Match Thread Olympique Lyonnaise v Everton

[beachy]

We will crush these 0-1

 

[evertoniano]

Going to give him the benefit of my doubt. Not going to knock it until I see how it works out.

 

[DanEFC92]

 

[Groucho]

We appear not to be starting with a striker

 

[Norwegian Cow]

well, everything else isnt working.. so why not...

 

[chrissyjack]

This fella has just described the reasoning behind the line-up

 

[Bourney]

Holgate isn't a rb baines needed a rest Siggy has played the false 9 role many times in the past bit of a overreaction in here..

Sandro should be in the squad at least though

 

[DanEFC92]

Having Lennon as the target man is an interesting tactic.

 

[Zeke]

I see what he's done there.......oh wait no I F-ing don't, what the hell you thinking Rhino!?!?!

 

[Fansince1988]

well, everything else isnt working.. so why not...

Totally agree, IMO Rooney and DCL haven't been very good Niasse can't play and he's a bit of an impact player anyway, Sandro well is Sandro. So at least the midfielder know they need to score and not relay on a striker.

 

[detonatot7]

Is Lookman not classed as an striker?

 

[bluestevon]

If this comes off tonight, gonna be some epic vaulting going on though @chicoazul

 

[DualityNSNO]

What an odd selection.

 

[PeregrineT]

Well in all fairness, did we ever have a striker? Maybe we are just setting up the formation to reflect past results.

 

[Philw]

Who understands the formation?
Plz explain

One of these I guess??

Confused, maybe Lookman through the middle, Sigurdsson left, Lennon right? Dunno it's weird either way

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.