Seems Bielsa has been testing his famous formation.Richard wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 9:12 pm For me we need a new striker and a defender, if Bielsa goes with his 3 at the back Ayling and Pontus but we need someone else, we can’t rely on Cooper.
The three in front of the back three, Forshaw is nailed on, we then have whoever Bielsa sees as best suiting the role, two wing backs or wide midfield players? Berardi, Dallas, Pearce have all covered a similar position but are the three good enough? Will we see Klich, Phillips, Vieira or Ideguchi featuring?
Attacking well it’s Saiz or Hernandez at number 10 with Alioski and Roofe each side, Roberts the striker, we all know a new striker is top of the shopping list so it depends if Bielsa sees Hernandez and Saiz capable of playing in the same team to his system, I don’t think he will.
Phil Hay i think or at least someone who reports on us has said somewhere Bielsa has been using 3 at the back.
Wing backs are Luke Ayling right side and Gianni Alioski left side. Not a bad shout really, Alioski plays there for his country, by all accounts he does a good job from reading reports during the Qualifiers. And Ayling has always been a bit suspect defensively but has certainly got the engine to go up and down the pitch.
Certainly though we need 3 quality cbs to protect us should those two get caught out, which they will eventually, nature of the formation, happens to the best teams.
Worryingly Bielsa has had to play Berardi and Liam Cooper as 2 of the 3 cbs. Neither of whom have the technical skill or pace or height in Berardi's case to play cb in this style imo.
The holding midfielder is Vieira for me (im maybe biased) but i think there is a player there potentially far above any of the others, Forshaw included.
We need 2 wide players and a striker imo, Hernandez is perfect for an Enganche.
I dont see where Roofe and Saiz fit, rotation with Pablo perhaps.