Share.

16 Comments

  1. This lineup served us well last week, but is it the best vs a struggling lately Villa team?

  2. FourEyedMatt on

    Still don’t like the 5 at the back, we created very little last game. Back the boys though COYI!!!

  3. EcstaticObligation55 on

    Here we go! Chance to get clear air above Spuds or Forest today. Or both. A win is not out of the question and a point would be a good result.

  4. Ok_Counter_8887 on

    Nuno is either scared of Villa dominating the game or he’s given up on Magassa and Potts after recent performances. Which is concerning

  5. Last_Golf_4798 on

    If we survive this relegation battle it will be bigger than everton surviving 10pts deduction

    I feel like we play against big teams EVERYDAY

  6. While I’m too traumatised from the early stages of the season to get excited about five at the back, at the end of the day it’s hard to argue against sticking with a set-up that bagged a point against City.

    Would I prefer we put out a more attacking lineup given Villa’s currently ongoing implosion? In an ideal world yeah, obviously. But with Cry out our attacking options on the left are far more – no offense to Traore – shit, so I think that shoring up the back and trying to nick it on the counter is probably the more sensible approach.

    Huge day today, with at least one of our contemporaries guaranteed to drop points, so let’s get ourselves a massive three points.

    ⚒️IRONS⚒️

  7. SnooCapers938 on

    Unchanged makes sense with Summerville out. I expect this line-up to play differently than in the City game though, with the WBs getting forward a lot more.

  8. See a lot of people talking about going defensive because of this formation. It’s not wrong to assume this, given how 3 centre-backs were employed against City, but at the same time, one shot did not mean we weren’t getting forward. We were pretty good going forward and had chances, just couldn’t get a shot off. And 3 centre-backs don’t automatically mean sitting back.

    Pep isn’t exactly known as a defensive or negative coach, yet he’s extensively used a 3-4-3, or 3-2-5 with attacking wingbacks and tucked-in wingers. Antonio Conte’s 2016/17 Chelsea scored 85 goals with 3 centre-backs, Xabi Alonso used a 3 at the back to establish his pressing game and control possession, not just sit back and counter. Gian Piero Gasperini stated “attack is the best form of defence,” and he used a 3-4-2-1 and scored 98 in 2019/20. Can we please stop assuming 3 centre-backs with wing-backs (Diouf’s natural position and one of AWB’s best positions) means we’ll sit back and do nothing. Nuno isn’t an attack-minded coach, but Paco isn’t a defensive-minded one either, and this isn’t an automatic indication we’ll sit back for 90 mins. We still might, but let’s wait.