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9 hours ago, 3 Stacks said:

4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 are good ideas in theory but we don't have any real wingers for 4-4-2 and we don't seem to want to play 4-2-3-1, maybe because we don't really have a #10 either. It was Shaqiri at one point, but that was scrapped quick and we've never stuck with Firmino there either. If we could stick with it, I'd like to see 4-2-3-1. I don't get why we don't play it more honestly.

 

4-3-3 with 3 strikers and attacking full backs is still the best formation but we need to mix in Oxlade, Keita and Lallana more. Wijnaldum, Milner and Henderson in the 2 more attacking midfield positions get stale at times. Not enough guile there.

Salah and Mané are more than capable on the wings, are they not?

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3 minutes ago, Shooter in the Motor said:

Salah and Mané are more than capable on the wings, are they not?

Sure, but it would be stupid to put players who have thrived as forwards and who score upwards of 20 goals a season in a 4-4-2 wide midfield position behind two strikers. 

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12 minutes ago, 3 Stacks said:

Sure, but it would be stupid to put players who have thrived as forwards and who score upwards of 20 goals a season in a 4-4-2 wide midfield position behind two strikers. 

Mane Ox and Shaqiri are all capable of playing the wide midfield roles. In fact it’s Shaq’s natural position. I’d play Salah as a no 9.

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15 minutes ago, 3 Stacks said:

Sure, but it would be stupid to put players who have thrived as forwards and who score upwards of 20 goals a season in a 4-4-2 wide midfield position behind two strikers. Also, because if they're on the wing, besides Firmino, we wouldn't have any other strikers. 

I thought Salah scored his record high number of goals in his first season while officially playing on the right wing? This resulted in Mané being moved over to the left, where he had previously been on the right side.

 

It's just another option. After all, if we are struggling to score goals against ultra defensive teams then what you lose in high score counts you make up in getting the result.

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10 minutes ago, Shooter in the Motor said:

I thought Salah scored his record high number of goals in his first season while officially playing on the right wing? This resulted in Mané being moved over to the left, where he had previously been on the right side.

 

It's just another option. After all, if we are struggling to score goals against ultra defensive teams then what you lose in high score counts you make up in getting the result.

Yeah, right wing in a 4-3-3, which isn't really right wing the way we play because Firmino drops deep. If you look at average player positioning after matches Salah is and has always been the furthest player forward.

 

He's essentially a wide striker. If you put him on the wing in a 4-4-2 he'd have to track back more and play wider/deeper. It's just not what he would do best

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12 minutes ago, viRdjil said:

Mane Ox and Shaqiri are all capable of playing the wide midfield roles. In fact it’s Shaq’s natural position. I’d play Salah as a no 9.

Mane is so good playing as a forward it's just a waste having him play an actual wing role. He could do it because he has the work rate and the stamina, but why would we put him further away from goal? And less central? Chamberlain has been awful anytime he's played wide for us, it would just be an unnecessary experiment. He's played there in preseason and it doesn't look good. Shaqiri barely plays. We're not gonna sacrifice a centre mid to play Shaqiri on the wing. When he's come in it's usually as a #10.

 

It's just awkward. We could play more 4-2-3-1, but 4-4-2 just doesn't make much sense. 

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Can't wait for next season when we're playing Fabinho - Keita in a 2 and ahead of them it's:

 

Sancho - Firmino - Mane 

 

              Salah

 

Although to be honest with that front 4 you can pretty much play any of them in any of the 4 positions and it'll be pretty good. Going to destroy some teams.

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Mane and Salah already play as forwards with Firmino as the "10", so we're already playing a 442 diamond - the slightly lopsided variation.  It works really well as we've lost 1 league game in a year, are top of the league and current European Champions and Mane and Salah score shit loads of goals. 

On very rare occasions we need a bit more creativity and goalscoring from midfield.  Hopefully Keita and/or Ox and for 1 and half games every two seasons Lallana can provide that.  Then we've also got Shaq as a bit of an impact player with a quality left foot.

It ain't broke and doesn't need fixing.

 

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49 minutes ago, Bobby Hundreds said:

We will probably sell either mane or salah next year. Our team seems to be getting on a bit with age. Don't want an old side that needs a lot of replacing when klopp fucks off. Cash in on one of them. Personally I'd cash in on salah and keep Mane.

 

I’d keep both and try to win trophies while their at their peak.

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Physically and technically, there's absolutely no reason why he couldn't play in England. The whole "x player can't play in England" thing is dumb anyway, but especially so for a supposed box to box midfielder who can dribble past players and has creative flair. 

 

The problem has got to be mental. He hasn't even been that injured. He played 33 games last year. 

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12 minutes ago, 3 Stacks said:

Physically and technically, there's absolutely no reason why he couldn't play in England. The whole "x player can't play in England" thing is dumb anyway, but especially so for a supposed box to box midfielder who can dribble past players and has creative flair. 

 

The problem has got to be mental. He hasn't even been that injured. He played 33 games last year. 

It’s the best and most intense league in the world. If you don’t believe me ask Klopp or Pep. There are loads of skilful players not built for the Premier League e.g., Di Maria, Morientes, Luis Alberto, Aspas, Kagawa, Sahin, Mkhitaryan, Daley Blind, Depay, etc. Didn’t Spurs’ Dembele put his hand up last year and say that he couldn’t handle the physicality of the league any longer? 

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Just now, viRdjil said:

It’s the best and most intense league in the world. If you don’t believe me ask Klopp or Pep. There are loads of skilful players not built for the Premier League e.g., Morientes, Luis Alberto, Aspas, Kagawa, Sahin, Mkhitaryan, Daley Blind, Depay, etc.

Most of those you mentioned were merely decent and there are other circumstances besides their actual skill level or play on the pitch that can explain why it didn't work out.

 

But in general, top players can make it anywhere and Keita was supposed to be that. If a 140 pound 5 foot 6 guy like David Silva can handle the intensity and physicality of England, so should Keita. 

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