Emery has said he wanted to find out exactly what Malen's best position was. I think he's good but not great. Watkins gives us far more energy and work rate, and defending from the front. Which is what Emery likes. If we can find a way to play then as complementary strikers that would be ideal, and Guessand strikes me as a back up for Malen.
We have a very narrow team and are in need of some width z we just don't have any players who are natural wingers with pace.
Disagree on Malen's workrate, he really does everything Watkins does. Big credit to Watkins if he's been playing with an injury though it's absolutely shit news on several levels. I hope he takes something from Unai not only protecting him yesterday in his press conference but going out of his way, something I don't think he's done previously with any player, to really sing his praises.
Right now it would be insane to drop Malen but I still believe he can work together with Watkins. It would mean dropping to a 4-2-2 -2 with no 10 and as you point out we're already narrow as it is. Both Digne and Maatsen are capable of providing the width on the left and deliver but on the right Cash refuses to cross the ball, forever passing it back to McGinn.
That formation may see an abrupt end to us scoring worldies from outside the box which may please one or two who prefer the more industrial 6 yard scramble that suits Watkins more than anyone. Ideally Unai could find away to mix it up but it would mean drawing up a completely new plan. Before he rips up the blueprint I'd hope our coaching team can sit Watkins down and show him one of the reasons he's not scoring, his positioning. For me it's his greatest asset, something so few strikers naturally have but this season it's like he completely forgot and is going to the places where the ball is least likely to arrive.
It may be instruction but it seriously needs to be reviewed as it's clearly not working. Over to you, Unai.
