This may surprise people, but I genuinely think our downfall, EVEN against City was one DM too many. I think we would have been better playing Summerville, dropping Rodriguez, playing Paqueta as the 8 and Kudus as the 10. I don't think we would have suffered any more, defensively and gained an additional outlet by doing so. I honestly see Rodriguez as back up to Alvarez, noting more, nothing less.
I get the argument of Antonio not starting against Fulham, as he did lead the line for Jamaica twice in 5 days prior, but in normal circumstances, he still starts for me. And that is with or without Fulk available.
Thanks Jay. I feel that it’s a mixed bag start to the season too. We need to be patient yet we can see some of the same old problems. I can see some positive changes too but I’m not happy enough yet. If Lopetegui is to show his experience he’ll need to learn about the team and the squad quickly. We don’t have many games this season. Lopetegui has a two year stint to get us back into Europe, let’s work hard on the training ground and see who are our first eleven then start them every week.
Well put Joan. I'm over the initially huge disappointment of seeing Mikey and Tommo in their starting positions. Every hammer I know was really excited to see who he'd pick.He's had a little while with them now and claims to have watched us last term(seemingly through the wrong end of binoculars), so how can he keep blundering ssoo catastrophically? Against Fulham, it cost us a win, in my opinion. That first 45 was lost by his choices, and he should've manned-up and swapped on 15, not 45.
Jay, this "new WHU" as u said, imo, was invited mainly by the fan's desperate desire from us to move away from the David Moyes era. I don't remember Lopetegui saying it during his introductory interview. He basically told me, his style is based on who we play. As DM was, he is dictated by fear, anxiety and lack of faith in our creative players.
Firstly, I love Souceck and appreciate everything he has done for us, but it was clear as day to me in the preseason game against Celta Vigo that he is slowing us down. Souceck (for the first season ever) is not part of my strongest 11. I think with the addition of Kilman, the addition of AWB and the eventual/potential addition of Todibo, you do not need to continually rely on two 6'2 + bodies in front of the back 4. I'm still an advocate for a midfield of Alvarez, Paqueta and Kudus, with inverted wingers and an out and out CF leading the line. I have had a preferred 11 since the window closed and until I see it, I'm not being convinced otherwise (will post in the reply) With our midfield, I think Paqueta has more than enough about him physically and defensively to play as an 8. All his best games this season have come when he has been playing deeper, last season in the first 5 games he had the best tackling stats in the entire league and his left foot will mean he is facing play with his strong foot off the ball and playing towards a lot of the pitch and have a lot of outlets when in possession, if playing just left of Alvarez as an 8. Have Alvarez as the anchor and Kudus playing between the CF and midfield. In reference to my preferred midfield, for those who think it's not defensive enough, a reminder that Man City's midfield against us was Kovacic, B.Silva and De Brunye (no identifiable DM). Man United's midfield on the weekend was Mainoo, Eriksen and Fernandes (No identifiable DM as I see Mainoo as an 8); Liverpool often play without an identifiable DM as well. I think alot of us (I was guilty of this previously) have been convinced during the Moyes Era that we must play 2 big men in front of the back 4 and in my opinion, it isn't the case. To answer original question, I have not been happy with Lopetegui. I have a list of red flags since pre season and I've got to the point I'm starting to lose count. I feel an intervention is needed if he gets it wrong against Chelsea, and if he still seems clueless after that, get rid in the summer. I genuinely think Moyes is a better coach than him at this stage. I'm still not convinced he knows his strongest 11, where as a fan, I would go to war for my strongest 11 the second the window closed. I feel like he should know that by now if he watched us months prior, like he claimed.
