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Just crossed my mind that Pep may be trying to make a point to the board playing 352? IF it is going to be out main formation this season, we will definitely need more cover at CB and another striker.

I really hope we do mainly play 4231, but the need for an extra CB and striker would not be as blatantly obvious. Wouldn't surprise me if Pep did get those couple of signings, he will switch back to the system we played last season.

Fidel Castro wrote:Just crossed my mind that Pep may be trying to make a point to the board playing 352? IF it is going to be out main formation this season, we will definitely need more cover at CB and another striker.

I really hope we do mainly play 4231, but the need for an extra CB and striker would not be as blatantly obvious. Wouldn't surprise me if Pep did get those couple of signings, he will switch back to the system we played last season.

Our second string against Girona proved how light we are in both positions. If we plan to play two up front its madness to only have two strikers for the season and likewise not enough cover at the back.

I dont think its pep trying to prove a point though as he seems to have the running of the club under his finger. If he wanted a striker he would get one, or he could have kept iheanacho, 352 would have suited him and he would have had plenty of chances.

Making a point ????Pep has FUCKALL excuse after the support hes had from our board.

He better make it fuckign work with the amazing players he has at his disposal.......whatever fuckign formation he dreams up , he has to make it work or hes gone next year.

not a huge fan of this 3-5-2 b/c it seems to slow us down. also not sure aguero and jesus make a great partnership.

whats the point of making Tosin part of the first team if youre gonna go out and buy a pricey 4th CB (provided Otamendi doesnt leave)?

Pep has no excuses. from top to bottom this squad is now his and filled with his signings. yes, 1 CB (Kompany/Otamendi) aren't his but i assume he's happy with a fit Kompany and yes Silva and Sterling aren't his but he's obviously happy with the former and i think satisfied with the latter.

phips wrote:whats the point of making Tosin part of the first team if youre gonna go out and buy a pricey 4th CB (provided Otamendi doesnt leave)?

Pep has no excuses. from top to bottom this squad is now his and filled with his signings. yes, 1 CB (Kompany/Otamendi) aren't his but i assume he's happy with a fit Kompany and yes Silva and Sterling aren't his but he's obviously happy with the former and i think satisfied with the latter.

Because if course if we do, as you suggest, we will sell Otamendi.

Fidel Castro wrote:Just crossed my mind that Pep may be trying to make a point to the board playing 352? IF it is going to be out main formation this season, we will definitely need more cover at CB and another striker.

I really hope we do mainly play 4231, but the need for an extra CB and striker would not be as blatantly obvious. Wouldn't surprise me if Pep did get those couple of signings, he will switch back to the system we played last season.

To me it's pretty clear that he wants to have a formation that gives him more help in midfield when it's useful, but allows enough cover to not expose our defence, which is what this formation provides.

As I stated in another thread, I do not see him utilising 352 every game, and even if he starts with it we know Pep loves to change tactics in game as many of our players possess a lot of flexibility with positions they can play. If the squad remains mostly the same I expect him to change things game to game and/or in relation to any injuries.

That's the other part of the puzzle that seems to be forgotten. If Vinny goes down and we add no new centre halves before the start of the season we will likely see more of the 4141/433 from last season. I don't think Pep really likes 4231 from what I sense. That's Wenger's formation, and one thing to note as some are worrying about 3 at the back, is a lot of PL clubs seem to be bringing this formation into their thinking, and was commented on I believe on MOTD over the weekend.

I think we are interested in another CB, but it's tricky unless we move Otamendi, because he has to have in the back of his mind Vinny getting injured and is likely nervous about trusting a Stones-Otamendi partnership. If we don't get one this summer I can see it happening in January.

We have all seen that Pep's preferred system is 3 at the back and that he is happy to play just one up front of necessary. We have such an array of forward thinking players that any one of them could step in to make 2 up front.

I don't think Pep is making any point at all, he's already said he can spend more if necessary.

We are spoilt at the moment with the team we've got and if we do get any more top class players then that would be the icing on top of the cherry.

If Pep wants to play this silly 3 at the back thing, he should play with actual wing backs instead of putting a very square Sane in that particularly round hole. Played to our strengths last 20 minutes with sterling and danilo actually running at people. Far too predictable doing the pissy passy stuff prior to that

Fidel Castro wrote:If Pep wants to play this silly 3 at the back thing, he should play with actual wing backs instead of putting a very square Sane in that particularly round hole. Played to our strengths last 20 minutes with sterling and danilo actually running at people. Far too predictable doing the pissy passy stuff prior to that

Totally agree mate.

Stop fucking about, trying to fit square Pegs in round Holes, because you have a Big Bald Tefal Head, and think you are super intelligent. His fucking about is as much a fucking hindrance as our astonishingly shit finishing. I think it was 24 chances again tonight only 1 Goal. Groundhog Day just 2 games in.

We were 100% better with 10 men and Subs than that shit 3-5-2 formation he started with. Sane was hung out to dry. The lad is never a wing back, He doesn’t even track back ffs. What the fuck was Guardiola thinking.

He'll probably write a book about how intricate it is

A prophetic thread title

South Stand Balti wrote:A prophetic thread title

Very droll SSB

Whatever it is it's shit. 352 can work if we breaknquickly wide as it allows us two strikers arriving and an extra defender to cover counters back.

Problem is we don't break, we stroll. Going side to side and allowing the opposition to form a wall means we just miss the extra creative players we've benched to get wing backs on. Neither of the fullbacks are creative enough to make up for the lack of Sterling and sane, Sane can't defend enough and doesn't work so well from deeper. Sterling I've not seen enough at this but can't imagine it will be better than unleashing him up front.

Can't we just play a back 4 and get our best players on the park performing?

Pretty Boy Lee wrote:Whatever it is it's shit. 352 can work if we breaknquickly wide as it allows us two strikers arriving and an extra defender to cover counters back.

Problem is we don't break, we stroll. Going side to side and allowing the opposition to form a wall means we just miss the extra creative players we've benched to get wing backs on.Neither of the fullbacks are creative enough to make up for the lack of Sterling and sane, Sane can't defend enough and doesn't work so well from deeper. Sterling I've not seen enough at this but can't imagine it will be better than unleashing him up front.

Can't we just play a back 4 and get our best players on the park performing?

There's both the problem and the solution

I am totally unconvinced by peps tictacs far. Seriously doubting he has the goods atm.

Pass pass pass pass pass pass pass....boreoff

london blue 2 wrote:I am totally unconvinced by peps tictacs far. Seriously doubting he has the goods atm.

Pass pass pass pass pass pass pass....boreoff

We'd 20 shots at their goal last night. That's around a shot every 3 minutes that we were in possession.

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:

london blue 2 wrote:I am totally unconvinced by peps tictacs far. Seriously doubting he has the goods atm.

Pass pass pass pass pass pass pass....boreoff

We'd 20 shots at their goal last night. That's around a shot every 3 minutes that we were in possession.

Most of those shots were awful attempts.

Sane had a mare in that position vs girona so pep sticks him in there against Everton. It's like he's unwilling to adapt.

london blue 2 wrote:I am totally unconvinced by peps tictacs far. Seriously doubting he has the goods atm.

Pass pass pass pass pass pass pass....boreoff

Its only two games in, with a new system, give it some time. Not saying its going to be wonderful, who knows what way things will go but we need a few more games under the belt with new system and new players.