POST MATCH: Bournemouth

[Somerset Fulham]

"Picking Decordova -Reid is like playing with 10 men" he said

He knows his footie though!

[WindyCity]

Excellent win overall, but Leno continues to look absolutely lost on crosses. It's becoming a big issue.

Not sure how big an issue, but you're right.  Looking very dodgy once again today v Bournemouth.  Needs to regain form, and quick.  Tough group of games coming up......

[LittleErn]

"Picking Decordova -Reid is like playing with 10 men" he said

He knows his footie though!

Is that the footie in mouthie? 👼

[Matt10]

I think those who criticize Pereira just don't understand how important he is to the success of that TC-Willian-Robinson triangle.

Even though we set up with Palhinha as the 6, and TC as the 8, the movement of Pereira allows Cairney to operate like an 8 and a 10. We're not working a double-pivot of a 6 and 8 this year. It's not a pivot between Palhinha and TC, it's TC and Pereira. The phases of play that Marco has allowed TC and Pereira to excel is just brilliant. When Pereira goes up, TC drops back, when TC goes up, Pereira drops back - until we have possession near half, then they go up together in the attacking third.

Pereira's movement is so key to our game. He's the reason we can constantly overload that left-hand side. The type of sequences we had against Bournemouth were unseen before. So many penetrating passes that usually are clogged by their high press and traps, all because they didn't know when to press Pereira or when to press TC, while Palhinha can sit back and be the destroyer that he is.

[St Eve]

I think those who criticize Pereira just don't understand how important he is to the success of that TC-Willian-Robinson triangle.

Even though we set up with Palhinha as the 6, and TC as the 8, the movement of Pereira allows Cairney to operate like an 8 and a 10. We're not working a double-pivot of a 6 and 8 this year. It's not a pivot between Palhinha and TC, it's TC and Pereira. The phases of play that Marco has allowed TC and Pereira to excel is just brilliant. When Pereira goes up, TC drops back, when TC goes up, Pereira drops back - until we have possession near half, then they go up together in the attacking third.

Pereira's movement is so key to our game. He's the reason we can constantly overload that left-hand side. The type of sequences we had against Bournemouth were unseen before. So many penetrating passes that usually are clogged by their high press and traps, all because they didn't know when to press Pereira or when to press TC, while Palhinha can sit back and be the destroyer that he is.

Agree with this

[Drewry66]

I think those who criticize Pereira just don't understand how important he is to the success of that TC-Willian-Robinson triangle.

Even though we set up with Palhinha as the 6, and TC as the 8, the movement of Pereira allows Cairney to operate like an 8 and a 10. We're not working a double-pivot of a 6 and 8 this year. It's not a pivot between Palhinha and TC, it's TC and Pereira. The phases of play that Marco has allowed TC and Pereira to excel is just brilliant. When Pereira goes up, TC drops back, when TC goes up, Pereira drops back - until we have possession near half, then they go up together in the attacking third.

Pereira's movement is so key to our game. He's the reason we can constantly overload that left-hand side. The type of sequences we had against Bournemouth were unseen before. So many penetrating passes that usually are clogged by their high press and traps, all because they didn't know when to press Pereira or when to press TC, while Palhinha can sit back and be the destroyer that he is.

Agree with this

It does feel that he hasn't been as good this year but he is 8th in the whole league for chances created and third outside the top 6! Said before on another thread because of the striker issues for much of this season we just haven't been putting them away so looks less effective I think.

https://twitter.com/Other14The/status/1755272593781768203

[itombomb]

I think those who criticize Pereira just don't understand how important he is to the success of that TC-Willian-Robinson triangle.

Even though we set up with Palhinha as the 6, and TC as the 8, the movement of Pereira allows Cairney to operate like an 8 and a 10. We're not working a double-pivot of a 6 and 8 this year. It's not a pivot between Palhinha and TC, it's TC and Pereira. The phases of play that Marco has allowed TC and Pereira to excel is just brilliant. When Pereira goes up, TC drops back, when TC goes up, Pereira drops back - until we have possession near half, then they go up together in the attacking third.

