To play a conservative role doesn't mean to play conservatively as a team. This was a very offensive set up, but essentially playing a double pivot allows for more players to go forward. The balance is the key thing here. The set up today was the most offensive set up I've ever seen Jose do. If you looked just how high up a large number of players were it's something I havent seen Jose do, So instead of having, say Gedson, worry about tracking back, you give that responsibility to the midfield, allowing Sess and Gedson to play basically on the touchline. They dont play there by the way, because it's good for them on the ball, it's really not it, it actually makes them more irrelevant if anything, you play them there because it stretches the play and opens up space in the middle, where our three most effective players were. By giving them more space to be offensively effective.That is the whole point. Playing conservative against a League One side.
But sure he's the eNgLiSh XaVi.
Harvey White, local lad, go on fella!
Yep. Good showing today. Keeps that up in pre season, he could have a chance to play a role in the fixture mess we have to start of the season.Also, Alfie Devine looks a much bigger prospect than I initially thought. Thought he was just an opportunistic buy to supplement the academy. Was very impressive when he got on. Didn’t look out of place one bit.
He's from Maidstone way isn't he?
To play a conservative role doesn't mean to play conservatively as a team. This was a very offensive set up, but essentially playing a double pivot allows for more players to go forward. The balance is the key thing here. The set up today was the most offensive set up I've ever seen Jose do. If you looked just how high up a large number of players were it's something I havent seen Jose do, So instead of having, say Gedson, worry about tracking back, you give that responsibility to the midfield, allowing Sess and Gedson to play basically on the touchline. They dont play there by the way, because it's good for them on the ball, it's really not it, it actually makes them more irrelevant if anything, you play them there because it stretches the play and opens up space in the middle, where our three most effective players were. By giving them more space to be offensively effective.
This speculative, but I assume that we set up in a way to explore how to solve our difficulties in our attacking play, and as possible option into how to attack weaker teams, and there were positives. However, by stretching the field so much, you create an added risk defensively, a wide pitch means you have to cover a lot more space defensively, one of the reasons for the double pivot. Similarly Davies and Foyth were given option to take the space and move forward too, the double pivot allows them to do that, and reduces the fear of being done on the counter.
Even so, your criticism seems aimed at Jose, not Winks, who today wasn't given a role in any shape or form resembling that of Xavi. While he started as a number 8 he has played deeper now for almost two seasons and is not an offensive player. Now rumours are that Winks future will be as a number 8, but that is not the role he was given today. Will he start in that position? It's hard because it is arguebly Lo Celso and N'dombele's best position.
For what it's worth, we have so many games that Winks is very likely to play as a holding midfielder for a awful lot of games early in the season, because of the crazy fixture list. Regardless of where his future lies. There is valid criticism of winks, and he wasn't anything special today, but nor did he need to be, but him not playing offensively when not being made to be offensive is not one of them. It's just deeply unfair and flawed criticism. It's like complaining that the electrician didn't sort out the boiler.
From the little there is in the highlights just put up on YT, it seems Gedson was okay (I like Sonny having his arm around him as they came out for the first half, as though he’d been giving him a bit of a pep talk). Bowden looks comfortable along side first team players (maybe see him get some time in the early stages of the league cup?).
Was very impressive. Looked like exactly what we’ve been missing for the last 2 years or so.Missed the first 20 mins of the game but PEH looks like he has already been playing for us for about 5 years.
In between Medway and Maidstone.