Rafa exclusive: "This is our best squad ever"

[El Jefecito]

As Torres has played a grand total of 2 league games for us against the scum, his being isolated (whether one believes this or not) can scarcely be used as the reason why we "consistently struggle against them". Let's use examples like that when he's actually played a few times against them and we still fail to score

Pedant. Replace "consistently struggle against them" with words to suit.

The tactical analysis is still sound.

[Vermilion]

Do overlapping fullbacks provide width?

Yes they do, in an attacking full back type of way, in that their attacking and defending is'nt usually as good as specialists in those positions.

But that doesn't alter the answer to you question, which is that they do provide width.

[Leyton388]

Simply the best

[El Jefecito]

Yes they do, in an attacking full back type of way, in that their attacking and defending is'nt usually as good as specialists in those positions.

But that doesn't alter the answer to you question, which is that they do provide width.

You do raise an interesting point about the difference in width provided by wingers vs. (what I'll call) wing backs.

Wing backs have it easy as they are usually paired with a wide forward who will have cut inside and taken away a defender. In that typical scenario a wing back is faced with a one on one. And to make it even better for him, he has one more target in the box to aim for as that is where the wide forward was heading.

A winger on the other hand has no such advantage, most of the time (counter attack aside) he is left in a two on one situation. If there is support on his side of the field it's usually from a full back who is behind him.

So yes to succeed as a winger is far far more difficult than as a wing back, BUT to me the width provided by (the supposedly lesser) wing back, in the above context, is far more valuable.

I also see the wingback as only a single part of a 4 man defensive unit responsible for covering a particular flank. So the little you give up in their defensive abilities can be more than compensated for by others in that defensive unit.

[rage]

still lack players in the same positions as when he took over. right sided midfielder/winger.

robbie keane is a good signing but best squad ever or not will we be able to beat the scum? still be in the title race at xmas? be able to unlock teams that defend all the time? oh and seeing as though we're speaking of squad - what happens if torres or gerrard get injured?

we'll know within the first 6 games whether this strongest squad is good enough