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Gedson Fernandes

kmk

Well-Known Member
Oct 5, 2014
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Some select quotes from Benfica forums (poorly translated) for some Portugese perspective...


There you have it... they don't seem to resent him and largely seem to think he'll return...

Some of the comments are similar to what was said about Marcus Edwards on this forum.
 

geordiespur

Well-Known Member
Aug 23, 2010
318
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If I needed to announce a young exciting new player, I’d wait for tomorrow. If we lose tonight, then it can change the story and if we win, it’s win win
 

bombarda

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Aug 2, 2019
337
1,771
To try and offset my Sporting focused bias, I asked my Benfica supporting friend for her input. She's a season ticket holder, and also goes to most away games. Plus, she plays for their water polo team, so knows the club very well.

[13:34, 14/01/2020] Catarina: ?
[13:34, 14/01/2020] Catarina: He’s fine
[13:35, 14/01/2020] Catarina: Not amazing, but he’s still a kid
[13:35, 14/01/2020] Catarina: There’s potential


She also said that she hasn't heard about any future fee, but that doesn't mean that there isn't one.
 

Japhet

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Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,391
My gut, having obviously watched every clip available of this guy in the past three days, is that Mourinho has identified that there’s no point joining the club and playing three men in midfield as you don’t rise above the current status quo by imitation, you do so by catching it out. I’m saying this with in mind that Mourinho was the first manager to really succeed in the uk away from 442, with a three man midfield.

This I believe ties in both with why we aren’t targeting the pure DM, which we all here seem to want (myself included) but instead a box to box player like this guy, strong in the tackle, athletid but with good technique and attacking instincts. It seems that Mourinho’s wants two athletes who are also comfortable on the ball, who have the physical attribute to play dynamic, up and down football. This would also link to JJ’s tweet about how Ndombele is seen, why Sissoko ended up playing in the middle despite Mourinho’s initial comment about him and why Winks/ Dier/ Lo Celso are being reluctantly used seemingly. Two are short/ comparatively weak, one is immobile.

Then I look at the top DMs in the league... Kante... best at the base of a 3, same as Fernandinho, same as Fabinho, same as Ndidi.

Now, we can question why Mourinho seems to want a central 2 (maybe accommodating Dele too much?) rather than 3 when the current top 4 all utilise it with excellent DMs, but I understand the thinking. Two players who cover that ground, can beat the press, can receive the ball from defence, can tackle and who can both carry/ pass the ball well while still leaving four attackers in front (including a ten to occupy the opposition DM) could in theory be the answer. It differs from Pochettino’s system in that Pochettino had two fullbacks bomb on and the ‘defensive’ part of the pivot would drop to make a three man defence. No dropping back when we attack here, only one fullback bombs and the other tucks in to make a three man defence. This is why I believe we’re targeting this kid to play with Ndombele rather than a more defensive player, and why we’ve also seen links to Soumare.

I could be talking pure shit here, but that’s how I reconcile the teams we’ve been picking, the player we’re about to sign and the itk we’ve received. 2+2+2=222 perhaps...

This highlights one of the things I find most bizarre about Mourinho. He's renowned for being a reactive coach who can make tactical changes during a game. He's also known for having sound knowledge of his own players and the opposition. So, I find it strange that he constantly sets up with a CM2 using players that are very poorly suited to that formation. He then proceeds to tweak things around during matches to try to compensate for the inability to get any kind of control. We're rich in players who would be fine in a 3 man midfield - hell, even Dier's lack of mobility would be mitigated, but it seems that getting Dele on the pitch is of paramount importance, even if it means we can't get hold of the ball.
 

Stoof

THERE IS A PIGEON IN MY BANK ACCOUNT
Staff
Jun 5, 2004
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To try and offset my Sporting focused bias, I asked my Benfica supporting friend for her input. She's a season ticket holder, and also goes to most away games. Plus, she plays for their water polo team, so knows the club very well.

