I don't think there is much that needs changing at the moment given the quality of our play the last couple of months tbh.
- Are we looking defensively solid? YES - This is the best we have ever looked under Brendan.
- Have the team found the tempo, passing rhythm and fluidity of last season? - YES
- Are we creating chances? - YES, we aren't finishing enough of them BUT that should now improve with the return of Studge
I don't see any need to tweak or change based on our recent performances. Our wide players (Moreno and Markovic) aren't turning out 8/9 out of 10 displays but they don't need to. They have both been sound defensively (for the most part), they both have a good engine, get up and down the pitch, have the pace and endurance to make recovery runs and have been very much a part of our new found defensive resilience. They might not be as eye catching going forward but in this system the onus is very much on Couto, Raheem, Lallana and Studge to make things happen in the final third. the two wide players have really played a supporting role, they are usually available for a pass to feet, they keep the ball moving, provide the odd cross (in Moreno's case) and there have been some good moments from Markovic when the game has allowed. I would say that its a tough job to be a wide player in a 5 man midfield without full-backs because you don't have those natural 2 on 1 situations occurring regularly in a game so are often on your own out there. For Moreno in particular this is an issue because he is very left footed, his options on the ball tend to be to find space to put in a cross or to simply give a square pass back in field to one of our central players. I don't have a problem with this because our central players are popping up all over the place and causing defences all sorts of problems. As for Lazar I think that his future is as a more orthodox attacking player BUT this experience will do him a lot of good and will make him a far better player in the long run. There have been games where he has been able to operate as a right midfielder and show his attacking talents but for the most part the defensive responsibilities of the role have limited this. He is doing well though, a really solid job.
I wouldn't mess with it, you could stick players like Ibe in and ask them to play the position but why mess with our new found defensive solidity? It's been a long bloody time coming after all!
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