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[Albion] Roberto De Zerbi - JOINS AS NEW HEAD COACH (4 year contract)



scooter1

How soon is now?
I'll be interested to see if he switches us from a back 3/5 to his preferred 4, and if so how quickly he tries to implement it. The 3/5 has worked for us and the players got it. So far we've looked good, and if he's as intelligent as we hope then he'll see that sweeping changes from the off could well be problematic. He's watched our games so far this season so will hopefully see what has worked, and any changes he decides to make in formation are drip fed in over weeks/months
 




Mancgull

Well-known member
Nov 28, 2011
5,053
Astley, Manchester
I'll be interested to see if he switches us from a back 3/5 to his preferred 4, and if so how quickly he tries to implement it. The 3/5 has worked for us and the players got it. So far we've looked good, and if he's as intelligent as we hope then he'll see that sweeping changes from the off could well be problematic. He's watched our games so far this season so will hopefully see what has worked, and any changes he decides to make in formation are drip fed in over weeks/months

I think this is a very valid point. We’ve been on a good run playing our current formation and so I’d hope that there is a gradual change, until he has time to bed in his philosophy.
 


chaileyjem

#BarberIn
NSC Patron
Jun 27, 2012
14,151
I'll be interested to see if he switches us from a back 3/5 to his preferred 4, and if so how quickly he tries to implement it. The 3/5 has worked for us and the players got it. So far we've looked good, and if he's as intelligent as we hope then he'll see that sweeping changes from the off could well be problematic. He's watched our games so far this season so will hopefully see what has worked, and any changes he decides to make in formation are drip fed in over weeks/months

?? Potter often started or switched to a 4 during games. Including the recent good run thus/last season.
 


Mancgull

Well-known member
Nov 28, 2011
5,053
Astley, Manchester
?? Potter often started or switched to a 4 during games. Including the recent good run thus/last season.

He did switch to a back four on occasions, eg Fulham away, although I don’t remember him starting with a back four formation. Having said that we were fairly fluid.
What’s also interesting from those shots is that Moran is with the first team squad. I expect that Crofts has been behind this, and that’s good news as whenever I’ve seen him play it seems obvious that he has potential.
 


Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo

Waxing chumps like candles since ‘75
Oct 4, 2003
11,325
I'll be interested to see if he switches us from a back 3/5 to his preferred 4, and if so how quickly he tries to implement it. The 3/5 has worked for us and the players got it. So far we've looked good, and if he's as intelligent as we hope then he'll see that sweeping changes from the off could well be problematic. He's watched our games so far this season so will hopefully see what has worked, and any changes he decides to make in formation are drip fed in over weeks/months

It's not going to be an issue, our defence under Potter was very fluid, switch from a 3/5 to a 4 and back again during a match depending on what was needed.
 




Swansman

Pro-peace
May 13, 2019
22,320
Sweden
Formations are a bit obsolete. Under most modern managers they'll look one thing on paper and then usually something entirely different in reality. Just take Cucurella at the spring last season... LWB in possession, CB out of possession. If you have to put a formation on paper, where do you put him?
 




Nobby Cybergoat

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2021
7,405
Formations are a bit obsolete. Under most modern managers they'll look one thing on paper and then usually something entirely different in reality. Just take Cucurella at the spring last season... LWB in possession, CB out of possession. If you have to put a formation on paper, where do you put him?

I suspect heat maps and average positions and plans to counter individual opponents are more talked about him dressing rooms. But formations are easier to discuss here I would suggest
 




Bozza

You can change this
Helpful Moderator
Jul 4, 2003
56,006
Back in Sussex
First press conference is at 8:30am on Friday morning.

That's quite interesting in itself, as Potter always held his at 1:30pm on the Thursday ahead of a northern Saturday 3pm fixture.
 


Nobby Cybergoat

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2021
7,405
I'll be interested to see if he switches us from a back 3/5 to his preferred 4, and if so how quickly he tries to implement it. The 3/5 has worked for us and the players got it. So far we've looked good, and if he's as intelligent as we hope then he'll see that sweeping changes from the off could well be problematic. He's watched our games so far this season so will hopefully see what has worked, and any changes he decides to make in formation are drip fed in over weeks/months

What's interesting to me if, that if we are shifting more to a back 4, (and as you suggest we may not be straight away or at all), then which players are likely to be the beneficiaries and get more minutes and which are likely to get fewer minutes as a result.

My feeling is that Estupinan is one of those who may do well as he's played a lot as a specialist left back.

Then other other side, he'll have the same conundrum, that one of Lamptey, Veltman, Dunk or Webster must miss out. GP saw it as Lamptey. Maybe RDZ will take a different view. All players who have differing qualities. It will be fascinating to see what happens.
 


Withdean11

Well-known member
Feb 18, 2007
2,820
Brighton/Hyde
What's interesting to me if, that if we are shifting more to a back 4, (and as you suggest we may not be straight away or at all), then which players are likely to be the beneficiaries and get more minutes and which are likely to get fewer minutes as a result.

My feeling is that Estupinan is one of those who may do well as he's played a lot as a specialist left back.

Then other other side, he'll have the same conundrum, that one of Lamptey, Veltman, Dunk or Webster must miss out. GP saw it as Lamptey. Maybe RDZ will take a different view. All players who have differing qualities. It will be fascinating to see what happens.

Considering RDZ's fullback do not usually push high up, i'd imagine Lamptey will be used as a winger rather than a full back.
 




Mellotron

I've asked for soup
Jul 2, 2008
32,063
Brighton
It doesn't always work, but I can absolutely imagine Lamptey being converted to a winger. I think he has the attributes to do well there.
 


Icy Gull

Back on the rollercoaster
Jul 5, 2003
72,015
Considering RDZ's fullback do not usually push high up, i'd imagine Lamptey will be used as a winger rather than a full back.

Depending on the opposition and the way a game is going, I hope he is flexible on this
 


hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
Helpful Moderator
Mar 16, 2005
61,765
Chandlers Ford
What's interesting to me if, that if we are shifting more to a back 4, (and as you suggest we may not be straight away or at all), then which players are likely to be the beneficiaries and get more minutes and which are likely to get fewer minutes as a result.

My feeling is that Estupinan is one of those who may do well as he's played a lot as a specialist left back.

Then other other side, he'll have the same conundrum, that one of Lamptey, Veltman, Dunk or Webster must miss out. GP saw it as Lamptey. Maybe RDZ will take a different view. All players who have differing qualities. It will be fascinating to see what happens.

In a flat back four, you are relying on Estupinan, not so much because he's 'played a lot there', but more that he is literally the ONLY left back we have!

The only 'traditional' right back we have is Joel Veltman.
 




South west gull

New member
Nov 3, 2021
1,008
First press conference is at 8:30am on Friday morning.

That's quite interesting in itself, as Potter always held his at 1:30pm on the Thursday ahead of a northern Saturday 3pm fixture.
More time for training potentially a good thing

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk
 










ChickenBaltiPie

Well-known member
Jan 3, 2014
815
Oh, I didn't think anything other than that.

I bet those who attend will be delighted at having to deal with traffic around there at that time of the morning!

Yea haha, it is horrendous! Hate it! I am curious to understand GP’s mindset vs RDZ re the change.
 


Nobby Cybergoat

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2021
7,405
You don’t think the other coaches would carry on with the training session when RDZ has media commitments?

I'm sure they do and will normally. But RDZ has only short time to see the players who have been on international duty in action, so guess he wants to maximise that this week. Sounds sensible.
 


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