I just don't like it as a system, Zat.
It's not been used successfully in the Premier League.
I think for the odd game, with the right personnel, it can work, and that's fine. I'm not tied to one formation and neither is Carlo. Formations are much less important than having an attacking system/structure and a defensive system/structure which allows you to create chances and also stop giving away so many chances whether you're playing 4-3-3 or a diamond or 3-4-3 or whatever.
The only PL team that I can think of off the top of my head in recent seasons that has used a diamond to any tangible success in a consistent run was Spurs, and they played it for about 10 games a few seasons back when Poch got them to the CL final. They actually stopped playing it when Eriksen's form started to dip, IIRC.
United have played it on and off this season, either in Europe or the PL, but it's not a system which can be relied on. It really isn't.
Ive moved this as were close to being a bit off topic and i also wanted to say:
If we did stick to that system then hypothetically:
-- We keep Olsen
-- We sign Aarons
-- Kean + King are kept on
-- We sell off all the deadwood
How many more players would we actually 'need' ?
By my guess its 2 players for the centre.
For me, that would make enormous sense because it enables us to put the entire transfer kitty on 4 players:
Olsen -- who i dont rate but as an example
Aarons -- £30mil approx
2 CM players
Depending on the amount we have to play with we could actually do some real damage in the market by only going for a low number of players which fit that system.
If we want to be more expansive then we'd probably need RB + RW + CM + LW + GK at a bare minimum and with poor quality backups.
Id rather we kept the signings to a minimum but went for the best we can afford.
Dortmund could well be forced to move players on, and the thinking is right to target certain clubs, but not sure we can get their premium assets, probably neee to aim a rung down (where they still have good players).
As a sligt aide on Bellingham, he was in the same England youth teams as Price, and Price was considered on the circuit quite favourably with him and Harvey Elliot.
Yes of course, its just a high level signing that we 'may' have a chance on if we had the funds...
Hes gone there for games and development. Still young and not many better coaches to learn under than Ancelotti and also to cement a place in a premier league side of our standing.
As i mentioned to Bluetoff above, i think we would really need to keep our signings to a minumum this summer and make a couple of big plays.
