Hear me out:
Odegaard-Rice-MLS
It’s time chief, it’s time.
2 Likes
We’ve had a few European semi finals in recent times in fact 
not for me.
most likely we’ll play Lewis-Skelly there and switch Timber to left-back and have White play right-back
I think MLS could do it but I don’t know if you put an 18 year old in for one of his first senior games in the position in a Champions League semi final.
1 Like
5 years is a long time, allow me to not remember those times.
Age could be a factor, but maturity and ability matter more.
1 Like
Yeah, sure. I just don’t know if Arteta would put that on him. I think he could play there and be absolutely fine. It’s just the risk of how it affects the player if it goes the other way.
1 Like
MLS coming of age game in MF?!
Cementing him Rice and Odegaard MF?
Not for me…
Keep the backline the same. Move Rice back as No.6. Then either:
- Play Zinny at Left-No.8, with Merino upfront and either Martinelli or Trossard at LW; or
- Play Merino at Left-No.8, with either Martinelli or Trossard upfront, and the other at LW.
BTW…I’m not saying anything about Partey’s yellow card and suspension for the first leg of the Semi Finals…
That’s the most likely scenario. I do think PSG are suspect in the air though so I would have preferred seeing Merino up front.
This is why personally, I’d play Zinny at Left-No.8 and keep Merino upfront. That way we also have one of Martinelli or Trossard on the bench if we need to change things up. I think Zinny can do a job further up the pitch and is able to pick a pass.
Don’t you think it’s a bit to offensive? It’s really a shame Partey is out because he would’ve been so essential in that first leg.
I think as long as Rice sits as a No.6 and doesn’t go forward too much, the balance in the team will be ok.
We’ve had years watching Arteta deal with these situations and a few things consistently stand out:
-He picks the players that he trusts the most.
-He tries to move as few players as possible out of their most comfortable positions.
-He doesn’t make huge tactical changes, especially in how the team will work off the ball.
He’s not going to play Zinchenko in midfield and play the lightest midfield he has ever played, that’s Guardiola stuff and he never goes there. He’s not going to start MLS in midfield for the first time at senior level just to switch Timber to play on the left where he hasn’t played in forever either.
He’s going to play Jorginho as a straight swap for Partey if that option is available to him. And if not, then he’s going to play Trossard and have him and Merino fluidly switch positions from left 8 to false 9 when we have the ball and have Merino play left 8 and next to Rice in the block when we don’t have the ball.
9 Likes
That yellow was so brainless
Indefensible
3 Likes
Partey and Rice in Europe have been incredible together.
We cannot replace him with Zebafuckingdee
2 Likes
Such a needless card after another quality performance. I’d drop Rice back and start Zinny. Merino does not move from cf
Zubi Zubi Doo…where are you? We need some help from you now…
Zubi Zubi Doo…we love you…We’re gonna win the game now…
Please never post that again
2 Likes