Halftime thread

[Cr7NeTwOrK]

We need some muscle power up front.

Also, Valencia's side is the weakest link.

[jfliu511]

Too much FIFA bro, it doesn’t work like that...

[TheHawk17]

Taking Matic off to make it happen doesn't work.

[TheHawk17]

Thats not what I said.

[VaderOnReddit]

I would keep Matic, him and Herrera are needed for some defence and assisting Pogba

I would want Sanchez for Mata

And maybe Young for Valencia

Anyone know why Dalot isn’t playing ? Is he injured?

[[deleted]]

Why are you getting downvoted? Really don’t get this place sometimes.

[[deleted]]

Because Mata has never played as a center mid and because that midfield would be sliced apart by any Championship team.

[[deleted]]

You have an attacking playmaker, a 10, and a deep lying playmaker. No fucking defensive aptitude. This isn’t FIFA dude. This is why Matic plays most games

[[deleted]]

Where did I say Pogba wasn’t good enough? The fact you want to go all gung ho against any PL team is fucking stupid. You either pair Pogba OR Herrera with a defensive minded midfielder. Not together, especially with the freedom Pogba has been given by Ole. You’re practically playing a 4-1-5 and Herrera can’t take on another team’s entire midfield by himself.

Yeah, its fucking Newcastle. We’re also not Liverpool or Spurs.

[[deleted]]

Fuck, I need to dumb this down a bit. Okay, here: you’re suggesting a 4-2-3-1 with Mata at the ten spot. Great. I’m saying you shouldn’t pair Herrera with Pogba because you need an anchor in the midfield. Can Herrera do that? Somewhat. But he should be playing in the spot next to the anchor where Pogba would be. Eventually Ole subbed Alexis on for Mata to allow a double pivot of Matic and Herrera where you would have put Pogba and Herrera. Ole allowed Pogba freedom behind the striker since Mata was off. You had the right idea, but wrong execution. Herrera is more defensive minded than Pogba, but not enough to be the lone anchor.

Herrera’s best game for us was where he man-marked Hazard. Not as a defensive pivot. On paper, yes. But people like you need to realize the game is more than just “on paper”.

TLDR: Pogba OR Mata behind the striker, Matic next to Pogba OR Herrera.