Azpi's pace is gone. He was never the fastest, but it was better and he compensated it with superb positioning and anticipation, much like JT. Unfortunately pace is too important for full-backs, moreso than for CBs. In foot races he can't keep up with opposing wingers...hell, he even let Declan Rice storm past him like he was a lamppost. BUT as a backup, there are few or none better we could have.
We do seem to have the players to play a back 5 with, don't think Azpi quite has the physicality to play in a back 4 but having Azpi and Thiago in a backline will certainly shore us up defensively. This would allow James & Chilwell to venture forward more freely and as a result our wingers such as Werner, Pulisic and Ziyech can start drifting inwards and offer some creativity from Central areas.
It's a bit bewildering why Lampard has totally ditched 3 CB formations. It's worked well for us in games where we need more defensive solidity, with a few hiccups here and there, but in general this formation's been useful in certain types of games.
I let them run for their freedom first, and then once that tires them out they are easier to contain.
Passing it to Rudiger should be made a criminal offence full stop.
I think we should reserve judgement on James until he gets a few games under his belt again, he was pushing for our POTY prior to his knee injury and Leicester was his first game in a while. I felt Lampard rushed him back for the Arsenal game which may have aggravated his injury but since the Everton game he has not looked his dynamic self which is when the statements regarding him needing knee surgery came out.I really like James, at some point he was on the cover of my profile.
I have backed him last season when he wasn't that good defensively but some of his defensive tasks he still fails to do this season which is a bit annoying.
Yet this isn't what I came here for... It's this:
WHY ARE YOU PASSING IT BACK WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU !?!?!?! THIS IS BASICS
Very good post. This hits the nail on the head. Unfortunately James is not the only one who can't seem to spot these runs. It was criminal how often players made runs against Leicester only to never recieve the ball. It's not that our players don't have the ability to pass the ball, the problem is they don't even try to play some risky through balls for some reason. Maybe they are instructed by Lampard to play it safe all the time or they simply lack confidence. Not sure what it is.I really like James, at some point he was on the cover of my profile.
I have backed him last season when he wasn't that good defensively but some of his defensive tasks he still fails to do this season which is a bit annoying.
Yet this isn't what I came here for... It's this:
WHY ARE YOU PASSING IT BACK WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU !?!?!?! THIS IS BASICS
The second photo,,,both the attackers are offside, even before James plays the ball, and to find pulisic he has to pass 3 players, agreed the pass back and instantly fwd to Pulisic might be on, need that MF with the passing nous of Cesc, or Silva.I really like James, at some point he was on the cover of my profile.
I have backed him last season when he wasn't that good defensively but some of his defensive tasks he still fails to do this season which is a bit annoying.
Yet this isn't what I came here for... It's this:
WHY ARE YOU PASSING IT BACK WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU !?!?!?! THIS IS BASICS
This seems like tactics to me seems he’s instructed to do thatI really like James, at some point he was on the cover of my profile.
I have backed him last season when he wasn't that good defensively but some of his defensive tasks he still fails to do this season which is a bit annoying.
Yet this isn't what I came here for... It's this:
WHY ARE YOU PASSING IT BACK WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU !?!?!?! THIS IS BASICS