Areola (GK) AWB (RB) Mavropanos/Todibo (RCB) Kilman (LCB) Emerson (LB) Alvarez (RCDM) Paqueta (LCM) Kudus (CAM) Summerville (LW) Bowen (RW) Antonio (CF) With the initial press, while the other team are in possession at the back or have a goal kick, invite play to the right by Antonio being more prone to pressing their left hand side. Demand (literally, demand) Paqueta to play behind the ball. In his our own third (or close to), encourage him to be more conservative (almost take a leaf out of JWP's book) and just keep play ticking over in that part of the pitch and save the match winning play and passes for past the half way line. Tell Kudus to support in the middle with passive press, cutting out passing lanes (especially down the left hand side) again, encouraging opposition play down the right. In play, patient possession based build up from the back, look to get the likes of Paqueta or Kudus on the ball in central areas), or go wide via the full backs to create overlaps or set up situations in which our inverted wingers are baring down on goal, or look for diags to the wingers from the CBs. Dominate the ball, get the ball out wide, create lots of one on ones for your wingers, or 2 vs 2 with your wingers, 10 and CF.
There is no way jlo will play alverez kudus and paqueta unless we are loosing a game so I think you may be waiting a long time for that combination..jlo is not the sort of manager to try to entertain...he's a keep it tight keep possession type of manager and nick it 1 nil coach
Hi Jay... I enjoy your analysis and "insight"! Basically, I believe Lopetegui is NOT the guy, we mostly imagined he'd be. Imo, he is defensive manager, keeping ball at the back. Strangely enough, he appears not to trust the ball transition or ball retention through our more creative central part of our midfield. Hence playing it long to Soucek and Antonio, who can be awkward ball recking, smash and grab type 9 and 10.
Jay, the main beef I have at this genesis period of Lopetegui's reign, is the fact that so many channels can see that Lopetegui's (apparent) choice of starting 11, makes us a more weaker team during transition of ball from back to front because 9 & 10, can not hold onto the ball or create positive possibilities. We have become a Counterpunch team by use of long ball. For some reason, Lopetegui does NOT see it that way. WHY😢😢😢😢
Our problems are a lot more basic than just Soucek, but the lineup Lopetegui put out there only exacerbated the problems. As a possession based team employing a high press, you can't have midfielders that fail in either pressing up the pitch or making progressive passes. In that same vein, when we do fail in the front half on attack, we can't delay in transistional defending. That scored goal by Fulham wasn't just a mistake by Mavropanos deep (who probably thought he was still playing in Moyes low block mode)... it was a chain of mistakes started by a bad pass from Soucek up front and other defenders standing around and not battling to re-win possession. That all said, our progressive passing and chances created weren't all that great in the 2nd half, either... and you can't put that blame on Soucek.
Great review Jay - Soucek and Antonio are impact subs at best and what we the fans expect not as starters- there lies the problem as JLo so far thinks the opposite
@@damiandamico4715 Damian if Antonio can find his form from last year then he would start for me too - but this season he seems below par, either due to lack of form, his head space (he has mentioned he is going through a rough patch of late) or these internationals which don’t help
@@waseembutt8614 I have to say, the internationals dont help. I want to see us play an expansive game, with him leading the line and judge then. Ive stated my strongest 11 elsewhere in the comments. I dont want to move Bowen from the RW. If we had 2 Bowens, id play one up top and one RW at this stage but that isnt the case. As far as I see it, you are either playing Bowen up top, then having to play Rodriguez or Souceck next to Alvarez or you pt for an out and out CF and keep Bowen RW. I dont think you lose anything defensiveley by playing Paqueta instead of Rodrigues infront of the back four and you gain a focal point with a genuine CF. Wveryone else is bascally playing where they do for their country. If we had signed Duran, I wouldnt be starting Antonio, but I dont feel like Fulk even when back is going to have the pace or physicality to impact a PL game unless we are totally dominating. This is the first summer I really wanted us to get a CF and have Antonio as an option off the bench or cover, but I dont think we did a good enough job of it, recruiting a 31 year old Fulk. He managed 14 touches in his last start against Bournemouth's B-Team. That is nothing short of anonymous. I know Antonio is past his best, but he still starts for me.
This may surprise people, but I genuinely think our downfall, EVEN against City was one DM too many. I think we would have been better playing Summerville, dropping Rodriguez, playing Paqueta as the 8 and Kudus as the 10. I don't think we would have suffered any more, defensively and gained an additional outlet by doing so. I honestly see Rodriguez as back up to Alvarez, noting more, nothing less.
