Boubacar Kamara - out for the season

[Monty]

In what system does Ramsey come in for Kamara and we benefit defensively?

I think we'd benefit defensively from any midfield system that actually works and manages to control the game.

Yeah this is the actual, technical meaning of the oft-misused phrase 'begging the question'.

[Drummond]

He's a young player, recently married so probably still getting some. Give him a couple of months and he'll have his energy and adrenaline back.

[chrisw1]

Ramsey? Change the formation to suit the players we have. Feels like a couple of times we've been trying to force players into positions just to get them on the pitch.

The players we have suit a double pivot.  It has been the cornerstone of our success since Emery joined and something we had been crying out for.  It's the system that gets the best out of Luiz and in theory would probably be the system that suites Tielemans best too, although he would need to be the more advanced of the two (ie Luiz's role)

If Kamara needs taking out, then the most obvious answer is now Luiz-Tielemans (Luiz playing the more defensive role).  Dendonker-Luiz should also be an option, but Emery preferred to bring McGinn back ahead of Dendonker last season - so that's another option.

So whatever we chose to do with Ramsey, I'd be very surprised if it involved us moving away from two centre mids.

[ChicagoLion]

He's a young player, recently married so probably still getting some. Give him a couple of months and he'll have his energy and adrenaline back.

The old penny in the jar theory.
It could be a while.

[brontebilly]

Ramsey? Change the formation to suit the players we have. Feels like a couple of times we've been trying to force players into positions just to get them on the pitch.

The players we have suit a double pivot.  It has been the cornerstone of our success since Emery joined and something we had been crying out for.  It's the system that gets the best out of Luiz and in theory would probably be the system that suites Tielemans best too, although he would need to be the more advanced of the two (ie Luiz's role)

If Kamara needs taking out, then the most obvious answer is now Luiz-Tielemans (Luiz playing the more defensive role).  Dendonker-Luiz should also be an option, but Emery preferred to bring McGinn back ahead of Dendonker last season - so that's another option.

So whatever we chose to do with Ramsey, I'd be very surprised if it involved us moving away from two centre mids.

I don't know any formation that would justify Tielemans any PL start at the moment.

[PaulWinch again]

A welcome return to form. Makes a huge difference.

[paul_e]

I might be wrong but I think he was playing a slightly different role today and looked better for it.

In the last couple of games he's strayed a lot further from the '10 yards in front of the centre backs' position where he's at his best and he's had to spend a lot of energy tracking back into defensive positions if we lose the ball, which has created gaps.

Today he held his spot a lot more and was able to do all the dirty work he's so good at. The big difference is that we weren't trying to dominate possession today so he didn't have to offer himself so much.  I suspect in games where we're looking at 60%+ possession Luiz in that role and Tielemans slightly ahead might work better.

[Keeno]

Dug this thread out to give him a shout out cause against an absolute shithouse midfield in Soucek, JWP and Alvarez thought he was at his best today.

Put in some great challenges, reads the game so well and great when he has the ball. Really like how he drops into the right of the back 3 when Cash pushes on.

[Risso]

The early season wobble seems right behind him.

[Footy-Vill]

Against Nottingham Forest Kamara produced an absolute world class challenge in our penalty area.
It was a slide tackle timed to perfection.

[pauliewalnuts]

Yeah, but he does have a tendency to occasionally attempt to be a bit *too* clever with the ball when on the edge of our area and then lose the ball in a very dangerous position, he almost got caught out doing that again at Forest.

I still love him, but he needs to stop doing that, because I shit a brick every time.

[nigel]

Yeah, but he does have a tendency to occasionally attempt to be a bit *too* clever with the ball when on the edge of our area and then lose the ball in a very dangerous position, he almost got caught out doing that again at Forest.

I still love him, but he needs to stop doing that, because I shit a brick every time.

It’s a fine line between a stunning pass and a crap one.
I think because confidence is so high the players are trying more difficult passes rather than the simple one. If they come off, and many have, it’s a thing of beauty. So, to a degree it should be encouraged.
I suppose the next step is picking the time to do them.
That said, I know exactly how you feel when it’s on the edge of our penalty area 😂

[pauliewalnuts]

It's not even a pass usually, he tried to twist and turn away with the ball one time too many and gets caught, it's great when he pulls it off, but horrendous when he's caught out.

I think he did it against Natasha Kinski or whatever that Bosnian team were called.

[Footy-Vill]

International matches for Boubacar Kamara on Saturday and Tuesday
Gibraltar (H, Nov18) Greece (A, Nov 21)

[PeterWithesShin]

1 match ban for 5 yellows