Pereira's movement is so key to our game. He's the reason we can constantly overload that left-hand side. The type of sequences we had against Bournemouth were unseen before. So many penetrating passes that usually are clogged by their high press and traps, all because they didn't know when to press Pereira or when to press TC, while Palhinha can sit back and be the destroyer that he is.

I agree with what you are saying about the shape of the team, but I fundamentally disagree with you about the outcome. There is a reason Pereira got dropped pre-Afcon.

The bold part is right in that we choose what side to attack and the shape changes to respond to that. It was the same at the start of the season when Silva was playing Pereira as the 8 on the left and Reed as the 8 on the right, but because neither were offering enough creatively we weren't able to get anything going - Periera was the one trying to play with Willian and Antonee and failing. TC coming in (and Iwobi being fit) completely revitalised everything, but the fact is over the last few weeks our right side is consistently less productive side and a huge part of that is because Pereira isn't as good (yes Willian is a lot better than BDR, but he wasn't doing it with Willian either).

Though in the above I haven't reflected how important Pereira is in our press when he drops into the 10 position out of possession. He's very good at that, and works very hard.

He is a good player, but it also is a player/position we should be looking to upgrade and it wouldn't cost silly money (and if you got a decent Saudi offer you should be biting their hands off).

[copthornemike]

A shout out for Robinson yesterday for his overall defensive soundness. Midway during the second half he made at least seven headed clearances from our penalty area. Not an area of his game I particularly noticed until yesterday.
Also not only is he quick but he continued to run past their full backs late into game. Probably has more stamina than any other player I can think of.

[Jim©]

A shout out for Robinson yesterday for his overall defensive soundness. Midway during the second half he made at least seven headed clearances from our penalty area. Not an area of his game I particularly noticed until yesterday.
Also not only is he quick but he continued to run past their full backs late into game. Probably has more stamina than any other player I can think of.

I too thought he had a cracking game and I've been a bit nervous about him recently as his passing has been wayward. For me, he looks like a better player next to Ream. I'm not saying keep Ream (though I've been championing him since the day he joined) in the team, but there's something about his passing to Robinson that just clicks.

[Chi_FFC]

A shout out for Robinson yesterday for his overall defensive soundness. Midway during the second half he made at least seven headed clearances from our penalty area. Not an area of his game I particularly noticed until yesterday.
Also not only is he quick but he continued to run past their full backs late into game. Probably has more stamina than any other player I can think of.

I too thought he had a cracking game and I've been a bit nervous about him recently as his passing has been wayward. For me, he looks like a better player next to Ream. I'm not saying keep Ream (though I've been championing him since the day he joined) in the team, but there's something about his passing to Robinson that just clicks.

Strongly disagree that he looks better next to Ream. He makes Ream look better, but when he's paired next to Ream he needs to hold back a little more to cover for Ream's lack of pace, etc. When Bassey is at LCB Robinson is free to push forward into the attack a bit more making us more dangerous. 

[WindyCity]

A shout out for Robinson yesterday for his overall defensive soundness. Midway during the second half he made at least seven headed clearances from our penalty area. Not an area of his game I particularly noticed until yesterday.  Also not only is he quick but he continued to run past their full backs late into game. Probably has more stamina than any other player I can think of.

I too thought he had a cracking game and I've been a bit nervous about him recently as his passing has been wayward. 

I think it's about time to get off this kick about how poor Robinsons' passing/crossing is.  I'm not saying he is the finished product just yet, there can still be some improvement.  That said, over the last couple of months of play he has put in some very good crosses and also some nice passes.  Against Burnley he feathered in some beautiful passes that sent attackers into scoring chances.  I think these last two games Robinson has had excellent outings, both defensively and offensively.

[keithh]

Great win. Fulham bossed 1st half possession. Bournemouth bossed 2nd half possession. Glad Bournemouth didn't have their  accurate shooting boots on.

[Matt10]

I think those who criticize Pereira just don't understand how important he is to the success of that TC-Willian-Robinson triangle.