I get the argument of Antonio not starting against Fulham, as he did lead the line for Jamaica twice in 5 days prior, but in normal circumstances, he still starts for me. And that is with or without Fulk available.
Thanks Jay. I feel that it’s a mixed bag start to the season too. We need to be patient yet we can see some of the same old problems. I can see some positive changes too but I’m not happy enough yet. If Lopetegui is to show his experience he’ll need to learn about the team and the squad quickly. We don’t have many games this season. Lopetegui has a two year stint to get us back into Europe, let’s work hard on the training ground and see who are our first eleven then start them every week.
Well put Joan. I'm over the initially huge disappointment of seeing Mikey and Tommo in their starting positions. Every hammer I know was really excited to see who he'd pick.He's had a little while with them now and claims to have watched us last term(seemingly through the wrong end of binoculars), so how can he keep blundering ssoo catastrophically? Against Fulham, it cost us a win, in my opinion. That first 45 was lost by his choices, and he should've manned-up and swapped on 15, not 45.
@@davidlodge7262 I totally agree.
@@davidlodge7262 Antonio still starts for me.
Jay, this "new WHU" as u said, imo, was invited mainly by the fan's desperate desire from us to move away from the David Moyes era. I don't remember Lopetegui saying it during his introductory interview. He basically told me, his style is based on who we play. As DM was, he is dictated by fear, anxiety and lack of faith in our creative players.
Firstly, I love Souceck and appreciate everything he has done for us, but it was clear as day to me in the preseason game against Celta Vigo that he is slowing us down.
Souceck (for the first season ever) is not part of my strongest 11. I think with the addition of Kilman, the addition of AWB and the eventual/potential addition of Todibo, you do not need to continually rely on two 6'2 + bodies in front of the back 4.
I'm still an advocate for a midfield of Alvarez, Paqueta and Kudus, with inverted wingers and an out and out CF leading the line. I have had a preferred 11 since the window closed and until I see it, I'm not being convinced otherwise (will post in the reply)
With our midfield, I think Paqueta has more than enough about him physically and defensively to play as an 8. All his best games this season have come when he has been playing deeper, last season in the first 5 games he had the best tackling stats in the entire league and his left foot will mean he is facing play with his strong foot off the ball and playing towards a lot of the pitch and have a lot of outlets when in possession, if playing just left of Alvarez as an 8. Have Alvarez as the anchor and Kudus playing between the CF and midfield.
In reference to my preferred midfield, for those who think it's not defensive enough, a reminder that Man City's midfield against us was Kovacic, B.Silva and De Brunye (no identifiable DM). Man United's midfield on the weekend was Mainoo, Eriksen and Fernandes (No identifiable DM as I see Mainoo as an 8); Liverpool often play without an identifiable DM as well.
I think alot of us (I was guilty of this previously) have been convinced during the Moyes Era that we must play 2 big men in front of the back 4 and in my opinion, it isn't the case.
To answer original question, I have not been happy with Lopetegui. I have a list of red flags since pre season and I've got to the point I'm starting to lose count. I feel an intervention is needed if he gets it wrong against Chelsea, and if he still seems clueless after that, get rid in the summer. I genuinely think Moyes is a better coach than him at this stage. I'm still not convinced he knows his strongest 11, where as a fan, I would go to war for my strongest 11 the second the window closed. I feel like he should know that by now if he watched us months prior, like he claimed.
Areola (GK)
AWB (RB)
Mavropanos/Todibo (RCB)
Kilman (LCB)
Emerson (LB)
Alvarez (RCDM)
Paqueta (LCM)
Kudus (CAM)
Summerville (LW)
Bowen (RW)
Antonio (CF)
With the initial press, while the other team are in possession at the back or have a goal kick, invite play to the right by Antonio being more prone to pressing their left hand side.
Demand (literally, demand) Paqueta to play behind the ball. In his our own third (or close to), encourage him to be more conservative (almost take a leaf out of JWP's book) and just keep play ticking over in that part of the pitch and save the match winning play and passes for past the half way line.
