Square pegs in round holes

[AfloatinClaret]

...Taylor wasn't deemed good enough to play at left-back for most of last season in a lower league. The fact we're all clamouring for him to start in the top flight just shows how badly we've dropped the ball on that position this summer...

I've been calling for Taylor to start from day one. Taylor was our only left back last season too, but we were so dominant that we could manage without him to instead enhance our attacking capability (Maatsen). While it would be nice to do similar in the EPL that isn't going to be the case in >30% of this season's games, even if we're lucky and based on results so far, I now suspect that is likely to prove the case in over 60% perhaps, even 70% of our games. We need to be able to defend better and looking at our current squad and from what we've seen, that to me suggests Taylor and Roberts playing left and right back is our best option.

[ClaretAL]

I do get square pegs in round holes analogy, and at times we did this last season which resulted in losing usual tempo and cohesion of the team, however, VK has stated numerous times that all the players will move around in to different positions/formations, and this is the part that is going to take time for the new guys to learn additional to knowing where the rest of the payers are going to be without looking. VK obviously has a plan and knows the squad way better than any of us, but I would be interested to see how the below would work. I really do feel we need a leader on the pitch who can make himself heard and advise the the squad as we play, and I don't see anyone in the squad apart from Cork who does that.

...................Muric

Roberts....Dakhil.....Beyer.....Taylor

.......Cullen...............Cork

Koleosho.......Tressor........Zarouri

..................Foster

[123EasyasBFC]

I do get square pegs in round holes analogy, and at times we did this last season which resulted in losing usual tempo and cohesion of the team, however, VK has stated numerous times that all the players will move around in to different positions/formations, and this is the part that is going to take time for the new guys to learn additional to knowing where the rest of the payers are going to be without looking. VK obviously has a plan and knows the squad way better than any of us, but I would be interested to see how the below would work. I really do feel we need a leader on the pitch who can make himself heard and advise the the squad as we play, and I don't see anyone in the squad apart from Cork who does that.

...................Muric

Roberts....Dakhil.....Beyer.....Taylor

.......Cullen...............Cork

Koleosho.......Tressor........Zarouri

..................Foster

I like the look of that team, I would go brownhill over cork though, have dakhil, Beyer and Taylor as a 3 when we have the ball, roberts invented next to Cullen then brownhill tresor koleosho foster and I would go Amdouni instead of zaroury

[LDNBFC87]

Thought this might be a thread on Prince William

Allegedly

[willsclarets]

I may be wrong, but I suspect VK is more likely to try and mould a player who he thinks has the attributes to fit into his system. Rather than use Taylor, who is the only natural left back, but clearly VK thinks he compromises our way of playing the game. It wouldn't suprise me to see Roberts at LB again.

[JohnMcGreal]

I've been calling for Taylor to start from day one. Taylor was our only left back last season too, but we were so dominant that we could manage without him to instead enhance our attacking capability (Maatsen). While it would be nice to do similar in the EPL that isn't going to be the case in >30% of this season's games, even if we're lucky and based on results so far, I now suspect that is likely to prove the case in over 60% perhaps, even 70% of our games. We need to be able to defend better and looking at our current squad and from what we've seen, that to me suggests Taylor and Roberts playing left and right back is our best option.

I don't disagree but Roberts and Taylor were our full backs when we were relegated two years ago.

If the decision has been made to switch from an attacking left back like Maatsen to a more defensively solid left back, I'd have thought we'd have looked to upgrade on Taylor, or if not at least provide some competition for him in that position.

We've done neither, and confusingly, we went back in for Maatsen on the last day and were prepared to spend a lot of money in the process. Which suggests we haven't quite abandoned the idea of an attacking left back.

That left back position seems to be a bit of a mess, to be honest.

[KRBFC]

3 league games in and already 3 completely different defences.
Vs Man City - roberts al-dakhil O’Shea Beyer Vitinho
Vs Villa - roberts al-dakhil O’Shea delcroix
Vs spurs - al-dakhil O’Shea Beyer roberts
You can’t do that at the top level, one thing we had under dyche for years was a very settled back 4 who all knew their jobs

Agree 1000% we need cohesion and a settled side builds this, I don’t think VK knows his best side just yet though so is using the tough games to experiment a little.

I’d like to see

With the ball

Muric
Dara Beyer Taylor
Roberts Cullen
Berge
Amdouni Tresor Zaroury
Foster

Berge between midfield and attack in his natural roaming role with Cullen and Roberts rigid sat in front of the back 3. Feel like we haven’t see much of the inverted fullback yet, so when Berge has roamed we don’t have much cover centrally.

[123EasyasBFC]

Agree 1000% we need cohesion and a settled side builds this, I don’t think VK knows his best side just yet though so is using the tough games to experiment a little.

