Line up and formation for 2021-22

[Monty]

Well Dean has today basically dismissed the idea of playing Watkins wide. So it's two centre forwards and a flat midfield 4? In 2021?

I think there are two ways of reading his comments. He says Ollie hasn't played wide in ages, but then goes on to speak about playing a front three, so by 'wide' I took him to mean in an orthodox winger position in a 4-4-2, rather than as a wider part of the front 3.

Ah good point. I hope that's what he meant.

[AV82EC]

Well Dean has today basically dismissed the idea of playing Watkins wide. So it's two centre forwards and a flat midfield 4? In 2021?

I think there are two ways of reading his comments. He says Ollie hasn't played wide in ages, but then goes on to speak about playing a front three, so by 'wide' I took him to mean in an orthodox winger position in a 4-4-2, rather than as a wider part of the front 3.

Correct, more Mane, Salah, Son.

[Dante Lavelli]

               martinez
Cash.   Konsa.    Mings.  Targett
     JWP.      Doug.   McGinn
   Buendia.   Ollie.    Bailey.

Only Bailey is being asked to adapt from their best position and I think it is a subtle change.  Loads of options and limited defending required by the front three which is a waste of their energy.  Traore can come in to to the Buendia position with Buendia dropping into midfield if we want to go more arracking.

Ramsey/Sanson/Nakamba are options if JWP doesn’t sign.


         

[Monty]

               martinez
Cash.   Konsa.    Mings.  Targett
     JWP.      Doug.   McGinn
   Buendia.   Ollie.    Bailey.

Only Bailey is being asked to adapt from their best position and I think it is a subtle change.  Loads of options and limited defending required by the front three which is a waste of their energy.  Traore can come in to to the Buendia position with Buendia dropping into midfield if we want to go more arracking.

Ramsey/Sanson/Nakamba are options if JWP doesn’t sign.

And our new £25m striker?

[chrisw1]

I just don't see Ings starting on the bench.

[eamonn]

No. At 29 Ings has to be the main man.

[Dante Lavelli]

               martinez
Cash.   Konsa.    Mings.  Targett
     JWP.      Doug.   McGinn
   Buendia.   Ollie.    Bailey.

Only Bailey is being asked to adapt from their best position and I think it is a subtle change.  Loads of options and limited defending required by the front three which is a waste of their energy.  Traore can come in to to the Buendia position with Buendia dropping into midfield if we want to go more arracking.

Ramsey/Sanson/Nakamba are options if JWP doesn’t sign.

And our new £25m striker?

On the bench.  Or Ollie on the bench.  I just want to avoid a situation where we crowbar ‘Lampard and Gerrard’ into the team because they’re the big names and sacrifice balance.

[KRS]

I may be having a blonde moment, but I was thinking earlier…who’s our backup for Cash when he inevitably gets suspended or injured. Is Fred our only other option at RB now that Elmo is no longer with us?

[Risso]

I may be having a blonde moment, but I was thinking earlier…who’s our backup for Cash when he inevitably gets suspended or injured. Is Fred our only other option at RB now that Elmo is no longer with us?

Ashley Young?

[ADVILLAFAN]

I may be having a blonde moment, but I was thinking earlier…who’s our backup for Cash when he inevitably gets suspended or injured. Is Fred our only other option at RB now that Elmo is no longer with us?

Guess Tuanzebe can play there too

[Neil Hawkes]

I may be having a blonde moment, but I was thinking earlier…who’s our backup for Cash when he inevitably gets suspended or injured. Is Fred our only other option at RB now that Elmo is no longer with us?

Guess Tuanzebe can play there too

Is Kaine Kesler not in contention for this spot?

[Clampy]

I may be having a blonde moment, but I was thinking earlier…who’s our backup for Cash when he inevitably gets suspended or injured. Is Fred our only other option at RB now that Elmo is no longer with us?

Guess Tuanzebe can play there too

Is Kaine Kesler not in contention for this spot?

He's out on loan.

[N'ZMAV]

Guilbert?

[Clark W Griswold]

There is no way Ings isn't going to play. It'll be Buendia in the JWP position and Watkins left of Ings. All the more reason to improve on the defensive midfield position to give Buendia a bit more licence to focus on attack from midfield with McGinn box to box. As suggested he might be thinking of going more compact with the front three like Liverpool do, i think all of our players in those attacking positions would be well suited to it, including Traore and El Ghazi.

[sickbeggar]

I'd still go 2 up front or 1 playing slightly off the other. I rate Watkins as a better striker and a better player than Ings personally although he brings different things to the table than Ollie. It seems a waste to play him differently to accommodate Ings and that was my problem with buying Abraham as well. Also not sure how he'll feel about suddenly being relegated from his man role when he got to the verge of the Euro's playing where he did last season