[han2503]

Looks like we're barely going to have a team to put out there for this one. We certainly don't have enough defenders with Romagnoli down as well.

Rino is going to try a 3 at the back with Abate and Rodriguez on either side of Zapata apparently, I can see the humiliation coming from a mile away at this point.

We're going through some terrible luck, and during such a crucial stage of the season as well..

[han2503]

Paqueta aside, we need a Biglia replacement and a forward. Not sure about a CB. I mean, in January both Romagnoli and Musacchio will be recovered, and I assume by February Caldara will be available as well. I'd rather focus on more pressing matters.

Agreed about the Biglia replacement.

As for the CBs. This crises has shown us that we're continuously a few injuries away from having to play FBs in the centre. I don't think another Zapata-type CB would be a waste to have. Someone who's a relatively good stopper who won't complain about being on the bench and can perform when called upon even without regular football.

Here’s a thought. What if we didn’t sign anyone else except for Ibra and played like this:

Donnarumma
Conti - Caldara - Romagnoli - Rodriguez
Paqueta - Kessie - Hakan
Suso - Ibra
Higuain

Daring? Yes. Could it work? I think so.

I really don't like Kessie in that holding role. He's never performed when played there. He's a box-to-box guy. He just doesn't really have the discipline or tactical know-how to play there imo. And Hakan has been played in that position a few times and never really impressed me tbh

I like this formation X-Off but I don't think that Kessie can play as that deep regista. He is at his best when he is bombing forward and using his physical ability to be aggressive in winning the ball back. He doesn't intercept the ball well and I don't really think he is a great long passer.

In my opinion, we have something going with Kessie and Baka as a double pivot, they both provide the necessary steel to one another. For that reason I would advocate for something closer to this:

Donnarumma
Calabria - Caldara - Romagnoli - RR
Kessie - Bakayoko
Suso - Ibra - Paqueta
Higuain

The Kessie and Bakayoko double pivot has pros and cons to it though. I really think we need a playmaker type in there as well. With those 2 we tend to struggle to play through the middle. I still think that a Biglia replacement in needed ASAP. We've been linked to Cesc, and I think he'd change the entire dynamic of this team if he were to come in, as he's the kind of passing brain we've missed since Pirlo

No, Kessie-Bakayoko can't be a long-term solution. I agree that Kessie best performs in the double pivot alongside a playmaker (Paredes?), but why not as shield in front of the defense? I don't agree that he doesn't intercept the ball well, and while it's true that he's a not a great long passer, the whole idea of having Hakan and Paqueta in midfield is to leave the creative duties to them.

Think of Barcelona and Real. Neither Busquets nor Casemiro are terrific passers, but they are defensive midfielders whose main duties are to act as a shield in front the defense and win balls back. And I think Kessie is far capable of such feats. Perhaps his tactical awareness needs some work, but that comes with experience.

I actually think that Kessie best performs on the side of a 3-man midfield, while it's Bakayoko who benefits the most from a double pivot/DM position

And I don't think you can compare Kessie to either Casemiro or Busquets, both are far more intelligent distributors than Kessie

Let’s not get carried away.

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