Silva’s Playbook

[sam of the south]

You stroke his dreads whilst spooning him and calling him Wobes. There, there Wobes - you’ll get another spot in the 10 if you just keep playing well

You must have me mistaken for Big Marcel.

[sam of the south]

Would you believe we rank 3rd in the EPL in fewest shots allowed per game? It speaks to a different problem, but our defense overall hasn't been bad.

The main problem is if you beat our press, it’s generally quite easy to breeze past Schneiderlin, and then you’ve got a terrified Michael Keane to run at.

Take those two out of the side and we miraculously look less vulnetable.

Add Iwobi to the mix in the number 10 role and we also get more possession with purpose, which makes it even less likely the opposition will fancy breaking on us en masse.

[sam of the south]

Definitely, though the same problems have been happening even since the lineup revamp. It's some weird combination of crucial mistakes leading to goals (Iwobi/Holgate vs Spurs), the ongoing set piece defending issues (Mina/Schneiderlin at Soton), dumb fouls/braindead goalkeeping (Gomes/Pickford at Brighton), or even crappy situation own goals (Digne at Brighton).

In other words, we don't have to give up a lot of shots to still give up goals. Start to eliminate those mistakes and the clean sheets start pulling up, like the last 3 months of last season.

Unfortunately we're about to see a whole lot of shots coming up which basically gives us a margin of error equal to 0.

I think a side like us employing a loose, breachable system will also lead to an increase in the likelihood of individual errors, due to our players being nervous and expecting the worst, and the opposition feeling buoyed on and trusting their luck.

[sam of the south]

I'm sure it's available, exactly where I'm not sure I'm afraid.

While we're on the subject of set pieces and stats... Just seen this.

Chances created from open play outside the top 6. Iwobi showing up which is good. Gylfi nowhere to be seen of course.

https://twitter.com/Other14The/status/1194921157729955840?s=19

Man like Wobes

[sam of the south]

If you change the word would to wouldn't it all comes together

Change the first would, leave the second as is. Word.

[sam of the south]

I have. So you want a 3-5-2 with overlapping fullbacks?

What's wrong with a 4-3-3 since we already have the talent to run that effectively?

It’s actually overlapping centre backs, believe it or not.

[sam of the south]

It’s pretty unchartered territory is what it is, Chris.

[sam of the south]

would love to see that sort of 4-2-2-2 we played against West Ham.

Although we had Gomes and Bernard for that...

That was the nuts.

Wobes and Bernard.

Walcott was a man transformed.

[sam of the south]

Now imagine Kean instead of DCL.

I like them both, and I hope they both truly thrive here under our next permanent manager.

[sam of the south]

Why are you always faster than me

That’s what she said.

[sam of the south]

The worry re: Gbamin is how badly his injury has affected his movement. Did read something saying it's a much more serious injury than many people think. Bloody typical Everton luck.

Yeah, I read a contradictory report that said full recovery is common, but that a strength weakness often remains.

[sam of the south]

If nothing else at least the last two games should finally have put to bed this ridiculous notion of Gylfi Sigurdsson playing cm.

Awful, awful, player. Can't wait til he's sold at a dramatic loss.

Moyes will play him all the time.

[sam of the south]

Why do people keep saying this?

He’s the complete opposite of a moyes type player imo.

You reckon?