Even though we set up with Palhinha as the 6, and TC as the 8, the movement of Pereira allows Cairney to operate like an 8 and a 10. We're not working a double-pivot of a 6 and 8 this year. It's not a pivot between Palhinha and TC, it's TC and Pereira. The phases of play that Marco has allowed TC and Pereira to excel is just brilliant. When Pereira goes up, TC drops back, when TC goes up, Pereira drops back - until we have possession near half, then they go up together in the attacking third.

Pereira's movement is so key to our game. He's the reason we can constantly overload that left-hand side. The type of sequences we had against Bournemouth were unseen before. So many penetrating passes that usually are clogged by their high press and traps, all because they didn't know when to press Pereira or when to press TC, while Palhinha can sit back and be the destroyer that he is.

I agree with what you are saying about the shape of the team, but I fundamentally disagree with you about the outcome. There is a reason Pereira got dropped pre-Afcon.

The bold part is right in that we choose what side to attack and the shape changes to respond to that. It was the same at the start of the season when Silva was playing Pereira as the 8 on the left and Reed as the 8 on the right, but because neither were offering enough creatively we weren't able to get anything going - Periera was the one trying to play with Willian and Antonee and failing. TC coming in (and Iwobi being fit) completely revitalised everything, but the fact is over the last few weeks our right side is consistently less productive side and a huge part of that is because Pereira isn't as good (yes Willian is a lot better than BDR, but he wasn't doing it with Willian either).

Though in the above I haven't reflected how important Pereira is in our press when he drops into the 10 position out of possession. He's very good at that, and works very hard.

He is a good player, but it also is a player/position we should be looking to upgrade and it wouldn't cost silly money (and if you got a decent Saudi offer you should be biting their hands off).

I think there's a stark difference between playing a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1, regardless Pereira is always a 10. Against Luton Town at home, we had Pereira-Palhinha-Reed for example. If within the context of what the majority we have used, a 4-2-3-1, then the dynamic changes. He wasn't an 8 in any positions, he's always a 10 and that's seen by how much more advanced he is. Even in that 4-3-3, it's Palhinha and Reed who are the double pivot. If Reed moved up, Palhinha drops back and vice-versa. Pereira had to play more of a free-roaming 10, while Palhinha plays on the left and Reed plays on the right - that's a completely different approach than when TC is on the pitch.

I understand what you mean by choosing what side and how the shape changes, but that's a given point I made about how with TC and Pereira we're interchanging those two, not Palhinha and TC in the 4-2-3-1. Silva's system is built on overloading wings, so the left-hand side doesn't work without Pereira's work and movement on the opposite side. Within context regarding Pereira failing on the left, that combo of Pereira-Willian-Robinson has been used maybe 3 times this season. The win vs Sheff Utd, the loss to Chelsea at home, and the 0-0 tie to Crystal Palace, maybe some sub appearances, but I can't be certain, I do know it was 3 matches in a row. 

In terms of why he was dropped pre-Afcon, that's just neither here nor there and assumes as if we know the inner workings of something past tactical reasons. He has played non-stop since August - so I'm thinking that's more along the lines of reasoning.

Overall, from a tactical point of view, I think Marco had to figure out that the 4-3-3 wasn't working, along with having the 6 and 8 double pivots causing more harm than good. It wasn't until introducing Cairney and Pereira that our best form of defense was a better attack.

[btffc]

I thought Pereira's interplay with Iwobi on the right was extremely good when that was used and Iwobi's return from AFCON should see the return of that. We will get Cairney-Willian-Robinson on the left and Pereira-Iwobi on the right. Tete and Castagne don't typically get as advanced as Robinson does but they can be involved in the wide triangle on the right as well.

That was the lineup we used when we were cooking with those two 5-0 wins and we never really have got much of a chance to see it since due to Raul getting sent off against Newcastle then Willian got injured then Iwobi went to AFCON. Very much looking forward to seeing that again as having two creative flanks that work well together is the crux of Marco's system and it was really working for those games. I'd slot Iwobi straight back in on the right against Villa.