JayStringer
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- Jul 28, 2019
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Much use of the word evolution lately. For the team.
There are debates over whether it's just a change in personnel or a change of tactics. Personally, I think we're not going to see any formations this season that we didn't see last season, but we will see a regular rotation between 343, 352 and 3412, depending on the match. Looking at the signings, I'm wondering if the key evolution is going to be Nuno's approach.
He's often presented as inflexible, but over the course of his three seasons here we've seen a coach constantly evolving and changing. The key for me is he's been constantly learning. Last season his reluctance to rotate helped to shorten Cutrone's stay. And, while we can all debate the degree to which Cutrone didn't take the chances when they were handed to him, and didn't manage his own situation well, I do wonder if that's a lesson Nuno has mulled over. Late in the season he arguably stuck too long with attacking options that weren't working, seeming reluctant to throw Neto and Podence into the mix, both of whom did well when given their chances.
I'm not criticising Nuno here, I'm praising him. He learns and adapts when many other managers don't.
Looking at the signings so far - the rumoured incomings and the ones we've already made- my gut reaction is we're selling an attacker. Pepe seems too much of a Jota for Jota's position not to be in question. If we do sign Pepe, then on the face of it we have Jimenez, Silva, Jota, Podence, Traore, Pepe and Podence all vying for the front 3 or front 2 (with allowances that Traore is also possibly vying for wingback.) And while many other coaches like to have that many players competing with each other, we know Nuno so far has tended to stick with a settled team. So...yes...selling an attacker would seem the logical next move.
But I wonder if he's aiming to change some of his habits this year. He also talks of wanting different options. I wonder if we're going to see a very settled eight, much as we are used to under Nuno. Goalkeeper, defenders, wingbacks all very settled, midfield fairly settled with the occasional rotation when Moutinho is tired. But then, in an evolution of his style, a lot of rotation in attack. Opposition managers (and defenders) fairly sure they're going to face Jimenez, but not knowing game to game whether he'll be partnered by Jota, Pepe, Podence, Silva, Traore or Neto. And each of them getting enough game time to keep them happy.
I think that could be a very exciting team, with a slightly different attacking combination each week.
Unless Pepe doesn't sign, of course, in which case this is a waste of a post
There are debates over whether it's just a change in personnel or a change of tactics. Personally, I think we're not going to see any formations this season that we didn't see last season, but we will see a regular rotation between 343, 352 and 3412, depending on the match. Looking at the signings, I'm wondering if the key evolution is going to be Nuno's approach.
He's often presented as inflexible, but over the course of his three seasons here we've seen a coach constantly evolving and changing. The key for me is he's been constantly learning. Last season his reluctance to rotate helped to shorten Cutrone's stay. And, while we can all debate the degree to which Cutrone didn't take the chances when they were handed to him, and didn't manage his own situation well, I do wonder if that's a lesson Nuno has mulled over. Late in the season he arguably stuck too long with attacking options that weren't working, seeming reluctant to throw Neto and Podence into the mix, both of whom did well when given their chances.
I'm not criticising Nuno here, I'm praising him. He learns and adapts when many other managers don't.
Looking at the signings so far - the rumoured incomings and the ones we've already made- my gut reaction is we're selling an attacker. Pepe seems too much of a Jota for Jota's position not to be in question. If we do sign Pepe, then on the face of it we have Jimenez, Silva, Jota, Podence, Traore, Pepe and Podence all vying for the front 3 or front 2 (with allowances that Traore is also possibly vying for wingback.) And while many other coaches like to have that many players competing with each other, we know Nuno so far has tended to stick with a settled team. So...yes...selling an attacker would seem the logical next move.
But I wonder if he's aiming to change some of his habits this year. He also talks of wanting different options. I wonder if we're going to see a very settled eight, much as we are used to under Nuno. Goalkeeper, defenders, wingbacks all very settled, midfield fairly settled with the occasional rotation when Moutinho is tired. But then, in an evolution of his style, a lot of rotation in attack. Opposition managers (and defenders) fairly sure they're going to face Jimenez, but not knowing game to game whether he'll be partnered by Jota, Pepe, Podence, Silva, Traore or Neto. And each of them getting enough game time to keep them happy.
I think that could be a very exciting team, with a slightly different attacking combination each week.
Unless Pepe doesn't sign, of course, in which case this is a waste of a post
