Papa Wonga
Established Member
He'll break the assist record next season.
Arteta is wedded to a 4231 with Ødegaard, but the key is having runners for him to hit and movement so that he has more freedom in possession.This is an insightful post imo. I don't agree with everything but definitely agree that one of Ødegaard's strengths is his ability to keep possession in advanced areas whilst still having a high volume of progressive and key passes. It's something that sets him apart from Maddison for example. It seems to fit with the style Arteta is aiming for.
I'd say that we have a few more players that are comfortable on the ball; Gabriel has underrated ball skills at CB; Lokonga and Partey in the middle as well. Think that you need a balance of possession players and runners as well otherwise the team becomes one paced and sterile. So an in-form Auba, Martinelli and Pepe all have a place but probably not together.
Question for me is whether he can make it all tick consistently. Evidence so far is no but hope that changes obviously.
Mavro's obligation depends on whether Stuttgart get relegated or not.Guendouzi and Mavropanos aren't obligations? i know there clause to make it obligation but it's very reachable but at this point yeah you right.
I want a list of all the people who have mudded Ødegaard on this forum over this summer. They will not be allowed to call him the Norwegian Zidane as the season progresses.
Post this detailed and thoughtful deserves a response. Definitely with you on the thrust of it as well - prioritise a RB to mimic what Tierney offers on the left and balance the team.Arteta is wedded to a 4231 with Ødegaard, but the key is having runners for him to hit and movement so that he has more freedom in possession.
My problem with him at the moment is that he operates in the right half space under Arteta. That means our right winger stays wide, because our right back doesn't have the athleticism to overlap.
I read a thread on Twitter the other day saying the quickest fix for Arteta would be mirroring what he does on the left on the right. Basically getting the width from both full backs like Liverpool do rather than 1 full back and 1 winger as only Saka can do that job and if he isnt available it falls apart. I don't think that would work as we don't have monsters like Fabinho, VVD and Konate.
Personally, I feel the easiest fix for Arteta to create problems for the opposition is in the transfer market. Ødegaard is one piece but a RB and a CF who attacks the ball is a must. I would flip ESR to the right as he is effective from there. Having a rb who can do what Tierney does would allow us to tuck in either full back and attack from both sides.
-------------------------New cf
Saka-----------------Ødegaard-------------ESR
----------------Lokonga-----Partey
Tierney--------------------------------------Emerson
Now say we build up down the left.
Tierney-----------New CF------------ESR
----------------Saka----------------Ødegaard
----------------Lokonga--------------Emerson
---------------------------------Partey
--------------------Gabriel----------White
It would look like something above. Tierney and Saka would be building up down the left with Lokonga covering the left half space and a striker in the box. If we need to recycle it can come to the right and instead of Tierney staying up he could retreat and let Saka take up the wide position.
Saka-----------------New CF------------Emerson
------------------------------Ødegaard------ESR
--------Tierney-------Lokonga-------Partey
----------------------Gabriel------White
Then you have triangles down the right with Emerson, Ødegaard, ESR and deep progressions from Partey. If you switch it to the left with a long diagonal you have Saka 1v1 rather than Tierney. There is always a presence on the box.
Ødegaard being in the right half space isnt a problem if he has a right footer out side of him. Give him two right footers who can run past him.and interplay and you have a triangle.
This system allows a 2 3 5 when attacking but allows build up down both sides and wit a genuine target in the middle it offers threat from multiple areas.
Where this would leave players like Martinelli, Pepe and Auba is an issue. None of them suit this system and unless Martinelli converts into an all action cf, I could see Arteta wanting to move them all on. After he completely tanks their value ofcourse.
There are a lot of them...but also all of them are just @Tir Na Nog
No more incomings after Ødegaard and Ramsdale according to Phil Neville.
Someone check on the Leicester fans in here. Just when they accepted Maddison was going and they were gonna reinvest the money they get on Berardi and others, they're now stuck with him and his questionable hip, and they don't even rate him.
Let me guess, now they'll start rating him again and stop hating him for how he dresses?
First time I’ve seen this. This is what I’ve been saying all summer. Maddison might get more individual numbers, Ødegaard will make the players around him better, he’ll make the attack tick.