Tyrone Mings

[AV84]

We already play with a 3 when in possession.

I was just thinking isn't this what we already do? I'd think it's the Cash/Digne positions on either side that need improving rather than the central 3.

[Mister E]

The Emery asymmetrical 4-4-2 relies on one full back tucking in and one full back bombing forward. Worked a treat in our strong finish to 22-23, especially when Moreno came in.
When we signed Pau it looked to me like his first choice back four was Mings and Pau in the CB positions, Konsa to be the tucked in right back and Moreno to be the bombing forward left back. The injuries to Mings and Moreno meant we were basically makeshift at the back all season. He also experimented a bit with Pau at LB and Cash bombing forward in pre-season
In Emery's system the right back should basically be a right sided centre back and the left back should almost be a winger.

I think what he wants is to have the option to be assymetric on either side; to be able to switch the focus of attack to suit the opposition or the game circumstances. Because of injuries this season, he has really only been able to do it  with an attacking left side.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

With a game to go, we have conceded 56 goals this season - double the number that Arsenal have let in.

Last season, with Mings in the side and even with the terrible start we had, we conceded 46. We have to improve defensively, especially balls into the box - crosses, corners, and free-kicks. Mings is easily the best we have at competing for headers and blocking shots. It's just a shame he isn't as effective in the opposition penality area as I think he should be contributing more goals.

Torres is a quality footballer and key to how we play. I think we have to find a way for both Mings and Torres to play in most games (when Tyrone is fully fit). UTV.

[brontebilly]

The Emery asymmetrical 4-4-2 relies on one full back tucking in and one full back bombing forward. Worked a treat in our strong finish to 22-23, especially when Moreno came in.

When we signed Pau it looked to me like his first choice back four was Mings and Pau in the CB positions, Konsa to be the tucked in right back and Moreno to be the bombing forward left back. The injuries to Mings and Moreno meant we were basically makeshift at the back all season. He also experimented a bit with Pau at LB and Cash bombing forward in pre-season

In Emery's system the right back should basically be a right sided centre back and the left back should almost be a winger.

All good except Konsa is ghastly when he plays there and moving arguably our best CB out of his best position only weakens us in two spots. It's worked for Arsenal as White is much better on the ball (aside from the day Zaniolo bullied him). I wouldn't be sure at all about Torres at LB either. He struggles when isolated one on one already and that happens a lot more on the flank.

The obvious answer is to buy a replacement/challenger for Kamara and let Mings and Torres battle it out for game time over 50+ games.

[KevinGage]

Defence is def accountable for a large part of that.

But the best teams defend and attack as unit.  When it was working well for us last season and up to Feb this we were doing that.

Kamara's injury is obv a factor. We need more legs and someone prepared to do the ugly stuff in the centre of the park with him out for a big chunk of next season.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

Defence is def accountable for a large part of that.

But the best teams defend and attack as unit.  When it was working well for us last season and up to Feb this we were doing that.

Kamara's injury is obv a factor. We need more legs and someone prepared to do the ugly stuff in the centre of the park with him out for a big chunk of next season.

Certainly losing Kamara significantly impacted us defensively, and I'm sure that will be addressed, but we also need to be better at defending balls into our box - which is why a role for Mings and Torres in the same starting XI.

[chrisw1]

Our goals conceded from set pieces stats are awful, equal 4 worse with Burnley and only one less than Sheffield.

Bear in mind we probably concede far less corners and free kicks than these teams, so I’d bet our per set piece ratio is the worst.

That’s why we need him back in the team.

[FatSam]

Last season, with Mings in the side and even with the terrible start we had, we conceded 46.

Yes, under Emery last season, when we were displaying top 4 form, we conceded 25 in 24.

[Monty]

The Emery asymmetrical 4-4-2 relies on one full back tucking in and one full back bombing forward. Worked a treat in our strong finish to 22-23, especially when Moreno came in.

When we signed Pau it looked to me like his first choice back four was Mings and Pau in the CB positions, Konsa to be the tucked in right back and Moreno to be the bombing forward left back. The injuries to Mings and Moreno meant we were basically makeshift at the back all season. He also experimented a bit with Pau at LB and Cash bombing forward in pre-season

In Emery's system the right back should basically be a right sided centre back and the left back should almost be a winger.

All good except Konsa is ghastly when he plays there and moving arguably our best CB out of his best position only weakens us in two spots. It's worked for Arsenal as White is much better on the ball (aside from the day Zaniolo bullied him). I wouldn't be sure at all about Torres at LB either. He struggles when isolated one on one already and that happens a lot more on the flank.

