Assessing our squad

[Jason]

Worst case list of possible games Amad, Mbeumo and Mazraoui could miss due to AFCON.

◉ Sun, 21 Dec - Aston Villa [A]
◉ Sat, 27 Dec – Newcastle [H]
◉ Tue, 30 Dec – Wolves [H]
◉ Sat, 3 Jan – Leeds [A]
◉ Wed, 7 Jan – Burnley [A]
◉ Sat, 17 Jan – Man City [H]
◉ Sat, 24 Jan - Arsenal [A]

All difficult games except Wolves who are currently shite.

It could determine whether we get top 4 or not

If we are serious about making a top 4 push, then Wolves/Leeds/Burnley should all be games we should be winning even without those 2.
Lets hope neither of them make it the latter stages, but you'd assume they are both making it past groups stages. They will be big loss against City and Arsenal.

[Felwin]

Also no guarantee they come back fit and in form. It could easily take them a few games to find their feet.

Anyway, it's obviously not ideal, but I do think a lot is made of AFCON where the reality is well run clubs account for it. Losing Salah and Mane virtually never hurt the scousers. We're in transition so are reliant on Mbeumo and his combination with Amad is the big positive of the last few weeks, but you'd hope we'd have developed more avenues to goal by January. If not, then we blame Amorim and INEOS, not AFCON.

[Fuck the Glazers]

Also no guarantee they come back fit and in form. It could easily take them a few games to find their feet.

Anyway, it's obviously not ideal, but I do think a lot is made of AFCON where the reality is well run clubs account for it. Losing Salah and Mane virtually never hurt the scousers. We're in transition so are reliant on Mbeumo and his combination with Amad is the big positive of the last few weeks, but you'd hope we'd have developed more avenues to goal by January. If not, then we blame Amorim and INEOS, not AFCON.

Fair point, well made.

Amorim needs to be planning for losing those two. He needs to adapt, form a plan. But that's something he's not been great at so far. Ultimately we shouldn't be so reliant on two players. But like you say we're in transition, so right now we are.

[dozer]

Mount can play instead of Mbuemo, if fit.
The alternative is to push Bruno back to 10 and have Kobbie playing as a CM but he's a bit of a passenger and doesn't seem involved enough, especially without possession.

[JoelfuckingGlazer]

Mount can play instead of Mbuemo, if fit.
The alternative is to push Bruno back to 10 and have Kobbie playing as a CM but he's a bit of a passenger and doesn't seem involved enough, especially without possession.

I agree. It's losing Amad that's a real killer, because we have no one else who can actually play as a proper wingback in this system, with quality

[JoelfuckingGlazer]

One to keep an eye on; Sheffield Wednesday fans are absolutely raving about Harry Amass during his loan stint there.

[swampash]

Anyone else wondering if McTominay would have been a good fit with Amorim's system?

[dozer]

Anyone else wondering if McTominay would have been a good fit with Amorim's system?

McT needs a "free role" of sorts where he can run a lot to thrive. That's usually reserved for Bruno so no.
I've not watched Napoli so idk if he's doing that there, but I'll be surprised if he's playing well without the extra freedom.

[JoelfuckingGlazer]

Anyone else wondering if McTominay would have been a good fit with Amorim's system?

I don't think he would. Amorim's 10s are more the profile of wingers or inside forwards - that's not McT. He's definitely not a 6. And I don't think he's agile enough over the ground to play as one of the deeper midfielders. His emergence seems to coincide with playing as the free-est of a midfield 3. Like Lampard did. Able to crash the box at will.

Fair play to him, the move has worked tremendously - it doesn't mean selling him was a mistake. Let's hope we included a sell on because at this rate, and properly top tier club could end up chucking a huge wedge at Napoli for him.

[swampash]

Anyone else wondering if McTominay would have been a good fit with Amorim's system?

I don't think he would. Amorim's 10s are more the profile of wingers or inside forwards - that's not McT. He's definitely not a 6. And I don't think he's agile enough over the ground to play as one of the deeper midfielders. His emergence seems to coincide with playing as the free-est of a midfield 3. Like Lampard did. Able to crash the box at will.

Fair play to him, the move has worked tremendously - it doesn't mean selling him was a mistake. Let's hope we included a sell on because at this rate, and properly top tier club could end up chucking a huge wedge at Napoli for him.

Interesting. Be good to see if he keeps improving.