[13:34, 14/01/2020] Catarina: ?
[13:34, 14/01/2020] Catarina: He’s fine
[13:35, 14/01/2020] Catarina: Not amazing, but he’s still a kid
[13:35, 14/01/2020] Catarina: There’s potential


She also said that she hasn't heard about any future fee, but that doesn't mean that there isn't one.

[13:36, 14/01/2020] bombarda: Thanks so much!
[13:36, 14/01/2020] bombarda: Send nudes plz.


Water polo eh? Not sure why you cut off the next couple of lines, but anyway ...
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
This highlights one of the things I find most bizarre about Mourinho. He's renowned for being a reactive coach who can make tactical changes during a game. He's also known for having sound knowledge of his own players and the opposition. So, I find it strange that he constantly sets up with a CM2 using players that are very poorly suited to that formation. He then proceeds to tweak things around during matches to try to compensate for the inability to get any kind of control. We're rich in players who would be fine in a 3 man midfield - hell, even Dier's lack of mobility would be mitigated, but it seems that getting Dele on the pitch is of paramount importance, even if it means we can't get hold of the ball.
Agreed, but to me this suggests that he’s identified Dele, Son, Kane as the players he needs to get the most out of, so he uses those players in their best positions (AM LW CF) and that means no CM3, and because he only has one midfielder in Ndombele that (going off ITK) seems to be part of his wider thinking, it makes sense to him to accentuate our strengths and do as best as possible elsewhere rather than blunt our strengths to mitigate weaknesses elsewhere.

Im not saying I agree, merely that this seems to be the approach.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,391
Agreed, but to me this suggests that he’s identified Dele, Son, Kane as the players he needs to get the most out of, so he uses those players in their best positions (AM LW CF) and that means no CM3, and because he only has one midfielder in Ndombele that (going off ITK) seems to be part of his wider thinking, it makes sense to him to accentuate our strengths and do as best as possible elsewhere rather than blunt our strengths to mitigate weaknesses elsewhere.

Im not saying I agree, merely that this seems to be the approach.


Agreed, but I'd have thought it would be possible to have a kind of 4 3 1 2 formation with Dele given a bit of a roaming role in the 10 position. It also seems to me that when we have 4 attackers on the pitch they often seem to get in each other's way and there's also very few spaces for them to find because everything gets clogged up. Just the way I see it.
 

pelayo59

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2019
1,035
4,588
Saw today 2 Spurs tweets quickly deleted becuase they didn't have any image etc attached(they should), I think that's why we still don't announce him
 

JUSTINSIGNAL

Well-Known Member
Jul 10, 2008
15,980
48,499
Agreed, but I'd have thought it would be possible to have a kind of 4 3 1 2 formation with Dele given a bit of a roaming role in the 10 position. It also seems to me that when we have 4 attackers on the pitch they often seem to get in each other's way and there's also very few spaces for them to find because everything gets clogged up. Just the way I see it.

So basically the diamond(4-3-1-2) every was mad at Poch for? ?
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,391
So basically the diamond(4-3-1-2) every was mad at Poch for? ?


That's the one :). As a point of interest, I thought we were worst under Poch with Mason and Bentaleb in the CM2and were getting similarly ripped to bits as we are now.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
Agreed, but I'd have thought it would be possible to have a kind of 4 3 1 2 formation with Dele given a bit of a roaming role in the 10 position. It also seems to me that when we have 4 attackers on the pitch they often seem to get in each other's way and there's also very few spaces for them to find because everything gets clogged up. Just the way I see it.

Looks like a diamond :cautious:

When it’s not working, or the balance isn’t right, 4 attackers can be clunky, but when we get it right (basically, 15-18) it overwhelmed the opposition. First was the Eriksen-Dele-Lamela of Kane dynamic, then improved with Lamela out for Son. I think that’s why we need to get Lo Celso ahead of Lucas ultimately, as without Eriksen’s brain it’s gone wrong.

god i miss Dembele ☹️
 
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