Douglas Luiz - Confirmed confirmed

[LukeJames]

Its took a while but Our midfield has such a nice balance now.

[darren woolley]

Its took a while but Our midfield has such a nice balance now.

Totally agree with you.

[olaftab]

MotM today IMO.

[Keeno]

He's the player who has benefitted the most from our recent switch to the back 3. Outstanding since we changed system.

Its because he's no longer having to spend as much time dropping as deep between the two centre backs as he did when he was the no. 6 in a 4-3-3. He's got an incredible range of passing (probably second only to Pogba on that pitch today) and the extra security the back 3 gives him has allowed him to take far more risks and be more progressive with his passing, which benefits us hugely.

Look at his assist for Cash last week - he simply wouldn't be able to wander that high up the pitch if he was playing in front of a back 4. Can't wait to see what he does this season if we persist with this formation. Get him on a 5-year deal and make him one of the higest paid players at the club, sharpish.

[AV82EC]

That ball to Ollie in the second half, I nearly orgasmed.

[john e]

I love him always have

[Dave]

Reckon he speaks for all of us here.

[LukeJames]

😂😂😂😂

[Dante Lavelli]

Tough call between him and SJM today.  The midfield 3 are really ticking in the last 2 games.  If we can find the balance ahead of them we are looking sharp.  Fingers crossed!

Add Sanson and Nakamba to the mix as well who have both done really well. As someone who was desperate for us to sign a big aggressive option in midfield I'm currently very happy to be proven wrong, I hope it continues.

the big difference is there’s no 10 which means the others do not need to be so cautious/defensive.

I’d also argue that there’s better value signing generalists as they can cover each other and you need less specialists on the bench (so less players required overall)

[Brend'Watkins]

He’s looking really good this season. In fact, good in every game.

[Steve67]

He's doing a fine job.  I screamed and shouted for a DCM this summer but Dean was right.  Douglas looking the part.  Fantastic today.

[Colhint]

Amazing to think our midfield 3 cost 17m

[pauliewalnuts]

For me that was his best game for us.

Watching the re-run on Sky, in the first half currently, he's all over the place.

[LeeB]

For me that was his best game for us.

Watching the re-run on Sky, in the first half currently, he's all over the place.

Love his reaction as the ball hits the net. He was wonderful on Saturday, that pass to Watkins was porn.

[Risso]

Whatever formation we play, it has to have McGinn and Luiz in a midfield 3. They both now look the players we know they can be, when they rarely did in the 4-2-3-1. Can we agree that if put up with 5-3-2, then at other times we'll play 4-3-3, but never, ever 4-2-3-1 again. It's shit.