It’s not Rocket Science, Rocket Science is easier

Article by Jason Nunn

So JD is off to Canada. Will we sign another striker? We hope so, but we still have JD for 9 games. Let’s be honest, for a few seasons we have been short in the striker department. We brought in Roberto and everything was good with the world, now we are back down to only 2 quality strikers (if Ade wants to be of course). Early signs suggest that spurs will stick with what they have, so what’s going to happen if one gets injured? Will we carry on with 2 up front with Harry Kane coming in?

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Maybe this is a lot easier to work out than it seems. We all know that we have a massive number of attacking midfielders, we all know tactically that Tim is in his infancy as a Manager but has he already learnt a lesson and is now moving to address it. Is he going to switch formation already? We line up in a kind of 4-4-2, with that formation changing without the ball to one of the strikers dropping deeper than the other. However, we are still getting overrun in midfield. Now with only 2 strikers, will Tim  move back to just one front man with a number 10 just behind? This could look something like a 4-4-1-1 when we have the ball. If we have a CDM like Sandro as part of the midfield 4 then without the ball we could look more like a 4-1-4-1 with the number 10 dropping back into the midfield 4.That really gives the back 4 some protection.

I may get slaughtered for this, but looking at various stats, Capoue (in less games) wins more defensive duels than Sandro and also averages more defensive actions. It’s a very tiny difference I know and if you shop around those stats may look different elsewhere, but it’s just an observation.

I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking that we have an amazing midfield collection, and I’m not sure anyone can agree who is best where and what the best 4 or 5 should be. Our midfield passing accuracy ranges from little Erik down at 80% (I really do feel sorry for him - he needs game time) to big Mousa D at a good looking 91%. Mousa also weighs in with our second best chances created stat at 22 with Eriksen top with 24. Does this mean these two should be starters with Mousa in CM and Eriksen as the number 10? (pick him over Holtby every time). So where does that leave Paulinho? Do we hay him as the CDM? His stats in defensive duels are impressive as are his chances created - 16.

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So what do we do about wingers? Right side - well Townsend over Lennon based on stats like defensive duels-62% won as opposed to 46%. Other stats are pretty similar. Left side - Well Chadli for me please sir. Defensively again he’s much better than anyone else who played out there, and if we are sticking with either Rose or Jan (what’s with the bingo lady names) then they need that protection, but wait I just said Erik needs more game time. Ouch my head hurts!

We assembled a squad that gave us chance to rotate throughout 4 competitions, but now we are only involved in 2. At least we have plenty of injury cover, except in defence it seems.

I used to want to be a manager, but I can’t keep this lot happy on Football Manager so what chance has Tim got in the real world!

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