I feel it's the latter.As I said, it may just be that Dembele and Wanyama are unavailable, but we've had a cm3 (or 1+2) with the likes of Eriksen and Sissoko in it. I'd like to think it's Poch trying to be more progressive from midfield, but until Wanyama and Dembele are available we won't know if it's that, partially that or just he's playing the only options he thinks he has left.
English teams looking strong in the CL this season. On balance, probably good for Spurs. Keeps our league rivals busy, helps coefficient.
Dier, Dembele and Sissoko are not exactly liquid football are they..
I feel it's the latter.
What triumvirate of predominantly defensive players are?
Sissoko's not a defensive footballer, just not a very good one. Dembele shouldn't be predominantly defensive, he started life as a forward, he's just not very good at moving the ball quickly.
There are plenty of players who are defensively capable but offensively proficient too.
Not every player has to be making no-look passes, flicks etc. Kante doesn't do that for Chelsea but has a place in their team. Similarly Fernandinho, Matic etc. Dembele may have started his career as a forward but that's not his role now, like many players who shift positions as their careers go on. I know you'd sooner chew your own feet off than praise Dier but he is actually a very fine passer over a wide range of distance. Probably why Mourinho wanted to pay £40m+ for him.
I agree with your assessment of Dier in midfield; couldn't agree more with everything you have to say about Sissoko; and don't agree with your views on Dembele in midfield, but out of that mixed bunch of Agrees and Disagrees I've ended up going with Funny because that was a genuinely chucklesome bit of prose. Well played.Dembele has technique in abundance, but will not release the ball until he's turned two 360's, carried out due diligence to check the authenticity of the recipient, and the double checked again.
Mourinho won EL last year and their squad has just gotten better since, Unfortunately I think they will get quite far.
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I'm hoping that Bayern don't get past the group stage, gets into the EL, gets drawn against le Arse, wins 10-2. That would be glorious.
They didn't really beat anyone noteworthy to win the Europa league. I would say their position in the league last season is a more accurate assessment of the quality of their squad. They've definitely improved over last season but not enough to make up the gap to Chelsea or City, who are still a level or two above. City bring players off the bench who would easily walk into the United 11 (Bernardo Silva, Sane, Gundogan) and their starting players are on an even higher level. I think United's team on paper is comparable with our's, but not on paper we have a more coherent playing style and work better as a team.
Ah so that's his secret.What I mean is that Mourinho knows hos to win cups.
I agree with your assessment of Dier in midfield; couldn't agree more with everything you have to say about Sissoko; and don't agree with your views on Dembele in midfield, but out of that mixed bunch of Agrees and Disagrees I've ended up going with Funny because that was a genuinely chucklesome bit of prose. Well played.
I was going to start naming the various players, some you have named already. They idon'thave to be Xhavi Alonso to be robust competent defensively and proficient offensively and players like Kante, Matic, Fernandinho, Bakayoko etc are all better at transitioning, moving the ball with a bit of alacrity, under pressure - and that's what is essential in midfield - than Dier.
I do not think Dier is a fine passer at all. If he has lots of time and space he can hit a nice mid/long range pass. That is not the essential requirement, IMO, for a good cm, what is more important is to be able to think and play quickly and efficiently, quick tempo football, which Dier struggles with, which is one of the reasons we are so ponderous.
Dier does not want to receive the ball under pressure, and under pressure his passing becomes hot potato hurried, erratic and it's just hit the nearest white shirt. Sissoko is the same in midfield areas. No technique.
Dembele has technique in abundance, but will not release the ball until he's turned two 360's, carried out due diligence to check the authenticity of the recipient, and then double checked again.
It's the ability to play out from pressure that breaks lines and opens up the game, gets forwards in possession in better circumstances than with a double block set in front of them because we've taken so long to transition 20 yards.
I'm not saying it's an easy thing to coach and achieve tactically, but we sure as shit need to try.
Edit
And for the record, though I am vehemently opposed to Dier in a CM2 of any hue, I have stated that as the central insurance in a CM3, I have a bit less issue, but that's as long as we get the right pair either side to mitigate his deficiencies.
Matic is a carthorse when it comes to zipping the ball about. Why do you think he was Utd's second choice after Dier?
Reading this post it's clear what I said before - your opinions are clouded by your bias. Having been schooled in Portugal his technique is actually way better than most English players and 'hurried, erratic, hit the nearest white shirt' sounds like how Wanyama often is under pressure.