Tell Kudus to support in the middle with passive press, cutting out passing lanes (especially down the left hand side) again, encouraging opposition play down the right.
In play, patient possession based build up from the back, look to get the likes of Paqueta or Kudus on the ball in central areas), or go wide via the full backs to create overlaps or set up situations in which our inverted wingers are baring down on goal, or look for diags to the wingers from the CBs.
Dominate the ball, get the ball out wide, create lots of one on ones for your wingers, or 2 vs 2 with your wingers, 10 and CF.
There is no way jlo will play alverez kudus and paqueta unless we are loosing a game so I think you may be waiting a long time for that combination..jlo is not the sort of manager to try to entertain...he's a keep it tight keep possession type of manager and nick it 1 nil coach
@@dannyovid8139 It's not to entertain, its to win games. Paqueta and Alvarez is more than enough infront of a back 4.
Hi Jay... I enjoy your analysis and "insight"!
Basically, I believe Lopetegui is NOT the guy, we mostly imagined he'd be. Imo, he is defensive manager, keeping ball at the back. Strangely enough, he appears not to trust the ball transition or ball retention through our more creative central part of our midfield. Hence playing it long to Soucek and Antonio, who can be awkward ball recking, smash and grab type 9 and 10.
Jay, the main beef I have at this genesis period of Lopetegui's reign, is the fact that so many channels can see that Lopetegui's (apparent) choice of starting 11, makes us a more weaker team during transition of ball from back to front because 9 & 10, can not hold onto the ball or create positive possibilities. We have become a Counterpunch team by use of long ball. For some reason, Lopetegui does NOT see it that way. WHY😢😢😢😢
Our problems are a lot more basic than just Soucek, but the lineup Lopetegui put out there only exacerbated the problems. As a possession based team employing a high press, you can't have midfielders that fail in either pressing up the pitch or making progressive passes. In that same vein, when we do fail in the front half on attack, we can't delay in transistional defending. That scored goal by Fulham wasn't just a mistake by Mavropanos deep (who probably thought he was still playing in Moyes low block mode)... it was a chain of mistakes started by a bad pass from Soucek up front and other defenders standing around and not battling to re-win possession. That all said, our progressive passing and chances created weren't all that great in the 2nd half, either... and you can't put that blame on Soucek.
One way to get rid of the problem is to sell him.
Moyes would not drop Souceck also. So what am I missing as I just don't get it?
...syrup..?
Jealous of that hair
@@dicaniowhu what a guy 👦 😆
Great review Jay - Soucek and Antonio are impact subs at best and what we the fans expect not as starters- there lies the problem as JLo so far thinks the opposite
Antonio still starts for me with everyone fit.
@@damiandamico4715 Damian if Antonio can find his form from last year then he would start for me too - but this season he seems below par, either due to lack of form, his head space (he has mentioned he is going through a rough patch of late) or these internationals which don’t help
@@waseembutt8614 I have to say, the internationals dont help. I want to see us play an expansive game, with him leading the line and judge then. Ive stated my strongest 11 elsewhere in the comments. I dont want to move Bowen from the RW. If we had 2 Bowens, id play one up top and one RW at this stage but that isnt the case. As far as I see it, you are either playing Bowen up top, then having to play Rodriguez or Souceck next to Alvarez or you pt for an out and out CF and keep Bowen RW. I dont think you lose anything defensiveley by playing Paqueta instead of Rodrigues infront of the back four and you gain a focal point with a genuine CF. Wveryone else is bascally playing where they do for their country. If we had signed Duran, I wouldnt be starting Antonio, but I dont feel like Fulk even when back is going to have the pace or physicality to impact a PL game unless we are totally dominating. This is the first summer I really wanted us to get a CF and have Antonio as an option off the bench or cover, but I dont think we did a good enough job of it, recruiting a 31 year old Fulk. He managed 14 touches in his last start against Bournemouth's B-Team. That is nothing short of anonymous. I know Antonio is past his best, but he still starts for me.