The obvious answer is to buy a replacement/challenger for Kamara and let Mings and Torres battle it out for game time over 50+ games.

I somehow think what is 'obvious' isn't necessarily what the best manager we've had in decades might be going for.

[LeeB]

"Think like them in here, lose to them out there"

[Percy McCarthy]

The Emery asymmetrical 4-4-2 relies on one full back tucking in and one full back bombing forward. Worked a treat in our strong finish to 22-23, especially when Moreno came in.

When we signed Pau it looked to me like his first choice back four was Mings and Pau in the CB positions, Konsa to be the tucked in right back and Moreno to be the bombing forward left back. The injuries to Mings and Moreno meant we were basically makeshift at the back all season. He also experimented a bit with Pau at LB and Cash bombing forward in pre-season

In Emery's system the right back should basically be a right sided centre back and the left back should almost be a winger.

All good except Konsa is ghastly when he plays there and moving arguably our best CB out of his best position only weakens us in two spots. It's worked for Arsenal as White is much better on the ball (aside from the day Zaniolo bullied him). I wouldn't be sure at all about Torres at LB either. He struggles when isolated one on one already and that happens a lot more on the flank.

The obvious answer is to buy a replacement/challenger for Kamara and let Mings and Torres battle it out for game time over 50+ games.

I somehow think what is 'obvious' isn't necessarily what the best manager we've had in decades might be going for.

Indeed. I mean, brontebilly’s oft-repeated opinion of Konsa, or Unai Emery’s? It’s a tough one.

[Monty]

I mean, I know a lot of people don't like Konsa at right back and I've seen the same performances they have, but I do think some have got a bit of a bee in their bonnets about it. Usually when he's not played well there neither has the midfield, and it strikes me as a bit of a coincidence that that correlation has kept so strongly. What's more likely, that Konsa ruins the midfield, or that a lack of structure left him exposed too often?

No manager's perfect, everyone's entitled to their view, etc etc. I'd just love to see Emery's hours and hours and hours of footage, data, evidence etc for justifying Konsa at right back, because by fuck I'm sure it's there.

[eamonn]

Harsh, Bronte talks tactics better than most on here.

[Risso]

I mean, I know a lot of people don't like Konsa at right back and I've seen the same performances they have, but I do think some have got a bit of a bee in their bonnets about it. Usually when he's not played well there neither has the midfield, and it strikes me as a bit of a coincidence that that correlation has kept so strongly. What's more likely, that Konsa ruins the midfield, or that a lack of structure left him exposed too often?

No manager's perfect, everyone's entitled to their view, etc etc. I'd just love to see Emery's hours and hours and hours of footage, data, evidence etc for justifying Konsa at right back, because by fuck I'm sure it's there.

There have been times when he's had no choice of course, when Cash has been injured. But whatever the videos and data say, it's hard not to believe that Konsa's not great there. He can't deal with pace, and going forward from right back he's terrible. Of course there have been some good results with him there, but mostly, he's a lot better in the centre than he is at right back, and Carlos isn't even close to being as good consistently as Konsa is.

[Percy McCarthy]

Add your own context. For me the three stand outs were the Arsenal games and Man City at home. And also 10 clean sheets for Konsa against Cash’s 5.

Personally my context is that we are usually more secure with Konsa there, compared to ‘ghastly’.

Cash at right-back:

Newcastle 1-5
Everton 4-0
Palace 3-1
Chelsea 1-0
Brighton 6-1
Everton 1-2
Fulham 3-1
West Ham 4-1
AZ 4-1
Luton 3-1
Forest 0-2
Fulham 3-1
Legia 2-1
Zirinski 1-1
Sheff Utd 1-1
Boro 1-0
Chelsea 0-0
Newcastle 1-3
Chelsea 1-3
Man Utd 1-2
Fulham 2-1
Forest 4-2
Luton 3-2
Spurs 0-4
Ajax 4-0
Lille 1-2
Bournemouth 3-1
Chelsea 2-2
Olympiacos 2-4

Konsa at right-back:

Hibs 5-0
Burnley 3-1
Hibs 3-0
Liverpool 0-3
Arseanal 1-0
Man City 1-0
Arsenal 2-0
Zirinski 1-0
Wolves 1-1
AZ 2-1
Spurs 2-1
Bournemouth 2-2
Brentford 2-1
Sheff Utd 5-0
Man Utd 2-3
Burnley 3-2
Everton 0-0
Ajax 0-0
West Ham 1-1
Wolves 2-0
Man City 4-1
Brentford 3-3
Lille 2-1
Brighton 0-1
Olympiacos 0-2
Liverpool 3-3