Match Thread Olympique Lyonnaise v Everton

[APN_EFC]

Who understands the formation?
Plz explain

 

[PeregrineT]

That's a whole lot of straws you're clutching there...

Gotta cling to something in a time like this. Im just trying to get inside someones head, one that to me appears to be filled with madness

 

[Eggs]

That's what I suggested this morning.

Really weird lineup. Think the intention is to try and wrangle a bit of control in midfield and use Lennon/Lookman to bring it up the pitch from the wide positions as often as possible.

That said, I'm really quite disappointed that Sandro seems to be getting completely overlooked. Feel sorry for the lad.

..i’d rarely feel sorry for a top flight footballer in the modern game.

 

[matty1878]

Going to get spanked. Not watching it will just look on here for the fume

 

[DanEFC92]

The players who have been left behind have played a lot of football.

“With one eye on Sunday we took the decision to give some others an opportunity.

“That gives them the chance to get into the thinking for Sunday and it’s a decision we made collectively.

“It’s a great opportunity for the lads who have not been playing.”

Rhino.

 

[toffeejohn29]

Jeez lads, would you give the guy ( Unsworth ) a chance, I reckon he knows more than all of us, . Can Calvert Lewin play Sunday, today and Sunday again. Dont think so. We dont know if Sandro is injured or not, Niasse ineligble and Rooney not in the squad. Lets wait and see what happens. Look at what he inherited from Koeman.

 

[DanEFC92]

BENI BENI BENI

 

[Ruairi77]

With the exception of Lennon instead of Vlasic, and considering the enforced changes, I actually don't mind this lineup so much. Sigurdsson has shown for iceland that he can score so worth a shot.

 

[COYBL25]

Straight from the Walter Smith team selection handbook.

I hope they'll be offering refunds to all the Blues who travelled tonight

 

[dannyboy]

Rhino.

Complete idiot. Acting like Sunday is a relegation six pointer. There's 28 games to go and see we're in the bottom three on goal difference.

 

[Toffe3m4n]

 

[orly]

Maybe this is a work of unknowable genius? Maybe Unsworth doesnt care. I personally think its kind of insane. We are playing 3 RBs, 3 DMs, and no strikers. Now its true, Siggurdson has to be at least capable of striking the ball which DCL isnt, but hed actually have to get in position first, which DCL is good at.

Maybe the whole idea is to play very defensive with 3 defensive mids, pick off plays, and then just counter with fast wingers, which hopefully throws off the CBs enough and gets them out of position where Siggurdson doesnt have to worry about being a normal striker, and instead just finds space for them to cross it in to.

He just wants to put players in their natural positions.

Oh wait he's lied about that again.

You're right @Joey66 Unsy really is two faced!!

 

[johnnydawg68]

Clearly a false 9 strategy. No idea if it will work, but what do we have to lose?

Leaving a gaping hole at centre-forward encourages the centre-backs to step forward into the space. Lookman with pace from the left wing is an asset when running in behind the defence, and with the centre-backs stepping up, one through ball is all it will take to set him off with a one vs. one. I would have preferred Mirallas or Sandro here on the right instead of Lennon though. Lennon's not a finisher, and if we're going to employ this tactic, the wide men have to be able to finish.

Siggy is perfectly capable of playing that cutting ball that splits a centre-back and full-back. If the defence doesn't bite, we will try and work the ball slowly forward, maintaining possession and pinning Lyon into the final third (in theory). From there, full-backs will bomb forward and try to create mismatches in the wider areas and then look for the late arrival of Gylfi in the box to sweep home moves. Rooney would actually be perfectly suited for this role as well.

However the false nine is an incredibly hard job and if you're not Messi, it's risky for sure.

All or nothing here, either Unsworth is a genius or a fool at the end of 90. It's going to be fascinating that's for sure.

 

[toffeejack]

What the ell is that team? Ha I reckon it'll probably be Siggurdson up front as he's taller. Feel we could have given mirallas a go there.

 

[Fansince1988]

Jeez lads, would you give the guy ( Unsworth ) a chance, I reckon he knows more than all of us, . Can Calvert Lewin play Sunday, today and Sunday again. Dont think so. We dont know if Sandro is injured or not, Niasse ineligble and Rooney not in the squad. Lets wait and see what happens. Look at what he inherited from Koeman.

I'm acually quite excited about the line up, we haven't got much to lose. Perhaps a strange move like this could pay off and gets our season going, nothing else has up to now.