12 Feb 2021 19:20:43
We are nearing the last third of the season and we haven't really found our best XI regardless of who is the manager and what is the philosophy or style of play.
Lots of things have played a part and it hasn't been the easiest or the most normal season for sure but it's been really a weak point for us this season.
So if you were going to choose an XI based on what you think is our best formation what would be your choice?
Mine would be this and it is solely based on form:
4231
Mendy
James Zouma Silva Chilly
BG Kante
CHO Mount?
Tammy
I haven't picked a player for the LM position (or RM based on where CHO plays) because none of our current players deserve to start based on their form, but it will probably be Werner as he has been able to produce a few assists.
Curious to know what you think.
12 Feb 2021 19:36:57
Good question Ashk.
I’m all over the place on the answer.
I’m not convinced about Mendy but I couldn’t pick Kepa
I think Zouma has been ok but if your going to have someone play out of defence I would pick Christensen to play alongside Silva.
I agree with James and Chilwell.
I’m not sure Jorginho can play in front of a four so I end up with Kante and Kovacic.
I would like to see Mount and Havertz play in the same team but that might be a bit to gung-ho.
I’m desperate for Werner to be a success but I think he needs to play with a player that is mobile and will pull players away to make spaces for him to move into.
We then up with CHO, Pusilic or Ziyech. At the moment that can only mean one choice.
12 Feb 2021 19:37:48
I am curious you haven't noticed Lampard is no longer the manager.
When did we last play 4231?
12 Feb 2021 19:40:23
Not sure what form BG has had hardly had any minutes in Premier League and as for Tammy he has scored a few tap -ins otherwise he had been poor. CHO has played well since TT arrived but he his final ball has been disappointing. Silva and Mount are the only stand out players and possibly Kanye.
12 Feb 2021 19:50:55
I know a lot won’t agree but I’d like to see Christensen in midfield. He’s not a hard nut but he will be good in midfield to win headers and he’s also very good on the ball and with him there I’d play Mount deeper and I think we’re made for a 4-4-2.
Mendy
James Zouma Silva Chilwell
Pulisic Mount Christensen Hudson-also
Havertz Werner
Not bothered who starts out of Ziyech and Werner as none fill me with confidence right now.
12 Feb 2021 20:20:52
Ziyech and Pulisic sorry *.
12 Feb 2021 21:01:15
I clearly said that this is MY choice and MY preferred line up.
Zouma has been good overall, although he has had a few mistakes here and there but I think his aerial ability helps a lot in defence and in offence. But he surely needs someone like Silva beside him.
BG has played very well whenever he played and I think he can form a good pivot with Kanté even though they are not physical enough but that's just our problem at the moment.
Kova is too inconsistent for me and he won't make a very good duo with Kante. I don't rate Jorginho very much so that's why I haven't chose him.
Further up the pitch, I think TA is our best striker at the moment. Werner can't get goals and Giroud is not doing good job as well, I find him at his best when comes in as a sub. TA has 31 goals in 49 PL games for us and yes he is not the perfect striker but he is certainly doing a good job and is delivering whenever we have used him.
I liked the 442 line up, but Havertz is not ready for a starting position in my opinion. AC in the middle is a big question mark that won't happen I guess.
12 Feb 2021 21:11:13
Mendy
James Silva Rudiger
CHO Jorginho Kante Chilwell
Havertz Mount
Werner
I'm not convinced by Mendy, I'm not convinced by him to the point that I actually think about Kepa over him. But then I remember Kepa is one of the worst pro GK's i've ever seen.
I know James hasn't played on the right of the three, but I think he'd be excellent there and I'd love to see it tried. Rudiger (other than the beautiful oggie) and Silva have both been good in the three.
Hudson-Odoi has been our best wide player recently, and it's not even close. Chilwell needs to get used to the LWB or LM role, depending on how you see it, but I still think he's better than Alonso or Emerson.
I think Kante and Jorginho are our best players for the deep midfield.
Mount is my POTY, and that's not even close for me, Havertz obviously hasn't been great, but he's arguably been better then Ziyech or Pulisic. I think Havertz could be at his best in this system as one of the tens, who move into a false nine position from time to time.
Werner has simply offered more in his all round performance than the other strikers, and I'm sure the goals will come.
12 Feb 2021 21:26:49
I love the debate lads lots of ideas and suggestions.
No one slagging off any fans thoughts or observations. Most enjoyable.
Being a manager that has to find solutions to the questions is not easy but we are getting results and I suppose that’s the most important thing .
12 Feb 2021 23:33:15
The issue for TT is to find a starting formation and a philosophy of how to play and to pick the players best suited for it. Obviously TT has inherited this squad and he will have to work out how to use them, just like Conte did. We have brought in players who have found it hard to adapt to the EPL. That said, I believe Werner and Harvertz will come good. It is good that academy players are getting a chance but we should not over-hype them. Mount has done very well so far but is he better than Foden and is James better than Godfrey? . They have time to develop but there is no guarantee that all of our young players will become top class.
12 Feb 2021 23:35:12
Heyjude I like yours, especially the 4-4-2. Shift in Kante and push Mount up the pitch for either Havertz or Werner (dont care who as bone are in form atm and I can't see which would form the best attack with Mount and the others coming from deep) for a high octaine blietzkrieg attack.
12 Feb 2021 23:44:27
Ashk I agree with with a lot of your observations about players but apropos Zouma we can’t afford to have a CB who needs babysitting . We may have some potentially good CBs on loan but I doubt that they will be ready for next season. This is a area we need to address in the summer even if Silva stays for one more season.
12 Feb 2021 23:31:03
Ash you say based solely on form and leaves out Kovacic, Alonso and Jorginho. I am doubtful about them in the longer term but current they are more in-form than most of our squad. Sorry mate but you are too biased towards academy players and your Lampard-positive narrative.
13 Feb 2021 06:10:44
Yeah that's a concern about Zouma, and I probably wouldn't have picked him if we were to play with 3 at the back, but I think his partnership with Silva was good in the majority of the games they played.
It has nothing to do with Lampard Herman. Kova is way too inconsistent as I'm sure you have observed this season and the seasons before that and I think a Kovacic/ Kanté pivot is not a good idea.
Alonso is just woeful, he just is, especially as a LB.
Jorgi been playing well for the past few games, but as I said, I don't rate him a lot and find BG a lot better.
13 Feb 2021 09:46:42
AshK121, I am very surprised about that Tammy Abraham statistic - 31 goals in 49 games in the Prem is exceptional in any circumstances but even more so for a young player - any scoring rate of more than 1 in 2 in the PL throughout a career is very good.
I have been critical of TA because of his lack of hold-up ability - maybe we should reconsider any assessment based on a different sort of analysis.
I do think Tammy can be a success but maybe he would be better as a part of a twin striker set-up.
13 Feb 2021 10:42:08
Yes MDW I have been surprised too but I can understand why people criticized him as well because he can do very much better in front of goal and with his heading ability.
He can be a very good prem striker and I agree that he plays better in a twin striker setup.
13 Feb 2021 12:07:38
I’m not a fan of Giroud so I would always prefer Tammy.
Any goals to shots/ chances ratio stats would be interesting.