipp/PEH---------Udogie
------Bentancur-----Bissouma/Sarr----
Richarlison------Kane----------Son.
Second team.
-------------Forster----------------
------Dier-----------Sanchez-------
Royal--------Skipp/PEH------Sessegnon
-------Bissouma/Sarr-----Winks-------
Gil---------Parrott/Scarlett-------Perisic
Ok, so the defence and front line in the second team might need work, but these teams have also left out
Kulusevski (loan)
Lenglet (loan)
Reguilon
Ndombele
Rodon
Spence
Lo Celso
Signed no one, and apart from one striker, taken no one from the academy, and yet seems on paper a very strong team, playing to our strengths, and flexible enough to cope with pressure, or to attack.
What do you think?
This got me thinking. The last thing we need is another complete revolution, with a fire sale to get rid of players the new team don't want, and the inevitable long drawn out buying sagas.
The vast majority of our sqaud are either confirmed CL quality players, or have proven themselves as top 6 /potential CL quality at other clubs previously. For example, although they might not have shown it here yet, most everyone would agree that Bissouma & PEH showed enough before they came here to be clear top 6/CL quality.
Our strengths are clearly
5+ out and out attacking wingbacks
5+ All-action CMs.
A top class front 3 (if we keep Kane)
Our weakness is primarily central defence, though we have in Romero, a top class CB as good as any, and the other CB are no worse than most other PL teams who did manage to keep goals out.
The reason we mostly shipped goals this season was primarily the system. 3-4-3, especially when it's end up being a 5-2-3 defensively, simply doesn't work. We've been overrun in the middle of the park, and invited far too much pressure on the CBs. Any defence will crack &/or produce stupid individual errors when it's constantly under pressure.
The other weakness is clearly Lloris, who is in my opinion a liability as he doesn't control his box and doesn't give his teenagers any confidence.
So, my solution is as follows. We go down a Hoddle inspired sweeper system - ie with a sweeper in front of the defence - the role Ledley did amazingly well at. This sweeper can either be a ball playing CB, for when we feel we need more defensive nous, or a DM/CM for when we want to be more attacking.
So
------------New Keeper-------------
-------Romero----- --Davies---------
Porro---------Skipp/PEH---------Udogie
------Bentancur-----Bissouma/Sarr----
Richarlison------Kane----------Son.
Second team.
-------------Forster----------------
------Dier-----------Sanchez-------
Royal--------Skipp/PEH------Sessegnon
-------Bissouma/Sarr-----Winks-------
Gil---------Parrott/Scarlett-------Perisic
Ok, so the defence and front line in the second team might need work, but these teams have also left out
Kulusevski (loan)
Lenglet (loan)
Reguilon
Ndombele
Rodon
Spence
Lo Celso
Signed no one, and apart from one striker, taken no one from the academy, and yet seems on paper a very strong team, playing to our strengths, and flexible enough to cope with pressure, or to attack.
What do you think?