I’d like to see

With the ball

Muric
Dara Beyer Taylor
Roberts Cullen
Berge
Amdouni Tresor Zaroury
Foster

Berge between midfield and attack in his natural roaming role with Cullen and Roberts rigid sat in front of the back 3. Feel like we haven’t see much of the inverted fullback yet, so when Berge has roamed we don’t have much cover centrally.

Hard to argue with that team, wingers can alternate if need be

[CrosspoolClarets]

The point of the inverted fullback is that they stay in midfield only briefly out of possession, that is fairly well recognised on various coaching blog sites. In possession it allows the wingers to go high and wide while the enhanced midfield makes the short progressive passes, which City like to do and we also like to do.

Yet at 1-0 on Saturday, minutes after we were in the lead for the first time this season, Roberts was 30 yards from their goal, pressing, while they passed it around the back. That caught us out with the long ball over him.

So there is an element in here about the players still learning the triggers, and with experience against these top teams and video analysis they should improve. There is no need to scrap anything fundamental, which VK won’t do, nor should he. Though I do concur with many that Taylor as a left sided FB sometimes playing as LCB could work to stiffen us up, if the inversion comes from Roberts at right back instead (I recalled we changed too last season, partway through).

[dougcollins]

The point of the inverted fullback is that they stay in midfield only briefly out of possession, that is fairly well recognised on various coaching blog sites. In possession it allows the wingers to go high and wide while the enhanced midfield makes the short progressive passes, which City like to do and we also like to do.

Yet at 1-0 on Saturday, minutes after we were in the lead for the first time this season, Roberts was 30 yards from their goal, pressing, while they passed it around the back. That caught us out with the long ball over him.

Where I sit, Roberts is usually just in front of me as we play left to right. He wasn't there at any point on Sunday.

And then he was there for the entire second half - playing LB.

[LeadBelly]

Thought this might be a thread on Prince William

Allegedly

Had to google that. I've never seen that rumour before but then I don't do social media much. I don't believe it and understand why I've not seen it referenced in any MSM.

[Sleeping Cat]

I do get square pegs in round holes analogy, and at times we did this last season which resulted in losing usual tempo and cohesion of the team, however, VK has stated numerous times that all the players will move around in to different positions/formations, and this is the part that is going to take time for the new guys to learn additional to knowing where the rest of the payers are going to be without looking. VK obviously has a plan and knows the squad way better than any of us, but I would be interested to see how the below would work. I really do feel we need a leader on the pitch who can make himself heard and advise the the squad as we play, and I don't see anyone in the squad apart from Cork who does that.

...................Muric

Roberts....Dakhil.....Beyer.....Taylor

.......Cullen...............Cork

Koleosho.......Tressor........Zarouri

..................Foster

I like the look of that team, but I wonder if it is still a bit naïve to have Koleosho, Tressor & Zaroury on the pitch all at the same time and not expect us to be overrun when out of possession, particularly losing possession high up the pitch. I would go with only 2 of them and play Brownhill or Berge in the Tressor role, to provide more solidity in the middle, someone who can drop back and provide more defensive assistance.

[jojomk1]

....................Muric
...Roberts....Dakhil....Beyer....Taylor
.......Brownhill..Cullen..Berge
...Tressor.......................Koleosho/Zaroury
....................Foster

Experience between the posts
A back four playing in their natural positions
Strengthened midfield
Pace out wide to support Foster plus either Brownhill or Berge supporting through middle

But it won't happen

[eastcoastclaret]

....................Muric
...Roberts....Dakhil....Beyer....Taylor
.......Brownhill..Cullen..Berge
...Tressor.......................Koleosho/Zaroury
....................Foster

Experience between the posts
A back four playing in their natural positions
Strengthened midfield
Pace out wide to support Foster plus either Brownhill or Berge supporting through middle

But it won't happen

I'd go with that team also and build from there. As you say, won't happen though

[ClaretPete001]

....................Muric
...Roberts....Dakhil....Beyer....Taylor
.......Brownhill..Cullen..Berge
...Tressor.......................Koleosho/Zaroury
....................Foster

Experience between the posts
A back four playing in their natural positions
Strengthened midfield
Pace out wide to support Foster plus either Brownhill or Berge supporting through middle

But it won't happen

The two wide men are interchangeable bu also agree I’d go with something similar. Regardless of what VK says these players are not good enough to play interchangeable roles in the PL.

A 4-5-1 with 2 pacy wingers, a competitive midfield and a decent striker will be good enough to stay in this league.

Playing a CB at RB and a journeyman RB at LB against international class players smacks of self indulgence.

[bfcjg]

I think this thread summed up our early season concerns that the greatest manager Germany will ever witness didn't address.
He was so lucky the season before got him so much credit in the bank.

[longsidetrumpet]

Our very own tinker man. Fooled everyone it seems

[Claretitus]

Our very own tinker man. Fooled everyone it seems

Including himself at times.