What would you consider Sigurdsson then? Genuine question.
Lookman is a forward in the sense I think he's wasted when played exclusively as a winger. He's a classic inside forward in my mind.
In a 4-3-3, I'd have Lookman on the left with the freedom to roam, with Gylfi on the right, and one of Rooney, Sandro, Giroud in the middle.
In cup games and possibly (hopefully) Europa, we'll need rotational options and that's the point of having such a strong forward line.
I think if we had a midfield 4 with Sirgurdsson and Klaassen either side of a real playmaker then we would look extremely good indeed with Davies also pushing for a place.
They tick the boxes of the 'Barca type' central midfielder on paper.
But with Gana and Schneiderlin in the mix it will like push Sigurdsson to the left where I just don't think he is needed with Lookman being my preference.
I'm aware Klaassen and Lookman aren't proven yet but 'on paper' again I just think the whole thing is lop sided.
Maybe it's just semantics then - same with
@Zatara, in which case I apologise Zat
In that case fair enough.
To me Sigurdsson is a playmaker in every sense that Barkley is - or De Bruyne.
Take the De Bruyne example.
Silva is the playmaker you describe - zipping about and linking the play - whereas De Bruyne is more the player who can create something out of nothing instantly (like Gylfi).
They're still both playmakers in my mind.
We have a solid core and a flaky periphery at the moment. We can debate about who the best option is in terms of CM duos and who plays just ahead of them, but at least options exist and we're strong there. Upfront, on the wings, at FB, and CD it look's less than convincing though.
As I and others have said (including yourself I think): we've seen £100M spent and we look weaker than last season.
We have sold 1 player and bought 6 others, the 1 player we sold hasnt yet been replaced, once we replace Lukaku and Barkley things will look much better.
We have a much stronger squad. I don't think anyone could argue against that.
We've also lost both players who have provided almost all our goals and assists, and excitement, over the last 4 seasons. I don't think either have been at all adequately replaced in the starting XI.
Obviously we won't be able to replace Rom with a player of anywhere near the same quality.
And I honestly think we'll struggle to get a player anywhere as near as good as an on-form Barkley. We'll get more consistent players easily but better, I'm not so sure.
If we end up swapping Barkley/Lukaku for Sigurdsson/Giroud I'd see it as a big downgrade. Others will disagree.
We are going to be the British Lions Zat. Mid week team, weekend team.
You know, i'm all about 'squad rotation'. If you think about the amount of money being spent (as
@davek keeps saying) and I mean this not in a net spend sense but in an actual 'what exactly are we spending our money on!!!!??? sense....
Then lets look ahead ONE season and just see who we expect so be here from the current players, in my opinion;
Pickford/???
Coleman/Kenny -- Keane/Holgate -- ???/??? -- ???/Connolly/Baines(?)
Klaassen/Davies -- Schneiderlin/??? -- Gana/???
Rooney/Dowell --???/Sandro/DCL -- Lookman/Onyekuru/Bolasie(?)
Sigurdsson;
1 -- It looks to me that in left forward position we would see Lookman and Onyekuru who, on limited showing seem to be inside forwards with a bit of pace and skill. I suppose if Bolasie stays we could add him as our 3rd 'similar' player here.
2 -- In the centre we have our 'destroyer' in Gana with Schneiderlin sitting and keeping things simple with Klaassen and Davies taking up a 'team player role in a quick thinking, short passing, energetic player who gets into space sense'.
In the midfield if we want to keep the same system (which 433's usually do) i'd pick the Schneiderlin role as the most similar to Sigurdsson's skill set but someone like a Dendoncker for 20-25mil as competition/rotation would be better suited.
3 -- With a Sandro/DCL in rotation or 'options' were all expecting a centre forward signing....I think with that, Rooney will be pushed out into the right sided position to quietly link play as more of a 'Teddy Sheringham'. Dowell seems to be a similar type of intelligent player from what I've seen and read of him
4 -- I note
@Timak and
@BlueToff both commenting on Sigurdsson being a playmaker. Timak saying he expects a player buzzing around linking play whilst Bluetoff also adding in Gylfi as someone who can create or do something out of nothing. I'd say in (3) above Rooney and Dowell can both create something out of nothing...
So, on paper it seems to be that (in my own overthinking mind acting as a strategist) the most logical place to play is not in central midfield (where his skillset doesn't match the definition of the positions we have there) nor does he fit onto the inside left position (he's nothing like the players we have there who rely on speed, directness and skill) so the likeliest place for him is Right inside forward where he will be first choice ahead of a 'perhaps' declining Rooney.
So perhaps this season he plays on the left (whilst bolasie is injured/Lookman is developing and Onyekuru is on loan) and then next season he switches to the right (as Rooney declines)?
Failing all this...perhaps he's going to be a false 9 ?
#headsfallingoffeverywhere
