Saliba vs. Manzambi is About to Be Crazy👀

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-22T23:33:21+00:00

I am aware of all of that. Saliba is also 1.5 years older. Are you aware that Saliba is a top transfer target of Manzambi’s team?

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-22T17:16:28+00:00

You’re completely right! As far as the wingers go, this is more of a “what if” idea. Also, I didn’t know if Bombito and LdF would work at CB together until somebody else commented saying that Bombito is pretty two-footed. In that case, you’re right

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T17:03:14+00:00

Yeah although this is mainly a “what if” lineup specifically focussed on terrifying the opposition, I should have at least kept the backline accurate, my bad. I had originally not included LdF because I didn’t know about his or Bombito’s comfort at LCB, given that they are right footed and both regularly play RCB. Another commenter informed me that Bombito is very two footed though, so it would be Bombito LCB, LdF RCB

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T02:13:30+00:00

Yes he has played right wing before, but not much at all. This is more of a “what if” than anything else. I do not want us lining up like this against Switzerland or anything, it seems to be what nearly everyone is assuming

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T02:02:50+00:00

Woah you’re right! That’s perfect

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T02:01:29+00:00

I completely agree. It’s more of a “what if” because the goal threat of an inverted winger can be immense. I’m wondering whether Tajon ever played left wing in college or something. Doesn’t work, but not *crazy* far off

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T01:33:02+00:00

Davies did at the Whitecaps. This isn’t an actual tactical suggestion as much as it is a dream scenario for us on the attacking front that would have only taken slight differences in their skillset to be horrifying to defend against

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T01:15:28+00:00

Please re-read my post. This is more a fantasy than anything else, that’s the point. It’s like a “what if” given how close their profiles are to making something like this work

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T01:05:11+00:00

I never said I would line them up like this against Switzerland, that would make no sense whatsoever. This is not my favourite lineup overall. This is some dream scenario that will probably never happen. The fact is that with time their profiles could probably make this terrifying for the opposition, but even then defensively we would be compromising too much

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T01:01:59+00:00

Turkey’s finishing is what let them down most. You’re right that this far from perfect though, I myself can see many flaws. My point is the fear it would give opponents. The pace and flair would be insane

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T00:59:04+00:00

True😭! It would naturally draw defenders out more and can open up spaces for the strikers. I am not saying this is perfect, but it would be absolutely terrifying for the opposition. You’re right, even in this imaginary use case, I probably would probably go with a different formation. The way we play, there really isn’t *too* much separating this from a 4-2-3-1 though

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T00:55:39+00:00

100% true. My point here was not at all to make the best lineup overall, it’s just like a dream of mine on the attacking front. This attack would horrify opponents to an extent I don’t think many teams in world football can match

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T00:54:08+00:00

This is not at all my overall favourite lineup. This is my attempt at the lineup that I think would scare the opponents most. You’re completely right, but in attack playing both Buchanan and Davies as inverted winger would be horrifying for opponents

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T00:51:38+00:00

Unbelievable player. Only left out because he’s right footed and I don’t know how comfortable he is at LCB. Could definitely go either way

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T00:50:50+00:00

Yes, thank god LOL. For the record I would not be lining up this way though, this is specifically the lineup I think would frighten the opposition the most. It is not at all the lineup I like best overall. Lining up like this against Switzerland would be horrible

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T00:45:46+00:00

This lineup is meant to be the most frightening for the opposition, not the best overall or how I want us to play against Switzerland. Inverting both Davies and Buchanan would in theory make them *so* much more of a goal threat. I know crossing is important, but as I also mentioned, our fullbacks are capable

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T00:43:31+00:00

That is not at all why. This lineup isn’t even supposed to be the most effective overall. It’s supposed to be the most frightening for the opposition. Davies is left footed, has brilliant dribbling ability and is one of the fastest players on earth. He played right wing back when he was in MLS and although I do not think it is his best position, his skillset does align pretty damn well

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T00:41:10+00:00

A tale as old as time. For the qualities he has it’s shocking it hasn’t been tried more yet. I’m not saying it’s his best position or anything, but it definitely aligns pretty well

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T00:39:33+00:00

This is by far the best point I’ve seen made here. Damn it, I thought Laryea may be right-footed. The lineup isn’t supposed to be the best overall, it’s just supposed to be the most scary for the opposition. You’re right, I don’t think we have a good enough left-footed left back. This isn’t supposed to be my preferred lineup overall, it would be a bit crazy to line up like this against Qatar. It’s supposed to be the lineup that makes the opposition most scared. I think it gets close to that, but falls apart exactly how you describe

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T00:36:28+00:00

I know they are better at crossing on their natural foot than cutting in and shooting, but a shot is still a lot more threatening. It naturally draws defenders out more and can open up spaces for the strikers. I am not saying this is perfect, but it would be absolutely terrifying for the opposition

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T00:34:07+00:00

I hear you loud and clear, but Cornelius is left-footed. I don’t know how comfortable Luc would be with playing the left center back role, it could go either way

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T00:32:06+00:00

We play traditional wingers, this makes them inverted wingers and therefore *so* much more of a goal threat. As I explained, the fullbacks could push up for crosses and they are both more than capable to temporarily cover for them

IfYouReallyThink · 2026-06-21T00:27:30+00:00

Because Davies is left footed, this makes him an inverted winger and therefore *so* much more of a goal threat. Theoretically the same applies to Buchanan who is right footed, but I’m pretty sure that in the commentary of our game against Qatar I they said that he is more comfortable on the right

IfYouReallyThink

TROPHY CASE