Someone keeps listing Lovren and Matip on the right side of central defense and then Sakho as first choice on the left. Is the consensus on here that Lovren and Matip won't play together, because I've been thinking of Dejan and Joel as the two starters. No?
This one has me most intrigued. Lovren was undoubtedly improved last season but I didn't personally buy into the overwhelming improvement that some where/are suggesting. I wonder too if Jürgen's first choice pairing might be Matip/Sakho. The interesting part so far is that it's been Lovren that has moved position out of the two. Perhaps it's that Lovren is more comfortable on the left than Matip so it was a simple choice with nobody else to play the left hand side and that Matip has come in as understudy for Lovren on the right but I'm not totally convinced that both will start as the first choice pairing.
It's a weird one for me too guys as Matip usually plays on the left so I had assumed he would be challenging Sakho for his place but it seems he's comfortable on either side.
Now for the Lovren/Sakho bit. In the analysis I posted in the tactics thread the other day, it mentions Sakho specifically for his passing ability and to get the ball quickly to the attackers, fitting Jurgens penchants for quick transitions and also how he covers Morenos vacated space better, being a natural left footer.
It could well be Luke that you're right, it could well be a Matip/Sakho partnership but it's great that we have options.
Also interesting that the new CB is a natural left footer too. Is this Jurgens attempt at minimising Morenos defensive faults whilst utilising him as an attacking outlet, rather than replacing him?
Logged