[Albion] Marc Cucurella *Signed For Chelsea 05/08/2022*

[Kalimantan Gull]

No way is he going to oust March either, unless March gets injured or loses form dramatically. Cucurella will have to earn a place - and that is not a given.

My feeling is that we'll play a four at the back more often this season, so Cucu at LB and March wide-left could be a regular formation. You could also turn that into a back-5 if desired, with March as wing-back and Cucu as a left-sided CB - or maybe there will simply be some serious competition for the spot between the two, and that can only be good.

 

[GT49er]

Suspect March will move to the right - at least until Lamptey is back.
March could also play further forward.
Cucarella is a superb footballer - I REALLY hope we get this one over the line

Retrograde move to shift March to his 'wrong' side just to accommodate Cucurella (so when, in that scenario, Lamptey comes back, March moves back and Cucurella loses his place?)

Moving March forward is really a non-starter - there is no place waiting for him there. GP does tinker a lot, but one thing that is pretty constant in his tenure at Brighton is his reliance on wing backs and a flexible front three to provide the width, not out and out wingers. Welcome to the squad Cucurella (if he comes).

 

[mashman156]

My feeling is that we'll play a four at the back more often this season, so Cucu at LB and March wide-left could be a regular formation. You could also turn that into a back-5 if desired, with March as wing-back and Cucu as a left-sided CB - or maybe there will simply be some serious competition for the spot between the two, and that can only be good.

If Webster, Duffy, Dunk keep up the for they've shown so far, I would say there is very little chance of playing a back 4. That being said, suspensions/injuries inevitably will play a part and require a shuffle. Ultimately though, if it ain't broke...

 

[banjo]

Retrograde move to shift March to his 'wrong' side just to accommodate Cucurella (so when, in that scenario, Lamptey comes back, March moves back and Cucurella loses his place?)

Moving March forward is really a non-starter - there is no place waiting for him there. GP does tinker a lot, but one thing that is pretty constant in his tenure at Brighton is his reliance on wing backs and a flexible front three to provide the width, not out and out wingers. Welcome to the squad Cucurella (if he comes).

Think they’ll be fighting for that position.
Which wouldn’t be a bad thing.

 

[driller]

Retrograde move to shift March to his 'wrong' side just to accommodate Cucurella (so when, in that scenario, Lamptey comes back, March moves back and Cucurella loses his place?)

Moving March forward is really a non-starter - there is no place waiting for him there. GP does tinker a lot, but one thing that is pretty constant in his tenure at Brighton is his reliance on wing backs and a flexible front three to provide the width, not out and out wingers. Welcome to the squad Cucurella (if he comes).

and where does Veltman fit?

 

[The Wookiee]

Throw in a free brass…?

Anyway, back to Cucu - surely he’s on his way… please…

Cucu has more Sax appeal

 

[zefarelly]

and where does Veltman fit?

He's a versatile skilful experienced player, he fits lots of places.

1st class problems . .

 

[GT49er]

and where does Veltman fit?

RWB - in preference to playing Gross or March there - when Lamptey is unavailable.

 

[GT49er]

My feeling is that we'll play a four at the back more often this season, so Cucu at LB and March wide-left could be a regular formation. You could also turn that into a back-5 if desired, with March as wing-back and Cucu as a left-sided CB - or maybe there will simply be some serious competition for the spot between the two, and that can only be good.

Fair point - but three at the back has been so successful it's difficult to see it regularly being ditched.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Looking at that showreel, that team looks worse than we were at finishing last season !

Maybe more clubs would be after him if his teammates he had put away all those potential assists? He certainly knows how to play a final ball.

 

[Pavilionaire]

My feeling is that we'll play a four at the back more often this season, so Cucu at LB and March wide-left could be a regular formation. You could also turn that into a back-5 if desired, with March as wing-back and Cucu as a left-sided CB - or maybe there will simply be some serious competition for the spot between the two, and that can only be good.

The wing-back system not only suits us but it is a great way of nullifying teams like Watford that try and get the ball forward quickly to their dangerous wide men, and with our personnel it gives us great height at set pieces.

It also enables Potter to start Gross whilst also playing Biss and Lallana in CM. It will be interesting to see what happens when Lamptey is back. I wouldn't be surprised to see Lallana moved to the bench, Moder / MacAllister alongside Biss and Gross behind the front two.

In theory Gross should be bench material by now, but the stats don't lie - I believe that's 40 Prem goals or assists now.

 

[Questions]

I do hope we get the same Lamptey back……. In fact I pray for that.

 

[Rogero]

I do hope we get the same Lamptey back……. In fact I pray for that.

You sound very religious.

 

[Questions]

You sound very religious.

Tonight Mathew I have seen the second coming of Lamptey………….. Praise the lord.

 

[Pavilionaire]

I do hope we get the same Lamptey back……. In fact I pray for that.

Lamp-rey, if you will. I feel a fish pun coming on..

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Fair point - but three at the back has been so successful it's difficult to see it regularly being ditched.

yeah, I agree, but thats just from a perspective of us looking nice playing it - but I can see Potter trying different ideas...

the case to change:

1. The formation suited our strengths and weaknesses last season: five at the back was perfect for Ben White, as he wasn't (isn't) a good enough defender to play in a two, but demanded to be on the pitch; also we didn't really have any natural full-backs, they were either converted CB's (Veltman and Burn) or natural wing-backs (Lamptey and March). No White, extra Cucurella, a back four is more feasible this year.

2. We have a surfeit of midfielders with not many places to play them - Bissouma, Lallana, Gross, Moder, Mwepu, Caicedo, Alzate, Mac Allister, Trossard - so we theoretically get an extra place on the pitch for one of them (although with added March in the mix)

3. Despite it looking nice, we scored fewer goals than we should have, with slow build up play a possible consequence of a back 5. Once Lamptey's pace was removed we weren't attacking quickly on the flanks, we used it to overload teams in midfield but the end result wasn't as many goals as we liked. A switch to a four could allow us to get the ball forward quicker.

4. Potter did try a four on a few occasions - it almost never worked but how much was that a result of the full-back (Burn) getting skinned by the right-winger - e.g. Traore, Saka.... shame the couple of times we tried it it was up against the best right-wingers in the league......

 

[Perry's Tracksuit Bottoms]

Lamp-rey, if you will. I feel a fish pun coming on..

This is not the plaice for that

 

[Weststander]

The Argus have absolutely no Cucurella news.

They’re waiting for nsc to find out.

 

[Perkino]

Fair point - but three at the back has been so successful it's difficult to see it regularly being ditched.

I had thought without White we may switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation similar to many of the top sides in the league but playing 3 CB's works to so many of our strengths. Potter is keen to seen a fluid transition during play and having players like White/Webster/Veltman who can play CB or FB adds versatility.

 

[Questions]

Lamp-rey, if you will. I feel a fish pun coming on..

James Maynard Kitchener Lamptey