2020/21 Carlo Ancelotti

[Barnfred 55]

How does he do it? That insane line up just won.

How bad was that line up in reality.?

I expressed concerns before the game, but literally only because I did not know what the set up was going to be. I feared a return to the dreadful 3/5 at the back which our players are obviously so uncomfortable with. As soon as we kicked off though and it was obvious Digne was playing left midfield, I actually thought it was a well balanced team given who we had available. That back four has now won all 5 league games they've started, including 3 away from home, and have proven themselves to be very solid. Yes we missed a recognised striker, and I don't want to see Siggy play in that position ever again, but Carlo's post match comments about Tosun playing 120 minutes in the cup game were perfectly reasonable.

I do agree that Carlo was the main reason we won that game, but not because he somehow managed it with a poor lineup. That lineup was actually very good and only missing 3/4 regular players. No, the reason that Carlo was so influential is because of the way he has somehow improved players like Mina, Keane, Davies, Iwobi, even Pickford's head seems to be returning slowly. (I'd have included DCL there but he obviously never played).

If he can turn his magic to Richy and Gomes too, we might have something to celebrate by the end if the season.

 

[allen]

How bad was that line up in reality.?

I expressed concerns before the game, but literally only because I did not know what the set up was going to be. I feared a return to the dreadful 3/5 at the back which our players are obviously so uncomfortable with. As soon as we kicked off though and it was obvious Digne was playing left midfield, I actually thought it was a well balanced team given who we had available. That back four has now won all 5 league games they've started, including 3 away from home, and have proven themselves to be very solid. Yes we missed a recognised striker, and I don't want to see Siggy play in that position ever again, but Carlo's post match comments about Tosun playing 120 minutes in the cup game were perfectly reasonable.

I do agree that Carlo was the main reason we won that game, but not because he somehow managed it with a poor lineup. That lineup was actually very good and only missing 3/4 regular players. No, the reason that Carlo was so influential is because of the way he has somehow improved players like Mina, Keane, Davies, Iwobi, even Pickford's head seems to be returning slowly. (I'd have included DCL there but he obviously never played).

If he can turn his magic to Richy and Gomes too, we might have something to celebrate by the end if the season.

It wasn’t the players, it was the system and the shape that was insane.

 

[Bob Elstone]

Give him the funds he needs. The man is a genius

 

[Nasseline]

We are were we are on merit. The 6 games have been against Chelsea, Arsenal, Leicester, West Ham, Wolves and Sheff Utd, so it's not because of an easy fixture list.

 

[Barnfred 55]

It wasn’t the players, it was the system and the shape that was insane.

The shape was 4411. With a flat back 4 and an actual left footer in midfield and one of the best No10s in world football. Apart from having a none striker in the striker role, which I've already covered, I thought it was a very good system/shape to play away from home against a team strong in midfield with pacey forwards.

 

[Zatara]

How bad was that line up in reality.?

I expressed concerns before the game, but literally only because I did not know what the set up was going to be. I feared a return to the dreadful 3/5 at the back which our players are obviously so uncomfortable with. As soon as we kicked off though and it was obvious Digne was playing left midfield, I actually thought it was a well balanced team given who we had available. That back four has now won all 5 league games they've started, including 3 away from home, and have proven themselves to be very solid. Yes we missed a recognised striker, and I don't want to see Siggy play in that position ever again, but Carlo's post match comments about Tosun playing 120 minutes in the cup game were perfectly reasonable.

I do agree that Carlo was the main reason we won that game, but not because he somehow managed it with a poor lineup. That lineup was actually very good and only missing 3/4 regular players. No, the reason that Carlo was so influential is because of the way he has somehow improved players like Mina, Keane, Davies, Iwobi, even Pickford's head seems to be returning slowly. (I'd have included DCL there but he obviously never played).

If he can turn his magic to Richy and Gomes too, we might have something to celebrate by the end if the season.

Imperative we keep the back 4 as it is.

Id have no problems if this is our defensive style in recruitment and over the coming seasons if it continues to be so solid.

 

[PSB1]

Imperative we keep the back 4 as it is.

Id have no problems if this is our defensive style in recruitment and over the coming seasons if it continues to be so solid.

What's your current assessment of where we're likely to finish this season?

 

[Jim Hopper]

Imperative we keep the back 4 as it is.

Id have no problems if this is our defensive style in recruitment and over the coming seasons if it continues to be so solid.

I think Ancellotti may have a headache on his hands come next game. He can’t drop Godfrey as he’s been one of our most consistent players and has taken well to the left back roll. Digne is just too good and HAS to play. Richy also has to play. So it will be interesting to see how he approaches it going forward.

I don’t particularly want to see Godfrey moved to right back. Unless Carlo goes for a 3-4-3 with Digne and Iwobi on wings and James and Richy given free roles just behind DCL which I think could work.

 

[Dublin blue 75]

We are were we are on merit. The 6 games have been against Chelsea, Arsenal, Leicester, West Ham, Wolves and Sheff Utd, so it's not because of an easy fixture list.

Hadn't realised how poor chelsea have been of late until you shared that table. Frank is on borrowed time.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Imperative we keep the back 4 as it is.

Id have no problems if this is our defensive style in recruitment and over the coming seasons if it continues to be so solid.

We've fallen upon a system that is very strong defensively and provided we have the quality in the final third to finish teams off there's no reason why we can't continue picking up good wins. Maybe that 4411 system is the way to go away from home and against the top teams. Keep Digne left midfield, DCL up top and Richy on the right in place of Iwobi, with Allan and Doucoure in the middle, as a first choice lineup.

Leicester won the league with that system and Atletico play similar. Playing the Liverpool way with marauding FBs isn't the only way to win games. It won't always be easy on the eye, and I'm sure we can be a bit more adventurous in some home games, but it may be the best use of the resources currently available at the moment.

I

 

[ArtetaMoney]

He’s sound, Carlo.

Anyone that questions him should receive an instant ban.

 

[Nasseline]

Hadn't realised how poor chelsea have been of late until you shared that table. Frank is on borrowed time.

They had 17 games without defeat before they lost at Goodison. From there on it's gone really bad for them.

 

[allen]

The shape was 4411. With a flat back 4 and an actual left footer in midfield and one of the best No10s in world football. Apart from having a none striker in the striker role, which I've already covered, I thought it was a very good system/shape to play away from home against a team strong in midfield with pacey forwards.

Let me be clearer - the players we had, in the system we played, shouldn't have worked as well as it did.

We played 4 centre backs, 1 fullback, 1 winger and no strikers.

That is insane, and had no right to win.

Anyone can use hindsight to say that side was good enough to win, but not one person expected 3 points when they saw the lineup.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Unless Carlo goes for a 3-4-3 with Digne and Iwobi on wings and James and Richy given free roles just behind DCL which I think could work

I don't want to see us playing any 3 at the back system until all our players are comfortable with it. Our poor forrn in November when we had absolutely no idea proved these players are not happy with the system.

By all means bring it in at the start of preseason and run with it if that's what Carlo sees as the way forward. But we'll get systematically picked apart in this league playing that system when the players aren't used to it.

 

[matty1878]

Its gonna make me cry when you all turn on him at some point, cos you will, you always do.

the plotters